crops, at a much later period than Culmiferous have been usually mowed.

I have dwelt upon these topics at great length in different Essays, and have proved that my crops, composed exclusively of Stolones, in 1808, amounted to six tons, and to seven tons four hundred to the English acre; and that in 1809, an irrigated crop amounted to eight tons one quarter. I have also proved that Hay made of Stolones is far superior to common Hay made of Culmi, and decidedly preferred by all cattle, as it ought to be, its juices being more saccharine, and more abounding in mucilage.

I have proved also, that crops of Stolones can be saved with great facility at periods when it would be vain to attempt saving common Hay.

And I have established, that Fiorin Stolones afford (what has been considered as a grand desideratum) good winter green food; that we have only to leave a portion of our meadow standing; aud that, from November to May, we shall daily mow an abundant and luxuriant winter green food, imparting to our milk and butter a flaYour unequalled by that acquired from any summer grass.

Such are the benefits of which Mr. Salisbury has determined to deprive the world, by persisting in his precipitate decision, that all Stoloniferous grasses are Squitch, "all injurious to the soil," and all “totally unfit for meadow."

I believe I am the first that attempted to save crops composed exclusively of the Stolones of this genus of grass; and am aware, that a claim to the credit of a new discovery is not agreeable to those, who, from their line, ought to have made it themselves; we find them, like peevish old TIBERIUS, rogitans

Reperisse prorsus quod divus Augustus non providerit ? You discover what escaped our sagacity?

Will Mr. Salisbury, after having (as he tells us) studied the British Gra mina for twenty years, like to hear that some of the most common and most obtrusive of these Gramina, those particularly reprobated by himself, are discovered to contain properties of inestimable value?

That by these the Agriculturalist is

to be enriched? by these the wastes of his country to be reclaimed?

My quotations from Mr. Salisbury's letter must convince the impartial reader, that he is likely to prove a prejudiced judge, where the Agrostis Stolonifera is in question; nor have I any doubt, but that he will also consider me too sanguine on the subject of a discovery to which I annex so much importance.

My accounts of the enormous quantity, and superior quality, of a species of Hay never heard of before, will, I know, be suspected of exaggeration the late season too in which I make it up, is not likely to add to my credit.

I shall, therefore, (with your permission) in another letter epitomize some of the proofs scattered through my different Essays, by which these extraordinary positions are fully established; and, little alarmed by the incredulity of Mr. Salisbury, and many others, shall shew that the hardy and even contradictory habits of Fiorin Grass lead to consequences of far greater importance than any I have yet stated, and that this overlooked and calumniated grass may, at trifling expence, be made an instrument in the improvement of our Islands to an extent scarcely credible.

I shall shew that their wastes and wilds, of the most opposite descriptions, may easily be reclaimed and made highly profitable by the aid of this accommodating vegetable, which thrives equally on the mountain and in the valley, in ICELAND and in IN

DOSTAN.

The powers too of this aquatic in sustaining drought have been fully tried this parching season; as I can now exhibit, between TYRONE and ANTRIM, seventeen acres of Fiorin meadow; and Mr. Ryan of BENBURE four, mostly in dry ground, and all of a luxuriance unequalled by the best meadows of our couutry in the most favourable seasons.

Nor has this unexpected property in an aquatic grass (as it has been supposed) escaped notice in ENGLAND whence I have letters from several Correspondents, some of them of the highest rank, mentioning with astonishment the luxuriance of the Fiorin I had sent them, in despight of the severest drought remembered.

W. RICHARDSON, D. D.

TITHES NO HARDSHIP.

Mr. URBAN,

IT

Dec. 26.

T is owing perhaps to dulness of apprehension, that I either do not understand Agricola, p. 434 of your last volume, or cannot discover the very serious evil," of which he complains. In one case, as he states it, he receives 601. rent, and pays 67. Property Tax. In the other, his rent is 817. and the property tax, 87. 28. Where then is the hardship? To my apprehension, he reaps à material advantage, where he seems to think he sustains an injury.

