520 Reply to Mr T. S, on Tythes» Bee. 



long overlooked, it is not of rcagnitude. I beg he would 

 not lay too much stress upon this specious conclusion, lestj, 

 like the rod of Egypt, it should pierce his own side. Man^ 

 kind are prone i.o error, and apt to neglect their best inte- 

 rest i or how comes it about, that nearly one thousand men 

 are regularly paid by the landed interest of Scotland, and a 

 fitill greater number by the public at large, merely to 

 teach them their duty, in the performance of which 

 their truest and best interest lies •* Nay, the establish- 

 ment of the very tax under consideration, proves that man- 

 kind are not so wise as your correspondent imagines ; for, if 

 they were able to comprehend their duty, consequently to 

 pursue their real interest, why were teacliers thought neces-^ 

 sary to instruct them in the one, and show them the best 

 road to the other. 



I conclude by remarking, that though tythes are, in many 

 instances, leniently drawn, particularly clerical ones (the 

 causes of which need not at this time be mentioned), the ge- 

 neral question is not thereby affected. It is the system itself 

 which I combat, not the mode in which it is executed by in- 

 dividuals. In a word, I confess myself unable to ascertain 

 tlie object which your correspondent has in view. lie can- 

 flidly acknowledges, that * tythes are unfwoourahle to im^ 



* proi'ementSy ofteji vexatious to the occupier of land, and at^ 



* tended with odiu??i, loss^ and trouble to the exactor ;' and 

 yet the apparent scope of bis communication is to prove, that 

 tythes are not an evil of magnitude. This reminds me of 

 the Billingsgate lady's speech, recorded by tlie Tatler, oi* 

 some other periodical essayist. " / oivn I am a whore ; / 

 ** own 1 am a thief ; hut as for any other thing, say Hack 

 f* is the white of my eye.''^ 



I am yours, &c. 



A FRIIiKD TO ImPROVEiMENTS. 



P. S. I omlcted to notice the side blow aimed at the 

 dissenters ; and cannot help here remarking, that it is un- 

 justly bestowed. If tythes are a part of rent (which is 

 unquestionably true, under the present system), what does 

 U signify to the tenant, whether the receiver is a churchman 

 or not. In the event of a proprietor receiving rent by a de- 

 puty, a tenant might, with the same propriety, refuse pay- 

 ment of the stipulated sum, because the deputy's religious 

 principles were not in unison with those entertained- by hina- 



' self. 



