2^6 Letter f/ow a Scoti/Jj Farmet'j'^c. Oft. 



good or bad, according to the confidence repofed in the pro- 

 prietor : and, where held under that fecurity, the manage- 

 pient was generally good. In the grazing line, the Englifli 

 farmers may be confidered as fuperior to their Scotilh bre- 

 thren, though the latter will not lol'e in comparifon, wherever 

 the plough is introduced. 



I am, yours, &c. 



N. 



TO THE CONDUCTORS OF THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



On the Abolition of Tithes, 



Gentlemen, 



This fubjeft having already attracted confiderable notice 

 in fome of your preceding Numbers, I truft to the impartia- 

 lity you profefs, that what I have now to remark, although 

 perhaps differing in fome degree from your own fentiments, 

 may, neverthelefs, find a place in the Farmer's Magazine, 

 which feems to be, of all other periodical works, the fittefl. 

 lor difcufilng this important queftion. 



Whether tithes fhould be abolifhed or not, may perhaps 

 beft appear from inquiring how they affe£t the intereft of the 

 parties concerned, who may be arranged into the following 

 clalTes : Firsts The Proprietors of the ground which is liable 

 in tithe : Second, The Clergy, whofe revenue is at prefent 

 payable from it : Thlrdy The Farmers or Tenants, from whofe 

 crop and cattle the tithe is taken : Lastly, The Community at 

 large. 



First, then, as to the Proprietors. To me it appears, 

 that their intereft is ftrongly aiFedled by the tithe, and that 

 they are particularly interefled to get it aboliftied, becaufe 

 they do not get a fair rent for their land, or as much as it 

 would otherwife bring, (exclufive of an equivalent to the 

 clergy), were there to be no tithe drawn at all. My idea 

 is, that were a farm, including the tithe, to be intrinfically' 

 worth 130I. a-year, and that the tithe itfelf amounts to 30I. \ 

 yet the proprietor, inftead of getting 90I. of rent, as he ought, 

 for fuch a farm., would not get more than 80I., and not even 

 fo much j for, as the drawing of tithe in kind is always a ha- 

 f ailnig circumftance, the tenant, in making his bargain, will 



have. 



