The Sun.
London, England, 1838-06-01 00:00:00

(FROM ANOTHER CORRESPONDENT.)

It will be in the recollection of our readers-, that in 1333-an
eneeneric individual paid a visit to Canterbury, and took up
his abode for some time at the Rose Inn. Great interest was
excited, and most persons were desirous of ascertaining who
this eccentric character might be. At length an election for a
member for the city took place, on which occasion the gentle.
mr.n in question offered himself as a candidate with eats
nary success, in the name of Sir W. H. 11. Courtenay.
Such were his persuasive powers that persons of all ranks
felt an interest in his society ; some, however, considered him
insane, while others were of a contrary opinion. Eventually
Sir William, through advocating the cause of a party of
smugglers on the Kentish coast, was indicted for perjury, and
was tried at Maidstone before Mr. Justice Parke, on Thursday,
the 25th of July, 1833. The sentence of the Court was impri-
sonment and transportation, but Sir William proving to he in-
sane, his sentence was commuted to confinement in the lunatic
asylum at Barming-heath. After about four years confine-
ment he was released on security being given for his future
good behaviour. His abode then was at the residence
of Mr. Francis, of Fairbrook, in the neighbourhood of'
Boughton, near Canterbury. Some recent misunderstanding
between Sir William and Mr. Francis's family occasioned him
to remove to a cottage adjoining, occupied by one Wills.
Subsequently he was received at a farm-house, called Bossen-
den-farm, occupied by a person named Culver. From this
house appears to have commenced the horrid affair we arc
about to narrate—an affair from which it could not be antici-
pated there would result such a melancholy lose of life. We
now proceed to give our readers an account of the proceedings
from Monday morning, the day on which several unfortunate
men went in public in company with and at the command of
Sir William. On Monday they sallied forth from the vilisge
of Boughton, where they bought bread, and proceeded to
Will's house, near Fairlifook. A loaf was hrokeu asunder,
and placed en a pole, with a flag of white and blue, with a
rampaht lion. Thence they proceeded to Cloodnestone, near
Faversham, piwincing throughout the whole neighbourhood
the greatest excitement, and adding to their numbers by the ha-
rangues occasionally delivered by this ill-fated madman. At this
farm Courtenay stated that " he would strike the bloody
blow." A match was then taken from a bean-stack, which
bad been introduced by one of the party. They next pro-
ceeded to a farm at Herne-hill, where Courtenay requested
the inmates to feed his friends, which request was immediately
complied with. Their next visit was at Dm-gate-corn-non,
where Sir William, taking off Isis shoes, said, " I now stand
on my own bottom." By Sir William's request his party went
to prayers, and then proceeded to Beeenden-farm, where
they supped, and slept in the barn that night ( Monday). At
three o'clock on Tuesday morning they left, and proceeded to
Sittingbourne to breakfast, where Sir William paid twenty-
five shillings ; they then visited Newnham, where a similar
treat was given at the George. After visiting Eastling,
Throwloy, Seldwich Lees, aad Selling, and occasionally
addresaing the populace, holding
.out to them such induce-
inants as are usually made by persons desirous of creating
a disturbance, they halted in a chalk-pit to rest and
on Wedneaday evening arrived at Culver's farm, called
Bossenden, close to the scene of action. Mr. Curling,
having had some of his men enticed from their work, applied
for a warrant for their apprehension. Mears, a constable, in
company with his brother, proceeded to the house of Culver,
when, on application being made for the men alluded to, Sir
William immediately shot the young man who accompanied
his brother in the execution of his duty. Such was the excite-
ment, and the desperate menaces of Sir William and his parry,
that it became necessary for the magistrates to interfere to
put a stop to the proceedings, by the capture of the ring-
leader of the party, from whose advice to his followers the
most serious consequences were likely to ensue. At twelve
o'clock they assembled at a place called the Osier-bed,
where every means were resorted to to quell the dis-
turbance, but without being successful. Sir William
defied interruption to his men, and fired on the Rev.
Mr. Handley, of Herne-hill, who his brother was as-
sisting to take him into custody. They then made their way
to Bossenden-wood, where they lay in ambush, hut, as no
means appeared to present themselves by which the ringleader
could with safety be secured, he being evidently mid and
in the possession of loaded fire-armF, threatening to shoot the
first man who interfered rith him, it became necessary to ap-
ply for the assistance of the 45th Regiment, stationed ta Can-
terbury barracks. On the arrival of a detachment of this ro-
giinent they proceeded to the wood, where the party were
waiting their arrival.
A few minutes previous to the attack Sir William 'welly
hallooed to his companione, supposed for the purpose of getting
them prepared for the fight.
Sir William, on perceiving his opponents, advanced with
the greatest sang froid, and deliberately shot before the
men Lieutenant Bennett of the regiment. This occa-
sioned a return from toe man covering his officer, who im-
mediately advanced and shot Sir William, who fell and died
instantly. The excitement at that period, occasioned by
each party losing their commencer, ceased a desperate attack,
which terminated in the death of ten persons, besides
the brother of the constable shot in the morning-, and
several others seriously wounded, of some of whom little
hopes arc entertained of their rccov, ry. The weapons in the
bands of the followers of Sir William were chiefly, if nut alto-
gether, heavy bludgeons.
. .

