The Sun.
London, England, 1833-04-19 00:00:00

SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS.

. •
Lord Althorp Obtained leave to bring in a Bill
for the commutation of tithes in England. The
leading features of the measure, as stated by hi%
Lerdship, may be explained in a few words. For
the first twelve months the measure is to be per-
missive only : and, considered in this respect, it
merely allows tithe-payers and tithe-owners (whether
clergymen or lay impropriators) to agree upon the.
amount of a perpetual corn rent which shall be paid
by the one and received by the other in lieu of
tithes, The commutation is be perpetual, but the
amount of the commutation is to be varied at cer-
tain fixed periods of years, according to the fluctua-
tions in the price of corn. No such agreement.
however, for commutation can be entered into bs.
a clergyman without the consent of the patron of
the living, or the bishop of the diocese; nor bu
the tenant of a farm, without the consent of hi•
landlord. The measure becomes compulsory after
the lapse of twelve months : that is to say, where-
ever, during that period, voluntary agreements fo
commutations have not been entered into as the ac'
permits, any individual or number of tithe-payers
or the tithe-receiver (any parishioner or number of
pa .;shionerq, or the parson) may demand a commute•
tion. Upon notice of this demand of 'he one party to
the other party concerned, each of them is to appoin
a valuator to act on his behalf. But the choice of th
parties with respec, to valuators is subject to thi•
restriction,--namely, that the bishop of the diocese
is to name a certain number of persons, and the ma-
gistrates in quarter sessions are to name an equir
number; and from the j•iint number so named
the bishop and the magistra.es the parties to an
commutation must select their respective valuators
Thus apprkeed, the valuators are to ascertain
average value (in corn and in money) which has
been paid, or agreed to be paid, for the tithe during
the preceding seven years. The average value, si
ascertained, is to he the commutation in lieu
tithe. unless the valuators think it too great or too
small, and, in that case, they are to be allowed tr
vary the amount of the commutation, below or above
the said averaee value to the extent of ten per cent
The amount thus settled is to be the amount of tin
commutation in lieu of the tithe and the tithe•
receiver may elect to take it, for the given number
of years during which the amount of the commie.-
tion is to remain unvaried, either in money or it
corn. These are the chief provisions of the ac.
Th- appointment of umpires in the event of dim r-
etires between the valuators,—the number of yeah
during which ti.a commutations are to remain WM..
r ied ;—and many other important details, were r).l
developed, but merely alluded to by Lord Althorp
in the manner which is customary when no mole
is asked of the House than leave to bring in a bill.
—Times.

A measure of the very greatest consequence, and
Which we have no doubt will lead to the most be
neficial results, was last night proposed by Lou
Alhorp—earrely, a Bill for the Coramu•ation
Tithes. The principle of the Bill is, the perpetual
commutation of tithes for a corn rent. The com-
mutation is only to be permissible for one year;
bit if at the end of that period no arrangement
shall have been entered into, then it shall be in 6t
power of either tithe-payer or tithe-receiver, to give
notice of an intention to commute. The Bill applies
to all owners of tithes, whether lay or clerical ; anti
the of jact seems to be a fair and honest commuta-
tion. It is net now necessary to enter into any
consideration of the machinery by which the Bill
is to be carried into effect, as subsequent sug-
gestion may improve any deficiencies in tha
respect. The valuators are not to be left to
their own caprice in estimating the tithe, nor
are they to be allowed to consider what ought
to be paid, but must take the tithe which ha-
aetually been paid, on an average cf the pre-
ceding seven years. The tithe, too, is to be ap-
portoried to the different parts of an estate,
PO •that the owner might not be subjected to the
trouble and expense .of a fresh valuation, when he
wi-bed to effect a sale of part of his property. We
quite twee with Lard Althorp in thinking " that '
the advantage to both parties would be so great it,
the commutation of tithes, that he 'felt confident
each party, having the power of compelling the
commutation of tithes, would have the effect of
pretty generally producing a commutation through-
out the country." His Lerdship also stated, that
" other measuies with re-pact to the Church. of
England were ahsolutely necessary—some of them
pressing mote, some less. There was one measure
which lie hoped would be brought forward,
either in this or another place, which was
the 'prevention, in future, of pluralities.—
(( heers.) That was a measure which he considered
pres.-ed very much.—(Cheers.)" Some objeciion-
were started by Mr. Hume as to the selection of the
valuators, and the injustice of considering only the
amount that had been actually paid, which he consi-
dered would give an unfair advantage to those who
had screwed up their tithes of late years. With
respect to the objection to the mode of appointing
valuators, we attach the less importance to it, that
the principles which must govern them are to be
determined; and we do not see how a departure
from the actual payments can be sanctioned,
without opening a door to endless contests. A
stronger objection, and one more difficult to deal
with, was taken by Mr. Baring. " There was one
point," he said, " which it would be indispensible to
consider in the proposed treasure. He alluded to
land which was in a state of garden cultivation; and
to land where hops and oilier valuable produce were
grown. On some laud of that desorption the tithe-
amounted to 40s. an acre, which was more than the
rent. If that tithe were perpetuated, a charge
would be perpetuated on laud, which at some future
period it might not be able to meet." There might
be an exception made with regard to lands culti-
vate,' in this manner, so that the principle of valua-
tion might be applied to them, while the rest of the
country was dealt with according to the average
payments of the last seven years. We know lands
which would not let at twenty shillings an acre, of
which the vicarage tithe amounts to three guineas
au were. The expense of manuring an acre alone
amounts to lice guineas. It would be unjust to fix
the perpetual tithe, according to crops, depending
ento•ely on a heavy outlay on the land. Lord
.Althorp, in reply, observed that the only way of
meeting the difficulty storied by Mr. Hume, would
be an actual valuation, aid that, so far from giving
satisfaction, would excite great and general dis-
content. He admitted that the mode of selectiug.
valuators proposed was objectionable, and if any
less offensive mode could be devised, he should
roost cheerfully adopt it The measure upon the
whole seemed to give great satisfaciion; arid we
have no doubt
.that no one act of Lord Althorp's
life wiil have produced more extensive benefits than
the one proposed by him last night. In fact, what
Mr. Baribg described as the pt.-tette in many
parishes of working the clergy by means of the
poor-rate-, has more than anyihing &se cnetributed
to the demoralization of our agricuttural popula-
tion.—Morning Chronicle.
The motion of Mr. Matthias Attwood, for a
Committee to inquire into the causes of the distress
of the people, with a view of relieving it, stands for
this evening. We have no desi.e to anticipate the
discussion by any observations of our own, much
less to misrepresent the objects, and malign the
characters of the promoters of the inquiry. The
people are suffering under unexampled difficulties
arid embarrassments, and it is right that their repre-
sentatives should endeavour to ascertain the cause
their faculties to the means of
or causes, and apply
mitiga,ing the evil. An investigation of this nature
does not necessarily lead to an alterwion of the
currency ; it propose; to examine, soberly and di,.
passionately, whether the distress has its origin in the
monetary system of the country, and, if it have, to
suggest a safe, efficient, and praci ;cattle remedy.
Can any representatiVe of the people refuse to
concur in such an object ? Are the public generally,
an 1 the people of England particu arly, to be
prevented by the, clamour of faction from ob•
taining that from a reforme House of Commas

