SECT. XXXVI.] RESULTS OF THE INQUIRY. 30? 



SECTION XXXVI. 



MEASURES RECOMMENDED FOR THE APPROPRIATION 

 OF TITHES. 



IT has been suggested to us, that in the event of any per- 

 manent settlement of the tithe question being effected by 

 Parliament, upon whatever principle that settlement should 

 be based as affecting the political part of the question, it 

 might be practicable, without prejudice to any class of 

 persons, to create a national fund that might be made 

 available towards the charitable purpose for which we 

 think that a national rate must be raised, and which would 

 render such rate much less burthensome than it would 

 otherwise be to the country. 



The tithe composition payable for the whole titheable 

 land of Ireland amounts to about 665,0007. a year ; of this 

 about 555,0007. is for ecclesiastical, 110,0007. for lay tithe. 



The highest value set upon tithe composition has been 

 sixteen years' purchase. 



The whole tithe composition, purchased at sixteen years' 

 purchase, would amount to 10,640,0007. 



A Government annuity of 352,0007., sold at the present 

 price of three per cent, consols, would produce something 

 more than 10,640,0007. 



Thus, if the Government purchased up the tithe com- 

 position, it would pay for it 10,640,0007., and it could raise 

 this sum by the sale of a perpetual annuity of 352,0007. 



Therefore, if the state purchased the tithe composition, 

 and then vested it in the Poor Law Commissioners, as a 



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