Thefoliowin;: the names of the killed :

Sir William Percy Ilonywood Courtenay, Knight of Malta,
iiipposed to be John Nicholls Torn, 1 ate of 'Fruro, in
Corawall.—Lient. Bennett. 45th ; Edward Wraiglit, Herne
Hill; E. Harvey, ditto; W. Foster, ditto ; W. Wry, ditto; E.
Brenchett, Dunkirk; W. Burford, Boughton; Thomas Griggs:
Geo. Catt, et.mitable of FaverAam, killed in the execution
of hii duty.
Lieut. Prendergast, woinded in the head.
_

Names of persons taken prisoners, scme seriously woundcd,
and a few not expected tJ recover :—Stcphen Baker, R.
liadlow, A. Toad, G. Grig2s, W. Willis, E. Wraight, E.
Curling, J. Sprats, Sarah Culver.
Amongst the magistrates who endeavoured to quell the dis-
turbance, and who exposed themselves to imminent danger,
we would mention the names of Mr. W. H. B tidock, the
Rev. Dr. Poore, Mr. R. lialfjr!, Mr. Norton Enatchbull,
and the Rev. C. flandiev.

The follows:,:): is a cop; of a slip cf paper, which has bee,-
sent to us covered with blood, and havio;.; the appearance of
being perforated by a ball. It was said to have been found in
the breast coat pock't of Sr W. Gnartenay. The contents,
which are as follow. and the form of which we have pre-
sio..,rved, are evidently in the handwriting of a female, whose
orthography would justify the conclusion that she is not a
person of education. It may, however, lead to the disclosure
of important facts connected with the recent proceedings of
the deceased.
" I it a ? No, its peace I hear
A, yet welcorne swe:d guest
A passing' sP!riet softly whispers
Him safe from harm—and when
The loud clash of IVar', alarm atacks
Ifirn and boasts the tyra is proudly
Round him still his manly heart
shall know no fear—
Then sink not oh my soul nor
raid to sad despair, the cause is
Great that calls thy Lord away
A sinking spiriet and a silint
Tear but ill becomes the child
Who from the bonds of Satann
May go free
A purse was found in the pceket of Sir W. Courtenay by
the surgeon who examined the body. It contained a sovereign

and tt zee-pence. A New Testament was also found • on the
person of the deceased.

(FROMANOTDER CORRESPONDENT.)

A serious 'disturbance took place yesterday (Thursday,
31st) at the villa of Dunkirk, distant between foue and five
miles from Canterbury, which terminated is the death of
eight of the rioters (including the leader, Courtenay) aed t-vu
others, one an officer of the 45:h Regiment, qua: tered at l
Canterbury, by name Bennett, and a private individual of Fa-
versham, who were assisting the Magi3teates in suppressiog
the disturbance. Seven of the riotess are also wounded,
wail as one other officer of the 45th Regiment, by the name of
Pendergrass. The particulars are briefly these :
A man, calling himself Sir William Courtenay, but whose
real name is supposed to be Tom or Thom, was in the month
of October last, discharged from the Kent Lunatic Asylum,
although it was feared his mind WAS still unsound. It was
represented to the Rev. Dr. Poore, one of the Magistrates
of the County, on Tuesday afternoon last, that this man
was exciting the lower classes of the community residing
at the villa 'of Dunkirk, Broughton, and adjoining parishes to
breaches of the peace, by assembling in large numbers, and
using violent and inflammatory language ; Courtenay repre-
senting to thorn that they were oppressed by the laws in
general, but more particularly by the New Poor-law ; calling
on them to place themselves under Isis command, and he would
ensure them not only redress, but plenty and affluence.
Nearly a hundred of the most determined characters joined
him, and marched about the various parishes, inviting other
labourers to join them.
This sham Sir William Courtenay, Knight of Malta, King
of Jerusalem, alias Mr. Thom, of St. Columb in Cornwall,
made his appearance at Sittingbourne on Wednesday, May
30, -about half-past six in the morning, accompanied by about
sixty men, most of them provided with large sticks, bludgeons,
&c. Sir William walked into Sittingbourne hut hld a horse
with him, which was led in advance by one of 11,s followers; he
wore a sword, and had on a military cloak, and was also. armed
with a brace of pietols at his belt. He and his followers
came in quietly ; the men had bread and cheea^ and here,
and he a glass of sherry, &c. at the Wheatsheaf fen, which
they left about 9 o'clock in the morning as quietly as they
carne in. Sir William gave as his reason for corn;ne " that
they got up for a walk, and came purposely to are the Wheat-
sheaf of Sittingbourne, of which they had heard much talk."
On their return, they stopped at the Graeel.pits at Mursten :
he asked the men then working there to join him and his com-
pany, offering them plenty of bread and cheese and beer, and
a payment on Saturday night; they were, however, not to he
led astray by his unaccountable talk. Onwarls he went, and
committed many most outrageous enormities. Ile had
drilled the men to march as soldiers. Some had fire-arms,
and the ethers chats. Ono was appointed and called
their Ceeeral, and they carried a flag. On Wedeaelay
warrants were issued for the apprehension of Courtenay,
and two others who seemed to be their leaders. This morn-
ing (Thursday) a constable who had the warrants, who wa
personally known to Courtenay, went to expostulate with
him, accompanied by his brother, e, ho was not a coo-
stable. It is understood there was no intention of executing
the warrants, if there were any reeivance. WF.en they came
to the place where Sir William and Isis party were encamped,
Courtenay came forward, and asked the brother " if he was the
constable; " he answered " Ye.:," (This was not true.)
Courtenay immediately shot him, wounded him afterwards with
his sword, kicked him, and then ordered his men to throw
him in a ditch, which they did. Courtenay did not know that
warrants were issued for his appreheusion, nor were they at-
tempted to be executed. An express was sent to the Rev.
Dr. Poore of the circumstance, and the military at Canter-
bury sent for, it being found impracticable to subdue
them without their aid. A major and about a hundred
men of the 45th Foot arrived, when the ltev. Di'. Poore,
Mr. N. Knatchbull, Mr. Halfmd, and Mr. Baldoek, county
magistrates, accompanied the military. They were
divided into two parties, in consequence of the ri,eers
having moved to a large wood. That part of the mili-
tary accompanied by the Rev. Dr. Poore, and Mr. N.
Knatchbull came up to the rioter, who bra dewu epon the
military, Courtenay calling upon thorn to beliae lilse men.
The military having approached, Coax tenay shot Captain
Bennett, who instantly expired, and the soldiers in self-
, defence fired upon the band et* malaise ; the consequence
was, the loss of life already described. Seven rioters who
were wounded were taken prisoners, and thr< e not wouud:d
were likewise committed to St. Augustine's goal for trial at
the next sessions. Inquests will be held on the dead bodies
this day.
We give a short account, compiled at a very short notice,
of this wretched madman.