which was conceded to the close oligarchy of Scot-
i.
nd under their vicious system of representation e
It is imperative upon Members representing large
constituencies to seek every opportunity of obtaining
information respecting the origin of the distress of
the people; and we hope Mr. Attwood's motion
will be discussed with that sober and deliberate
attention which befits its importance and the mag-
nitude of the interests involved in its decision. If
Parliament should, after a full inves:igation of the
subject, determine it inexpedient to recommend a
change in the currency, the inquiry may, at least,
he productive of this advantage—it may inform us
that salaries are kept up which ought to be reduced
or withdrawn—what useless expenditure is still
going on which ought to be stopped ; and how the
burdens of the people, which the Bill of 1819 in-
creased, may be lightetted.—lllorning Herald.
The Chancellor of the Exchequer brought for-
ward last night, in the House of Commons, the plan
.4f his Majesty's Ministers for a general commutation.
.1 tithe throughout the country. It has long beet,
•he fixed opiniiin of most of those who have directed
heir attention to the subject that a commutation
if tithe for some other equivalent source of ecclesi-
'stied revenue is an object greatly to be desired,
elf h a view equally to the welfare of the clergy and
heir floclec, for the promotion at once of the jute
eats of agriculnure and of religion. The fact is ill-
disputable that the tithe system has been productive,
in many instances of unseemly, inconvenient, ani'
aernicioue litigation arid between the paro-
elial clergy and the inhabitants of their parishes,
it hough this evil has been greatly exaegerated by
•ertain unscrupulous enemies of the clergy and of
hat religion e hich it is their function to uphold.
It is undeniable also that every deduction from ilit
Joss produce of land taken by a party that does not
emeribute to the cultivation must, in proportion re
its amount, operate in the mind of that party
which sustains the whole cost of improvement,
oil reaps only a share of the ben fit, as a di-
rect discouragement to improving and expensive,
culture. This, as a general proposition, cannot he
ie doubted, although it is qui•e certain that the
ffect produced in this way by the tithe system ha
been in prat ice much less than might have been
conjectured a priori, the evil having been mitigated
:ready. reduced, indeed, almost to an imaginal. ce
•vanescent quantity by the 'singular moderation.
lisinterestednss, and public spirit of the great
body of the parochial clergy. S ill, however, afte•
this great abatement of the evil naturally belonging
to the system, there remains in it enough of incon-
venience and of injury to enure a !age return o'
oeblic gratitude to those by whom any less ob-
jectionable and equally efficient mode shall be de-
vised of providing for the suitable maintenance
of the clergy, and of preserving at the same time
the sacred rights of property inviolate. Whethei
the scheme propounded last night by the Chan-
cellor of Exchequer will be found to realize these
conditions is a question upon which it would be
rash to pronottuce an opinion upon a considera-
tion of the subject so hasty and imperfect as
we have yet bei-n able to afford. From the
friends of the Church in the House of Commons
e has experienced a candid and not unfriendly
reception—a proof that, if it does riot rerefer full
lustice to the legitimane rights of the clergy, it
ilevieves from justice less than might reasonably
have been expected, considering the souse from
which it proceeds. The plan of the Chancellor of
the Exchequer allows to incumbent:. and their pa-
rishioners one year from the passing of the Act for
voluntary and amicable commutation, at the end of
a hich period, if no such agreement shall have taken
place, it will be in the option of every receiver and
every payer of tithe individually to give notice of
his intention to commute. This notice, from
whichever side it may proceed, determines the ques-
tion of commutation or no commutation with respec t
to the property on accoure of which it is given
finally and decisively in the affirmative. The only
question that remains after this s ep has once been
taken by either party, is, upon what terms shall
the commutation be adjusted? In the intended
provisions for the settlement of this vital question.
we regret to say that there appears much perplexity
and confusion. In every diocese there are to be
lopointed a given number of official or profes-
sional tithe-valuers, half of whom are to he nomi-
nated by the Bishop and the other hale by the
Court of Q;arter Sessions. From this body the
wo parties who have given and received notice to
commute, are to select each a valuer to earn e if ti ey
can upon the terms of commutation. If they !timid
flush), disagree, reference is ultim 'rely to be bad no
in umpire, who is to be nominated by the senior
Judge of Assiz-. So much with respect to the
machinery of the measure. Those judicial func-
tionaries, the valuers, and, in case of their non-
agreement, the umpire having been appoin ed, it
remain; to see how they are to proceed in the exe-
cution of their task. They are to take the value of
the tithe upon the average of the preceding seven
years, with a power, nevertheless, to deviate from
that average according to special circumstances to
an extent not exceeding five or ten per cent. The
value again is to be taken either in money or grain,
at the option of the tithe-receiver; but, on the other
hand, when the tithe-receiver h, s selected grain as
the basis of the valuation, it is to be in the choice
of the tithe-payer to determine the description of
grain, whether wheat, barley, or oats. The tithe
is thus, it seems, to be determined in some cases in
money, and in others in grain ; and it being nieces-
,oiry that some accessible eine indisputable scale of
prices should exist, the value of good markwable grain
of the difft-rent description, is from tune to time to
be recorded at the Quarter Sessions. Incumbents are
to exercise the option given them by the measure
once only, and for life ; lay impropriators for a
term of not less then seven years. T.-pants are to
have the power of commuting for the term of their
existing leases. Landloids are also to have the
p )wer of communing, and in their case the power
is to be of equal ex:eta to that conferred upon incum-
bents. The above are the outlinee of a measure
which, in whatever point of view we consider it, is
unquestionably one of the most important that has
ever been submitted to the Legislature. 'We fed
that upon such an occasion the Indulgence of any.
thing like petty feeling would be utterly inexcenea-
tile. There is perhaps some needless intricacy in the
derails of the measure ; but this fault, if it really ex-
isr, can be remedied without difficulty. It is truly
gratifying to us to remark, however, and we frankly
confess in is a remark winch vie did not expect we
should be called upon to offer, that :n this tneasitie
of the Chancellor of the Exchequer we cannot dis-
co'ver the least symptom of hoqility to the Church
of Eegland.—Morning Post.

