1803. A)ifnveif to Obfcrvations on Tithes^ No. 13. />. 6i''j6. 443 



greater part, had nothing elfe in view, but to enhance the price 

 ol" what found policy requlved them to rs,linquifh. With regard 

 to the taxes on tea and coals, converted into one on windows 

 and ajiodier on fpirits, all canal, road, and harbour bills, they 

 proceed upon the undeniable principle, that ("ubjecls mull fur- 

 render pcirt of their property for the fecurity and improvement 

 of the remainder, and that the Lcgiflature is the competent 

 judge of the part to be thus furrendered. But the commuration 

 of tithes wouid be a f.irrender, not of a partf but of the iv/jole 

 of a property, fo valuable, as to amount, according to your cor- 

 refpondent, to one fixteenth "of the rental of the country, and 

 to much more *, according to my conjecture. Now, fuppohng 

 tithes to be property in his fenfe of the word, as annuities and 

 wages are, or as any lucrative tax is, and fubjecl, like them, to 

 be modified and altered by the Legillature, would he not think 

 it rather an unprecedented and unconftitutional iiretch of power 

 in a Britilh Parliament, to enforce an exchange, even of fuch 

 property, to the extent of three millions yearly, without previ- 

 oully obtaining the confent of the parties inrerefted ? However 

 much we may dilfer on other points, I Hatter myfelf, that nei- 

 ther he, nor any lover of his country, would advife fuch an im- 

 portant meafure to be pained forward, contrary to the wifhes of 

 either the purchafers or the fellers. He furely mult be fenfible, 

 that not merely their concurrence, but their cordial co-opera- 

 tion, is neceiTary to carry it into effect -, and that remonftrances 

 from all the farmers and grand juries in the kingdom, would 

 not be lillened to, till they unite in an application,, and fix upon 

 the general outlines of the commutation. Of all this he feems 

 himfelf to be abundantly aware, as far as one can judge from the 

 plan which he fuggefts and illuftrates. Are we then agreed 

 conceriiing the neccility of prevailing with tithe-holders and land- 

 holders, not to confent pallively to a commutation, but to enter 

 zealoufly into an amicable acij ailment of the terms on which it 

 Ihould take place ? This is the radical principle for which I c^.^n- 



Q^(] q 2 tend. 



* Siippoling 48 millions, as he computes, to be the annual rental of 

 England, and one fourth part of the land to be tithc-frse^ or nearly [o ; 

 by paying only a very fmall nivdus, the remaining three fourtlis would 

 yield '^6 miilious of rent, one fifth of which, according to the principle 

 of valuing tithes in Scotland, amounting to more than feven millions, 

 would be the tithe ; but, on account of the circumftances which he and 

 I have mentioned, deductions fliould be allowed to reduce it to one 

 eighth, or 4V miUions. The gentleman may be right as to the real va- 

 kie of tithes actually drawn ; but, in commuting them, a fair eflimate 

 muft be made of their probable amount, as the bails of the comjuuta- 

 tion. • 