Sir W. Courtenay first appeared at Canterbury in the Mi-
chaelmas of the year 1832; and the first rumour was, that
an eccentric character was living at the Rose Inn, who passed
under the name of Count Rothschild, but• had been re-
cently known in London by the name of Thompson. His
countenance and costume denoted foreign extraction, while
his language and conversation showed that he was well ac-
quainted with almost every part of the kingdom. He often
decked his person with a fine suit of Italian clothing, and some-
times with the more gay and imposing costume of the eastern
nations. In December of the same year he surprised the
citizens of Canterbury by proposicp; himself as a candidate
for the representation of the city in Parliament, and created
an entertaining contest for the honour long after the sitting
candidates had composed themselves to the delightful vision
of an unexpensive and unopposed return. 11.2 was al-io
candidate for the Eastern Division of this county, but polled
only four votes, the county voters having derived a lessorf of
wisdom from the sa,.l effects of his former freaks and follies.
After striving in vain to possess himself of a seat in Parlia-
ment, at least a return of having been elected for one, this
crafty advewurer appears to have studied with much more
ardour and vigilance than before to captivate the aff,:e-
tions of the lower orders in the city. He made it
known that his condescension was as great as his
rank and wealth, and that he should be willing to
accept of invitations to visit the humblest families—to eat
and drink at the peasant's and the labourer's table—to
make one of a larger or smaller party at the lowest public
house—to enroll his name in the meanest society, and to have
it published abroad that Sir William Courtenay preferred being
the companion of the cottager and the friend of the poor. It
is easy to conclude that such intelligence cha...m,l a million
hearts, and obtained entreaties for his company from every
quarter. So numerous were his engagements, that he was
obliged to run or ride from house to house, taking a slight re .
last at each, and generally coneludinc, the day at a banquet
prepared by a number of his new fiends in some obscukt club-
room.

In the month of February an action took place between
her Majesty's sloop Lively, a revenue cruiser, and a smuggling
boat called the Admiral Hood, near the Goodwin Sands,
which ended in the capture of the latter, which, with the
crew, was taken to Rochester for adjudication. On boarding
the smuggler no contraband goods were found; hut, during
the chafe, she had been distinctly seen by the Li! throwing
tubs overboard, and some of them were marked and picked up
by the crew of the cruiser. On the examination of the smug-
glers before the magistrates at Rochester, Sir William Cour-
tenay made his appearance, attired in a grotesque costume,
and having a small cimetar suspended from his neck by a mas-
sive gold chain. On one of the men being examined, Sir
William became his advocate; but the man being convicted,
a professional gentleman from London defended the next, and
Sir William pr:sented himself as a witness; when he swore
that he saw the whole transaction between the Lively and the
Admiral flood, and was positive that the tubs, stated to have
come from the Admiral Hood, had been floating about in the sea
all the morning, and were not thrown overboard from that vessel.
The object of this statement was evidently to prove that the Ad.
miralllocd was not a smuggler, r-id conszquently to procure the
liberation of the men. The solicitor for the Customs Ira: ins un-
doubted evidence that this testimony was false, determined to
proceed against an individual who had been iinilty of such a
public and daring act of perjury. The trial came on at Maid-
3tone before Mr. Justice Jarnet Parke on the 15th of July,
1333, when he vv:s found guilty of wilful and corrupt perjury,
and sentenced to imprisonment in gaol for three calendar
months, and at the expiration of that term to be transported to
such place beyond the seas as his Majesty, by and with the
advice of his Privy Council, should direct, for the term of seven
years. 13crore, however, the three months' imprisonment had
expired, it was found that Sir William was completely out of
his senses , the sentence appears to have been annulled, and
he was sent to the Kent Lunatic Asylum at Barming, where
he has been confined until a few months since. When re-
leased from the Lunatic Asylum, he took up his abode either
at Herne-hill or Boughton, where by pecuniary offers he has
gained many followers, and has carried on one freak or another
until the above melancholy catastrophe has occurred.

