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There are many defcriptions of property In this 

 kingdom much lefs capable of bearing a fcrutiny into 

 the means of its acquifition, than that of tithes. 



But when that property has been guaranteed to 

 its poffefl'ors by the conflitution and laws of the king- 

 dom, it is idle to difpute the legality of the mode by 

 which it was acquired. 



Not only that very great proportion of the tithes 

 of this kingdom which is in lay hands, has been fold 

 and bought for a valuable confideration, and many of 

 the livings which ftill remain to the church have 

 be^n as legally fold and bought under the prote^ion 

 of the law, as any other defcription of property 

 whatever; but the lands fubjeft to thofe tithes have 

 alfo been bought at reduced prices on account of 

 that incumbrance, in the fame manner as eftates have 

 been bought fubje£t to fee-farm rents, and houfes to 

 ground-rents. And although all thofe payments are 

 incumbrances on the property of one fet of men, yet 

 they conftitute the property, and frequently the only 

 property of another fet of men ; and the laws of Eng- 

 land (whofe firfi care is the prefervatlon of property, 

 however it may vary in defcription') are equally bound 

 to proteft both. 



If this fundamental rule were ftriftly kept in view, 

 that the land-owners and tithe-owners are equally en- 

 titled to their refpeftive fhares out of the produce of 

 the land, there would be fewer difputes than there 



now 