The Tithe-owner and Agricola have a joint interest in the same estate. The interest of the former is estimated by Agricola at one-third of the annual value of the land, or 301. and his own interest at the other two-thirds, or 607. But, if the Tithe-owner is so moderate in his demands, that he is contented to receive 9. instead of 301. Agricola avails himself of that circumstance, by adding the difference, namely, 217. to the rent; and so he receives 817. when his real interest, by his own statement, was worth only 60l. and the only deduction is, that he pays a proportional increase (namely two guineas more) of Property Tax. In this case who is the sufferer? Surely not Agricola, who receives annually twenty guineas (abating only two guineas for Property Tax) on account of property not his own. The real sufferer, if there is any suffering in the case, is either the occupier of the land, or the Tithe-owner, who is entitled to 30. instead of which he receives 97. only.

As to the origin of Tithes in this kingdom, the undoubted fact is, that at a period of time far more remote than any land-owner of the present day can trace back his property, the then lords of the soil endowed the church with the tithes of their estates, amounting, as Agricola supposes, to one-third of the value of the whole. The other two-thirds, by bequest, by purchase, and other modes of transfer, have changed hands, perhaps a hundred times; each successive proprie tor (whether by purchase, or otherwise) being invested with the right or title to these two-thirds, and to these only. The other moiety, in many instances, continues to this day the property of the respective parish

churches, to which the donation was originally made; but about one half of this property, or half the tithes in the kingdom, it is supposed, have passed into the hands either of bodies corporate, or of Laymen; and whenever the Laity are proprietors of Tithes, as I have heard intelligent Laymen themselves observe, they generally make at least a fifth or a sixth more of them, than the Clergy do so that as far as Tithes are concerned, it is always an advantage to the occupier of land, when they are, as they were originally intended to be, in the hands of the Clergy. C. R.

Yours, &c.

P. S. I do not pretend to be a judge of Tithes; but, unless Agricola has rated them much too high, for every acre usually allotted to the Rector in lieu of Tithes, when an Inclosure takes place, he ought to have at least

two.

the signature of Agricola, (whom I suspect to be an Irishman, from the terms "Tithe-proctor," and "Biddings" for Tithes, which he uses) begs leave to hint a very serious evil attending (the taking of) Tithes in kind, "which affects," he says, "landed property in general, and Property Tax" upon them, and which "has escaped," he thinks, "general observation."

... the

......

Now, Mr. Urban, I will take leave to offer him a hint or two in answer, which may be worth his observation, before he takes up his pen again upon the same subject.

If I may begin with his P. S. I confess myself to be one of "the Clergy, who look uponTithes," for the support of the Priesthood, “as (originally) a sacred appointment;" because it may be proved from Scripture. But, in this country, the right to the tenth part of the produce of the land, whether in Ecclesiastical Corporations, sole or aggregate, or in Lay impropriators, stands upon the same foot, viz. the Law of the Land, as the right to any other property whatever. It is, therefore, talking nonsense (to use no harsher expression) to say, that the Legislature "permits the exaction of Tithes in kind." Many a "sensible

man,"

man,' indeed, 'has proposed a commutation (Law) for Tithes;" but the difficulty perpetually recurs, of providing a lasting equivalent for an evervarying value. I am equally free to confess, that I am one of the Clergy, also, who would readily accept such an equivalent (indeed, I have always taken a composition.) Yet, until such an equivalent be devised, I am, also, free to declare it to be my opinion, that the true remedy for the first branch of Agricola's evil would be, a law to enforce the taking of Tithes in kind, throughout the kingdom. The Clergy would, many of them, be the persous to complain of such a law; because it would make them half-farmers, in spite of themselves.

With respect to the computed value of Tithes, for composition, compared with the rental of the land, a MASTER upon the subject observes: " that any sum not exceeding one-third of the rent (bona fide reni) may be considered as a reasonable payment, in lieu of all Tithes arising on a farm; for this reason, viz. that unless the occupier can make the produce of his farm return nearer four rents than three, such farm cannot be worth his holding." Take an example, Mr. Urban, from Agricola himself. Suppose the rent of a farm to be 90%. four rents will be 3607. oue-tenth of which produce, for the Tithe, will be 361. but one-third of the rental is only 307.

