The Sun.
London, England, 1830-11-08 00:00:00

STATE OF KENT.

MEETING OF THE MAGISTRATES AND FARMERS.
On Saturday a meeting of the Magistrates of this county was held
at St. Augustine's, near Canterbury, to deliberate on the mea-
sures to be adopted in the present state of the county, and to re.
press the organized system of outrage which unhappily pervades
nearly the whole of the districts of which it is composed. As
the deliberations were conducted in secrecy we cannot give any
information on the subject.
A more important meeting, however, was held in the after-
noon, at the Hop and Corn Exchange, in the High-street,
which was attended by several hundreds of the most respectable
of farmers frequenting the market—so touch so, that the
utmost inconvenience was experienced from the crowd, and
numbers could not obtain even standing room. Soon after four
o'clock the High Sheriff of the county, Edward Rice, Esq., the
Earl of Winchilaea, Lord Teynham, and several of the other
Magistrates attended the meeting, and were loudly cheered. A
handbill, addressed to the Earl of Winchil ea, and proposing five
euestions of a searching nature to the Noble Earl, was circulated
in the room.
The 111011 SHERIFF rose and said, as they had met par.
'mint to adjournment, he would propose that Mr. Neamo (01
Chislet) do take the chair.)--(Applause.)
Mr. NEAME was called to the chair by acclamation, and
proceeded to address the meeting. The holders of the soil had
not an interest dissimilar from the labourers—both were alike
concerned; they must have assistance from the landlord, and
those who possess property in the country.—(Cries of" That's
l" That will do 1")--Ile agreed with what had fallen from
the Noble Lord (Winchilsea), that the people meet be employed
and supported. When they saw the state of ferment into which
this country had been thrown, it was the duty of all to endea-
vour to restore its tranquillity : and in this he ;Mould tearlessly
at all times co-operate wills them.—(Cheering.)
The Earl of WI NCHILSEA was cslled on, and rose amidst
tremendous cheering and clapping of hands. The Noble Earl
spoke, with great animation, nearly as follows :—(entlemen,
whim I entered the town, I little thought that I should be called
on to address this meeting ; but a few minutes before I entered
the room a paper (the handbill already alluded to) was put into
tiny hand, and I shall not shrink from giving my most decided
answer to the questions which it proposes.—,Great cheering.)—
This paper fisks me some questions. In the first place it asks,
Will I come forward and deduct from my rents one-third of
their present amount, and thus enable the farmer to pay his
labourers what they have is right to receive—a fair remuneration
for their services ? To this I answer, that the man who wrote
this is little acquainted with my conduct towards my tenantry,
or he would not ask it. I call on any of the respectable tenants
of whom I am most justly proud—on either the large holder or
the humble cottager under roe—to answer the question.—
(Cheers.)--1 have, I repeat, a tenantry of whom lam justly
proud, and a peasantry whom, if I did not endeavour to benefit
all in my power, I should feel deeply ;ashamed. As to the reduction
of my rents I would do as far as I hope the other landlords
would, for f trust the happiness of my tenants has always been
the leading object of my life.—(Great cheering )—The next
question is, whether I will " engage to use coy endeavours for
a complete abolition of tithes—the Church having property fully
equal to liquidate every claim, and leave an ample fluid, if pro.
perly divided, for every clergyman to live like a gentlemen ?"
I'o this question I shall honestly state that I cannot consistently
support it.—(Hear.)-11iit I
will say that I hope we shall soon
see a more equsl distribution among all ranks In the Church.—
(Applause.)—l hope some such measure will be brought forward,
and it shall have my most strenuous support.—( Renewed
plause.)—.The next question is, whether I will " use my ener.
gies for a total abolition of the tax on malt, that every poor man
may be able to brew his own beer'" To this I honestly an-
swer, that I will.—(Cheers.)—And I will say that if, instead
of the reduction of the duty on beer, amotmting to three
and a half millions, the inalt.tax were repealed, it would
have been of much greater advantage to the labouring
classes, for they would have been enabled to return to
their former comforts ; and I trust in God they will be
soon enabled to do so, and the honest and industri-
ous peasant will be able to brew his own beer, amid his own
happy and contented family.—(Cheers.) The next question is,
whether I will advocate " the total repeal of the whole of the
Assessed Taxes, which are a disgrace to a nation that calls itself
free P" I have said that I will support the repeal of every possible
taxation that the system of the country can undergo; but if I
had my choice, I would first repeal the taxes which press upon
the necessaries of life. Whatever taxes remain, let them aftect
the lazuries, and not the wants of the nation..--(Cries of hear.)
