POSTSCRIPT.
SATURDAY.
London was agitated the whole of sesterday by the reports of dis. turbances of a serious description, oely quelled with a dreadful loss of life, which have occurred in the county of Kent. The narrative is as yet imperfect in some important particulars, but the following facts aye been ascertained. A person calling himself Sir William Conrtenay, but whose real same is John Thom, a native of Cornwall, and the same who iendered himself conspicuous in the neighbourhood of Cante, bury some years ago, was recently released from confinement in a lunatic asylum, where be bad been placed after convinction for perjury committed by him in a smuggling case. It was believed that Courtenay was harmless, though eccentric; and his behaviour in the asylum was composed and quiet. Since his release, he has been living with and among farmers ; who sup. plied him with some money, as well as food. Ile repeated his old stories of being a man of high birth, and entitled to some of the finest estates
in Kent. Being a remarkably handsome man, and very eloquent and Isscinating in his manner, he persuaded numbers of the ferrners and yeo- manry, that the time was at hand when be should be a great ehieftain in Kent, and that the people then should live on his estates without rent. The delusion in Courtenay's brain seems to have reached its height on Monday last ; when he summoned the peasantry to attend him in a sort of crusade, it would appear, for the recovery of his property. Twenty or thirty persons joined him ; and with these he went from one farm-house to another in Boughton, Sitti: ghourne, Boulton, and other villages in the vicinity of Canterbury ; receiving and paying for refreshment. By Thursday morning he had collected from sixty to one hundred persons, armed with bludgeons. This party paraded the village of Boughton, and the neighbourhood, at an early hour; but up to that time no act of violence seems to have been committed. The Magistrates, however, now thought it time to inter- fere; and John Mears a constable, with Nicholas Mears his brother, and another man summoned to his assistance, were sent to the house of William (Weer, a farmer at Borsenden, to arrest Courtenity, and other two of the rioters. Courtenay made his appearance, and immediutely,wi th &pistol, shot Nicholas Mears—who fell down dead : he then struck at John Mears with a dagger, but missed him. Mears and the other man ran away. They went to Faversham, and obtained warrants for the ap-
prehension of Courtenay NIA three others, for the murder of Nicholas
Mears. Mr. Knutchbell, (brother to Sir Edward,) Dr. Poore, and many others, went to aid in the execution of the warrant. They foiled Courtenay with about sixty persons, armed with bludgeons, in Fair- brook-field, in the parish of Botiltomunder.the-Blea. Courtenay was seen to fire at Major Handley, and the Reverend Mr.
Mandley, who were exhorting the men to leave Courtenny. As it appeared necessary to have military assistance, a deteehment of the Forty-fifth Regiment, one hundred strong, under the coat. eland of Major Armstrong, murched against the rioters ; who, in the mean while, bad retired into Bossenden Wood, which is several miles in extent, but traversed by two roads. Major Armstrong sent 50 soldiers under Captain Reed to one side of the wood, and advanced against Courtenay with 50 on the opposite side. There was still a road left by which the rioters might have escaped. But Courtenay defied Major Armstrong ; and the madmen who followed him were eager to fight the military. Lieutenant Benett was a little in advanoe of the soldiers, when Courtenay ran at him, and just as Major Arm- strong was saying " Benett, come back," shot him in the side. Lieu-
tenant Benett fell dead. Courtenay was knocked down by :11113n Wil0 stood near Benett ; and a soldier, immediately as he jumped up, shot
him through the body. As he fell, Courtenay exclaimed, " I have Jesus in my heart." Major Armstrong now gave the word to fire. A volley was poured in among the rioters; by which nine were killed on the spot, two so badly wouuded that one has since died, aed the other is not likely to live, and several others were set-sit:1y wounded. The rioters dispersed immediately.
An inquest was held yesterday on the body of Nicholas Mears ;. and a verdict of " IVilful Murder" returned against Courtenay and live of the rioters, (one of whom is also dead,) recognized by the witnesses. It appears that the delusion among the peasantry is so great, that they actually expect him to rise again, as be prophesied. Ile called lumsell the Saviour of the world, pointed to pume urns in his hands as the marks of the nails of the cross, and to a eicatriee in his side, out of which the blood and water flowed: a woman was seen washing his face, and endeavouring to pour water through his lips, as he lay ma the ground. She said that she had followed him for mote than half a mile with a pail of water ; because he had told her, that if he fell, and she put water between his lips, he should rise again in it One of the prisoners told Major Armstrong, that they would have attacked two thousand soldiers, having been persuaded by Courteney that they could not be shot. The peasant' y regard the men who fell as martyrs, and Courtenay himself us a divieity.
It was reported that Captain Montgomery had been severely wounded; but he was at Centel bury dinette the :teflon. Major Arm strong received some slight contusions from the bludgeons, and his sword was bent in cutting at the rioters. Lieutenant Peendergust was also hurt, but not dangerously, by a blow on the head. When the lust accounts were received this morning. the multi y was perfectly quiet. Twenty. seven prisoners have been sent to Maidstone Gaol.
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