J5>* On the Abolition of ThJyer. 03ti 



ther meliorated, from the dread of increafrg the tithe ; for 

 vhatevcr addition is, in this manner, made to the income of 

 the Church, the improver himfclf adds nine times the fum to 

 his own. '1 hat lards highly adapted for alternate cropping, 

 in palLurc and in tillage, may be kept perpetually (to their 

 \ch) in the former flate, is, in England, I believe, the fact, 

 entirely on account of the tithe, which is more moderate ia 

 the one cafe than in the olI\er ; but, dill, whatever bad ron- 

 fequenees may enfue to the community from this prop.:nhLy 

 in the hufoandmen, lliould not fo much be imputed to the 

 operation of the tithe, as to their obflinate mulifhnefs, who, 

 rather than- the par/on fhould ^erive any benefit from the tenth 

 part of the impro-ved produce, will deprive themfclves of all 

 the other }iine ! 



I know, however, that much may be faid on the other fide 

 of thh queflion, and not a little declamation may be ufed 

 againft the clergy themfclves, for '^ gathering where they did 

 ** not fcatter, and reapi!^g where they did not fow." But, 

 leaving fpeculative opinion entirely to itfelf, I would fain 

 know the fa6t. There are many eltates and farms in Eng- 

 land, and in every county in it, which are tithe-free. Now, 

 what I would wifh to know, is this, Are thefe tithe-free lands 

 univcrfaliy, or even generally, better cultivated under every 

 other like circum.ftance, but liable in tithe ? This facl, as ifi 

 may turn out, iliould go farther towards convi6i:ion, than 3 

 whole volume of argument* 



That tithes were abolifhed as f.ompktely in England as ia 

 Scotland, and the revenue of the Eiiglilh clergy (without 

 diminution) were to be colkcled in as unexceptionable a 

 manner as amongft ouvfelves, are circumflances, in my mind, 

 very defirable. But the EnghUr farmer is not the party molt 

 concerned in the abcliniing of tithe. Let him, rather try to 

 vibolilh feme of his own praclices, that are as much repug- 

 nant to good hufbandry, and more within his reach. Let 

 him abolifli his own Englifh- fallow, (land left to rejt itfelf both 

 from crop and tillage). Let him abolifli his broadcart ; 5 ten 

 the acre turnip ; the plough with 5 horfes in a line j and ele 

 the plough ivith oxai.^, end flout men 3; and (if 0)).e durft 

 mention it) his notable pradice of burning his hay, which 

 this feafon has required no little dexterity to accomplilh. But» 

 alas ! why fhould 1 advife him to all this ? The tithe, alreadj 

 a grievous burden, being through thefe means doubled, would 

 become in fuffcr able ! 



A ScoTisH Farmer. 



Mid- Lothian y September ^. 1 800. 



TO 