If I could promote the happiness of all around me, by sharing
the same fare with theinaelves, I should be happy to surrender
all the empty pleasures I derive from such luxuries.—(Repeated
applause.) The last of these questions is, whether " I will pledge
myself to support a real reform in the Commons' House of Par-
liament, that the people may be justly represented ?" Having
so lately returned from my phase in the House of Lords, where
I stated openly, and I trust strongly, my opinion on the Repre-
sentation In reply to the noble Duke at the head of the Govern_
lent, who saint that the present system gave satisfaction to the
people, and that it would be impossible to devise a better, my
reply was, that it slid not satisfy the great mass of the population,
who had a right to be properly represented.—(Cheers fir some
time, I shall support that reform which I conceive the best
calcu ated to promote the advantage of all; but I am not the
advocate of either universal sulltage or vote by ballot.—(Hear.)
There is only one question more, to which I would say a few
words. When I met you here last week, I naked whether, if his
Majesty's Government thought it necessary to enrol the yeo-
manry, you would authorise me to state that you were ready to
render your services. Since I left you, I have had the honour
of being appointed, if you do so, to tine command.—(Applause)
God forbid that I should have any wish to bring you into colli-
sion with the peasantry of the county. My opinion is, that these
outrages originate with a lawless mob, in no way connected with
the county of Kent; for, as I said, when it pleases God to reveal
the authors of these fires, none of the peasantry will be found
among them. Resides, the yeomanry are tine most Constitutional
force that can be employed ; they are persons wino have influence
in their neighbourhoods, and will act more in a civil than a
military capacity.—sCheera.)—lt is with ciinsiderable regret that
I have seen in the Speech from the Throne no allusion to the
great distress of the agricultural part of the population ; but one
part of it has given general satisfaction : hearduly his most
Gracious Majesty deliver it, anti I know that he tr feels for
the distresses of his subjects; it is that part in which he recom-
mends the strictest economy in the public expenditure, and not
only recommends it, but himself sets tile example.—(Cheers_..
But, (Settlement, an inquiry into the state of agricultural in.
Serest must take place—(llenewed cheers)—sod something be
done for the owners arid occupiers of land, anti the great body of
the honest agricultural population.
Lord Nita lq sins also called, and addressed the assembly
at some length. There were two points to be considered;—the
first was, to put themselves into ouch an attitude as to be able,.
to suppress this lawless combination, and put down the author,'
of these night tires ; and the second, to take into consideration
the state of tine cottagers, and endeavour to restore them to their
former domestic happiness and happy fireside.—;Applause,)--
It was not the character of Englishmen to be incendiaries, nor
of the men of Kent to do things in the dark.--(hear, hear.S—
Hfrom e firmly believed they originated some organised plan, not
in this county ;by and by this would be found out. There were
several fires last week, and there were to be two next week—one
at Ashford, and the other at lioughtmohill. This he had from
what he considered good authority. (Cries of " I fear, hentr.").—
The Noble Kirl had recommended tine entolliott or theneomanry
Cavalry; front this be regretted to differ. The 4reutest dangers
must arise from putting the fanners In competitum with the la.
bourers. This wain a subject of life and death.—(Cries of .. No,
not" and " Yes, yes," accompanied with considerable clamour.)
—lie repeated it—an attack on the people at the present moment
would never be forgiven. Ihe yeomanry blue be either inert'.
dent, or deterntined to act against the people.—(Cheers and con.
fusion,)—But It Ise neceasary to end this eternal watching and
alarm; and Ow that purpose he considered the Palmation of
local volunteer corps the beat plan which could be devised,.
(Hear.)..-Among such corps he should cheerfully take up a
musket,—(Cheers for seine time.)—This would be attended with
small expence, and little fatigue to any one. The next step was
the arrangernee of a strict police regulation, which would at
once come at the root of the evil, by the detection of the ;toe-
turnal incendiaries. The fires were, it appeared, spreading into
Sussex.; it therefore behoved the Magistrates and the Lord
Lieutenant of the county to be at their posts, in order that the
perpetrator* Might be discovered annul darkilea.s brought to light.
...(Applatite.)—lle came to the next point, which was the re.
meetly. They should make a strong representation to Puha.
anent to do away with all excise taxes—nothing so much affix:led
the ft,elings and habits of Englishmen.—(llea.)—Were he to or.
ganize a nation of slaves, he would introduce the excise annonest
them. Freedten and the Excise were no inure connected than
