The Sun.
London, England, 1838-08-16 00:00:00

A DAY IN BOSSENDEN WOOD

Impelled by an excited, rather than a mere idle curiosity,
which had been greatly heightened by tortuous statements
contained in the London daily and provincial journals, we se
riously resolved on plying a visit, to the cha.ming county of
Kent, which has been so truly designated the " garden of
England ; and also on visiting, in propria persona, Bossenden
Wood; the scene of the late mad-headed and degrading colli-
sion which took place between the military and that despicable
imposter and fanatic Torn ; who, to render himself more for-
midable as such, had previously assumed the cognomen of
" Lord Courtenay." Never did man act the part of " Mad
Tom" with so much tact and cunning ; and unhappily—with
too much success ; some 12 or 14 of his misguided followers
having perished in the conflict.
We left the " Great Metropolis" on the morning of Wed-
nesday, the of August, having previously determined to
pass over the broad deep waters of old father Thames, in what
is now so familiarly called a " steamer," as fir as Herne Bay.
We left our Inn of Court as the bell of St. Paul's counted
up ten of the clock. We were not long in passing down
Cheapside, King William street—thence to the wharf side,
to which the City of Canterbury was fastened. We were not
too soon, nor indeed, to late. So stepping on board with
more than usual activity we found ourselves-1n a moment, as
it were—in in the very midst of some 250 passengers—ladies
and gentlemen of all ages, shades of complexion, grades, &c.
&c. We could not help noticing, then and there, the lovely
and the young, as contra-distinguished from the old and grave.
Beauty and youth will always attract the wandering e: es of
the manly and woman-loving race ! We had a most delight-
ful passage. The weather was charmingly propitious. There
was not a cloud to be seen under the blue canopy of heaven.
The sun shone with oriental brightness. Zephyrus was not
idle. There was much of grandeur, of loveliness, and even of
beauty, in all we saw. Passing swiftly away from the quay.
or embarking and debarking place, the magestic City of Can-
terburysteamer bore us along, and safely, through a " forest of
masts," which the poet has so finely pictured in his work,
" The Seasons ;" and which, peering high aloft, seems cal.
culated at once to inspire. the Briton with patriotic imaginings,
if not to direct his mind and understanding to the data of his
country's real wealth and power, namely, her commercial and
maratime greatness—we quickly found ourselves opposite the
intervening watering and other places—beginning with Dept
ford, Greenwich, Woolwich, Gravesend, &c., we arrived at
four o'clock, in good health and spirits, alongside the pier at
Herne Bay. We now got on the lest four-horse coach leaving
Herne Bay for Canterbury. We could but admire the whole
line of road and the picturesque which on either side may be
said to charm if not delight the eye. The distance being only
nine miles, we reached Canterbury within the hour.
After visiting the venerable Cathedral, and perhaps a too
hasty inspection of the cold and empty monuments therein
contained, we set out for the sweet village of Chilham
which, geographically speaking, is situate in the neighbourhood
of Bossenden Wood and Boughton, the pretty and rapidly im-
proving village in its immediate vicinage. Arrived at Chit-
ham, we set on foot inquiries relative to the " Battle of Baa-
senden," and the probable fate of those unhappy men who had
been so entirely misguided by " Mad Tom," the fanatic, as to
peril their lives, &c. We soon found, however, that Chilharn
was not the spot we should have chosen for the procuration of
such news. So after visiting Mr. Wildman's Castle, which
is no less deserving attention than the monuments, by Chantry
and other eminent artists, contained in thearish church; to-
gether with the Mausoleum thereto adjoip ning, we posted
across the country, and presently found ourselves in Boughton
town, or village, more properly, where we took sweet rest, for-
getting all and everything we saw, till the following morn-
ing.d
krsreeunpnroald wyle
ng:
wß,e,
,nko,hioobautduss
,ht eaabnldset
knowseet rosnee dewodheuesnriot
thin:
beo.
,yero
nyev
waNaVihs,:oeo,
ghost
ttNh inquiredoeooltA.
hvtn:,
oaitsathdoet ftrh:
eltot l
or
rt
hesrn
itating
tsoaehunt
short,
r of
istg
Boots ?" was our next question. " Short," was the answer;
ho
ohled did
e.s wßhooots toldw it to
now
t osomebodysummoned
away, told it
by
yo another
_
mense hoarse voice which seemed to have proceeded from
Mad Tom" himself in battle array. We breakfasted; after
which, we set out, on foot, to " Bossenden Wood," and Cul-
ver's cottage; which stands on a very distinguished eminence
above the level of the sea, overlooking not
only
`1 Bossenden
Wood," but the whole country towards London and the sea ;
including the Isle of Sheppy, the North Foreland, &c. Sce.
The distance from Boughton is not more than three miles.
We ascended Boughton Hill, and continuity, on the main
road, until we came to the lane which leads directly to it :
we entered and now set our font on Bossenden Wood. We
had no guide to direct us. This deficiency was found to be
inconvenient enough. After following the beaten path to the

