The Tories have a sineular mode of showing their attachment
to Mother Church. It is proposed that, in future, Church lands shall be let at a fair value, and that the increased revenue derived under the new system shall be applied to purposes strictly eccle- siastical ; when, all at once, these pious protectors of the Establish- ment are in the greatest dread lest the lessees of the Church should be disabled from plundering her ! Their alarm is lest the Establishment should get. her own. Positively, exclaims the Times, under the Church-rate Bill a lessee of the Church will have to pay an annual rent of 1,0931. 8s. for land worth only 2,4851.! In Ireland, the lessee pays only 5731. Gs. for land worth 2,4851. The English lessee is shamefully treated. And this is the language of the guardians and protectors of the Establish- ment ! Why, we should have expected an outbreak of indignation at the enormous gains of the lessee to the loss of the Church; and considering, as we do, that ecclesiastical property is public property, liable at any time to be converted by the Legislature to public purposes, the advantage to be secured in perpetuity to the lessee appears to be much too large. His actual gain or loss by the tiew plan, it will, however, be difficult for him to calculate; for, Such has been the irregular mode of managing Church property, that it depends very much upon the age or necessities of the Bishop with whom be would have to negotiate for a fresh life in his lease, whether he made-a good bargain or a had one.
In the mean while, whatever may be the juggle between the Church and the Minister, we hope that those Members of Par- liament who look upon Church property as public property, will prevent, if possible, any improvident transfer of it to individuals. The proposal of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, it should be remembered, is to put beyond the control of Parliament a very large amount of national property, and give a vested interest in it to individuals in perpetuity.
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