ELECTION COMMITTEES.

(THIS DAY.)

WESTMEATH.
The CcAnmittee met at the usual hour, and were engaged the whole
morning in hearing the arguments of counsel, al to whether the test of
value was to be the amount of produce raised by the occupying tenant,
or the rent which should be obtained for the land.

LLOYD'S SHIPPING.-(T RIS DAY.)

Dear, MAY 3L—Wind S.W. fine.—Carne down from the River and
remain, the Pestonj,e Bananjee, Hill, for South Australia; Carnatic,
Laird, for Bombay; China, Biddle, for the Cape of Good Hope;
Active, Brooks, for the South Seas; Nicolas, De Beovide, for Bilhoa ;
Dorothea. Craig, for Grenada; Toronto, Griswold, for New York.
SaiLd the outward-bound, as before, on their respective voyages, except
the C: theritie, for Madras, which remains.
Poarsuoeni, Mtv 31.—Wind S.S.E. to W.. fine—Arrived the Par_
melia transport, Mauritius; sailed, 15th Feb. Arrived cfr pert, the
Thames, Barclay, from Jamaica. Sailed the Hotspur transport, Grant,
for Deptford.

PLYMOUTH, MAN 30.—Wind South.—Sailed the Pera, Penning, for
Smyrna.

F.ttmouTtr, MAY 30.--Wind variable, light breezes.—Arrived her
Majesty's steamer Meteor, Lieut. Pritchard, from a cruise. Put back
the Greyhound, Tucker, for Hamburg!). Sailed the Mabella, for Long_
sound ; Liberte, \Verge, for Hayti. Vessels spoken with—The brig
Lord Dalmeny, of Leith, from St. David's for Marseilles, out ten days;
French brig fiction, trout Nantz for ltiga, out six days ; barque Frances
Charlotte, from Swansea
for London, out three r ays ne the 25th of
May ; and barque Ilinda, of Maryport, from London for Barbadoes,
out three days on the 29th of May, by her Majesty's steamer Meteor.
Bats roc, Mav al.—Arrived the Johanna, from Memel; and Hebe,
from Charente.
NEWPORT, Mar no.—Arrived the Heber, Storm, from Memel.
SWANSEA, MAY M.—Arrived the Grenfell,. Gilchrist, from St. Jago
de Cuba.
LONDONDEINY, MAY 29.—Arrived the Christian, Tlenjamin, Dantzic,
BERWICK, MAY M.—Arrived the Elizabeth, Ulricke, from Stettin.
HULL, MAY 31.—Arrived the Carl Johan, Kampe, from Stockholm;
and Produce, Poole, from Itamburgh.

The Deux Sceurs, Brindejoue, from Guadaloupe to Havre, struck on a
rock the tltith instant off Scilly, was run on shore, bilged, and filled—part
of the cargo saved in a damaged state.

LONDON :
FRIDAY EVENING, JUNE 1, 1838.

