AGRICULTURAL DISTRESS.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE SPECTATOR. 3d November 1833.
Sin—Your report in the last week's Spectator of the speech of the Earl of DA it LINcToN, at Bridgenorth, encourages me to lay before the public a plan of certain relief to the agriculturist. Since the prices of their produce have gone hark to those of 1790, it is but justice the Rents should go back to what they then were. The Tithes should in like manner be reduced ; and those slim have patronage in the Church should sign a declaration that they would oide Isotow such patronage on those from whom they expected a just consi- der:ttion for the farmers, and make the rent a standard for tithes. I calculate that in those parishes now paving twenty shillings an acre rent, the tithe will averag,e four shillings ; so that if such rents are reduced to fifteen shillings an acre rent, the farmer should have also a redoction of one shilling an acre on the tithe; and thus the owners of the land and the tithe join hand and heart Iii the relief of agriculture. Another relief would arise from an Association or Joint Stock Company for the purchase of tithes now in the hands of lay pro- prietors. Let such Association now receive three per cent. yearly interest on each hundred pound share; and as they can afford it reduce such purchasid tithes to the level of the adjoining parishes. No wrong will be done Is any tine proprietor, but ultimately a great good, not only to the agriculturist but to
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