American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1824-10-19
FROM A LATE LONDON PAPER.
Symptoms Of the decline Of Church influence

Cry OF LONDON. Yesterday gentleman con
nected with the law, named Monkhouse applied /
the Lord Mayor for warrant of distress upon tn
goods and chattels Of one Of the Society of Friends
resident in the city, for arrears OF tthes due to tn
rector OF St. Heen's, Bishopsgate. The applica
lion was made in behalf of Mr. M'Dougall, Z
Lincoln slim, the ay-impropriaor Of tithes in
very extensive district, VITO claimed the sum G
%. Cd. in the pound, under the act OF the 57ih c
Henry Will The 1.-THE, it appeared, was two year
IN on Lady day last. The defendant, accord
ing to the custom of the Society OF which he is
member, refused peremptori'y to pay any 1.-THE
whatever, unless upon compuls'on by process G
law
The Lord Mayor asked whether the right Il
claim so large sum as Is. Cd, in the pound wa
not questioned
Mr., Monkhouse said, the defendant certainly d
not raise any question to the legality or magni
iude OF the demand but refused to pay on religion
grounds, and was DESTROYS for his conscience sake
that it should be done by force. His Lordshi
might be assured, that the proceeding by warran
would be in this case nothing more than mer
form
The Lord Mayor said, it was not for him to la,
an unreasonable and outrageous tax upon a citizen
without proof that he Vas absolutely bound to do 81
by law, merely because that citizen did not thnl
himself strong enough to resist and contest III,
right against powerful body.
Mr.. Monkhouse said the church must be sup
ported.
The Lord Mayor was decidedly and unalerabl,
OF opinion, that the way 10 support the church wa
not by making demands of this nature-demand
which were calculated to pull the church down.
Exaclions of this kind would he feared rather in
crease the number of its enemies, although they were
not always TO be attributed to the ministers Of The
gospel they more frequently sprung from the lay
lmproprators, who had, perhaps, less compunctor
upon religious considerations.
MIR Monkhouse Observed that by whomsoe yer The
ilthes were received, they were applied, though no
directly, Tor the church, and, It to be supposed
Tor its benefit. The act certainly did not compe
his Lordship to issue warrant, but perhaps b.
would ct he did not think proper to grant war
ranD adopt the milder course CT issuing summons
10 brRg the party before him to show cause.
The Lord Mayor refused to give either warran
or summons.
Mr.. Monkhouse said, that il his Lordship did no
think proper 10 issue his warrant for the demand o
Is. Cd. IN the pound, perhaps he would deem tn,
payment OF some smaller sum equitable, and ssu,
a warrant upon it.
The Lord Mayor refused to issue any warran
whatever. The City OF London had denied the
justice OF the demand, and directed the City Law
Ohcers to advocate the cause of the individual al
luded 10, and the case now before the Lore
Chancellor Before Magistrate issued Warrant
or TOOK any coerclve step, he ought to be sure thai
the claim was just. Suppose that the Lord Chan.
cellor We're to decide that the claim OF the clergy
was unounded in law, all the payments previously
enforced under this statute of the 9th Henry VIII
would turn out 10 be un ust and oppressive exactons
The lmpropriator might, his I.ordship added, seek
relief from the Court of Chancery.
Mr.. Monkhouse said, it was very severe to re-
qulre them TO go before the Court Of Chancery foI
SO small sum. What number of years Nigh,
elapse before decision could be obtained In the
mean time the church might starye, il the Lord
Mayor refused to enforce any provision for it,
The Lord Mayor said, the Lord Chancellor was
now, according to the course of nature, approach
ing the probable close Of his career and would be
naturally anxious to expedite business as much as
possible. The Court OF Chancery was, however
1t must be owned, little datory. He went up
himself with petition from Christs Hospital
seventeen years ago, and it was not yet decided
upon and the other day ne took 9OOL. less than he
was entitled to upon an award, rather than leave a
Chancery suit as legacy to his children
Mr.. Monkhouse begged to know what course the
Impropriator ought 10 take Was he now to be ut.
terly deprived oil his purchased right
The Lord Mayor recommended that the clergy
should make an amicable arrangement with their
parishoners, by reducing the demand to fair and
reasonable sum; and he was sure that such a sum
would be cheerfully paid. Both parties might agree
and take the matter out Of the hands of the gentle
men OF the long robe, for whose profit it might
continue in the Court of Chancery for many long
year Such composition has been made in one
instance with the best effect.
Mr. Monkhouse said, that composition was per.
nclous precedent, which did great mischief.
The Lord Mayor was quite Of an opposite opin-
ion. If the clergy insisted upon, and were success
tul IN obtaining, their claim, which he did not think
probable, u ought to be revived with all the condi-
mons upon which it was granted. Now it was well
known that the clergy at that period maintained the
poor, and repaired the church. out of the tithes which
they received The act of Elizabeth, by appoint
ing another mode of relief for the poor who had