“ 
{ 244 ] 
equal to a fourth of the arable land, even when one-~ 
fifth is allowed; but even then the improvements 
being entirely the proprietors, they have been ob- 
liged to acquiefce. The acts of parliament allow 
the rectors only to leafe for the firft twenty-one 
years, and afterwards the tenants remain tenants at 
will; in confequence of which, all the lands fet 
apart for the clergy, become in a great meafure un- 
‘ productive, as the tenants take from them all they . 
can raife, and fet every improvement afide; and 
therefore they are fo far neither beneficial to the 
clergy or the nation. But were commiffioners ap~ 
pointed to value the tithes of the parifhes, and alfo 
the landed eftates of the clergy, and were they ob- 
liged, under that valuation, to grant leafes at the 
rent then fet on them, their eftates would be im- 
proved in proportion as other lands; and the tithes 
being fecured to the occupiers for a term, not ex- 
ceeding twenty-one years, they could have no ob- 
jeétion to the advance to be made on them at the 
expiration of that term, and the difficulties now 
exifting would be done away in fo far as refpects 
the occupiers and the nation. ‘The rent to be paid 
for the land would be of no confequence in what 
_ proportion it was paid, as the only {ecurity re- 
quifite to the occupiers is, that on laying out their 
capital they may have from the impropriator an 
equal term with that they have from their land- 
Jords, and to put both on an equal footing. As 
the 
