6 1 Obfervailons on lythes, [Fe», 



warrant nir^ There, as if it was intended to place the hufban- 

 'dry of both nation's upon fomething like an equal footing, every 

 eltablillicd abufe is retained wirli aftonifliing pertinacity j and 

 the deficiency of onr climate, and poverty of our foil, compared 

 with theirs, is more than compenf.ited by the fuperiority of our 

 fyftem both legnl and conventional. I liave fomewhere read, 

 that till the occupiers of land are entrufted with as much liberty 

 in the management of their affairs as is enjoyed by merchants 

 and manufaciurers, it is unnecelfary to expedt that improve- 

 ments of any confequence will be made. In North Britain, ge- 

 nerally fpeaking, we are as nearly placed in the favourable flate 

 alluded to as circiimftances will permit •, hence a gradual pro- 

 greiTive improvement of the country is regularly going forward ; 

 l^ence the value of landed property is daily increafmg ; hence 

 the condition of tlie tenantry , is vaflly meliorated. I wifli, 

 from the bottom of my heart, I could prefcnt the fame bright 

 and flattering pidlure of Englifli hulbaiulry ; but a regard to 

 truth and juftice will not allow me to go fo far. Except in a 

 few diftriiSts, agriculture has remained ftationary for a great num- 

 ber of years; and under a continuance of eftabliflied fyftcms, 

 the gift of prophecy is not required to foretel that it may languifh 

 and go back, but that little advancement will be made. 



Since the commencement of the Farmer^s Magazine, I mud do 

 you the juftice to fay, that repeated attempts liuf e been made to 

 explain thefe things in a latisfa(Story way. Indeed, the leading 

 objcdt of your undertaking appears to me highly praife-wor- 

 thy. You fupport a liberal fyllcm betwixt proprietors and cul- 

 tivators of the foil, and have done your part to get abufcs entire- 

 ly removed. The harveft of reform, however, is a tedious buli- 

 nefs •, and long mull: the feed be fown before the plant can reach 

 maturity. Mankind are very tenacious of fyflems which have 

 been handed down from their forefathers j antl often, from a re- 

 verence more to be relpcsfhed than commended, adhere to them 

 after their inutility is almcft univerlally recognifed. 



Among other grievances which afflidt the cultivators of South 

 Britain, tyrhes paid to clergymen, or, what is worfe, to lay im- 

 propriators, arc none of the leaffc. The impolicy of this tax (it 

 cannot juftly be called by any other name) you have repeatedly 

 pointed out, though I do not remember of a remedy being fug- 

 gefled, either by you, or any of thole gentlemen who have cor- 

 rcfpondcd on the fubje<ft. Will you perniit me to iiatc my 

 opinion as to tythes ; ar>d to notice a defence of this obnoxious 

 t)urlhen prcfcntcd in your lalt Number ? 



That tythes arc a very ancient burthen upon the proprietors 

 of land, the hiilory of diiftrcnt nations fuflkiently proves. It is 

 iiol my bufinefs, at this limt^ to lay one word upon the pro- 

 priety 



