Lord Suffieldpresented a Petition from the Hundred of Diss, in the county of Norfolk, praying for an alteration in the mode of the payment of the Clergy by Tithes. The whole of the Petition, his Lordship stated, was well worthy their Lordships' attention; but the petitioners stated in general that the present mode of paying the Clergy by Tithes was injurious to religion, and contrary to sound policy. It was injurious to religion on account of the irritation frequently occasioned by it between the incumbent and the parishioners; and it was contrary to sound policy, because it had a tendency to prevent improvement and the extension of agriculture, and so far to lessen the means of employment, for the labourer. It was a cause of injustice also; for a farmer might be disposed to lay out some capital in the improvement of land, in the hope that it 1116 would yield him a profit after the payment of the Tithe, but it might turn out that the gain would be but barely sufficient to pay the Tithe, and thus the clergyman would get the whole of the profit of the farmer's capital, and the farmer of course would have nothing. He did not understand these petitioners to pray for anything injurious to the Established Church of England; if they had prayed for any object of that description, he would have been the last man to advocate their views, although he might present their petition, if respectfully worded.
§ Ordered to lie on the Table.