37 



is uufair because uo account is taken of inferior wheat, which 

 does not come into the market, but is consumed by stock, or 

 because the average is kept abnormally high owing to the excess 

 of barley and oats over wheat, upon which it is calculated. Other 

 objections may be urged against the principle adopted in 1836, 

 which are more or less true and weighty. But as between 

 titheowner and landowner, it is confidently submitted that these 

 questions are immaterial. Existing landowners have, with few 

 exceptions, acquired or inherited their property subject to the 

 arrangement then made : the bargain struck between the two 

 parties has greatly benefited the tithepayer ; many of the con- 

 siderations which agitators seek to introduce into a new 

 arrangement would, if entertained in 1836, have operated to 

 the disadvantage of the landowner. If it can be proved that the 

 prices of corn on which the averages are calculated include rail- 

 way and loading dues, a case is shown for change ; this artificial 

 increase in price was never contemplated in the original 

 bargain. Bat, except in this instance, there does not exist, in 

 my opinion, any ground for the demand for recommutatiou. 



The agitation which the landlords' arrangement has fostered 

 will be used to pare down the interests of the clergy ; when this 

 has been effected by a recommutatiou the agitation will 

 recommence ; the first step in legislation will shortly be followed 

 by another Act compelling landlords to redeem the diminished 

 charge. On the other hand, it is possible that the present agita- 

 tion against tithe is artificial, and that if the payment is trans- 

 ferred from the tenant to the landlord it would gradually 

 disappear. So, again, it is possible that the future will not be 

 so bad as the present. On these points there may be wide 

 discrepancies of opinion : I can only state my own conviction 

 that nothing short of a complete redemption of the tithe will 

 ever permanently settle the questions which tithe rent-charge 

 has always raised. 



The issue really is whether the tithe i-ent-charge, which is, 

 in fact, a first mortgage on the land on which it is payable, 

 should be permanently redeemd once and for all. There can, 

 I think, be no dispute that the removal of this fixed money 

 payment secured upon the land is demanded in the interests of 

 agriculture. No doubt agriculture prospers best when capital 

 is free. The argument equally applies to the land-tax or any 

 other form of charge secured upon land. Some of my readers 

 may be familiar with Carleton's Farm Ballads ; if so, they will 

 remember " The Mortgage : " — 

 " We worked through spring and winter, through summer and 



through fall. 

 But the mortgage worked the hardest and steadiest of them all ; 

 It worked on nights and Sundays, it worked each holiday; 

 It settled down amongst us and it never went away. 



