The Virginia Gazette

BOSTON, September 23.

If Bishops should be sent to America, they can have no Kind of Power to enforce the Payment of Tenths. The Original of this Payment, in our Country, arose not from the Power of Churchmen; for they never had, nor could have, nor attempted to have, the Power of disposing of other Men's Property, nor did it arise even from the Laws of the Land, but from the voluntary Donation of our ancient Kings, long before the Conquest, when they held all the Lands of England in Demesne and could dispose of them, or any Part, in what Manner they pleased. When the King gave several of their Manors and Estates to their Lords, and others, they gave with them the Encumbrance of paying Tenths; and all the Laws that have since been made relative to this Matter do not convey to the Church a Right to the Tenths, but only enforce the Payment of that which was before due to it by the Donation of ancient Proprietors. So that the Apprehension that Men's private Property will be invaded by the settling of Bishops in America is absolutely groundless and there can be no Pretence for Bishops to require the Payment of Tenths in your Country because probably there are none that have been given to the Church by legal Proprietors. If there are any such, they may as well be demanded without Bishops as with them.