We have to acknowledge the annual volume of a periodical
which we have often welcomed before, The Antiquary: a Magazine Devoted to the Study of the Past (Elliot Stock, is. 6d.) It is always difficult to choose when the variety is so large and great, but we may notice some extracts taken by the Rev. V. L. White- church from a notebook kept in the parish chest of St. Michael's, Blewbury. A certain John Webb was vicar from 1720-1759. He began by boarding with a resident at the rate of £15 per annum. This gives a useful standard for the value of money. Mr. Webb's chief complaint came from the payment of tithe in kind. For some time the sheep farmers cheat him by sending the ewes to winter elsewhere. At last he gets round them, and secures 12d. for the tenth lamb. Then fruit was sold for money and a con- sideration, say 50s. for the orchard and a pair of gloves for the purchaser's wife. The tithe of milk was recovered for the first time in the memory of man at the rate of 3d. per cow, and that on "small seeds" recovered from the lessee of the great tithes. Parsons may be grateful for the tithe commutation, even though the value of rent-charge is 30 per cent. under the standard.
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