The National Loan Fund and Life Assurance Society's
Bill was read a second time in the House of Commons last
night, after encountering a rather unexpected, but by no
means factious opposition, on the part of the Right Hon.
the Pio;ident of the Board of Trade. If Mr. P. Tricieel
sox really intend to bring forward a Bill, which steal
realize for all public Companies the benefits sought to be
conferred upon one Company and all who may have deal-
•ings with it, by the Bill before the House—and if, more-
over, the high: Ilon. Gentleman feel confident that so gene-
ral and equitable a Bill will pass this session—neither the
public Press, nor the Directors of the Company in ques-
tion, east find fault with him for preferring a general
to a particular system of legislation. Oil the contrary, we
can Arm that the founders of the National Loan Fund
Society will be among the first to tender their thanks to
the Government, for placing all other Com
Panies upon the
same equitable footing upon which they desire to be placed
themselves. They seek no exclusive favour at the hands
of Parliament. But as they Itive had the good sense to
perceive, make evident, and endeavour to remedy the de-
fects in the Institution of other Companies, there is surely
nothing. surprising in their discovery that our commercial
Parliamentary code is not free from blemishes and defects,
of which it might he desirable to get rid, as far as con-
cerns themselves, as soon as possible. Their conduct
therefore, is deserving of the highest praise ; inasmuch as
their perseverance has forced upon the Government a con-
viction that something must be done to remedy the existing
law, and that presently. Nor will they now relax in their
efforts to have their Bill passed, provided that after a rea-
sonable time the Government measure be not forthcoming.
They are aware that the Session is far advanced ; and' it is
too much to expect that they will consent to the postpone-
ment of a Bill so necessary to the highest commercial and
moral interests of the country for another year. Mr. P.
THOMSON acknowledged the utter defectiveness of the
existing law ; and Mr. O'CONNELL, where support of
the Company's Bill was at once manly and straight-
forward, intimated that the Government Bill, embody-
ing the principle of the one before the House, was in
course of preparation, and if introduced :,Could have his
support, to the prcjudico of any local or particular
enactment. This view of the question, we are happy to
say, was strongly insisted upon by Mr. Held., Mr. Hutt,
and Sir JAMES GRAHAM, and finally acquiesced in by Mr.
P. TllomsoN. To ourselves, who claim no merit lor hay_
ing paid more than an ordinary degree of attention to this
question, this general understanding
is perfectly satisfactory
—provided good faith be kept with the supporters
of the Company's Bill. WC know the danger of sack
compromises with a Government at the close of a Par-
liamentary Session : but we know, likewise, that though
delusion might be practised by a Minister under the guise
of unforeseen circumstances, pith a view to get rid of a
measure by a trick, the country would penetrate the
flimsy veil of dishonesty, and take of ectuel measures for
making posterity acquainted with its appreciation of such
conduct. These observations neither apply, nor are they
intended to apply to the Right Hon. the President of the
Board of Trade personally ; but we happen to know that
there are occasions, and those important ones, when an in-
fluence is attempted to be exercised over him, not the best
calculated to elevate the undeviating consistency' of his
character, as a Minister, in the opinion of those who seek
the legislative correction of abuses admitted even by himself.
Sir EDWARD SuonEN's speech against the Bill was !
characteristic of the man, and of the old ieaven
of the party to which he belongs. The Learned
Baronet protested against the Bill as too favourable
to the Company, and against any general Bill embodying
its principles, as unsuitable to the wants of each separate
Institution. This, in plain English means, that the Ex-
Chancellor for Ireland is opposed to any reform in the law,
which would have the effect of diminishing the fees of the
lawyers. Numberless Acts of Parliament produce endless
litigation, and as a necessary consequence, kealculable
profits to gentlemen of the long robe. The mystery of the
law is destroyed the instant its application becomes univer-
sal. The law is at present in a glorious state
of confusion for the lawyers ; but how much bet-
tor would it he for them if every British subject
had an Act of Parliament for himself, confined exclusively
to the subject of his individual rights, privileges, and ins-
'trinities? As the Acts of course would be all different,
there would he nothing but litigation ; and men would then
toil from morning to night—not for food, clothing, shelter,
and the means of supporting their families—but for money
to pay their respective lawyers' bills. The lawyers would
then have all to themselves. For the nearest possible ap-
proach to such a state of things Sir E. SUGDEN contends,
when he argues in favour of framing a separate Bill for
each commercial Company in this great commercial
empire. Talk as plausibly as he may, his system is a
mere limitation of the ridiculous system of individual legis-
lation which we have been here assuming, and, as far as it
goes, not a jot less injurious to the moral and pecuniary in-
terlNesTtes
hoafvtehpeuiraretospelyoi,lbtsht,i,sinecodufnrtornyi.
mixing,
up
with an exa-
mination of the deba'e in the I louse of Commons unon the
second reading of the National loan Fund Bill, the more
important question of the great benefits which the labours
of this Association must confer upon the midilline and
lower classes in England, Ireland, and Scotland. That
these labours will be steadily and undeviatingly 'per-
severed in, it would be the excess of folly to doubt,
now that the difficulties, which at first seemed
insurmountable, have been triumphantly overcome. Strong
in the advocacy of not only a good, but a pre-eminently
popular cause, the Directors will find a sufficient future
support in the confidence of those for whose moral and
physical benefit their Association is founded. If the
accomplishment of so good a work be in any de-
gtor:iee
spreadowingwe have made
endeavoursa
knowledge
of its general
practical utility—if; having devoted more of our
space to the subject than the whole of our Contempo-
raries put together, we have contributed more than them all
to
abroad tbe
to obtain for it a due share of public attention—we can con-
sole ourselves for many a failure, by the proud conviction that
we have been assisting in the conferring of one important
boon upon the more deserving and industrious of our fel-
low-countrymen. Such a conviction, if we may hope to
cherish it unenvied, is in itself a rich -reward for all that we
have done, or may do, in behalf of so praiseworthy an In-
stitution.

