Star.
London, England, 1830-11-29 00:00:00

SPIRIT' OF THE JOURNALS.

Mrs/EL—The National Congress at Brussels came on Wednesday
afternoon to the important decision of formally deposing their King,
and of excluding his family for ever from all power in Belgium. The
pretensions of the Prince of Orange to the Belgic throne are thus ire.
vocably superseded. The Assembly consisted of nearly its full com-
plement of members. The whole number present was 189, and only
28 opposed the vote of exclusion, which was carried by 161. The at-
tack on Brussels and the bombardment of Antwerp, which the Prince
did not certainly command, and which perhaps he could not prevent,
have been the real cause of the diminution of his partisans, and the
loss of his crown. The political " sins of the father are thus visited
on the son," and Belgium, from the impulse of passion, or the recol.
lection of recent injuries, has perhaps thrown away the best oppor.
tunity which can ever occur of reconciling its own interests with the
general tranquillity of Europe. The overwhelming majority against
his Royal Highness, or rather the minute number of deputies in his
favour (for the 28 who opposed the motion were not all of them his
friends), must for ever terminate all hopes of reversing the verdict of
exclusion by appeals to the people, by intrigues with the nobility, by
the influence of particular towns, or by the efforts of European
diplomacy. At the same time, persons the least accustomed to
political speculations, and the least acquainted with the conventional
jealousies of states, must see in the vacant throne a source of great em.
barrassment to Europe. The candidates may be as numerous as the
suitors of Penelope, but are neighbouring Powers likely to look
quietly on while the choice of one is made ? Can the Belgic National
Congress elect a King as an English vestry an overseer of the poor,
without attracting the notice of their neighbours ? Would England see
with indifference • deputation sent to the Patois Royal to invite the
young Duke de Nemours to accept of the Belgic Crown? Or would
France not view with equal jealousy the elevation of a Prince connected
with England ? Germany is fertile in the kind of article cow wanted ;
but can Germany send her troop of competitors without alarming one
or other of her two chief potentates? In short, we might heap
question upon question without being able to give a satisfac-
tory answer, and proceed from conjecture to conjecture, in
" wandering mazes lost," without coming to any certain conclusion.—
One thing, -however, seems evident—that Belgium, or in other words,
the Belgic National Congress, is perfectly indifferent to the opinion of
the great European States, and considers the spirit of the Holy Alliance
as for ever extinct. The Assembly knew that the Emperor of Russia
must feel an interest In his brother-in-law, the Prince of Orange, and
his children ; they were acquainted with the numerous ties which bind
the Orange family to the King of Prussia ; they were aware of all the
treaties to which these two Powers, along with others, are parties; and
yet they were determined not to leave in existence a single shred of their
connexion with the deposed dynasty. Into the probable consequences
of this act of exclusion we cannot at present enter, though we have no
hesitation in saying that its supporters appeared to us to ground it
more on the antipathies of national prejudice, than on any reasonable
objection to the personal character of their Prince, or any statesman-like
regard to the interests of their country.

Cuaorricaz.—The accounts from the disturbed districts are, upon
the whole, less alarming. The concessions made to the labourers could
hardly fail to produces temporary quiet. But when the fta•ds at the
disposal of the parish overseer fall short, which must soon be the rise
everywhere, the evil will assuredly recommence. In Hampshire and
Wiltshire the tumultuous assemblages have been dispersed. The reports
from Wiltshire last Hight were, that all was quiet. fu the other hand,
the accounts from the neighbourhood of Huntingdon last night were un-
favourable. It was even reported that a nobleman's rnanalon had been
set on fire.

Trams.—The disturbances are proceeding, and perhaps extending,
in the agricultural districts: property is destroyed, violence resorted to,
and personal outrages committed. This is a state of things which un-
doubtedly must not go on; and measures, official and extra-official, are
taken in all directions, to put an end to it. But what measures ? In
one short sentence we shall state, let, our conviction that the peasantry
are more oppressed and more alive to the magnitude of their own wants,
than at any former period ' • 2d, our belief, as to the nature and mode of
that oppression, that it has arisen from the endeavours of men of property
to squeeze out of the bodies of the labouring population sparger share than
justice:or humanity permitted; of the general profits of land and labour.
In the war, it is well known that the rents were doubled, anti wages were
considerably—though never proportionably—raised. Since the war the
prices of farm produce have fallen, and fallen greatly ; but when this
came to be represented to the country gentleman, " Very well," quoth
he, (we speak of generals, not of exceptions), "you shall have your rent
reduced a fiafe—not a great deal; but if you want to bring yourselves
home, you have my leave to make a great reduction in your labourers'
wages, for labour, you know, is plenty." Thus, then, it has happened.
Amidst the universal fall of prices the landlord has been unwilling to
bear his share of the common los+. He insists on having the same in.
come as ever from an article—namely, land—which In any fair market
would no longer fetch the same price ; and to enfotce this pretension,
he wrings out of the tarok r and the labourer a greater proportion of
their profits and wages than they ever before were called upon to yield
to his exaction. Until the gentleman is compelled to support his due
share of the general diminution of profits, the country never will be
right; and in such a case as the present, he wbo limits his care to the
prosecuting, imprisoning, or transporting the miserable creatures who
have been exasperated into the perpetration of crimes, commits a foul
iniquity on behalf of wealth and self-indulgence, against want and suf.
feting, most disgraceful to the magistrates and the sovereign power.
The Corn Law—that mod flagitious of monopolies—has contributed
largely to this unnatural and cruel evil. The repeal of the Corn law,
the consequent equalization of profits and fall of rents, will. we sus-
pect, have an influence upon the public comfort and tranquillity, more
beneficial than the most sanguine have yet dared to hope would result
from such a reform of our legislation.