It remains for me, now, to point out the fallacy of Agricola's statement of the other branch of the evil that he hints, and I will do it from the same example. The Property Tax, which the landlord, in this case, will have to pay, is 97. because he actually receives 901. a-year for the farm; although he would, no doubt, get more rent (and so would all landlords for theirs), if his lands could be let Tithe-free, or even Tithe-kind-free, if I may use the term; and all tenants would soon find out this, to their cost. Now, the tenant, in the case supposed, will have eighteen pence in the pound on 907. to pay for the occupation of the farm, and six pence in the pound on 301. only, for the occupation of the Tithes, if he should give as much, by composition, for them. Where, in the name of candour, I would ask, is the particular evil of all this? If our legislators" have no other in

Mr. URBAN, Leicester, Oct. 5. AM extremely glad that several important subjects nearly connected with the Ecclesiastical Establishment of the Country, have become the topics of public discussion in your Miscellany, as the communications of your Correspondents may do considerable good; and, by reason of the extensive circulation of your Publication, be rendered eminently serviceable to the projects of those Noblemen and Members of the Legislature, whose sentiments upon these important points are in unison with those of your able contributors.

"A Country Rector" (p. 11 of your last volume) called the attention of your readers to these momentous considerations; and I rejoice that his letter was not suffered to lie dormant. I rejoice that the hints which he threw out were not disregarded, and I think that he deserves the thanks of the public in general, and of your readers in particular, for his conduct. The reform which this Rev. Gentleman has proposed to be made in our Ecclesiastical Government would, if practicable, be an excellent one; but I very much doubt whether it could be carried into effect in all its parts, without making too great an innovation upon the present system. I am not one of those who think that, because a certain system or plan has been in use for time immemorial, it should not be changed for a better, provided such an one could be devised; but I am afraid lest, by disturbing the old fabric, we should bring more of it down than we intend, and that, if we begin to make a great repair, we shall be obliged to prosecute it much farther than we at first intended.

The first and fourth propositions of your Correspondent would, in my humble opinion, be very difficult to carry into execution, and could not be rendered of any essential use, without a considerable alteration in our Statute Laws: these propositions are extremely good, provided their sug

gestions

i

gestions could be adopted; and the present Ministry (the members of which have on several occasions evinced a praise-worthy regard for the welfare of the indigent Clergy) will, most probably, do every thing which lays in their power to introduce either your Correspondent's regulations, or else some other of the same nature, to the notice of Parliament.

It seems to me, that the first part of the second proposition of your Correspondent is rendered unnecessary, on account of the ability of the existing laws to remedy the evil: the Act of Sir William Scott (43 Geo. III. c. 84.) was intended to enforce the residence mentioned by your Correspondent; and although it has partially failed in its design, yet, if it were strictly enforced, it would, in all probability, be found sufficient to answer the purposes which its highly esteemed projector intended it should; indeed it would bear extremely hard upon the beneficed Clergy, if the laws relative to clerical residence were rigorously put into execution, or rendered more minute than they at present are. The third suggestion of this Rev. Gentleman has not been overlooked by our Legislators: the Acts of the 17th Geo. III. c. S. and of the 43d Geo. III. c. 108, were made to assist the Clergy in the erection and reparation of parsonage houses, &c.; and, by taking away some of the difficulties which the Statute of Mortmain produced, to excite the generous to lend an helping hand in so laudable an undertaking. But, notwithstanding these Acts, something more certainly wants to be done with regard to this particular, especially when the emoluments of benefices are trivial, and the parsonage houses, &c. in a bad stale, or when there are none: in such cases

as these, the proposal of your Correspondent might be useful; but it must be admitted under certain restrictions, as in cases where the profits of benefices are sufficient to erect, repair, or rebuild the parsonage houses, &c. which are either gone to decay, or extremely dilapidated.

In the fifth proposition of your respectable Contributor, I think every friend to our most excellent Establishment will perfectly coincide; the propriety (nay, the almost absolute necessity) of the Commutation of Tithes

must be evident to every discerning man. That Tithes have done immense damage to the Church caunot be denied; that they have rendered the exertions of Clergymen nugatory, and alienated the affections of parishioners from their Ministers, is equally clear: ever since they were invented, they have been the occasion of innumerable evils; they have sown the baneful seeds of dissention in many parishes, and by so doing brought many of the Clergy into contempt; they have embroiled numberless Incumbents in vexatious and troublesome suits, occasioned much uneasiness, and done more harm than an age will completely repair; the sooner, therefore, they are destroyed, the better; and until that destruction occurs, it is in vain to expect peace and amity to subsist between the Clergy and the Laity.