111ISDAV5 AUGUSP 16, 183

extent of a mile or two, we took a short tarn to the right, and
presently arrived at an open space, the ground of which, it was
quite clear Had been trodden by more than " forty men in
buckram green." In vain did we look about in order to dis-
cover the blood of the victim, with the remaining- relies (if
there were any) of the slaughtered. The bloodstain of
the r;iaftrYff,,ei nevee more scarce. At this moment we were ac-
costed lav a gen tlem7r. Of OA neiethhoorhood, From this gentle-
man, of whose politeness we should not fail to speak in this placei
we tierived sOrtie information ; but certainly no facts that
zed that was a somewhat in:. Ve had ndt Lend before, save one,
t&-cgiitt: 60, ilefe it is; 6‘ fiet.believe, Bennett
*s4 sounded a hit ffotti Mid Ton. Bennett was ki;l'es-4
by a shot tired by one Of his reCn-4he one that stood nearest
the right side of Mad Totti.'" We thanked Oni informant,
and tAing the pith that had been pointed (nit, ate directed our
steps towards that part of the wood which terminates near to
Culver's cottage. We were a long time in getting through
the sad and mrlsr.th,ly tmloveliniss by which we Were now
surrounded. The right way was ratite than ititeleafe it was I
perplexing. At let,gth, and after nearly t*o hottis' toil, we I
heard the shrill barking of some farmer's dog. We halloded.
No answer. Again did we halloo, and that most lustily,
Even echo remained silent. There was no retreating. On
you must proceed, or stand still, in such a place, and under
such circumstances. Again the farmer's dog was heard to
hark. Again did we halloo. No answer. We thought that
we had rather have been a dog, even if we lived to bay the
moon. On we rushed through thicket and bramble, over
shrub and underwood. It was getting late, and the sun had
already kissed the glassy lips of the voiceless ocean, when, at
a considerable distance, we beheld, as we thought, an outlet.
We again hurried forward, and finding that our eyes had not
indeed deceived us, we now arrived at that part of the border of
this wood nearest Culver's cottage. We crossed the meadow
which separates the wood from Culver's house, and knocking
at the door, waited, with some anxiety, the appearance of
one or more of its inmates. We were not kept long

An suspense. The door opened, and there appeared before
us an aged matron of, we should say, about 60 years
of age. This person proved to be Culver's wife. She be-
sought us to tell what object we had in visiting her house.
We replied by saying, that we had come from Bossenden, and
were so weary and tired, as to beg of her to let us take a little
rest in her house. That was not all. We begged the favour
of some bread end butter to eat, together with a little table-
ale, wherewith to quench our thirst. Both were granted to
us, and with that kind of good nature which mankind, in ge-
neral, might do well to imitate. We had good reason to thank
Culver's wife before we teok leave of herself and daughter, of
wham, it is not denied, " Mad Tom" had received pecuniary
and other i'isistance. We had no sooner seated ourselves in
the beat parlour of the cottage, and received, at the bands of
Mrs. Culver, the refreshments mentioned, than a tall, ill-
shaped, and curiously clad person entered the room,
with a " look" which might have astonished any timid
person—whether lady or gentleman. This person proved
to be Culver's daughter, with whom it has been
said, " Mad Tom" was on intimate terms, and by whom
he had been supplied with many a sterling pound of English
money. Both these fanatic persons were intemperately vehvehe-
mentin their solemn declarations relative to their true faith
in " Mad Tom's" early advent ! They were, indeed, expect-
ing to see him rising triumphantly from the voiceless sod,
which hides his remains from the human eye, daily, nay hourly !
Miss Culver, who had been basely duped by " Mad Tom "
in more ways than one—declared that he was no other but the
Lord l• while her aged and decrepit mother assured us that
she had been cured of a foul disease, by only sitting for
twenty minutes in the same chair which " Mad Tom "
had himself sat in ! Miss Culver told us that she had
seen signs in the heavens by day and by night, and that
she fully expected Mad Tom " would come upon earth
again, before the ensuing winter, to lead the people into
captivity, as they had broken his commandments, and
done evil in his sight—he was, indeed, the Lord, said
this wretched young woman,-Lthe true Saviour ! The
time will come, she continued, when they (meaning, as we
believe, the magistrates and others in just and proper autho-
rity) will be glad and even eager to lick the dust from off his
shoes, and to fall down and kneel before him ! Miss Culver as-
sured us that she alone knew all about " Mad Tom;" and
that if he were not to come upon earth again, she was sure
that another would follow after him in du season !" Miss
Culver spoke to us in parables ; but it will be seen—clearly
seen—what she meant to infer. Poor deluded creatures
these, with as great a share of irrefutable ignorance as we
ever recollect to have met with, or heard of. In the same
manner as " Mad Tom" had successfully imposed upon
others, so be had worked upon these blind persons, of whom
we shall never think but with feelings of unmitigated pity min-
gled with horror.
We quitted the cottage after nightfall ; and returning to
Boughton, sat down for the purpose of committing to paper
the result of our inquiries, and also with a view to give some
account of the gross and stupid infatuation of the wife and
daughter of Culver. It is not generally known, we believe,
that " Mad Tom" slept the last five nights of his miserable
existence, in this cottage. Certain it is, had he been suffered
to roam at large, while he lived, that he might have had every
farthing possessed by this perverse family, to whose credulity
there are' no bounds. It has been said that to be furious in
religion is to be irreligiously religious.

