him to Romney to await the result of a coroner's in quest.
"The house in which the jury assembled was soon surrounded by a furious mob, who kept shouting for vengeance upon Peat the murderer It being evident, therefore, that some act of violence would be attempted in event of the verdict being exculpatory of the lieutenant, it became necessary to obtain protection from the military stationed at Hythe ; but there was great difficulty in despatching a messenger thither unobserved by the populace. At length, however, the magistrate's son, a shrewd stripling, contrived to steal, out unnoticed, went to his father's stable, saddled a horse, galloped to Hythe, and delivered his despatch to the commanding officer of the troops. Meanwhile the inquest proceeded amid a storm of vociferation. The coroner, being a man of firm and upright mind, charged the jury that Walker's death, under the circumstances detailed in evidence, was clearly ' Justifiable homicide,' and, after much reluctance and delay, a verdict to that effect was pronounced. Hereupon the populace became perfectly outrageous ; but at that instant a troop of Dragoons marched into the town, and the mob dispersing, Lieutenant Peat returned to his quarters at Dungeness without further molestation.
"At the funeral of the unfortunate Walker, fresh manifestations of enmity were evinced, and the in-
