The Sun.
London, England, 1832-08-10 00:00:00

ASSAULT ON HIS GRACE THE ARA.
BISHOP OF CANTERBURY.

CANTERBURY, AUGUST B.—Last night, about sat
o'clock, his Grace the Lord Archbishop of Canterif
arrived here, to hold a primary visitation of the dioc,
It had been previously arranged by the corporation t 0...,
ceive him in the usual way at the Guildhall, whet;
sumptuous dessert was arranged. The Sheriff (Jaw
Ridout, Gent.) and the junior Alderman (Sampson Kin.
ford, Esq.) met the Primate at Harbledown, accompani
by several Prebends of the Cathedral in carriages, whe
they invited him in the usual way, and passed the acct,
tomed ceremony. His Grace received them cordially, 4
with great becoming dignity and condescension express'
himself pleased at the attention of the body corporal,'
The procession then returned. It had been feared, in cot,
sequence of the Archbishop's vote against the Reform BI
that some minifestatien of opinion might be made by tl
populace; accordingly, strong barricades were erected k
front of the Guildhall, and a large number of spa
cial constables sworn, to act in case of necessity 1
All passed off, however, without any exhibition n
feeling, until within a few minutes of his Grace't
arrival, when a sailor, in a state of inebriation, but;
perfectly quiet and harmless in his demeanour, ac-
companied by two loose girls, steered up the High-street.
The moment he was observed by Alderman Cowtan, an
order was given to a constable to apprehend him, being a
person likely to commit an act of outrage. The populace,
to the amount of some thousands, interfered, requiring to
know what the man had done ; but, instead of being an-
swered by Alderman Cowtan, he charged them immedi-
ately, in the:King's name, to assist in apprehending the ult.
offending individual. The crowd were not disposed to
allow him to remain in custody under such a trumpery
pretext, and took him away, inveighing against the Cor-
poration for spending the public money upon an Arch-
bishop, when there were so many deserving poor in abso-
lute want. From this moment the mob became excited,
and heaped all manner of abuse upon those who en'
eisavoured to promote harmony. No sooner had the car.
riage of the Archbishop appeared in sight, than the most
deafening noises rent the air ; and when his Grace arrived
at the Guildhall, the rains and hisses were tremendous.
The venerable man seemed quite unnerved; he shook vio-
lently, and made the best of his way into the building, the
doors of which were instantly closed. After he had partaken
of the dessert, and drunk the health of the ladies, the car'
riage was immediately ordered to be prepared. His Grace
stepped in evidently much alarmed. The hisses and
groans were now renewed, and missiles of every descrip-
tion were hurled at the vehicles—hats, caps, pieces of
brickbat, cabbage-stalks, indeed every thing the ruffians
could collect. Unluckily the postilions, being unacquainted
with the city, directed the coach towards St. Margaret's,
instead of Mercery-lane ; the mob had therefore more
time to gather weapons, anti again furiously assailed the
oarriage. When his Grace entered the precincts of 3be
Cathedral the large gates were instantly closed. Several
hundred persons had previously gained admission, and
ranged themselves within the walls of the Deanery, where
hisses and groans prevailed over every other feeling. Per-
sons of every description concur, that but for the oil'
cious interference of Alderman Cowtan, the city would not
have been disturbed from its propriety. His Grace received
no injury, although one of the carriage windows was
broken.