The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1824-12-11 00:00:00

CITY TITHES.

The subject daily grows in public interest and importance.
yogefiay &Hoeing of the Deputies from the parishes of the city
d London, to confer with a Committee appointed by the Corpora-
tor, as to tie best mode of procuring redress from the imposition
op the tithe of 9s. 9d. in the pound, exacted by the Rectum and
mar impropriators of several parishes in the metropolis, took plate
at lluildhall.
The Heeling of the Deputies was held in the room of the Coin.
of the City of leadon. The attendance of the De•
atolls was numerous. Amongst those from other parishes, we
atolls
the Deputies of be. (Have, Ilart-street ; St. Botolph„
• Ald-
yt. Hotolph. Itishopsgate ; St. Gregory by st. Paul's ; St.
ra.ceittplegate ; Allhallows the less; St. Helene
lo6so.witll,
At hslf.past twelve o'clock Mr. lir ICOMBE was called to the
Choirs
TheCwat.reav congratulated the Citizens of London et seeing
whirr anti respectable an assemblage collected together to discuss
sruk)ectof such vital importance to the hateful interests of the
einem The Ilepoties from the several parishes of the city proved
or thee were united as to the expediency 11111 neces.ity of resistive
the payment ol an exorbitant, and at he believed illegal, tithe.
They were disposed now to speak out with firmness and consistency
se though they spoke with one voice. (Hear, hear.) Ile had for
upwarb of 39 years resisted this obnoxious tax. The charges
to which it had subjected him, moot of them illegally exacted, cx.
ceded 7109., so that he had much reason to feel anxinusly upon the
object. There was the instance of a friend of his who had made
arregements as to his tithes. at a very large and even excessive
ester. yet after he had done so. the Minor -Canons came to survey
pretnises, and mount), put on an inctelse of 1:0/. in the tithe of
or year. They would thus see there was no mode of resisting the
ezolnume of such a charge, except by a resolute and unanimous
to:stance ; and if :hey wens only firm anti united, he felt con.
sent that they would be successful. (Hear. hear.)
31r. Ssexneas stated, the Resolutions of the Parish of St. Do.
Altigate, manifested a firm. dew/mined, and consistent op.
esinon to the undue exaction of tithes; by a similar spirit of per.
geeing and independent opposition. could they oloz.eletdte to have
'Mr exertions crowned with success. It had been there on
ore occasion, on account or the high !trice of provisions, to pay a
erten tutu to the lay impropriatefe, hut by this agreement Ite
would not abide, and took every opportunity, subsequently, to in. '
crepe the tithe to the highest amount he could impose% This had
been done by insisting is, overweening rights—rights he would call
them, although, in his opinion. they were mire instetinite and
douleful. As to the legality of these rights. they were, in his
opium, impugned by the asemained fel that the Act of the Le-
plow which imposed them had never been enrolled, and with.
omits enrolment it became inoperative. In some instance', this ,1
easruos was carried to its full extent, in others it was only exer. !
cised penally; but unless it were absolutely removed, it always
ermined as a rod of item to be called into action at the will of the
titter lay unpropeion, He (Mr. S.) was satisfied that alien'
the legisleure regsrded the origin in which this imposition first j
• trod coupled it with the circumstances of the times, they
seuld be disposed to extend rrotection to the citizens of bon-
tic. The feeling upon the subject was general, and if it was nut
117.11 gemsl even than it was, that was occasioned by the fears of
these who were deterred by the anuses that might be claimed, and for
.itch if they moved in this business their respective rectors or im. 1
proeriators might come down upon them. A. to the mode of men
feeding in this case, two ways suggested themselves; first, for each
pooh to proceed separately ; secondly. for all the citizens to pro.
teed collectively. lie( Slr. Saunders) owned, that from the various
meatus in which the several parishes stood. he thought It would
Seamatter of very great difficulty to procure one bill which would
be suited to :he wants and wishes of all the parishioners of the
lepers! parishes of London. (Hear, hem.) It was not easy so to
some a hill, that a remedy should be provided applicable to the re.
qouive grievances of each district. Fur that reason probably it
scold be advisable, at the same tints that they were tinned in their
irons, to proceed sepseately tor redress by separate petitions. This,
nerve, should be decided by the sense of the majority of the
termites, and from their knowledge of what was the feeling and
opinions of the various vestries they rcpmented. At present the'
em only met, as it were, in conference, and would make a report
of .bat passed here to.day, in order to enable them to ascertain
.hat was the general sentiment as to the lest mode of proceeding
Lie redress.

