Wales, Ireland, Switzerland, Germany, Denmark, and other parts of the world, Bibles are greatly wanted, and in some, are sought for with an eagerness, which, but for authentic assurances to that effect, would scarcely be credited. The Committee, in the instructions given them at the first general meeting, were charged with procuring for the Society, suitable patronage, both Foreign and British. Accordingly, at the meeting, held 1st May, 1805, or first annual meeting, we find the following honorable and highly distinguished characters placed at the head of the Society, viz. President, The Right Honorable John Lord Teignmouth. Vice-Presidents, Right Rev. Lord Bishop of London. Right Rev. Lord Bishop of Exeter. Vice-Admiral Gambier. William Wilberforce, Esq. M. P. The Office-bearers of the present year are, PRESIDENT. RIGHT HON. LORD TEIGNMOUTH. VICE-PRESIDENTS. The Most Rev. The Archbishop of Cashel Hon. and Right Rev. Lord Bishop of Durham Right Rev. Lord Bishop of Salisbury Right Rev. Lord Bishop of St. David's Right Rev. Lord Bishop of Bristol Right Rev. Lord Bishop of Clogher Right Rev. Lord Bishop of Derry The Very Rev. the Dean of Westminster Right Hon. Earl of Romney Right Hon. Earl of Moira, Governor General of India Right Hon. Admiral Lord Gambier Right Hon. Lord Headly Right Hon. Sir Evan Nepean, Bart. M.P. Governor of Bombay Right Hon. Nicholas Vansittart, M.P. Chancellor of His Ma jesty's Exchequer Sir William Pepperell, Bart. Sir Thomas Bernard, Bart. William Wilberforce, Esq. M. P. Thomas Babington, Esq. M.P. In the lists of subscribers and benefactors annexed to the annual reports of the Society, not to mention those of numerous tributary associations, we find the names of persons distinguished for talent and virtue, for rank and influence, of which we cannot attempt the detail. With this statement of its office-bearers, subscribers, and benefactors, we would not have detained our readers, had it not been to furnish to those, who either have not opportunity, or will not take the trouble, to examine the annual reports, that it possesses a respectability of the highest order -a respectability, to which no other Society in his Majesty's dominions can lay claim. In other institutions indeed, we have the names of men, distinguished for rank, learning and piety, but in none, to the extent we have in this; and all, harmoniously and zealously, co-operating in a work of pure disinterested benevolence. END OF NO. XI. AN ESSAY ON THE COMMUTATION OF TITHES: TO WHICH WAS ADJUDGED THE BEDFORDEAN GOLD MEDAL. BY THE BATH AND WEST OF ENGLAND SOCIETY, FOR THE ENCOURAGEMENT OF AGRICULTURE, ARTS, MANUFACTURES, AND COMMERCE. AT THEIR ANNUAL MEETING, DECEMBER 13th, 1814. BY JOHN BENETT, ESQ. OF PYT HOUSE, WILTS. AN ESSAY ON THE COMMUTATION OF TITHES. THE Bath and West of England Society, for the Encour agement of Agriculture, &c., having offered its most honorable reward for the best Treatise on a Commutation for Tithe, I hereby send it, the result of long reflection on that subject, though it has been very hastily written down. I have not been urged hereto so much by a desire to obtain that reward, as by a wish to promote the Society's most laudable endeavours; feeling as I do, in common with it, that a commutation of tithe for some unobjectionable property would produce the greatest possible benefit to the agricultural interest of this country; and would, at the same time, strengthen the interests of its Church. The late Mr. Pitt had it certainly in his contemplation to effect a commutation of tithe; his successors have been so much occupied with war measures, that all great national improvements and ameliorations have naturally been obstructed thereby. The long-wished-for time of peace is arrived, and has brought with it the expected good to all classes of the community, excepting to the agriculturist; to him it has brought evil. The agriculture of this country is now on the decline; the present, therefore, is the time to remove one of the greatest checks to agricultural industry and improvement, which probably ever did exist in this or any other country, by a commutation of tithe. In treating of tithe, I desire it to be understood, that I do not, by any means, wish to invade the property of the church, or to doubt the perfect right and title which the clergy have to their portion of that property, as long as they perform the duties of the church. I speak of tithe as a property, (not considering in whose possession it is,) which in its nature is. so injurious to the interest of the whole state, that it ought to be, and eventually I believe must be, commuted for some other of equal value to the owners, but which will not produce the same evil consequences to the public. The oppressive action of the tithe system has not yet been generally and perfectly understood. When tithe was first established, (and its advocates speak of it as of very great antiquity,) probably it was not worth more than one tenth of the net produce of the land. The earth, we must suppose, in those days produced its fruits almost spontaneously, or with very little culture; but in the same proportion as the expense of cultivation has increased, so has the value of tithe increased beyond the tenth; for the tithe-owner takes one tenth of the gross produce, without paying any part of the expense of cultivation. For this reason the proportional value of tithe to rent, in this country, has rapidly increased during the late war, or within |