Heaven and Ilell.—(Cheers.)—llefore the introduction of that
apiaries of taxation, the annual assessment for the poor was but
5.110,000/. ; since it had increased to nearly ten milluma, because
that tax abstracted Own the value of labour, and that abstrac.
Ron could not now be met at all.—(Applatise.)-lle felt confident
that this county was at present us easy rested as any other in
England.—(Lanus cries of " No, no," and hisses.)--Ile had lately
returned from Ireland—(. We can't dip like there.")--and the
rental there was greater than that of Kent.—(The clamour was
here renewed, and lasted Mr amine time, during which Ina Lord,
ship sat down.)
The! HICKi SHERIFF—Nothing on earth shall induce me, if
it be at all possible to preserve peace, to call on the military and
bring them into collision with the pi asantry of this county...
(Wee cheers.)—l shall ask the Noble Lord (Feyithain) one ques.
tort. Have I not, during this day, declined bending, at his re.
quest, a troop of dragomen R.) Boughton ?—( Applause and tumult.)
faard 'IEI NH A al--I do not understand what the Gentleman
meatus 1 steed to the High Sheriff and the °militant:3i at the
Sessions-House that a disorderly meeting was threittenull nut
Houghton, and I recommended it as prudent to statism a piquet
of dragoons there to prevent outrage.—( thew and h I'h ere
VMS no harm in that.—(Cries of " no, no.") I saw a threatening
aspect motor the Labourers, anti wished for protection to the
hoaxes.—((dear, hear, and clamour.)
The 1 oisr Itllep called on the Chairman to procure a
hearing fur the Noble Lord
Lord 1.. EY Nil Aal proceeded—lle should also answer the queen
Rona which lee been put to the Notate Lord (Wincitilsea), as be
too bad the honour of being one of the Repreaentativep of this
county in tine House or Lords, and felt deeply interested in its
tranquillity. The two great objects of this and every other county
of England were a return' in the !louse of Commons, and an al.
teration in the law of titlies—(Cheers)—in some shape or other.
On these two Witte, and a reduction of taxation, ilia opinion in
the House of lairds should be fitund its favour of the people.--
((treat chino big.)
Lord W INCH' I.SEA wan exceedingly obliged to the Noble
Lard who bad preceded him ; hts had thought it necen,aary to
come here and state leisopiniona about the neighbourhood where
ho (Lord W.) rerided. Ile must I, inisinfortine if he thought
the vicinity of Ashford either did, or was likely Cur require the Inn-
terference of the ruilitary.—(ltear ; and a voice .. nor the ytxs.
latency either.")—lie was 14144 to find that Noble Lord was con.
vinced or the distress of the country row ; but lie you not aware
that he hall given his support elsewhere to that opinion.
Lord TEY NIJ AM-1 voted Sro the Duke IA Richmond's
in, firm.
Lord WINCH! LSE A—llint he had not supported Lord Stan-
hope's, for inquiry into the atato of the nation. That was a mo.
lion of the greatest importance, and the. Nnide Lord had envoi
his imp/tort to his Majesty's Government, Who denied engem
(Dear, luyar)—into that distress. But it WAS triti tinn belief, if
the inquiry had been guns into, they Wfaild not now stand iti tile
she fearful state of the county than to 8/1 that't
condition ahoy) did.—(Applause.)
Mr. HUGHES tuldresoed the meeting... They •
, Y arrived at a
tTeltlets4ol.lB At that late hour he should not r, 111,er en.
ceedinge of the incentliatitat were not only antr..Ks Pl 2 atiti-(Bear,—(llear, hear.)—The Noble laird cesrys'a taut
told them that the rents int that county had been itaitTtirl
in a
proportionate degree with the circulating trosanom
Lord TEY N /IA M explained. What Wine! tick! ,
denied.
county of Kent was as low rented as any part of Ftiv‘la'' that the
negwrr,
Mr. HUGHES eontinued—liad his Mai
ass
seen what every one else did, after the termination f"ii nui
they have long abuse felt the necessity as
tithe.taking sup the taxes. A system (tithe most profligate t.O
pediture bad eaten tip the resourctns of the countr -ani I Illteexti it unable longer to bear its
.141,sretit-ni
nera
wens tso poor. if tile landed proprietrawitwittaistibst,,,,,,—nebto•owir,a6.
not have taken hears)o-Witilu email
sistance in time by a reduction of taxea
tunate occurrences, which disgraced their native ciout kir; utrti plain.--(Cries of Hear,
the severest punishment of the incenutary, be hoppedeule.
thy,
iliency Would he shown to the peasantry, who had
in discontent in their distress. To remove that so much
eat"
in his °Olio», would be so immesliately sticceSsnitts"ac ri%u'intheimon
ing'
of rates and rents.--(Apply ssysere,,,,e rt
-11
fallen from the Noble Lord (Wirichlisea) on the, last cula
Ili the zenith or his liberalit Y. ProPoscal for t labourer :hi*. 1ead,641.
day.
Lord WI NCH I ISI .A. had stated no species ,„,„
lit. HUGH at SI eontintiedsolle was menu
eta that present
pay of the, labourers was touch more the k trot's of the
farmers could afford thern—stilear, bear)--.anal if an reateauntau be paid, it ought to come from the latifLowners.ThtilNoble
Lord had also said that, out of policy, the 8111$1e man .'ought to
have as Mach wages its the married: to Gift proposition he
ouill