Mr. Aida'Man WAITIIM•W, who was eery favourably teceived.
sent addressed the naeung. He had to attend another committee
r the course of the day, and was induced thus early to trespass on
ant attentima It was a cause of congratulation to the citizens at
lure, that so pumiceous and respectable as assemblage should be
earned together on a subject so important to the interests of the
ismop.lis. The united and determined effort which was about to be
wide, was one at which th. 7 should all rejoice, and for Dore-Avon mare
tea this, that without Mai union it would be impossible for them
attest the great object of public benefit which they had in view.
Vase in which the present question of tithe was involved came
ilre him when he had the honour to till a judicial situation,
eh@ was happy to think that a suggestion, which he then threw
tooriginated the efforts which were at present rnak:ng to procure
seams of the grievance of which they now complained. In that
air. he bad made a devieton which he conscientiously believed to
knight, and for which the party in whose favour it had been mule.
ranked I,im ; but this was ul little avdil, fur it was trainderred
Matta Court of Clemetry where expense% were to be incurred,
sal& ataikividual could not deftay, and he watt therenwe obliged
teselmit, she could not ado& to proceed further. This showed
the advantages of combined exertion, fur the united voice of the
rableraight easily struggle against that which an individual could
altruist. alma, hear, hear.) As to the Act of the nth of Hen.
VIII. it bad been so feptaf,llll eanywased, that he would not
"tetrad the ground which had been so frequendy trod before
Liu; suffice it to say, that the Act was raster enrolled ; anti be
farther believed that it was never intended to be enrolled. (Hear,
hag When 'bat Au was passed, the circumstances of the times
erre tor different from the present. The clergy had then to mo-
nk is a peat degree for the poor-rates ; and there were other
notable tastuutiors to which 111.7 had to contribute. Such was
az thr CAW now. They hail no institution now to support. and
arena they received went to defray ihr it personal expenditure
tin lie Cilr.ll•.) &ppm,. d of the present mode of proceeding. for
atom:nix-red, when an efihrt was finmerly made in Parliament to
grease the stipends of the el,.rgy. it was resisted in a similar way,
Maher the battle having Men naught. day aster day. in Podia.
are, the net itions against the increase succeeded. He hoped similar
fens wouid be attended with similar success. The people were not
slimily mends the clergy ;if the clergy had nut enough the people
seed be found ready to stand forward and make liberal allowance
other would tartest a demand which they believed to be improper
aaldlepl. (( heers.) They should be satisfied walls nothing less
• s oension of the question. It was idle to speak of nod ern-
twn on sultan occasion moderation was only a deluoion, hat.
aveement they might make with a present rector or Milan..
rir,t. at would not be binding on his successor, and therefore a
tita.al of the question could alone give the parishioners a mfg_
alit guarantee tigninet future exactions• lie now came to
to In: opal consideration that induced him to rise—it was to
straw upon their minds that no motive of selfish interest or par.
ad peaky should interfere with their present proceeding.; and if
Mee was any parish name prosperoualy situated with respect to
kin, it should not be he that parish to say " We have no ground
oin.plaint—we are minified. and we see no reason why other t
Mint... should put their hands into our pockets in order that their I
mosaies might be relieved or their griev.uicts redressed." Such a
Primplehe hoped he would tint find to prevuil here to-day. Those
*l"ete no: n"' ul'imtssial.d.d not know how soon they might be
untaint by the oppression, and therefore their own interest
rntrad them to. make common cause with those who were the
l'inst sufferers. Their common interest, therefore, induced then.
nut broadly, openly, unitedly, and determinatc.ly. The clergy.
ailuderstood, as *ell as the lay impropriator, had been elem.
Wag a copy of the Act Parliament, and had been making ex.
lams in favour of it : hut be was sure, if the citizen* acted with
tuenteaey and with lienineon. they might rashly overcome every
feud: that could be opposed to them. They should bear in
and :kat they were supported by the great corporate body of this
mr'sh ne duty, nn less titan whose disposition, it was to tender
and assistance to every proceeding calculated to t3ll-Tat
Murata fa, and promote the prosperity of, this metropolis. Nor
46 it with their weight and intim:nee slime that they were dia.
)nsi %smart then' ; their funds were ready to be embarked In
atte, and to give edict to the etadeavours or their fellow.elti-
:44af
s- No:laine should induce then to relax in their exertionn; it
se yea•
ado too much than too little. Fur his own part, as an
"nial. he would be ever found ready to tender his best services
"' eau*, whit h was one calculated to effect a great public be-
aml with this assurance or support, lie would fur the present
'dm*. dispowd at all times to be at his post whenever the
.lwas Cr wishes of his fellow-citizens required his aid.--( Much
~.)If. b. Marne thatight the grievance was a general one, and in
7yulat or view doubt it be met. As no rotor or incumbent
e'en remise
bast
the rights and interests of his successor, he
44,' Ind expedient to me the question decided at once. An ad-
"trt mmutual agreement with the present rector or incumbent
i,tiinot b; Permanent ; he was therefore desirous of legislative
He Was satistnal that the House of Common* nimbi
7•4 v the reasonable protection for which they called upon
c". : in the prevent instance. This was a far inferablemeek of de.
the rest.
•ala) a law suit, which might afterwards be trans.
eci to the Unlearn( lairds. It should be endeavoured to int.
t'"), de minds of the Members of that House (for many of its
.!.,7‘ers were thennelves large and estensive impropriator) that
t,.fo dispoaition of hostility manifested towards the clergy.
I.ytt. "wn jail. he would not consent to a nigganlly pn.vision
he were men who had no resource lett them but their
7..22' Other corn might be attectssful in one line of business
'x
r it in another, hut the clergy were confined and
iced to
Vie'
-.1
utY and line a lite from which they could not
and be was therefore anxious to see suitable provision
kale for them
A▪
4 tiet.k., •
ian here asked, if the right of the exaction of 2s. 91.
111_•.I"Stal was. considered illegal
Nal*Nlll3l9 replinl, that there was a general bllreeftiat
,y 1;. 'ltl so• and begged to read the opinion of the Recorder eits the
?bid, was tee the following effeet :
Pt al I multi ever arrive at the construction of the Act
iuk second, a fair presumion would seem to arise that
aft I."'" at that time Wile altogether satisfied that the De.
„Z' question ever had heen enrolled.
11, 20 an
t °mond
''o ho
sever. to the 37th of Henryll. I find that in
ht birth . enry
Years of the trims of his non awl successor. Edward
'Yon an investic 1014' which had taken plate into the
1".-'•'• a commotion was -aaippoinied by the King to "lake "(de.
1. IN'tl,l.ll'
chi.reigna: appear' (the reign'