88oo« A Rural Shtch of the Coutiiy of Laiicafer. 247 



The fituation of Lancafliire boafts of advantages, fulted 

 to the views of manufa6luring and commercial men, which 

 few countries poffefs. Mines of coal and fountains of wa- 

 ter, navigable rivers and numerous canals, found every- 

 where, invite enterprifing individuals to form a fettlement. 

 Wa(hed by the ocean for many miles of coaft, Lancaftiire 

 can export multifarious fuperfluities, and receive in return 

 all the articles, that neceflity, curiolity, cupidity, or caprice, 

 can demand. External intercourfe with foreign nations is 

 eafy ; internal navigation is commodious. A nobleman of 

 immenfe fortune *, an example to all of the fame high order, 

 devotes his attention to trade ; and, by means of a canal of 

 his own, ftretching at leaft forty miles without a Tingle lock, 

 covered with vefTeis of various fizes, moving in different 

 directions, facilitating interior communication, Increafing the 

 general profperity, carries on an extended lucrative bufinefs. 

 The induftry of the people, greatly favoured by nature, 

 nouriflied by the countenance of fuperiors, is difplayed and 

 manifefted, not in raifing rural produ£lions, but in working 

 up raw materials. 



The exiftence of tithes is an effe(flual obftru£lion to all 

 tural improvements. The farmer will not fow, when the 

 clergyman reaps. If a cultivator, of inferior capital, can 

 avoid a partial, oppreflivc, odious fyftem, as is that of 

 taking tithes •, if, by a different mode of management, he 

 can lawfully prevent a flranger from devouring a tenth of 

 the fruits of his labours ; if he can fecure to his family an 

 exclufive right to all the advantages his induilry hath ac- 

 quired, how can he be blamed ? What docs he do more 

 than every Other man would attempt.'* Chriftianity, with all 

 its able, eloquent, faithful, public advocates, ought to be fup- 

 ported, but never by the oppreffion of a particular clafs of 

 refpe£lable, induftrious citizens. The patron ought to be 

 made refponfible with his own funds, whenever a clerical 

 man is impofed on a parifh, in direct violation of the beft in- 

 clinations, the acknowledged rights, the noblefl interefls of 

 the people. There are many negle£led ftarving curates in 

 England ; but, if the lands are always unfown and unreaped, 

 the writer ihould not be furprifed to fee flarving vicars too, 

 and reclors who could no longer afford to fpend their ufual 

 pleafurable months at Bath. Tithes produce two unhappy 

 effedls, creating a rooted averfion to a national church, and 

 deprefling the fpirit of agricultural adventurers. A mind 



A a 4 inflamed 



* Jhe Duke of Bridgcwatcr. 