ECOND EDITION.

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

(THIS DAY.)

HOUSE OF LORDS.

The galleries and doors of the body of the House were
opened for the admission of strangers at Twelve o'clock, im-
mediately. after which the LORD CHANCELLOR in his state
robes took his seat on the woolsack. The only other Peers
present were Lewd Lyndhurst and the Earl of Shaftesbury.
Prayers were then said by the Bishop of Hereford.
Lord LYNDHURST gave judgment in the ease of Scott v.
Jones, confirming the opinion of the Master of the Rolls, and
reversing the decision of the late Lord Chancellor.
The LORD CHANCELLOR gave judgment in the case of Gray
v. Forbes, sending back the case for rehearing.
Lord L YND II UR ST presented a petition from the Chamber
of COmmerce of the city of Bristol, praying for protection to
commerce abroad, and that the House would take measures
to preserve inviolate the rights of British subjects.
At one o'clock the side and end galleries were completely
filled with ladies ; and most of the scats reserved for the
Peeresses in the body of the House were occupied.
The LORD CHANCELLOR presented the Fourth Re-
port of the Poor-law Commissioners of England and Wales.
—Laid ou the table.
Mr. STEwartr and others from the Commons brought u p
copies of the Minutes of Evidence taken before the Postage
Committee.
At half-past one the Foreign Ambassadors began to ar_
rive id;:quick succession, and took their places in the
railed off space behind the Episcopal Bench. Among them we
observed Prince Esterbazy, whose extremely rich and costly uni.
form attracted much attention. The Austrian, Prussian, Ha-
novf.‘rian, Russian. Turkish, and Dutch Ambassadors, with their
attaches; the Duke of Norfolk, Earl Marshal, the Duke of
Sussex, the Duke of Cambridge, Viscount Melbourne, the
Marquis of Lansdowne, Lord Glenelg, and the other Minis-
ters, in their Robes of State, arrived shortly afterwaris,
and at this moment the appearance of the House was ex-
trt:mely brilliant and animated. Almost every seat was occu-
pied, and the rich and varied dresses of the ladies glittering
tsith brilliants, pearls, and other precious gems, the magnifi-
cent state robes of the Peers and great Officers of State, and
the uniforms of the Foreign Ambassadors, formed a very strik-
ing and brilliant COUP d'wil.
At a quarter before two, the Princess Augusta and the
Princess Ilobenlolie entered, and took their seats on the
'Woolsack, immediately fronting the throne.
It was the subject of general observation that the old de-
corations of the throne remain as they have been fur several

Parliaments, and the letters " G. it." are still displayed in
tatnished gold at the back of the throne after the lapse of two

reignF.

At half-past- two, the firing of guns, and flourish of trum-
pets, announced the arrival of her Majesty, who shortly after-
wards entered the House, preceded by the Heralds and Great
Officers of State, and attended by the Duchess of Sutherland,
M stress of the Rubes ; the Marchioness of Lansdowne, and the
other Ladies of the Royal Household.
The Queen wore her Crown, a splendid robe of white
satin, richly trimmed with gold lace, the crimson velvet state
mantle, with a broad band of gold lace around the hem, and de-
corated with gold cord and tassels. Her Majesty's necklace,
stomacher, and ear-rings were composed of large brilliants
of the purest water. Her 'Majesty looked extremely well, and
conversed for some time with the Duke of Sussex, who stood
upon her left hand, and Viscount Melbourne, who carried the
Sword of State, on her Majesty's right hand.
Having requested the Peers to be seated, her Majesty di-
rected Sir Augustus Clifford, the Usher of the Black Rod to
summon the House of Commons, and shortly afterwards the
Speaker, in his robes of state, attended by the Sergeant-at-
Antos told a large body of Members, appeared at the Bar.
The SPEAKER immediately- proceeded to address her
Majesty as follows
" MOST GRACIOUS MAJESTY,
We, your faithful Commons, approach your Majesty at the
close of a- Laborious and unusually protracted Session of Par-
liament. The serious disturbances which unhappily broke
out in the Province. of Lower Canada demanded our
immediate attoiition. It was our fiat care to
place at the dispos4 of your Majesty such means
we deem,.,-[ to be indispensable for the restora-
von of order and the maintenance of future tranquillity.
In considering„ as it was our duty to do, the causes which
had 1,(1
to these deplorable events, we found that
the discord which had sr) long existed between the
different . branches of the Government and Legisla-
ture had
rendered it Impossible to conduct public
affairs with that efficiency and harmony which were essential
to the Prosprity and safety of that province. Under this con-
viction, we felt that it was necessary to interpose, by adopting
a vigorous and decisive measure L and we have passed an Act,
suspending for a limited time the Constitution of Lower Canada,
and have given iirge and extensive means to be exercised