Lord FITZWILLIAM'S amendment on the 41st clause of
the Irish Poor-law Bill was discussed last night in the
House of Lords at considerable length, and afterwards ne-
gatived by a large majority, the numbers being 107 to 41.
We sincerely rejoice at this result, for had the amendment
been carried, the efficacy of the Bill would have been com-
pletely lost. The Noble Earl proposed that the term
"poorhouse" should be substituted for " workhouse"—an

alteration which the House considered equivalent to a de-
claration that able-bodied labourers, though in ever so des-
titute a condition, should be excluded from all participa-
tion in the benefits of the new system ; and, therefore,
involving the very principle and essence of the measure.
We are.not insensible to the claims for support which the
lame, the blind, the aged, and the impotent have upon the
community ; but we have a strong persuasion that, were
relief confined to them, few, if any, of the advantages
which are justly expected from this Biil, would he realized.
Thegreat and consuming evil of Ireland is the want of em-
ployment for these multitudes of people, who are able and
willing to work. To draw a distinction between the claim
of this class, and that of other classes of the destitute, to re-
lief, is in our apprehension not possible, nor were it possible,
would it be just. Of what avail is a capability of labour
if no work can be found ? Is not the able-bodied man who
cannot obtain employment as helpless as the old, the sick,
or the infirm ; or as any ruin can be. lie may, indeed, in
one sense, be said to be more so, inasmuch as he requires
a greater quantity of food, and is quite as unable to provide
for himself. The argument, therefore, that would exclude,
him from relief, would equally exclude all others, en]
is thus, in reality directed not so much against
any particular, part of the measure in question,
as against all legal provision for the poor. It
is not, however, to the achnowledgement of an abstract
right that we look for any great benefit to the labouring
poor of Ireland from this iaw. They have hitherto been
regarded as outcasts by the landed. proprietors. Should
this Bill pass, the expense of their support, edien they are
out of employment, will fall in a great measure upon the
landowners, and it will result, as a necessary consequence
from this, that the latter wid bestir themselves to fee:l em-
ployment—and to make it if they cannot find it—for those
whom they must otherwise maintain in the unproductive
state of idleness. The really efficient agent of this Bill is,
in our opinion, the interest which it creates on the part of
the landowner in the due employment of the able-bodied
peasant. This is an interest which has hitherto never been
known in Ireland, and to its non-existence may be attri-
bated the perfectly anomalous state of the great mass of
the labouring population in that country. In Scotland,
notwithstanding FLETCHE a of Saltoun's absurdly extrava-
gant statement implying the c natravy, it has always ex-
isted. In England it received an additional impulse from the
Poor-law of ELIZABETH, and was most beneficially
felt as long as the principles of that law were adhered to.
It was not till those principles had been lost sight of, and
others, the offspring of a short-sighted and misdirected sen-
sibility, substituted in their place, that the English Pcor-
law system assumed the appearance of that tremendous
evil which lately threatened to overwhelm us, and from
which, be it remembered, we have been saved only by a te-
ecurrence to the principle of the original law, which is iden-
tical with that of the Irish Poor-law Bid.

The Tory Journals .re beginning to find out that the
conciliation and concession which their leaders has at
length promised, have coate too late. They see that the
bulk of the Irish will not be deluded into sanctioning the
existence of the Church of Ireland by a few fine phrases of
the conforming and premising Sir ROBERT PEEL ; and
seeing that he comes, as usual, too late, they are preparing
for his failure by throwing out accusations against Lord
JOHN RUSSELL, Mr. O'CONNELL, and the Liberal
Journals. They are to be blamed because the seven
millions of Catholics will not cheerfully support the
insulting establishment of a small and hitherto do-
minant sect. Lord JOHN RUSSELL is further accused
of base trickery, because, while he admits the impossibility
of now acting on the appropriation principle, he refuses
to acknowledge that it it a bad principle, and ought not to
be acted on. Sir ROBERT PEEL, himself, in fact, admitted
the validity of the principle, when he stated that emolu-
ments should square with duties, when be claimed for a lay
Parliament the power of deciding what are the duties
of ecclesiastics, and proposed to provide for their suste-
nance, by taking away the tithes, by quartering them on
the public funds. In the present state of the Irish Church
and of public opinion, it is utterly impossible for the Legis-
lature to give up the appropriation principle, unless Par-
liament means to say to the Irish, " You must legislate
for yourselves—you must settle the Church and the tithe
question, for we have no power to do it." Sir ROBERT
PEEL, however, proposes to settle the question, and
virtually acknowledges the appropriation principle
though he denies it in words. Lord JOHN RUSSELL,
has the sagacity to see the necessity of applying it, and the.
manliness to avow it. He wishes honestly, we believe, to
save the Church of Ireland : the Tories only support it as
a political instrument. It was established to secure the
obedience of the people to England. It was intended for
a police, and has utterly failed. The Whigs see that it
cannot be supported as it now exists. The Tories profess
to be willing to modify and reform it, and being hated
by nine-tenths of the nation, its fate is doomed.
The Tory Journals, however, instead of recognising in the
hateful and unjust character of the Establishment an im-
possibility for the combined exertions of all the ;-;te Lesmen
of the Empire to reconcile the Irish to its continuance,
are beginning, with their usual contempt for the
public understanding, to blame Lord JOHN RUSSELL, Mr.
O'CONNELL, and the Liberal Journals, because the tardy
, Concessions of their party will and must fail to give security
to the Establishment. We can give them no consolation ;
but, like other losers, they have the privilege of railing.
When we look back to the language held by the Times
and the Standard, from the beginning of 1835 to the ter-
mination of the last; election, when we remember the call
of one for the reconquest of Ireland, and the bitter denuncia-
tion of the other against the Catholics, and compare them
with the soothing words of Sir ROBERT PEEL, and with
their own humbled.gratulations on Sir ROBERT'S wise con-
cessions, we can but rejoice on the great changz which has
come over the two organs of the fire and fury faction. It
was long ago palpable that the coercive policy advocated
by these journals is. wholly impossible in Englan 1, how-
ever appropriate in China or Prussia, and that they only
provoked the bigotry of their readers, without enabling any
statesman to gratify it. For years they have duped the
public into a belief that the Tory leaders would
venture all to save the Church of Ireland. Now,
that the Tory leaders make concessions, and are ready to
establish normal schools of agitation against that Church,
the poor dupes of the Standard and the Times are told by
those journals to exult in their disappointment. They are,
however, worthy of their teachers, and probably will now
follow them as readily in beseeching moderation, as they
formerly followed them when they vomited forth nothing
hut-hatred and defiance of the surpliced ruffians, and their
followers of the sister kingdom.

