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Immense areas of land over all these districts of England have been let from Michaelmas last at rents that are scarcely bigger than the tithe, and in some cases smaller. Personally, I happen to know a farm (to which some previous reference has been made) that has just been let for exactly the same sum as the tithe, which is very high in the district. It rises in respect of certain fields to as much as 8s. an acre. Tithe is a curiously uneven tax, with a very long and picturesque history. In Britain we have been trying for many years to simplify it, and give it a reasonable and logical basis ; and it seemed that the final step to this end was taken last year, when a scheme of ultimate redemption was passed and the work of collection handed over to Queen Anne's Bounty ; and, in spite of some serious immediate drawbacks to the clergy, generally approved. How great a new disturbance would be produced if this new contention should be upheld
is " a thing imagination boggles at." * * *
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