The Sun.
London, England, 1828-10-16 00:00:00

COUNTY OF KENT MEETING.

The Kentish papers are full of intimations of
the preparations now making by the Brunswickers
and anti-Brunswickers, for the approaching
county meeting at Penenden-heath, on the 24th
instant. The Maidstone Journal announces
that there are already enlisted under the banners
of the Kent Brunswick Club above 800 mem-
bers, the greater part of whom are yeomanry,
and of the class of farmers. ' There are among
the Presidents five resident Peers of the county ;
among the Vice-Presidents one Nobleman, four
Honourables, nine Baronets, and two Knights,
all residents in Kent. In the Committee of
Management, the same paper adds, there are 41
of the most influential gentlemen of the county.
It is further stated, that a strong opposition.will
be made at the county meeting, and that the
Brunswickers and anti-Brunswickers are now
organizing parties at Canterbury and Rochester
to proceed in large bodies to Maidstone, with
purple and green flags, which are to be the
symbols of the conflicting classes.
The Maidstone Journal of Tuesday pub-1
lishes the following letter from Lord Harris, to
rally the Brunswickers at the approaching county
meeting :

" BELMONT, OCT. 7.
" Fellow•countrymen and Men of Kent,—From
my age and the advice of the faculty, I haVe of late
years keen deprived of the pleasure of being much
among you, and now having little expectation of
being able to attend in person at the county meet.
ing summoned for the 24,th inst., on Penenden-
heath, I cannot refrain endeavouring to state to you
my sentiments in writing. With regard to the mo-
mentous question which will then come under your
consideration, I wish to make it clear that I do riot
feel myself interested in it for our county alone, but
as that county forms a part of the United King-
dom of Great Britain arid Ireland; it is not our
local politics or interests which should at the present
moment exclusively agitate our thoughts, but rather
the great and universal question, whether we are to
be allowed one Protestant Church and Constitution,
or whether we shall give them up, snd again put
ourselves under the dominion of the See of Rome.
Our glorious ancestors delivered us from this tyranny
of priestcraft,—from this influence of superstition;
and shall we, their descendants, tamely permit those
safeguards which they deemed essential to the preser-
vation of the Constitution, to be surrendered because
we are either too indolent or too timid to resist the
encroachments of those whose sole object is, to sub-
vert it ?

" Every real Protestant must, if he reflects, feel
the horror of being deprived the liberty of serving
his God as he has been taught, and as he feels it his
duty to do : this privilege the Roman Catholics are
as free to enjoy as ourselves, and God forbid they
should not ! But with this they are not. content ;
their wish, and the very spirit of their religion, is to
dictate to all others, and it is to prevent so great a
calamity as this that I call upon every true Pro-
testant, before it be too late, to use his utmost exer-
tion, to present himself at the approaching meeting,
and there calmly and deliberately to consider the
subjects which will then be discussed, and, having
done so, firmly to unite in whatever may appear most
advisable for the welfare of the existing Constitution.
This I consider to be a duty which every Protestant
alike owes to his conscience, his country, and his God.
" I am, fellow-countrymen,
" Your friend and obedient humble servant,
" Oct. 8. " HARRIS.
" P.S. Brother freemen,—Let order be your pass-
word on Penenden-heath, on the 24th inst."