238 GovERN'MENT, Laws, [Part 11, 



insert the word tithes ; for, as there were many presb}'- 

 terians and other dissenters present, they could not, 

 •with clear conscieiices, pledge themselves to support 

 the church. This made them furious. It was lifting up 

 the mask ; and the parsons were enraged beyond measure. 



433, Oh, no ! Tithes do not mean religion. Religion 

 means a reverence for God. And, what has this to do 

 with tithes ? Why cannot you reverence God, without 

 l3aker and his wife and children eating up a tenth part 

 of the corn and milk and eggs and lambs and pigs and 

 calves that are produced in Botley parish ? The Par- 

 sons, in this country, are supported by those who choose 

 to employ them. A man belongs to M'hat congregation 

 he pleases. He pays what is required by the rules of 

 the congregation. And, if he think that it is not neces- 

 sary for him to belong to any congregation, he pays 

 nothing at all. And, the consequence is, that all is har- 

 mony and good neighbourhood. Here are not disputes 

 about religion : or, if there be, they make no noise. 

 Here is no ill-will on this account, A man is never 

 asked what religion he is of, or whether he be of any 

 religion at all. It is a matter that nobody interferes in. 

 What need, therefore, is there of an established Church ? 

 What need is there of tithes 1 And, M'hy should not that 

 species of property be taken for public use? That is to 

 say, as far as it has any thing to do with religion I I 

 know very well, that tithes do not operate as many 

 people pretend ; I know that those who complain most 

 about them have the least right to complain ; but, for 

 my present purpose, it is sufficient to shew, that they 

 have nothing to do with religion. . 



434. If, indeed, the Americans were wicked, disor- 

 derly, criminal people, and, of course, a miserable and 

 foolish people : then we might doubt upon the subject : 

 then we might possibly suppose, that their wickedness 

 and misery arose, in some degree, at least, from the 

 want of tithes. But, the contrary is. the fact. They 

 are the most orderly, sensible, and least criminal people 

 in the whole world. A common labouring man has the 

 feelings of a man of honour ; he never tliinks of vio- 

 lating the laws ; he qrawls to nobody ; he will call every 

 pian Sir J but he will call no man masleri ^ When he 



