18033 Rfp^y to Mr T. S. on Tythes. 517 



improved. I put it to your corresj)oncient, whether the ma- 

 jority of Eiii^lish clergynieu are not worse provided for than 

 their brethren in Scotland, notwithstanding of tlie immense 

 sums levied upon the public, for supporting the national 

 church. 



The circumstances condescended upon by your correspon- 

 dent, as a proof that tythes are not an evil of such magnitude 

 tts represelited, will not avail him much, though he charac- 

 terizes them as facts. That lay-tythes may be purchased 

 in certain cases, I readily admit ; but that the greatest part 

 of them can ever be purchased under the present system, I 

 strenuously deny. In fact, lay-tythes are bought and sold 

 every day, or how could such a portion of English territory 

 have got quit of the burden ; and I call upon Mr T. S. to 

 •ay, whether it is consistent with his knowledge, that pro- 

 prietors have refused ro make purchases when sales were of- 

 fered ? If any person is satisfied that tythes are an evil, he 

 will not conclude, because those in the hands of laymen 

 may in certain cases be legally bought up^ that there is no 

 necessity for seeking legislative interference. He will con- 

 sider that almost the whole of the property belongino- to an- 

 cient families is entailed ; therefore unsaleable, without a 

 decree of the legislature. He will reflect upon the pride and 

 obstinacy of odiers, whosef hands are not legally tied up. 

 Judging in this manner, he will pay little regard to the in- 

 ferences of my antagonist. 



The other circumstance condescended upon, is of no weight 

 in discussing the abstract question ; though, if correct, it 

 might be produced as a proof of the supineness of the people, 

 who patiently submitted to such a grievous o^ppression. The 

 effect of tythe is only discovered as improvement advances ; 

 and the great body of any people may, by usage, be recon- 

 ciled to exactions of a still more intolerable nature, as the his- 

 tory of mankind sufficiently proves. Hence no just inference 

 can be drawn in favour of tythes, from the patience 

 displayed by those upon whom they operate ; besidts, be- 

 ing sanctioned by the legislature, and strictly enforced by the 

 administrators of the law, those interested have made the 

 best of their situation, without enquiring whether an ex-^ 

 action in kind retards the prosperity of the country or not. 



Notwithstanding I am clear that the tythe system is in- 

 jurious to agriculture, I am not altogether satisfied that it is 

 detrimental to the general body of farmers ; seeing that land 

 is on that account set to them upon much lower terms, as ve- 

 ry properly stated by a correspondent, in your fourth num- 

 ber. It is the restraint upon their operations, and the une- 



X X X a quality" 



