The National Register.
London, England, 1822-06-17 00:00:00

In eeneeqnenee of a requisition directed to the High Sheriff
of the county of Kent, a most numerous meeting of the free-
holders of that wealth and respectable county Wall convened on
Tuesday, in the market-peace, Maidstone, for the purpose of
considering the hest means of alleviating the distress whirls at
present affects the agricultural interest, and of discussing the
as.ees,site rd parliamentary reform as the only true mode by
which that dietress.eould be relieved.
Soon after 12 &Optic Bee High Sheriff appeared on the tens-
porary hustings which were erected on a waggon for his recep-
tion ; and in a Moil thole, the Earl of Thanet, the Earl of pant
ley, Lord Clifton, Sir E. Knatchlrull, Mr. Hollywood, the Hon.
C. Noel, and many other gentlemen of respectability, appeared
on the scene of action.
The Deetere SHERIFF read the requisition.
The II inn SHEatrit briefly expatiated on the great respect-
ability of those by whom the requisition was sigued. Such a
lie: olearly indicated the importmme of the subjects which the
assembly were met to discuss; and lie would he happy to bear
the sentiments of every individual, on the subjects noticed is
the requisition, To all, be trusted, au impartial hearing would
be gi-ea. (Cheering.)
The Earl of DARNLEY then moved, '• That the High Sheriff
do take the chair," which proposition was carried ran yore.
The Iltett Sitentre then stated, that he had received a letter
from Lord Sondes, apologizing for his absence. The letter was
immediately read.
Mr. Fa' then proceeded to address the assembly. The
situation of the British farmer—the situation of all those who
depended on his exertions. was perilous in the extreme. Their
sufferings were greater than those of any other class of the com-
mune—their interests were reduced to the lowest state of de-
gradation. It was tree that, for the purpose of relieving them a
few taxes had been remitted ; bat nothing had heed done to be-
nefit the agriculturists in the present session of Parliament.—
In all parts of the empire employment was so scarce, that
Numerous families, though they possessed health aud
strength, and were anxious for active exertion, could not
procure work. Such was the situation of the industrious
pee r, and a snore unnatural stale of society could not be
conceived. The 1116 in-spring of the Whims et'a life was
active exertion—when lie had employment lie was an in-
dependent Mali, hat without einployment he cothil not
posaibly he removed from the chilling grasp of poverty.—
The agriculturiets claimed no undue pi ercietice ; they
only asked to be placed on the same fooling as their coin-
turnial manufacturing brethren ; they wielted, like
those bother., to be protected from the ruinous system of
allowing foreigners to compete with them in their own
market. It was an undoubted fact, that a great quantity
of foreign grain Was introilitced into the English market
as Irish coin, to the manifest prejudice and injury oh' those
who cultivated the Br nosh soil. (A voice in the ci owd,"lla
you believe that ?"—alr. Foote, '• I du; I know the fact.")
E. firm w.ot the only relieve* for their distress, and tor
their still Hee iiiii 'noting iniffortuncs. Such was the stn-
niacin found in evil), tows, in every village, in every
place, throughout the empire. Those alto chit-gashed that
sentiment requiied new Their great Ilene e was, and
none could call it sinconstitutional, to circumscribe the
indolence of the Crown, and to %hottest the dilation of
Pat leament. They wished to seek redness for their griev.
slices in an extenaion of the right of siting hoot those
who Owned treeliold to those who possessed copyhold
property, in short, by a general extemethis of the elec-
tive tieecluise. If they were asked whet till iher +roper-
eitions they entertained, their declination was, that then
wishes sere in uiuisun with these held by many indepeit-
deot Income's of the Hoene id Commune., .cad that they
g 4 'te
with 00 1111,4 h Ciirl'gy awl
obi ity.—(•hpplaese.)—
M'hetever amnesiac:ion he lea Isom the des elope.ment of
that yuu.g nu leinaii's feelings and principles, hr was by
fin Mean* mum iced at rite collrbe he had take Is. Thal
measures (eliding to the ;nitrite good should totem:toe in
lull comma eling itnellect, could nut aural Ise ally ',Hann
who seinenitiesed tilt histoly or the toothy to whirls be
as allird, and on where high allii honourable name
his talents, awl his virtues shed additional liseire.—
II c acted eii the pi inciplee or his 11111striOns ancestors—he
regardel the White of um ceintitiniten with a jealous anti
Isillitthit pdriiiiiiiy-.-110 stewed it AS his own and his
countrymen's birthright—lie dernewleil that it stiould be
adminsisieted aucordisig to the spirit and the letter or the
atiatute-back. ( Applause.) He (Mr. F.) apologized heir
having trespassed so lung on the time oh' the enetateig, and
would now is d the petition, which lie wished Mein to
adopt. Tile lion. gent. then read the petition, which
looted, that the petilionera !about ed under accumulated
lush insupportable ilistreee produced icy the weight of
tateetton, and had long looked in mare lit the House of
Commons fur they had seen every ahli•e de-
fended, and every plan for efficient Helm in opposed-4011
atter eurrchine on the lavish and wanton expentlitme ut
the .putilic usoury, it prayed a retrenchment and reform iii
Fat Insolent, whirl, alone could sdVe•trat country re Mei
elllllltlisisill, give stability to the throne, and perpetstrie
the constilnlson."—Thc hon. gent. concluded by ill•ssing,
" that this be the petition or she nieethie."
• Mr. Ittrisra berml leave to second the motion.—lt was
guilt elem. met those Wins supported rrfinm, without
Ninth eurehiiig could be done, acre rapidly ggiiiiirg
ground. Ile advised Muni to towel again and ag.e,ti, to
slum their deli 'initiation, and to prove to those by shun
Mt, well oppowil, (hal they *mild not thiicil ti.nn the
object ,bey lied ill vu sv. If tins prtilts u. ahirh was
couched in simelorale aud respectr3l did nut
prudisce any u lit et, the twat dose nisist br of a stiosiger
tiattire.—(l.eughlte.)—He entreated thrill nut to be stark
in the in etiorts--lie trusted the Inquiet, a mill lie innet
ut&ossiously signed, and hoped that t vet y 111411 Van %vaunt