Cullom I.E.—When we first announced the nomination of Mr.
Stanley to the Chief Secretaryship of Ireland, we added an intimation
that the appointment was not generally popular. Nor war the cause of this
unpopularity difficult to discover, the youthful Statesman having com-
menced his career with the delivery of a violent tirade in the House of
Commons against all who desired to retrench the enormous principalities
of the Irish Church. In this coup d'ossai we had a lively specimen
of the noxious consequences of entrusting to men of the clerical
profession exclusively. as is the established practice in this country, the
education of youths of every rank and degree, without reference to their
several destinations in life. or to the various duties which they may be
called upon to discharge. Mr. Stanley's maiden oration was, we hear,
inspired by the paggestions of a scalous clergyman, his toter, whose
pride and interest were alike concerned in making the heir of the House
of Derby a staunch advocate of the interests of the Church. Happily
the pupil has proved to be a man capable of overcoming the prejudices
so industriously ittstUkd Into hie mind.

HzaALD.—The ikuager desCAufebree of Saturday, and other
Paris papas of the day preceding, state that the public mind of Francs

Cu noxici.E.— :)ur opinions on the question of the Repeal of the
Irish Union have been recently and sufficiently expressed ; but the
subject is again called to our notice, and in alliance with that
of Parliamentary Reform, by the circumstance and details of a
singular communication between the advocates of the Irish
Union Repeal and the " Council" of the " Birmingham Po.
litical Union." it appears tLat Mr. Clarke, of Waterford,
attended a recent meeting of that august body, and repre-
sented to the " Council" the motives of the People of Ireland fot
seeking a repeal of the Act of Union of the United Kingdom ; request-
ing their advice and co-operation. Mr. Clarke's statement was referred
to a committee, whose report was subsequently discussed and debated
the council. They unanimously a-solved' against the expediency of a
repeal, and passed five resolutions, in substance attributing all the evils
and distress suffered by the Irish people to a corrupt House of Commons,
and prescribing as the sole remedy a reform in the representative system.
Wc may hope that the avocations of these formidable associations may
be cad), terminated by the application of the grand panacea.

SPATE O'•' THE COUNTRY.

COUNTY OF KENT.

FORMATION OF A TROOP OF YEOMANRY CAVALRY.

A Meeting was on Friday holden at Foot's Cray, which was attended
by the principal inhabitants of the district, for the purpose of forming
a troop of Yeomanry, being the most effectual and constitutional means
of preserving the peace of the county, and protecting the property of the
inhabitants against the outrages of lawless rioters.
The Hon. J. R. Towwsurwn, M.P. was called to the Chair, when
the following Resolutions were unanimously agreed to :-
Ist. That immediate means be taken for forming within the district
a Troop of Yeomanry Cavalry, under the command of the lion J. R.
Townahend, who has received the authority of Government for that
purpose, in order to be ready to support the civil authorities in the sup.
pression of tumult, the preservation of the peace, and the protection of
the rights and property of his Majesty's subjects.
2d. That the Gentlemen and Yeomen present be invited to enrol their
names, and to use their influence with such as may be absent to come
forward for the purpose of constituting the Troop.
Immediately on the reading of the last Resolution forty of the most
respectable Yeomen enrolled themselves, and assurances were received
from several who were unavoidably absent of their readiness to join.
Those who felt themselves unequal to active service enrolled their names
u honorary members.

The zeal and alacrity displayed on this occasion by every person pre.
sent cannot fail to be productive of the most beneficial molts, and in
consequence of this most auspicious commencement, no doubt is enter-
tained of the speedy formation of a most respectable Troop of Yeomanry
Cavalry in this neighbourhood.
The thanks of the meeting were unanimously voted to Mr. Towns.
bend, on his quitting the chair.
• Amongst those present were.—
Lord Bexley, Lord Wynford, the Hon. Colonel Townahend, James
Chapman, Esq. R. B. Berens, Esq. Hon. John Robert Tuwnshend,
M.P. and about seventy of the most respectable yeomen and farmers in
the neighbourhood.

