6 NOVEMBER 1830, Page 20

THE STATE OF KENT.

November 4, 1830. I DEAR SPECTATOR—Our little parish still continues in the greatest !state of excitement. If the dogs bark, we fly to our fire-arms ; if the kitchen-chimney smokes more than usual, the alarum-bell is rung. A poor beggar cannot exercise his honest calling, without being suspected of some evil intention, and his person examined, in case he should be possessed of the much-feared incendiary apparatus. A man in a smock- frock, with red whiskers, was lately seen for a moment, and disappeared. A hue and cry was raised after him; but neither he nor his inflammable whiskers have since been heard of. I should tell you, that there are not six men in the parish who do not wear smock-frocks ; but then, the red. whiskers are the real cause of fear. Since they were seen, every stack in the parish has been insured. The squire and the parson have patched up a peace, for once to unite in measures of defence for mutual safety, with, however, the mutual resolution of cutting each other when the alarm is over. Wo be to the man who in these times even looks at a corn-stack !

.People seem divided in their opinions as to the description of persons who have brought us to this state of things. Some accuse the machine- breakers ; who, as I told you last week, deny it. Others attribute it to. the Irish White Boys, or Rockites ; who, they say, while they are cater.. ing for our amusement, hope to reap some advantage at home. Others charge the smugglers with it, either from revenge for disappointment in their schemes, or in the hope of making a diversion to direct men's attention from their proceedings. But some actually declare they have seen the Duke, or at least one of his emissaries, stalking about the country in a foraging-cap.and military cloak in the dead of night, orga- nizing his incendiary troops. Were I to hazard an opinion, it would be, that these fires are the work of a parcel of idle people, who have nothing to lose, but every thing to gain, by a state of alarm and confusion ; and that, were they discovered, they would have great difficulty in assigning any other motive for their conduct than a love of mischief.

However, we have not been so frequently disturbed of late ; and, until last night, there has scarcely been a fire in this neighbourhood— I speak of the neighbourhood of Canterbury. In West Kent, I under- stand, things have worn a more formidable aspect, as there has been a tendency, on the part of the lower orders, to assemblein large bodies ;, but East Kent has been entirely free from such a disagreeable symptom of disorder. I cannot learn that a single incendiary has been discovered. This is very unfortunate, as such a diseovery would enable Government to apply the remedy with the greater certainty of cure.