Els Country.
There was a very stormy meeting of the agriculturists of East Kent on Monday last, at Barham Downs, near Canterbury, for the purpose of petitioning Parliament on the subject of Lord Althorp's Tithe- commutation Bill. A petition, generally approving of the Ministerial measure, was proposed by Sir H. Montresor, and seconded by Mr. Rice. Sir W. Cosway expressed his disapprobation of several parts of the bill, especially of the septennial valuation. Mr. Edward Hughes, of Snieeth House, said, that Lord Althorp's bill would not give suffi- cient relief to the agricultural interest, and proposed the following reso- lution and a petition founded upon it.
" That instead of the commutation proposed by lite bill now before the Lower
House of Parliament, this meeting is of °pilaw' that a levy of two in the pound, on the bow", fide annual rents, in lieu of and in substitution for the tenth of the produce of the soil—% hich includes the farmer's capital, skill, and industry—would tw a more equitable remuneration for tithes, simple in its construction, easy of collection. and more likely to ameliorate the conduct of those interested in agriculture, than the com- plicated plans proposed for that purpose."
This resolution was seconded, and carried by a very large majority. Sir Edward Knatelibull expressed his surprise that such a proposi- tion could be entertained by the meeting. lie did not think the meet- ing understood what they had voted for. ( Uproar and hisses.) The question was then put again, and carried by a still larger ma- jority.
Sir Edward Knatelibull warmly declared that he would not support the petition. Mr. Plumptre also refused to support it.
Alderman Cooper said that the meeting had been grossly insulted by Sir Edward. The question had been fully discussed and fairly de- cided, and the trick that had been attempted was infamous. The High Sheriff said that the amended resolution arid petition were indisputably carried ; and dissolved the meeting.
The electors of Tiverton are exhibiting a hostile spirit towards one of their Representatives, Mr. J. Kennedy, in consequence of that gentleman's vote in favour of Mr. O'Connell's motion for the Repeal of the Union. They have put in course of signature a requisition calling on Mr. Kennedy to resign his seat. The requisition is headed by one of his best and most active friends, Mr. W. Chapple, of Gornbay.—Ereter Gazette. [Mr. Kennedy was the solitary English Member alluded to by Lord Brougham : we committed a mistake in saying that not one voted with O'Connell. In a letter published in the Chronicle of this morning, Mr. Kennedy says that the requisition re- ceived only seven signatures, and had been withdrawn.] In consequence of the resolution come to by the master manufacturers and clothdressers of Leeds (as announced in our last) nut to give employ- ment to any men but such as would sign a declaration abandoning the Trades Union, and promising not to join that or any similar association while they continued in their employment, about 3000 workmen in all the branches of the woollen manufacture left their eniployment at the end of last week. The determination of the men was, not to sign the de- , laration proposed to them ; and as the masters refused to receive them on any other terms, twenty-four mills have been brought nearly to a stand.—Leeds Mercury. The reports of the present state of trade in Birmingham are very gloomy. This is attributable to several causes,—the general depression of the agricultural interest; the embarrassed state of America, occa- sioned by President Jackson's Bank proceedings ; and the scarcity of money amongst the tradesmen here, arising in many cases from the e m ire nstance of its having been too freely invested in the various spe• dilative projects with which this town and neighbourhood abound.— Birmingham Advertiser. Private letters from a leading Northern Member have been received during the past week, by which we learn that it is the Chancellor of the Exchequer's intention to repeal the whole of the over-sea duties on coals.—Neweastle Journal.
The King has purchased the lease of the premises adjoining the Royal Chapel at Brighton, for the purpose of' increasing the accommo- dation of the domestics of the Household.
A circular has been received by the Masonic Lodge at Bury, and probably by those of other places, requiring them to make a return to
the Clerk of the Peace, of the name, employment, or profession, and
place of residence of every member ; in default of which they will be declared an ;intim:cal secret society. The circular is signed by the Grand Master, the Duke of Sussex. This is understotar to be a step taken in contemplation of putting down all spurious lodges, whether of Trades Unions or Benefit Societies.—Illuncliester Guardian.
Sir Peregrine Acland has recently become the purchaser of the Duke of Buckingham's Somersetshire property, for 63,000/. This estate ad. joins the fine property of Sir Peregrine, at Fairfield. The proceedings of the Court-Martial on Captain Pigott at Sheer- ness, have been continued during the week. The evidence against him has not yet been brought to a close. Two persons were killed by lightning on Thursday week, near Kid- derminster. They and four others took shelter under a tree during a violent thunder-storm. They were all hurt more or less. On Friday week, John Martin, a farmer in the neighbourhood of Doncaster, shot a widow woman, against whom he had conceived a grudge, and afterwards himself, in a fit of madness. The woman will recover, but the man killed himself.
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