A serious riot, attended with great loss of life, has, we
regret to say, occurred near Canterbury. All the parti-
culars which we can collect up to the moment of going to
press we insert elsewhere ; and to those painful but inte-
li resting details we must refer our readers.
From all that we can find in the accounts the whole
was unpremeditated, except by Mr. COURTENAY or
'Nom, who was obviously a madman. It would seem,
however, that, amongst the poorer and labouring
classes in that neighbourhoood there exists a fund
of discontent, and a still greater fund of the most unrc-
fleeting ignorance, or they would scarcely have been fooled
into following this madman in groups about the country.
We know, indeed, that they are accustomed when the
Squire goes a hunting, whether of otters or hares, to turn
out in large numbers to follow his train ; and having such
habits, to give them bread, cheese and beer, and promise
them good living and large estates, it might not be very
difficult to beguile them into congregating around any
person having the appe trance and character of a gentleman.
We do not see, however, in their conduct any evidence of
a predetermination to commit violence, and are willing to be-
lieve that none was intended, on either side, till the madman so
suddenly shot the person whom he supposed to be a constable.
On the side of authority it is clear that there was no anticipa-
tion of resistance, for all the account's agree in sayingthat only
three persons went to arrest COURTENAY, and one of them
was personally known to him, and seems to have under-
taken the task of reasoning him into submission. On the
side of the populace, too, it does not appear that any of
them, except COURTENAY, were armed. After he had
shot the man, no doubt his friends posses3ed tlu,m3,2lves of
sticks, or such weapons ; and when he madly shot, a second
person, then, as one of the accounts says, the " excite-
ment occasioned by each party losing their commander
caused a desperate attack, which terminated in the death
of ten persons." We speak certainly with doubt; but our
impression at present is, that this lamentable and disgrace-
ful brawl is not the result of premeditation—is not connec-
ted with any particular plan of violence—and is, in its worst
feature, only an unpleasant evidence of much latent
discontent, and still greater ignorance, amongst the lower
classes, which any accident, like the appearance amongst
them of an armed and subtle madman, may cheat into
ruinous activity.

We shall carefully abstain at present from casting one
reflection on any party, and from exciting any porsons to
measures of severity. Measures of precaution are indis-
pensable. Only one remark shall we allow ourselves in
the present state of the proceedings. Mr. COURTENAY'S
followers were chiefly of the peasantry ; they belong to
that class who are the great favourites of the Aristocracy
and the Clergy, as contrasted with the far more intelligent
but less slavish inhabitants of the towns. They are of that
class which receives instruction exclusively from the
clergy of the Established Church, and who are sup-
posed to be its buttresses. In 1830 the Earl of
WINCHILSEA repudiated with great scorn and anger the
supposition that any of this favourite class could have been
guilty of the incendiarism which then prevailed in Kent
and the adjoining counties. We do not now accuse them.
We say nothing to their disparagement further than the

evidence bears us out. We pity, deeply pity, their extreme
poverty, and their life of unrewarded toil ; bat we are com-
pelled to observe, that their following this palpable madman
about the country, believing his tales of getting good living
and large estates by his means, demonstrates that the de-
pendents of the Earl of WISCHILSEA, and the other hunt-
lords of the East of Kent, are not more enlightened at
present than their ancestors were when they followed JACK
CADE.

The accounts received at the Home-office from the. M-
agistrates of the neighbourhood of Canterbury resemble in
substance those which we publish concerning the riot ; but
they add the gratifying intelligence that the. riot vi as com-
pletely at an end. The whole affair was a sudden and furious
squall, which has blown over. No military or other assist-
tance is, we believe, asked or required. Nor is there any
suspicion abroad that we can find out, that the riot was
connected with the Poor-laws. Mr. COURTENAY seems
by some unaccountable means to have obtained a great
influence over the pe9Dle ; and with his death the whole
is, we believe, at an tihel. The officers engaged in this
unpleasant affair state that they never saw men fight bet-
ter than did the rioters.

