done, a fifth, a fixth, or any given portion of the free rent, after the payment of parliamentary taxes affecting land, would be decla red due to the tithe-owner in lieu of the payment of tithes in kind. One claufe of the decree would probably be, to compel every layowner of tithes to fell his right to the landholder at a fair and equitable, but regulated, price; and another would be, declaring the clergy entitled for ever to a fifth or fixth, or fome determinate portion, of the prefent real free rent of all titheable lands to which they had right, and fubjecting the proprietors to the regular payment thereof. Thus, at once, would a load, which has for many ages preffed down the fpirit of the English farmers, be removed; and while all ranks and degrees applauded the equity and the propriety of the arrangement, a fpi.. rit for agricultural improvements would evince itself superior to any of which the records of this country make mention.

This mode is the lefs exceptionable, as it is almost fimilar to that adopted when acts of parliament are paffed for enclofing particular parishes. At the first meeting of the commiflioners

named

cafily done by taking the average price of corn for the last feven or ten years (excluding, however, 1795), the clergy could fuftain no lofs, nor would after valuations, in confequence of the depreciation in the value of money, be rendered neceffary.

named in the act, they direct, that all having in terest may deliver in their claims, and the rights on which they claim, against a certain day. Those being afterwards examined by the commiffioners (who are neither more nor lefs than arbiters appointed by the legislature), their deci fion conftitutes the law in regard to the right by which the individual proprietors hold the lands, which by the arbiter's award is affigned to them. In place, therefore, of multiplying acts of parliament refpecting the adjustment of tithes ad infinitum, one only, and that a very fhort one, feems neceffary, authorifing his Majefty to arbitrate between the owners of tithes and the landholders ; and whofe award, like that of the commiffioners appointed under acts of parliament for enclofures, fhould be final, and have the effect of law.

Having laid down the general principle, it will not be expected that any attempt will be made to combat the little difficulties that may be ftarted against the practicability of carrying the meafures founded thereon into effect. These the wisdom of the arbiter is fully fufficient to obviate. One thing is certain, viz. that a decree-arbitral, pronounced by fuch high authority, and founded on these principles, would give universal fatisfaction to every party concerned, and to every confiderate individual in that kingdom.

SEC

SECTION II.

The Poor's Laws and Poor's Rates.

NEXT in order, and fcarcely lefs oppreffive to the farmer, or injurious to the interefts of agriculture in England, are the poor's laws and poor's rates.

The poor's laws and poor's rates, those most impolitic of all impolitic laws, were unquestionably established on principles, and from motives, that do honour to the feelings of the legislative body of the time in which they were enacted. They were confidered, not only by thofe who framed and fupported them, but by all fenfible and intelligent people, as the wifest and most philanthropic of human inftitutions. They had for their chief object the comfortable subsistence of those who, feeble through age or misfortune, were rendered incapable of exerting themselves in fuch a manner as to procure from their labour a fufficient fupply of the neceffaries of life, and that by means the moft rational, namely, by compelling those who poffeffed none, or but a fmall fhare, of "the milk of human kindness" to contribute in an equal proportion with those who, from liberal and beneficent difpofitions,

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would

would have continued to do fo without legal compulfion. It was expected, that the enacting of these laws would have had the effect of introducing a fpirit of induftry among the lower ranks; which, while it tended to render the operation of the poor's laws in a very small degree burdenfome to the wealthy part of the community, would alfo have greatly promoted the profperity of the nation. But how blind is human forefight, and how imperfect all human inftitu tions! Thefe laws, from the eftablifhment of which fo many happy effects were expected to refult, have tended to confequences of the most alarming nature; confequences which, if effectual measures are not fpeedily taken to avert them, may and probably will foon end in univerfal ruin.

Lord Kames, in his Sketches of the History of Man, obferves, "that in Dr Davenant's time the poor's rates were about L. 700,000 annually. In 1764 they amounted to L. 2,000,000. In 1773 they amounted to L. 3,000,000, equal to fix fhillings in the pound land-tax." So that if they have increafed in an equal ratio fince the year 1773, which will not be denied, they cannot now (1796) be lefs than L. 5,000,000, equal, by the above calculation, to ten fhillings in the pound land-tax.

The poor's laws, notwithstanding the enormous affeffments to which they give rife, are by no

means

means attended with the advantages which were expected. In place of tending to improve the' morals, or to increase the industry of the poor, they have had quite a contrary effect. It was but a short time after the enactment of these laws that the public were infulted with the famous fong of

Hang forrow, caft away care,

The parish is bound to maintain us.

And how much this fentiment feems to be impreffed on the minds of the generality of that defcription of people for whofe benefit thefe laws were framed, is well known to all who live under their influence. They require not to be reminded how neceffary it is become to endeavour, by every poffible means, to curb that spirit of licentiousness which fo generally reigns within the walls of a parifh work-houfe; whence fhame and honeft pride seem to be for ever banished.

The fubject of the poor's laws is too complicated to be fully explained in a work of this nature; but in so far as they bear hard upon the agriculture of England, it is neceffary to take notice of them.

These laws, from no alteration having been made in regard to the fpecies of property affef fable in virtue thereof, although they might have been confidered equitable at the time they were enacted,

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