not agent ; neither could he consistently approve of the calling
out of the yeomanry.
The Earl of WI NCHILSE, in exlanation, stated that what
he said ►
on Saturday was misu Anderstopod. He had said that he
hoped the labourer would 'receive a fair remuneration for his
labour; neither did he say that greater wages should not be paid
to him who had a family to support. They had savings banks
and benefit societies, but under the present system it was out of
the poWer of the honest and industrious English labourer to be
oroviderft.—(Hear.) Übe could avoid it, he (the Noble Lord)
,bought no such labourer would without the most heartfelt an.
gulsh, have recourse to the parish. He believed those who had
employment received fair wages; but in many parishes there
were 40, 50, and more without employment; to these he hoped
it would now be given, as they were entirely subsisting out of the
poor-books, and it would be better that the occupiers of land
should have some benefit for what they paid towards the rates.—
(Hear.) If, concluded the Noble Lord, there be unequal pres-
sure upon my tenantry, I am fully prepared to bear my fair and
honest proportion of it.—(llear.)
The 'HUH SHERIFF produced a resolution, "That this
meeting will co-operate with the Mryistiates, landholders,
and tenantry, in resisting outrages, alleviating distress, and re-
storing the independence of the peasantry."—(Great cheering.)
Lord WI NCII ILSEA seconded the resolution, which was put
and carried unanimously, when, on the motion of Lord Teyn-
ham, a vote of thanks was passed to the Sheriff amid acclamation,
and another of the same nature t t the Chairman. After which
three cheers were given for each of the Noble Lords who had at.
tended, and the meeting separstcd.

