THE PRESS.
RESULT OF THE MEETING OF THE a MEN OF KENT."
MORNING CHRONIC LE—Victory has declared for the Brunswickers in Kent.. Of the assembly on Penendensheath, from five to six eighths, as far as we can learn, were on their side. They were united too, while their opponents were agreed as to nothing. Though so long an interval had taken place be- tween the date of the requisition and the meeting, the leading men on the liberal side, with a singular inaptitude for business, had been unable to con- cert any thing like a plan of operations. From the sources of information we possessed, we were from the outset any thing but sanguine as to the re- suit of the meeting ; though the prospect began to brighten up a little during the last two or three days. We knew that the tenantry of England, holding generally their lands at will, are the mere thralls of their landlords; and we knew that the aristocracy and clergy are one and the same, and hostile to Emancipation. We knew that there were several distinguished exceptions among the high aristocracy in Kent, but that the great majority were as we have represented them. In the great towns of England, the people alone can be independent, and five out of six of their inhabitants are favourable to Emancipation. But, unfortunately, the towns of Kent are at too great a dis- tance from the place of meeting ; and it being impossible to drive them, as the tenantry were driven, except in the case of towns nearest the Heath, we anticipated a thin attendance from them. We understand that Rochester, and the towns connected with it, and Canterbury, were on the liberal side; but the tories and parsons had literally organized a sort of rustic conscription. Prices are high too at present, which gives the more power to the landlords. During low prices the landlords have little influence, as was made apparent, a few years ago, when Mr. Cobhett alone heat the aristocracy. In every part of Europe the country is the abode of servility and ignorance. The farmers of England though, no doubt, the best of their kind in Europe, are still, with few exceptions, a boorish race, servile to their landlords, and inso- lent to the wretched labourers under them, by all accounts the most degraded beings in the human form in any civilized nation in this part of the world. We do not consider Kent an anomaly. We protest we believe that most of the agricultural counties of the South of England, would dribit a result still more disgraceful. We repeat it, the aristocracy and clergy are all in all in these districts; and so long as matters go on smoothly, they must be all in all with the Government. The Duke of Wellington may possess the means of softening their opposition, by well-timed appliances ; but before we blame the Duke of Wellington for not availing himself of his influence, IVO must know more of his doings than we do know.
MORNING JOURNAL—Such a contemptible phalanx of noble and plebeian patriots never met before in England. The cause of Protestantism has tri- umphed. Its opponents, gathered as they were from all quarters, from Dublin and Kensington, from Kildare and St. Giles's, are absolutely beneath reproach, not that they have been defeated, but because they would have been so had they by any chance succeeded. TIMES—Although the proceedings were on the whole tumultuous and con- fused, the sentiments of the speakers, on one side at least, were such as will redound at once to the honour of those who uttered them, and to the lasting benefit of the cause which they espoused. The skill of local and mechani- cal arrangement was decidedly with the Brunswick faction. They were con- centrated ; the liberal party were scattered, so that when the show of hands was called for, the collection in that one spot which formed the head-quar- ters of the club-men, appeared inure imposing on behalf of the petition than on any other single spot against it. For the wordineb of the petition itself, apart from the understood objects of those who moved it, we see nothing to complain of. There is merely a profession of attachment to the Protestant Constitution,—a declaration of regret at " the proceedings which have for a long time been carrying on in Ireland," (which, generally speaking, might apply as well to the Orange proceedings as to those of the Catholics,) and there is no direct prayer whatever against the grant of civil privilege to the Catholics. Though such, no doubt, was;,in the minds of those who brought it forward, they had too much respect for public opinion, and too much dread of an absolute defeat, to venture to clothe their violence in language more explicit. They did not DARE to propose a distinct and positive refusal of Catholic emancipation. So extraordinary, however, was the tumult while the petition was read, that not one person in ten could hear a sentence of it.
MORNING Pose—Never did Englishmen more honourably and perfectly discharge their duty. The source of this stupendous display of the virtue, and intellect, and power of the nation, lay deep in the hearts and consciences of our countrymen. They always know the value of the advantages which the British Constitution bestows upon all who have the happiness to live under its sway. They have always been ready to defend it. Nothineb was required but that this beneficent Constitution should be seen to be in danger to produce the magnificent and sublime spectacle which was yesterday ex- hibited, of a nation prompt, zealous, and determined, to protect and uphold the venerable institutions to which it owes its happiness, its freedom, and its prosperity. This triumphant manifestation of the feelings of one of our greatest, most wealthy, and most enlightened counties, puts an end at once and for ever to the delusive notion which it has been so long and so sedu- lously attempted to impose upon the country, that the essential and unalter- able Protestantism of the British Government was a principle to which a large proportion of the nation had become indifferent. This delusion has already produced incalculable evils. It has given to the enemies of the Constitution audacity and vigour, and infused timidity and weakness into the deliberations and efforts of its friends. The delusion, fortunately, is now at an end. It has fled before the loud and patriotic voices of the Men of Kent, whose sentiments will speedily be re-echoed front every other county in England. The deep and lasting gratitude of the country is due to the distinguished individuals who thus red the way to the expres- sion of the National Will. The founders of the Kentish Brunswick Club have acquired an unquestionable title to be counted henceforth among the most eminent benefactors of their country and of mankind.
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