iS&3' ^" Tithes, jr4r 



TO THE CONDUCTOR OF THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE, 



Tithes again confidered. 

 Sir, 



The filence of all parties for fome time paft, refpe£l:Ing the 

 grand queftion of Tithes, gave me reafon to hope that the fub- 

 jed was at length fairly laid to reft. But it would feem, that 

 the reafon why the afhes of controverfy were not fooner ftirred 

 up, was only that in the end they might be blown into a flame. 

 Your correfpondent T. S. feems to have confidered and reconfi- 

 dered the fubje6l ; and, left his argument might appear to have 

 a weak fide, he refts his defence on the ftrong footing of right 

 and jujiice. Thus, to be fure, he tries to fliut our mouths as 

 completely as though he were to join ifTue with thofe who hefi- 

 tate not to trace them back to the remote period of the days of 

 the Old Teftament. If, indeed, * juftice is out of the que- 

 * ftion, ' while we force the holders of tithes to give up their 

 rightf then, certainly, the lefs that is faid about the bufinefs the 

 better; i(^ however much a fet of farmers and others, who 

 have an intereft in the affair, may indulge their fpleen in pe- 

 riodical publications, yet a wife Legiflature will moft unqueftion- 

 ably never be tempted to deviate from the path of reditude and 

 found policy. 



Are we then to believe, that the land-owners, who hold 

 feven eighths of the property of the kingdom, are the mon^ 

 Jlrum horrenduMy the Polyphemus, who is keen on fwallow- 

 ing up the weak innocent lambs, who have a right to the other 

 eighth part ? I fear that to tell this, would be but an indifFer- 

 ent way to get the landed intereft to ftand firm in defence of the 

 prefent fyftem oi tithes. But if this gentleman is inclined to 

 difpute the aff'air on the ground of right, everi into that field we 

 will follow him. The clergy are compofed of a fet of men whom 

 I revere ; men, without whofe counfel and example we fliould 

 foon degenerate, however polifhed might be our manners, or 

 however far advanced we might be In fcience, into mere world- 

 lings, regardlefs of our immortal concerns. While, therefore, 

 I argue the matter, I mean not to attack them, but to reprehend 

 the plan by which they are maintained. 



From what mother, then, fprung this poor man's ewe lamb.? 

 (the expreflion is your correfpondent's own). — What was the 

 origin of tithes ? If your correfpondent will lay open before 

 me the word of infpiration, he muft be prepared to fhow 



yot. IV. NO. xiy. R r thg^ 