MONEY-MARKET.

(From the Times.)

The transactions in the funds commenced this morning
(Saturday) with rather favourable appearances, and the
!nice of Consols advanced about a per cent above that at
which they closed yesterday, but a reaction shortly after-
wards took place. Consols gradually gave way to 801,
60} and 804, and finally closed at 801, with an ex•
tremely heavy market. One of the topics among the
alarmists of the Stock Exchange, and probably got up
there, was the sending of threatening letters to the trades-
men on the line of the Royal procession on Tuesday, if
they presumed to illuminate their houses on that occasion.
A threat of the contrary nature would have been the more
probable of the two, though it might not have so well
suited the purpose of the agitators. Another story has
been in circulation, which has better grounds to rest on,
and which has also been seized on as an exciting. topic, but
which is quite capable of a different construction. The
circumstances are these. Some time hack, as we t'ten
intimated to the public, a contract was proposed by the
French Government to the leading manufacturers of Bir-
mingham for the fabric of 600,000, or, as some accounts
had it, 800,000 muskets. A degree of despatch was urged
in the execution of this contract, with which the Bir-
mingham artisans found it utterly impossible to comply,
and being desirous not to lose the advantages of it, they.
caused an application to be made to the Duke of Welling-
ton, for the loan from the a.vernment stores of the quan-
tity required, which they engaged to replace within a
given time; anti also, as some return to the accommoda-
tion afforded, with certain improvements in point of exe-
cution—with percussion locks, we believe, instead of the
common ones. The Duke, it is said, through a natural
desire to give an impulse to the home manufactures, as-
sented at first to the proposition, in consequence of which
preparations were made for shipment. Now, however, as
the story of to.day has it, the Duke of Wellington has
retracted his consent, and will not allow the muskets to
quit the Government stores. This will strike most
people, who argue rationally, as a mere measure of precau-
tion, until the temper of the new Ministry in France has
been manifested ; but the alarmists chose to put this new
construction upon it, and will have it mean nothing but
the expectation of a quarrel with France.
(From the Morning herald.)

It was reported in the City this afternoon (Saturday)
that the Ambassadors of the Great European Powers at
the Court of London, in conjunction with our Govern-
ment, had recommended the Dutch and Belgians to eater
into an armistice for three months, in order to give the
said Powers an opportunity of arranging the differences
between the two countries, by menus of their friendly me-
diation. According to another report, the Ambassadors
have agreed to recommend the King of Holland to with-
draw all his remaining troops from the Netherlands, and
to evacuate Antwerp, providing the leading principles of
the project of the Constitution published by the Provi-
sional Government of Belgium Ire adopted by the General
Assembly. It is added that the Allies will not consent to
the establishment of a Republic in the Netherlands, and
that, without wishing to appear to dictate, they desire that
the new King should be chosen from the House of Nassau.
Such are the report. which we have heard upon this sub-
ject ;we say nothing as to their truth or falsehood. It

