1797-) 
many of thofe moft highly beneficed, 
as, by their conftant attentions to fecular 
interefts and calculations, on the prefent 
plan, attended as it is with perpetual 
oppofition and ftrife! As to the idea of 
degradation by the mode of recerving their 
ftipends, I humbly conceive this objec- 
tion to be founded more in falfe notions 
of proper dignity, than in jutt and trne 
ones. The narrow, peeping, and invi- 
dious fyftem of afcertaining and colle¢t- 
ing fmall tithes, is abundantly more 
objectionable under this head, than 
drawing a quarterly or half-quarterly 
draught, receiving by agent, or applying 
In perioh, as circumftances may render 
moft convenient. But we may reafon- 
ably fufpect, that the comparative infecu- 
rity of fuch funds, is, more than any 
thing elfe, objeétionable wath your cor- 
re{pondent—and might be mofl likety to 
be pleaded againit, by the clergy, asa 
body... Be it, however, believed, that if 
once the government of the - country 
become changed, the fy ftem of tithes will 
not be a favourite object of continuance ; 
nor the clergy who may ftickle for that 
coatinuance, the moft fafe in their fitua- 
tions. ‘[ne judges, and the moft ufeful 
officers of the ftate, have been, from 
time immemorial, uniformly fupported 
by a money payment, in their re{pective 
dignities—and that fupport has been 
uniformly and progreflively liberal, in 
proportion to the altered value of money, 
through all periods of the government. 
Should the fund ‘for the object in 
‘queftion, though (as it doub'lefs would 
be) fufficiently large at firf?, be in danger 
of becoming otherwife by the lapfe of 
time, the prefent, or fir, annuitants of 
it need not fear for themfelves---and 
their fucceffors in office are no natural 
pofteritys of their’s; confequently, not 
tié natural objeéts of their concern. 
hither are only poffefiors for life, and 
each will have the ‘fecurity of govern- 
ment, fo long as government lafts: and 
fo long as ‘government itfelf adheres to 
the conftitution of England, the church 
and the government may be fate toge- 
ther—all beyond is uncertainty ! 
The idea which J. W. feems to adopt, 
that the prefent clerical poffeffors of 
tithe income, are parties, as to a free- 
hold of inheritance, and, confequently, 
have a right of refiftance again any 
alteration, in quality of proprietors 1 
fee, I conceive to be going too far, 
either for truth or found policy. The 
higheft magiftrate of the civil power, is 
alfo a'conftitutional head of the church 
of England—and the civil power 1s par- 
amount to all other diftinctons, in this 
‘ 
Abolition of Tithess 
183 
country. The converfe would be Pose 
dom—and a {piritual ufurpation—whic 
the conftitution of this country admits 
not. Time has been, when the power 
of the priefthood was an Lmpcrium in 
Imperio, in this ifland, and from which 
the greateft evils refulted to fociety ; 
but it is fo no longer.—Its arrogance was 
ever odious, and at the extreme of ops 
¥ 
 pofition to the primitive Chriftian re- 
ligion. 
The prefent taxation of landed-pro- 
perty, Gmply, and (which is the grand 
evil complained of) the taxation of in- 
duftry and expenfive experimental im- 
provement, are founded on civil autho- 
rity only ; and, during pleafure, guarah- 
teed by the legiflature, as the means of 
maintenance for a particular clafs of fub- 
jeéts—but the power that eftablifhed, 
and upholds, can afer, at pleafure. It 
conftitutionally knows no rival autho- 
rity; but is concerned fo to exercife its 
own, and to d» that rationa! and feafon- 
able juftice, which, according to the 
circumftances of the times, it fhall deem 
moft conducive to the-general fatif- 
faétion and good of the common-wealth. 
On this principle, I would reft the pre- 
{ent branch of the fubjeét ; and if your 
correfpondent can fhow, by fair argu- 
ment, the contrary to be true, your 
candour will, doubtlefs, admit ss rea- 
foning ; to which, alfo, I fhall be happy 
to pay preper attention. 
But J. W. has not thought proper to 
notice the different modes of alteration 
fuggefted by the author of the effay-— 
one of which, at _leaft, I prefume, will 
be found free from objections. relative to 
depreciating the income or dignity of the 
clergy, viz. the purchaiing of /ands, to be 
holden in truft, for the benefit of the 
national clergy, and to become the per- 
manent fource of their maintenance, with 
all the advantages of fecuriry, fimpli- 
city, and increale; which may be eafily 
conceived by the unprejudiced public, 
and the warmeft friends of the national 
church. 
"This plan, equally with the other, 
would bring us to a deliverance from the 
incumbrance of tithes, and be equally 
fatisfactory to the country. Inthe fore- 
going obfervation:, I thought it right 
to combat the reafoning of your corre- 
fpondent, on the ground he had chofen ; 
but £ am not particularly partial to the 
plan he cenfures, and fhould be abun- 
dantly happy to fee this laff, lefs excep- 
tionable one, in a train for adoption, 
rather than the continuance of the pre- 
fent fyfiem. 
March 6; 1797- 
Re e 
A LAYMAN. 
22 aH) Shi 


