Writing to Sir Robert Walpole, on March 31, 1729, he pleaded for the restoration of 400 l.

a year, which had been given to the non-conforming clergy of Ireland from the privy purse, in addition to the 1,200 l.

royal bounty, which, it appears, had been suspended for two years, owing to the death of the late king.

'They are sensible,' said his grace, 'there is nothing due to them, nor do they make any such claim; but as the calamities of this kingdom are at present very great, and by the desertion of many of their people to America, and the poverty of the greatest part of the rest, their contributions, particularly in the north, are very much fallen off, it would be a great instance of his majesty's goodness if he would consider their present distress.' In our own days a Presbyterian minister would be considered to deserve well of his country if he emigrated to America, and took with him as many of the people as he could induce to forsake their native land.
But what was the great plea which Primate Boulter urged on the English Minister on behalf of the Presbyterian clergy of his day?
It was, that they had exerted their influence to prevent emigration.

'It is,' he said, 'but doing them justice to affirm that they are very well affected to his majesty and his royal family, and by the best enquiries I could make, do their best endeavours to keep their congregations from deserting the country, not more than one or two of the younger ministers having anyways encouraged the humour now prevailing here.