6, And here, we cannot but signify our regret, that
the doctrine of the economists, upon this questioD,
should be framed in the terms of the immediate and
temporary effect that would take place on the abolition
of tithes, and not in the terms of the ultimate and
abiding effect that would ensue from it. We doubt the
philosophy of such a procedure, ^and we are quite sure
of its mischievous tendency. It is true, that if tithes
were abolished, then, on the instant, grain would be-
come lower ; and also, that at this instant of time,
grain is. higher than it would have been, had tithes been
abolished a year ago. But the actual price of grain
is not higher than it would have been, had there never
been tithes in the country, or had they been abolished a
century, or even but ten years ago. We should have had
a larger, but not a wealthier peasantry than now ; the
land yielding a greater produce, but the land, peopled
up to that produce ; and its labouring families, thece^
fore, in the very condition, whethet oi "^cuvjlx^ ox ^^^



2S8 TITHES.