WINCHESTER, Saturday. Nov. 27.—A groat number of prisoners
were brought in during Tuesday and Wednesday, and news arrived age-
rious disturbances at Basingstoke, Andover, Fordingbridge, Owslebury,
Arington, and several other places in the county. Soldiers were seat
off as soon as they could be spared to several of the places, and the rest
were supplied with troops from other sources.
A general meeting of the Lieutenancy and Magistrates of the county
was held at the Grand Jury Chamber, on Thursday morning, at which
the Duke of Wellington presided. The resolutions passed upon that
occasion have been printed for circulation, but thew isdom of them have
I been somewhat questioned. Instead of breathing that spirit of conch
liation and kindness which it was hoped they would approach, and to
which the willing and honest labourer eagerly looked, the resoluti ins are
principally recommendatory of the prompt application of force, and the
formation of yeomanry and volunteer corps. The whole body of special
constables were on duty throughout the day and made so formidable
and soldier-like an appearance, that the Lord Lieutenant is reported to
have said, there could not be occasion for much military assistance to a
place so well defended ; an 2 whether this were said or not, it is ceriain
that a considerable portion of troops have been since removed. The
special commission for trial of the rioters is expected to arrive in a few
days, the gaol being much crowded. The mobs are not found to
consist entirely of labouring men, as has been represented ; nor are
their only objects the destruction of machines and an increase of wages.
I Several inhabitants of Winchester, and other towns, and many per-
sons in full employment, at high wages, as mechanics and trades.
men, have been apprehended, and lodged in prison, as ringleaders of
most flagrant outrages. Two men in full work, as sawyers, in the re-
ceipt of two guineas per week each, and actually sworn in as special
constables, weee taken, with laurel in their hats, at the head of a despe.
rate mob near hf itch eldever. Large sums of money have been extorted
by violence and threats from several individuals, at their own
houses, anti p-rsons have been stopped and pillaged in the public
roads. Women and boys take their share in these outrages, which
are concluded by a division and expenditure of the spoil at public-
houses and beer-shops, which last prove convenient places of mee.-
log and rendezvous. Some have been beard to declare that they will
not work, while they can earn so much more by mobbing. `fliers
all this will end no one can tell. Too much praise cannot be given to
Sir William Heathcote and oilier magistrates, for their prompt and in.
cement exertions, at much personal risk and inconvenience, in the
suppression of the riots in this neighbourhood, and the apprehension
of the offenders. The soldiers have behaved with the utmost steadi-
ness and forbearance, and are entitled to the respect and gratitude of
every honest citizen. Our city police is now very effective, and the
magistrates unremitting in their endeavours to preserve the public
peace, but all this would be of little avail in the absence of mill.
tary aid.

is still troubled at the movements and eontiniing demonstration of a chemist, at Chichester, aid concealing combustible trattct:., fur the
purpose of aiding incendiaries, and who was again re-examined on Sun-
farce displayed by the great Powers upon the Continent. France. the,
my, or rather the pri day evening, by the Secretary of State for the Home Departretnt, on the,:ciple of government which modem France has
same ehar4e, on a warrant from that office, was again sent (limn to the
Consecrated by tlm revolution, is the ultimateobject of all these mum- , magistrates at Chichester, on Tuesday last, with an order for his db..
thins. They look upon immediate war as inevitable, but regard its ap.. i charge. The magistrates of the Chichester Bench have continued their
sittings during the past week, at which Lord George Lennox has been
proach with the utmost coolness and confidence. It will be a war of
opinion--a dangtrous test for Kings in these days;—of opinion be- nearly constantly in attendahee.,
tween the divine rights of Kings and ,:he rights of the people to
choose their own governors. Upon one side they range all the mob
of Kings who acknowledge no rule but their appetites and their pas.
sions • upon the other, the small but goodly band of England, France,
and Belgium. The French Journals have no objection to enter the
lista with such allies. Without the subsidies of England, Russia,
they say, is too poor to move her barbarians from one place to another.
Austria is too sluggish to be dangerous, and Prussia will have guile
enough to do at home. There was already a report of an insurrection
at Berlin. In the meantime the French nation was placing itself in an
attitude which must teach caution to the Kings. In the department of
war all was oustle, under the indefatigable Soult. The fortresses wcte
being garrisoned, inns provided, and an army of observation of
150,000 men, it is said, is about to be formed upon the Rhine, to be
commanded by General Gerard.

ALARMING RIOTS AT HIGH WYCOMBE. IN BUCKING-