under the control of your Majesty, and on the responsibility
of your Ministers. We arc conscious that such a mea-
sure can only be defended by the deepest conviction of
its necessity, and we anxiously look for our justification in the
early re-establishment of the free institutions of that important
colony, with such amendments as may best secure the happiness
of its people, as well as cement its union with the
mother country. Among the subjects recommended to our
consideration in your Majesty's gracious Speech on the open-
ing of the Parliament, there was none that presented greater
difficulties, or which deraanded more care acd circumspection,
than the provision to be made for the destitute in Ireland.
We felt that no measure for the introduction of a Poor-law
into e country circumstanced as Ireland is, with respect
tet the nutnne: and condition of its population, could
be proposed rifbout incurring heavy responsibility; but
looking at the example of had been done on this sub-
Jece by former Parliamerae with respect to• England,
we thought that the time was time when we might
jegislate for Ireland With safety, and with a reasemel,le hope of
suceekm We have firmly adhered to these principles, which
Bate been sanctioned by general concurrence and I.;y experi-
ence ; but we have not carried them further than was neceeeary
to give them a fair chance of success, and to meet the pressing
exigency of the case. If the execution of this most im-
portant law shall be watched over and guided by the same
predene and impartial spirit which governed our de-
liberatitele in its enactment, me confidently hope that
the bene6te which it is ealculeted to center wilt
be gradually devZ..lopedthat it will be found to be just
towards all who are Zf,
eeven by its provisions, and that it
will eventually be the means ."f greatly improving the com-
forts and the habits of the people 01 :,'eland. We have passed
an'Act for abolishing compositions for tithes Ireland, and have
substituted rent charges, payable by those who have
a perpetual interest in the land. The exaction tithe
from those who were either unable, or who reii'sed
to pay, has been a fruitful source of strife, alike inju-
rious to the public peace and .the real interests of the
Church. We have given the strongest proof of our
desire to extinguish those evils, and to procure present re-
pose and tranquillity by making a liberal and munificent
grant to indemnify, in certain cases, those to whom arrears
of composition for tithes are due. We have mitigated the
severity of the law, and the sufferings of the unfortunate by
abolishing in certain cases imprison), nt for debt, and we
have endeavoured to increase the usefulness of the Church
by abolishing the holding of benefices in plurality, and by
making better provision for the residence of the Clergy.
In passing these measures we have again recorded our con-
viction that the surest way to maintain respect for our
laws and attachment to our institutions is by gradually in-
troducing such amendments as are most likely to re-
commend them to the improving opinions and in-
creasing knowledge of the educated classes of the com-
munity. We have made provision with liberality, but
without improvidence for the necessary expenditure of the
year, as also for those additional expenses arising from the
events in Canada. I have now, on the part of the Commons,
to present our last Bill of Supply, to which, with all humi-
lity, vi e pray your Majesty's Royal Assent,
The Royal Assent was then given to the foll Owing Bills:
The last Bill of Supply with the Appropriation Clause, the
Tin Duties Bill, the Canada Indemnity Bill, the Public Works
Bill, the County Treasurers' (Ireland) Bill, the Valuation of
Land (Ireland) Bill, the Personal Diligences ( Scotland)
Bill, the Court of Session (Scotland) Bill, the Sheriffs'
Courts ( Scotland) Bill, the St. Saviour's ( Suuthwark) Gram-
mar School Bill.
The LORD CHANCELLOR, 011 his knee, then presented the.
Speech to her Majesty, who read it in her usual clear and
impressive manner.
[The Speech will be found in another column.]
The LORD CHANCELLOR announced that the Parlia-
ment stood prorogued till Thursday, the I I th of October, next.
Immediately afterwards her Majesty and her attendants
quitted the House, all the Peers and Peeresses standing, and
returned to the Palace in the same order as before.