] Right, but isn't there a circular argument here? Jack is saying, in effect, that most of the clergy did NOT have an inclination for pastorship, but took it anyway as an easy option. You are saying that many parsons didn't have the inclination but were scared of going into the miltary,and didn't bother to get educated either!

I didn;t say that. I simply siad that with so few professions considered genteel, the church was problaby the most comfortable option. I didn't say that they were scared of the military, merely htat it was a kind of life for which not everyone would have an inclination or aptitude Besides, most officers were actually not earning a living in hte army. they had a private income as well. It was an occupation rather than a way of earning a living.

And as regards my saying htat most parsons didn't bother to get educated again that was not what I said. I had said that many clerics were not particularly well educated (cf Mr Collins) and that the big scandal of hte day was that of plural livings, where soemone who had the living could hire it on to another cleric who did the work, while he would still pocket most of the income. These were the desperate ones who were glad to be able to eanr something.. they were the ones who were probalby only minimally educated (though not in all cases I hasten to add) and who had to work for a minimal stipend. while the holder of hte living could live comfortably as a gentleman. The only authority I can cite for htis at the mometn is S Kaye Smith's Talking of Jane Austen and i am aware that she is not an historian but she was a writer with an intereest in the church.