SIGNS OF THE TIDIES.--At the Theatre
last week, du, in;; the repro-entation of Mr. CHILD'S dis-
solvent views, the portr,its of the late K ng aid of our
present Monarch tv. re hissed by the audience; but the
representation of NAPOLEON drew from the audience a
burst of applause. The former were accordingly with-
drawn atter Tuesday night, and this occu,red in the
grateful town of Brighton !—Brighton Gazette.
MEETING OF MIDDLESEX MAGISTRATES.
—Y,sterday a very numerous meeting of the Middlesex
Magistrates took place at Clerkenwell. Mr B. HALL,
M.P., in the Chair. The report of the Committee of
Accounts, stated the balance in the Treasurer's hands to
be 7,2001., and the arrears due on the county rate to be
14,0001. ; arid that a three-fat thing rate was necessary to
meet the demands of the current quarter. Mr. HOPE
presented a petition from Mary!ehonue, complaining of
the pressure of the county rate. Mr. BROUGHTON.; said
they were yearly paying off, as required by Act of Patna-
merit, large portions of the sums borrowed for erecting
the Luntvic Asylum at Hanwell, and the Westminster New
Bridewell. When these were wholly paid It r, the rate
would be material!), lowered. A three-farthing rate, which
is estimated to produce 16 5001., was then agreed to.—
After a long conversation as to the propriety of postponing
the election of a Chairman until the question of salary
was settled, the election was proceeded with. Shortly
after four o'etock, the result was announced to be—For
Mr. ROTCaI, 45 ; for Mr. JESSOP' 4; for Mr. HAL
coma, 0. Mr. SWAREY hail previourlywithdrawn fruits
the conttst..,* Air. :Rorcii was of course ded.ired dul
elected.