GRENVILLE WILLIAM: (1759-1834) British Prime Minister 1806-07. Lengthy A.L.S., Grenville, seven pages, 4to, Cleveland Row, 3rd March 1800, to Sir William Scott. Grenville states that he was obliged to Scott for the trouble he took over a paper 'containing the heads of a plan for better securing the residence of the parochial clergy' and continues to add that it is a matter 'which seems to me to be in the present state of this country one of the most important to which the attention of the Government & of Parliament can be directed'. He further writes 'I am far from entertaining any preference for one mode, more than for another, of providing for the attainment of this object, & I should feel myself under much obligation to you for such suggestions as your occupations may leave you at leisure to make….There are two points in the paper….which are almost fundamental, & with respect to which I collect, from your answer, that the ideas which are in contemplation were not sufficiently explained. The first of these is with respect to the nature of the fund to be credited for the augmentation of those livings where the smallness of the income now affords an unanswerable plea for non-residence….no idea was ever entertained of diverting to this purpose the bounty-fund, now appropriated to a similar, but distinct, object. The effect of the measure adopted by Parlt. for the sale of the Landtax has left at the disposal of Parlt. an annual income which is now above £60,000 & may probably very much increase. This as it arises in part from land may not improperly be applied to an object so material to the interests of the land owners throughout the Kingdom, as that of the residence of the parochial clergy, & such an addition to the general income of the church, tho' not considerable in proportion to the present amount, yet would afford a strong proof of the anxiety of the Legislation for promoting the interests of Religion' and also discusses his second point, that of the management of the fund, 'which you seem to apprehend an intention of placing in the hands of Trustees distinct from the Bishops & paramount to their authority…the design of the whole plan is in every instance to strengthen instead of weakening their authority….the plan is to vest the execution of this trust in the trustees of the bounty fund, giving only to them such power of enlarging their own body, particularly by the addition of some professional men, as may relieve them from too great an accession of labour not immediately belonging to their Episcopal function.' Grenville hopes that the explanation of his ideas has been beneficial to Scott, 'particularly those which relate to the legal proceedings by which the Bishops are to exercise & enforce their superintending power….And on every part of it we are most anxious to have the benefit of your advice…', and adds that smaller points would be better discussed in conversation and that whenever his correspondent has any suggestions on the leading points 'Mr. Pitt & myself would much wish for an opportunity of conversing with you fully upon it' and concludes 'As at present informed we see no way by which that object can be accomplished but by increasing those incomes which are insufficient to maintain a resident Minister and removing those difficulties which now render the exercise of Episcopal superintendence in this respect, invidious, expensive, & frequently ineffectual; & the removal of which would as we conceive entitle the Legislation to require in return an active & systematic exertion of that Power which the Establishment has intended to vest in the hands of Bishops.' The central pages are neatly taped together at the vertical centre, only very slightly touching a few letters of text, otherwise VG. €315-440

Sir William Scott (1745-1836) 1st Baron Stowell. English Judge & Jurist.