Star.
London, England, 1830-10-14 00:00:00

THE OUTRAGES IN BENT.

CAN Tl* 117 RY, MONDAY..-4 have come " thus far into the bowels
of" East Kent, with a view, by personal inquiry, to learn something of
the true state of the county, and the nature and origin of those instance.
tionary movements which have disgraced this hitherto peaceable part of
the country, and converted Kent into something resembling an English
Munster. These outrages, which, with few exceptions, have hitherto
been confined to the demolition of the thrashing machines, commenced
about two months since, just previous to the season when they are
brought into operation. These machines are worked by horses, and at-
tended by eight or ten men, and they supersede in employment, during
the winter, at warm in-door barn work, about thrice that number, pen.
forming the labour so rapidly, that the farmer is enabled, through those
means, to have his corn in market so early as to have for it the early
price. The cost of a machine may be about 401. to 501. and if, as is
stated to be the case, the agricultural mobs have destroyed at least 00
of them, the damage to be levied on the county, as is always the case in
riotous proceedings similar to those, may be estimated at nearly five
thousand pounds ; but what care they ?—they want employment, and
pay no rates.

There is nothing, it should he remarked, of a political nature what-
ever in their tumults—their object is the machine ; but it cannot be con-
cealcd that there are among them what the Irishman would call a
" Paddy Al•Kew," the Englishmen a "Castles, or an Oliver." These
fellows have adopted a plan of going into the public-houses in the un-
frequented hamlets about the county, and, getting into conversation
with the peasantry, exciting their bad passions, apparently from motives
of commiseration at their condition. I heard of one of these fellows yes-
' terday at Kltham, and, perhaps, a description of his person may not be
without its utility : he was dressed in a white new silk -hat, blue frock
coat, dark grey trousers, and boots • about five feet eight in height and,
either from affectation or defect, From what I have learned,
however, he is not the only one of his infamous calling prowliog about
this division of the county—these fellows have for their object to get up
jobs for themselves, and earn blood-money.
There can be do doubt that the secrecy and caution with which the
agricultural rioters have acted in their nightly proceedings has struck
terror into the farmers to such a degree, that many of them' have almost
invited them to conic and demolish their machines ; and it is almost
impossible, in the cases where they have been destroyed, to procure any
information, or obtain any clue to the affair. When you can get them
into conversation on this dangerous subject, they arc as cautious
the frequenters of a Parisian esti during the old system of police
informers.

The Magistrates have not been inactive ; but they allege, in justifi.
cation of their inability to prevent these outrages, that it is impossible
to do so unless they ate pro►ided with a sufficient forte, either of civil
or military, to patrol, the roads. Something of this sort must even.
tually be done, as the misery and distress will be row on the increase
during the winter, and, no doubt, many recruits, is consequence, will
be found to swell the ranks of the rioters.

Rut the moat alarming feature in this matter is, that they hareem.
meneed burning the tarm-yards and corn-stacks. When this shall end
no one can tell—the whole proceedings bear so close a resemblance to
those of Captain Rock that it is impossible not to notice it Like him,
too, the insurrectionary spirit here has taken a no de "were, and
the epithet adopted is •• Swing," in which name several notices,
threatening destruction, have been sent to the farmers ; one of them
runs thus :

" You are to notice that if you donut put away your thrashing ma-
chine against Monday next you shall have a
" SWING."
The roads, too, are chalked with the same ominous name— so that we
may designate the Kent rioters u the tollowers of " Swing."
The effect of all this on the sulky class of farmers has been to pre.
vent their adopting such steps, in concert with the Magistrates as can
alone put a stop to the proceedings of the rioters. Ledbetter, die police
engag
ed in endeavour.
ing to trace the offenders. Six men are now in ens on suspicion of
having be of the party who set fire to the Key. Mr. 'a corn.atacks
land barn last week, at Lyminge—they have undergone an examination
before the Magistrates.

Yesterday mernieg news reached this city that a tire bad taken pima;
during the night, at Slurry, and that the mills them had been outrage.
only set ea fire. A party of military. accompanied by several special
constables, end the different fire.eroginee, immediately maned for the
spot, but, fortunately, It was discovered, on their arrival there, the
alma was false.
Hops —Hop-picking has closed throughout this county. The crop
is said to be is a very lair condition, despite of the anticipations of the
speculators.— Ver. of Me Herald,

Tuesday last the l L•h Light Dragoons (lite headyuat:.r.• of which
are hi this town), under the command of lricutenaut-Colonel Towns-
hend, were reviewed on 11ozeley Wake (*retro, by Main General
Dalbiac, Inspector. General of the Cavalry. The troops from Coventry
marched in on the previous day. under the command of Major Beck.
with. On Monday, the Maj•tr.Oeneral inspected the Barracks, the re-
gimental and coop books, and the regimental reload; with the re u.
rarity of which he appeared much satisfied, but particularly wilt the
appearance and improvement of the children io the school. On Inc
regiment completing their evolutions, on Tuesday, the Major.oe-
ateral was alto pleased to express to Lieutenant Colonel
his unqualified approbation art the internal economy of the regimcnt , the
appearance of the meu and horses, and their wort:menu in the field.
The day being fiue, a very respectable company were attracted to the
common to witness the review of this fine body of cavalry.—Bit tnia!",-
haw Journa...

His Majesty's warrant for the increase of the pay of the quart..r-
masters and surgeons of regiments, after a specified length of
has been just issued, although the order on the subject has been dated
tof far back as July M. It has been much comwkated of b} anetlia:
equally deserving class of teems, the adjutants, that they have not bed,,
included in the order ; and that no increase of pay far any length re
service has bees allotted to them. This hardship pressed, the mare el,
adjutants of cavalry than on thane of the infantry regiments, as the pay
of each is the same (10s. a day); while the tomes mast purchase a
rornetcy at 8401. the latter only pays for hilt ensigney 4501.