68 Oh/ervatidtJS on Tythes. [FEB. 



paid, the tythe holder fhould have a claim for the fame propor- 

 tion of all fuch fines or grafliims levied by proprietors. This fhare 

 of rental to increafe or diminilh as rents increafed or diminifhed, 

 which obviates every objection hitherto offered againfl a commu- 

 tation in money ; allows the tythe-holder a due fhare of every e- 

 molument that might arife from the encreafing profperity of the 

 country ; and prevents him from fuffering a lofs in cafe money 

 Ihould fall in value, as has hitherto happened. 



Thofe who are acquainted with the ancient Scottish tytUe fyf- 

 tem, will at once perceive, that though I have taken it as the ba- 

 ils of my plan, yet I have deviated a little from it in the rate of 

 commutation. The proportion in Scotland is one-fifth of the 

 rent, but I have ftated one-llxth as an equitable payment. It is 

 well known, that in Scotch valuations, deductions arc conflantly 

 made for improvements, and that in fa<Sl: tythe, even at the time 

 of valuation, feldom exceeds one-fixth of the real rental. Be- 

 fides, under the propofed adjuftment, the proprietor has a fair 

 claim to an eafe or deduction, upon account of future improve- 

 ments, from which the tythe-holder would conflantly reap profit 

 without being fubje(fled to any expencc. 



If we may fuppofe that the average rent of arable land in Eng- 

 land, fubjedt to tythe, is 25 fliillings per acre, and that it would 

 be worth 30 fhillings when exonerated, then the fum payable 

 to the tythe-holder would under this fuppofition amount to 5 

 fhillings per acre, fo long as the fcale of rent remained on its pre- 

 fent footing. If rent increafed, fo would the tythe duty increafe ; 

 the intereft of all the parties would go hand in hand ; and, while 

 the obftacle to improvement would be removed, which is the 

 chief object intended, fecurity would be gained by all concern- 

 ed for enjoying the full advantage of their feparate rights. 



The fecond clals of land is the old paftures. The introduc- 

 tion of convertible hufbandry, the main fource of tythes, is effec- 

 tually prevented upon land of this defcription ; and as, without 

 convert'.b.;: hufbandry, few tythes can be collected, it muft ap- 

 pear rcalonable that a different bails fhould be aflumed when 

 treating of the rate to be paid in lieu of tythe under fuch cir- 

 cumflances. Perhaps one-tenth of the rent is too much to be 

 levied upon fuch lands. I am clear it ought not to be higher ; 

 and when the general richnefs of the old partures is confidered, 

 it feems probable that a tenth here will be tqiial to a fixth of 

 the rent of old arable land. This rate I propofe lliould continue 

 in all time coming, whether convertible hufbandry is, or is not, 

 introduced. 



The lafl clafs is the wafte lands. Here it Is obvious, that 

 tythe from fucli lands depends entirely upon the nature and ex- 

 tejit of the improvements that are jjiacie, for, in their natural 



ilate, 