appears, however, pretty certain that there have been se-
veral conferences between the Ambassadors and the Minis-
ter of the Provisional Government of Belgitim ; and we
are told that this gentleman has returned to Brussels in
company with the Secretary of Prince Talleyrand.
We arc informed that the Duke of Wellington has de-
dined to act upon his arrangements with the Birmingham
un•manufacturers relative to supplying the French with
muskets from our Government stores. It is said that, in
the first instance, M. A. Cottier, as agent of the French
Government, applied to certain manufacturers of arms in
this country to ascertain whether they would supply
00,000 muskets within a given time. They replied that
they could not, unless the Duke of Wellington would per.
nut them to dispose of the muskets in the Tower, and the
other depots of arms,. upon condition that they should be
replaced. On his Grace being applied to, he expressed
his willingness, in conjunction with other Members of
the Cabinet, to comply with the petition of the inanities!,
turers, providing they would lodge the necessary securities
for the fulfilment of the contract, and providing, also
that the new muskets should be made with percussion
locks, and somewhat longer in the barrel than those now
in use. The parties app'ying readily complied with these
terms, and they considered that every thing was settled. li
Yesterday, however, they received a notice to the effect
that, circumstances having changed, the Government
slid not think themselves justified in parting with
the muskets in question. Before this, the •manufac-
hirers represented to his Grace the great Ims which the
gun-makers of Birmingham would sustain if they were
prevented from completing the order, and begged that the
decision of the Government might be reconsidered. Thus,
if our information may be relied upon, the matter stands at
present. Should it, indeed, be true, it is probable that the
change in the determination of the Ministry has either
been influenced by the discomfiture of the moderate party
in France, or by an apprehension that it will be neces-
sary immediately to increase the military force of our own
country.

Money is certainly becoming very scarce in the City.
There is a difficulty in getting the best hills discounted at
the rate of five per cent. We are also assured that great
quantities of gold are daily taken from the Bank, sad
transmitted to France. The consequence is, that the Di-
rectors have found it necessary to adopt precautionary mea-
sure., and not only to restrict their issues, but to draw in
their paper to a very considerable extent.
Wu understand that the freight on specie in ships of war
is to he reduced one-fourth. Thus gold or silver brought
in any of his Majesty's ships from Mexico will hencefor-
ward pay instead of 2 per cent. The merchants ap-
plied to the Administration not only for a reduction on
the freight of .specie, but also for permission to send home
larger quantities in the Government packets. The latter,
however, was refused. At present a packet is only al-
lowed to carry specie to the amount of 500,000 dollars.
Frem Friday's ship report it seems they have began to
return goods from Antwerp. Under the head of returned
goods we find the following :—" Seventy-five barrels of
provisions, 3S bap of chive., 25 bags of palls, 62 chests
end 62 serous of indigo, 420 bundles of iron, 196 casks of
sugar, and 267 hags of coffee." It is true that the quan-
tity is not great, but, small as it is, it indicates a very bail
state of trade in the Netherlands.

The Fonds have again declined, though great exertions
liive teen made to-day to support the market. The full
is attributed by some persona t,) an apprehension that there
will be a disturbance on Tuesday, hut we Ardd imagine
that it is rather owing to the growing unpopularity of the
Ministry, and the state of foreign polities.

The receipts at Drury-lane Theatre on the
evening of the Royal visit were 77131,, Anil at Covent-gar-
den last Monday 8811. King Garotort IV. gave 171. to
the theatre on each visit; his present Majesty, King WIL-
LIAM, gave 21) guineas to the treasurer i
O. Ma
Court Journal.

The late Duke of YORK usually commenced
,u hi 4 journeys at night, for which the reason assigned is,
that his Royal lligl,ness obtained in his carriage more
sound and refreshing sleep than elsewhere, and it was fitted
up accordingly. Whenever the Duke had occasion to
travel on the S Math, a Bible and Prayer-book were, by
hi, express desire, placed tier him in one of the pockets of
his carriage ?—Court Journal.

WALTER ColaTox.,--One of our leading.
Journals has remarked of this historical tale that " it euc.
aecdo in doing what history has failed to accomplish,
nimely, in bringing the reader, as it were, face tit face with
all the extraordinary men living in the eventful reign of
loos anarchy, while individuals were in many
JA3lits IL, by whose swotting counsels the kingdom wee
posed by the seine political troubles to vicseitudee
and trials which render the inventions of romance poor
and tame. All these are brought out into strong light by
the novelist, whose hook attracts and hut the mind of the
reader as by a spell,"
plungede