"The Roman Catholic population has decreased by very nearly two millions, from 6,430,000 to 4,500,000. The dioceses where the loss has been greatest have been those of Tuam, Killaloe, Meath, Elphin, and Cloyne; each of which has lost something more than one-third of its Catholic inhabitants. Achonry has escaped with the loss of one-thirtieth, Waterford of that of one-eleventh, while the two Dioceses of Dublin and Connor have the rare distinction of showing a slight increase in numbers. In nine dioceses Roman Catholics are between 95 and 99 per cent. of the total population; in ten they range between 90 and 95; in four, between 85 and 90; in one, between 80 and 85; in two, between 75 and 80; while in three their numbers fall as low as between 26 and 35 per cent.... "Turning to the classification of parishes, we find that there are at present 199 parishes--5 less than in 1834--containing no member of the Established Church; 575--nearly one-fourth of the entire number--containing more than 1 and less than 20 members; 416 containing more than 20 and less than 50 members; 349 where there are between 50 and 100; and 270 with between 100 and 200 members; 309 between 200 and 300; 141 between 500 and 1,000; 106 between 1,000 and 2,000; 53 between 2,000 and 5,000; 8 parishes only range as high as 5,000 to 10,000, and 2 between 20,000 and 30,000. "The Roman Catholics have 532 parishes, to set against 53 Protestant, in which their numbers range between 2,000 and 5,000; 133 parishes with from 5,000 to 10,000 members; 32 in which the numbers lie between 10,000 to 20,000; and 3 ranging from 20,000 to 30,000. Of landed proprietors 4,000 are registered as Protestant Episcopalians, 3,500 as Roman Catholics, which seems to prove that a considerable area of land has now passed into the hands of Catholic owners, who have accordingly a good right to be heard as to the employment of state funds, with which the soil is primarily chargeable". In face of these statistics there can be no doubt but that the first assertion is abundantly proved. As to the second, all the state aid granted to Catholics is involved in the grant to Maynooth. The Presbyterians have the "Regium Donum", first given by Charles II., who allowed them £600 secret service money. William III. made it £1,200 per annum. In 1752 it amounted to £5,000. To-day it amounts very nearly to £40,000, and is capable of extension on very easy terms. The funds of the Established Church, in round numbers, may be stated as follows: