Lord Kingsaid, he had several Petitions to present, praying for a Reform in the Church Establishment, as well as for a Reform of Parliament; they were from the inhabitants of Bentley, Arksey, and Pencyd, with regard to a Reform in the Church Establishment, to which subject he should confine the few observations he wished to make. He had no doubt from the feeling that was abroad, that their Lordships' Table would be covered with petitions, praying for such a reform, and he thought it was high time that a revision of that Establishment, particularly of the laws relating to tithes, took place. Although the amount taken was within the legal demand, and that it was collected with great lenity, particularly in Ireland, yet many serious grievances were caused by the vexatious law proceedings, to which, those were exposed who were unable to pay the tithes. The complaints against tithes came he was ready to allow, chiefly from Ireland, yet there were several petitions on the subject from England, and the right reverend Bench might be assured that the attention of the public to this matter was only delayed until the Reform question was disposed of. There were already papers published detailing individual cases of hardship in England; one of which, he held in his hand, and which was authenticated by the signatures of the Churchwardens and Overseers of a parish in Dorsetshire. From this paper, it appeared, that a farmer of the name of Roberts had been charged 62l. as tithe upon 112 acres of land; on his refusal to pay that sum, requiring the tithe to be taken in kind, litigation was resorted to, and an immense expense incurred, which brought odium on the whole system. He did, therefore, presume to exhort the right reverend Bench, if they and their clergy were anxious not to be placed in the same situation as their brethren in Ireland, to take warning and not push their rights to extremity, otherwise the consequence, he was afraid, would be, that the opinion that all Church property was public property would obtain such head, founded as it was, upon correct and true premises, that the rights of the clergy must wholly sink under it. He advised the right reverend Bench, therefore, to take care, that the grievances attached to the collection of tithes should be remedied.
§ Lord Wynforddid not rise to object to 787 the petitions being placed upon the Table, but to complain of the sentiments which the noble Baron had uttered on presenting them, and of his attacking a man in his absence. The rector of the parish from whence the complaint which the noble Baron had detailed proceeded, would have good reason to complain, that he was injured by an ex parte statement. If he had exceeded his lawful claims, the Courts of Law were open to his opponents, and there was no doubt they would obtain justice; and it would have been much more manly and honourable for the Churchwardens and Overseers to have taken a legal course than to endeavour to excite the passions of the people by the publication of hand bills.
Lord Kingsaid, he had avoided attacking individuals, by not naming the parish where the occurrence happened. As to the noble Lord's remark respecting the Courts of Law, he ought to know that a man might be ruined by attempting to defend his own. Such Courts were admirable places for the rich and powerful, but they were no shield to the poor man. He had another case which he wished to remark upon, it was one where the vicar only came once a-year to receive a tenth of the produce of the land, where the church-service was performed only at such times as suited the convenience of the clergyman, and where the Bishop of the diocese was a non-resident.
The Marquis of Salisburybegged to ask the noble Baron, before he proceeded further in his case, if he had a petition from the parish or the individuals who felt themselves grieved?
The Marquis of Salisburyunderstood, from that answer of the noble Baron, that he had thought fit to bring an accusation against an individual, who, had no opportunity to defend himself, and, at the same time, without having a petition from the parties concerned.
§ Petitions to lie on the Table.