1832.] L 199 ] 



TITHES, VERSUS RENT. 



SOON after the article with this title in the preceding " Monthly" had 

 gone to press, a friend of the writer's put into his hands a Treatise on 

 Tithes, by one Parson Bearblock. The writer, having no predilections 

 for parsons or tithes in the abstract, but only in comparison with land- 

 lords and rent, threw the book aside, taking for granted, it was a 

 question-begging high-church farrago. Chancing to take it up a day 

 or two after, he was agreeably surprised, to find it written in a very 

 good spirit ; and, bating a few professional absurdities, just suited to 

 confirm the opinions which his own unprofessional observation had led 

 him to form upon the subject. 



The writer has plenty more to say, in the same strain, as in the 

 former article ; but, though like most men, who take the trouble to 

 think seriously and constantly upon any subject, he believes firmly in 

 the correctness of his views, and flatters himself, that those who happen 

 to light upon his reasoning, will agree with him, he is much more 

 anxious to contribute to the cause of truth, than to gain any credit to 

 himself as its advocate. He offers no apology therefore to sensible and 

 serious readers, for making the matter of Parson Bearblock's treatise 

 the leading, and a large portion of the present article. 



The present is a most critical juncture. Reform is wanted almost 

 every where : in most places so thorough a reform, as to be very 

 aptly styled Radical Reform ; but, though no time must be lost in 

 setting about this general business of reform ; though the Tory cry, 

 " Wait a little longer," must be treated with the contempt due to its 

 sinister intentions ; still, even at this juncture, requiring as it does, 

 promptitude and decision, hurry and rashness will be as mischievous 

 as at any other season. 



The writer has, of course, the highest opinion of his own sagacity 

 and collusiveness; but his amour propre is not so pervading, as to 

 entirely supersede his judgment. He knows when to yield the pas, 

 especially for his own purposes, to so satisfactory a personage as Parson 

 Bearblock. 



The writer is really a very public- spirited individual ! Above all 

 things his object is, at present, to save the good, well-meaning public 

 from doing itself immediate, irreparable injury : from mutilating itself: 

 from cutting off its nose to be revenged on its face. Nobody so fit as 

 the writer to help the public, from his own resources, as far as sound 

 logical induction from general facts, from matters of notoriety, may be 

 useful for the purpose : but the writer not being a man of business, 

 but only a looker on, is not, of course, intimate enough with the details 

 of transactions between landlords and parsons, and farmers, and labour- 

 ers, to furnish from his own resources that most satisfactory, and, at 

 this day, universally acceptable proof, by induction from particular 

 instances. Parson Bearblock, as will presently be seen, is an admirable 

 ally for the writer in this respect. 



Parson Bearblock's weak point is the assuming, that the right to 

 tithe, in the present day, is derived from Heaven : all he says to this 

 effect, is of course quite inadmissible, though excusable enough in one 

 brought up at the feet of Gamaliel. Especially, should Parson Bearblock 

 be excused for forcing the Jewish economy forward in his defence 

 against the person who had impugned the right of parsons to tithes. 