The Paris Journals of Wednesday, with advices from
Madrid of the 2311, have been received, but they are barren
of everything in the shape of interesting intelligence. We
subjoin a few extracts :
" We 'earn that a Swiss house has just given order, to its correspon-
dent at Havre, to forward several bales of goolp, ivy in that port, to
li
England, in order that they may be embarked eit r aAliristol or London,
on board the first steam boat that shall leave lia '.pants
those ports for
New York. Now, that the attention of foreign ..liants is fixed on
the new mode of communication across the ocean; Ciiell England has
ju•t pdapted, in ty we not fear teat Ssvitzerlard and. the borth of Ger-
many, will send to London and Liverpool, by way of Hamburg, the
goods which they have been used to forward to Al York, by way of
Havre ? •--,,

" A bulletin of the Captain General of Ncw Castille, dated 20th May,
states that Colonel Don Gregorio Quiroga, had defeated on the plains of
Aramarilla, the united hands, amounting to 900, and 2.00 horses. "1 hey
fled, leaviiig 70 of their men killed or wounded on the field of battle.
"M. de Campuzano, formerly Special Ambassador-at Paris, has just
arrived at Madrid.

" The Leo del Commercio says, that a vague report had been in cir.
culation that General Latre had retired from the War Department, be-
cause he differed with his colleagues respecting the conduct of Generals
Ekouard and Palarea, commandants of Cadiz-and Malaga.
" The German Journals, speaking of a note said to have been de-
livered to the French Envoy accredited to the German Diet, on the sub-
ject of the !ate movements of troops, take care to remark that this note
was drawn up in terms which prove that the Diet had not for a moxent
doubted the friendly disposition of the French Cabinet. "The move-
ments of the French troops,' says the Swabian Mercury, have not
produced the smallest sensation. It was perfectly well known that they
took place only in consequence of the movements of the revolutionists
of Belgium.' "—Le Commerce.

FRENCH FUNDS.—PeaIs, MAY e.O. •
LATEST PRICES.
Five per Cents. 109 E 45c.
Three per Cents., 811. 10c.
Bank Actions, 9.,720f.
Romans, 1015 x.
Belgian Loan, 1025¢.
Belgian Bank, 1,425 f.
Portuguese Loan, Five per Cents., 35%.
Portuguese Three per Cents., 21.)u,
Spanish Actives,
Haytian Loan, 420 E

THE MAKKEtTs.—(Tti.IS DAY.)
CORN EXCHANGE.

There WAS a good return this week of both Grain and Flour, and the
weather being now very favourable to vegetation, the buyers have
manifested :very little disposition to make purchases to-day. There
was not much Wheat left for sale this morning, and it com.
mantled very little attention at Monday's prices. In other articles
there is no variation. The Flour trade is not lively at the late
advance.

ARRIVALS, -
oat. Rarley. Oats. Flour.
81310 qrs. 7,190 -It s. ?,,120 gra 5,940,13 A,
530 12,550
530 —.
SMITHFIELD.

Engnth
Irizh
Foreign

7,910

Supply to-day small. Trade, owing to the close weather, is very
dull ; in prices somewhat lower. Beef 3s. to 45.; Mutton 3s. 10d. to
4s. 6d. ; Veal 4s. 10d. to ss. Sd.; Pork 4s. to ss. ; Lunt) 5., 6d. to
6s, 4d. Beasts 740—Sheep and Lambs 10,268—Pigs 356—Calves a6O.

BILLINGSGATE MARKET.
The supply of some descriptions not so good to day, and prices higher.
Turbot, 4s. to 203.; Lobsters, Is. to 35.; Salmon, Is. to 2s. 6d. and 3s.
per P., for crimped. Mackerel dearer—Good, 6d. to Bd. each. Soles,
titl. to 3s. per pair. Trade not so lively, owing to warm weather.

COLONIAL MARKETS.
There is a fair business doing now in most commodities, except
those for which high.r prices are asked, and firmness now appears to be
the character of these great departments of merchandise. The whole
of the business done is of a bona fide character ; and by private treaty
the Operations are rather extensive, which strews firmness. To-day the
public sales are rather small for a Friday, comprising only 1,57 S bags
Bengal Sugar ; 219 hhds. and 42 tierces Barbadoes ; 50 casks of Ja-
maica Coffee, and 20 casks Jamaica Ginger. Sugar, both Bengal and
British plantation, sold at fell prices, and the market, to all
appearance, very firm. Coffee is firmer now, and that which sold to
day went firm. Ginger and Molasses, a parcel of 30 puns, of which
was put up, went at about previous rates. As we said before, firmness
is the character of the market, and the demand is certainly more lively,
and the sales go off with more spirit. For the week, we should say that
there has been a better business done than for some time past. Cotton
and indigo are firm in price. Rice is particularly so. The imports of
produce to-day are light rather than otherwise.

COUNTRY CORN MARKETS DURING THE

'EEK