The sixth suggestion of "A Country Rector" is very seasonable; it is a pity that the reparation to which he refers is not more attended to than it is; it is certainly a part of the Minister's duty to see that his Church or Chapel is kept in sufficient repair; but I apprehend that the Churchwardens are the persons who ought to superintend these repairs; and, if Churchwardens did but seriously consider the solemn oaths which they take at the Visitations of their Ordinaries, the importance of their stations, and the heavy punishments to which they expose themselves in case of neglect of duty, we should not see so many of our Churches and Chapels in that ruinous state, in which we have now sometimes the misfortune to find them. Yours, &c.

J. STOCKDALE HARDY.

County of Warwick, may happen to coincide with me in opinion, that a Continuation of this work is still much more required than its mere republication. This edition by Dr. Thomas is of late become considerably scarce; yet I apprehend, that its rarity is exaggerated in the present prospectus, because it is to be found in most good libraries, and has appeared in many catalogues of books lately sold by public auction. However this may be, I should conceive that a Continuation of the work in question to the present time, upon the plan of the admirable History of Leicestershire, now nearly concluded, might worthily employ the pen of any able Antiquary. Amidst the many improved and continued Histories of Counties so frequently publishing, I am sorry, as an inhabitant of Warwickshire, to see that a County, beautiful and fertile in itself, and memorable on many accounts, should have been so long neglected. How excellently qualified for such an undertaking was the lamented author of the Sepulchral Monuments, it is needless to assert; yet, I should imagine, that valuable materials for this purpose might be found in his liberal and patriotic bequest to the Bodleian Library at Oxford: for in a letter addressed to you, in the Gentleman's Magazine, February, 1798, in answer to an inquiry of the preceding month, it appears that Mr. Gough was the purchaser of Dr. Thomas's copy of his own edition of Dugdale's Warwickshire, with his (Dr. Thomas's) MSS notes; and which was then most liberally offered to the use of any gentleman disposed to continue or improve Sir William Dugdale's work. This copy will necessarily be deposited in the Bodleian Library, in compliance with the will of Mr. Gough, together with the rest of this valuable collection of British Topography; and from this book, it is probable that much additional manuscript information might be obtained. I should also think it more than probable, that the Noblemen and Gentlemen of this County would be even anxious to furnish any gentleman inclined to such an undertaking, with the inspection of their family deeds, continuation of their pedigrees, and every other useful information within their power. Such a disposition alone can facilitate

the labour and difficulty of writing with accuracy the History of any County; and suppose, Sir, in order to alleviate this literary task, that several gentlemen, competent to the undertaking, were to collect the information, and continue the history, each of their own hundreds, or in some cases of their own parishes, or some other confined district; the whole to be under the superintendence and correction of some one gentleman, who might then be able to present to the public their united labours in one uniform manner of style and arrangement. Such a book would, and ought to be the occupation of years; but it would be of some importance to know that it were even in the serious contemplation of any gentleman equal to the engagement. I take it for granted that there may be collectanea for different parts of the County in the hands of individuals, who would not be disinclined to give their assistance in promoting the History of their County. I presume also, that some local information might be collected and usefully incorporated in such a work, from Part XVII. of Bib. Top. Britannica,and Part I. of Miscellaneous Antiquities in continuation of the Bib. Top. Brit. the productions of two known and celebrated Antiquaries. It may seem arrogant to suggest any farther improvements of Sir William Dugdale's History of Warwickshire, than the lapse of time has rendered necessary; and I shall therefore conclude with an observation which has been made to me, that he neglected to take notice of any family, however respectable or antient, who were not the Lords of a Manor, or Patrons of a Church; and also, that amongst the very few plates given of gentlemen's seats, that some were inserted of little comparative importance with others which were omitted. These hints are merely offered to the consideration of any of your numerous readers, who may be more competent to the object proposed than is

Your constant reader, N. S. L.