Star. — London, England, 1815-05-03 00:00:00

~,~ Y' assussessee, he consideration that an armistice being made be..! liven the two Governments, which though on the ace of it, it may appear a suspension of hostilities, was connected with other transactions, which he re garded as a species of amicable relation, and there fore could not be considered with reference to a mere qnestion of armistice ; but that it should be consi dered as an accession on the part of his Majesty's Government to a peace between Aus tria and Naples, and which accession held out the expectation that he would, upon certain conditions, conclude a treaty of jet 4 peace, which not having been done, we vir tually broken our engagement. In considettng this view of the question, he would first observe, that their Lordships were all aware of the general rela tions between this Country and Sicily, and though we had guaranteed the kingdom of Sicily to its legi timate Monarch, there was nothing engaged that beam! this Country to effect his restoration to the Throne of Naples. Out of the former negociationa, one grew in September or October, 1815, to which we rendered every assistance; and further overtures were made respecting the negociation, in conse quence of the anxious desire of the Austrian Govern ment to conclude a peace with the de facie Sovereign of Naples. It was represented as necessary for this Count, y to accede to wh a WAS then going on, as the only chance of bringing the great contest then pend ing to a favourable conclusion, was deeme.: to be a peace with the Government of Naples. He certainly did not mean to say, that this peace, though nomi nally only between Austria and Naples, had not the consent 'of the other Allied Powers, and of Great Britain ; but this was expressly on two annexed con ditions—the one was, that an equivalent should be furnished to the King of Sicily for his loss of Naples ; avid the second, that the person with whom the tieety was concluded, should cordially co-operate with the Allies in the common cause. If these con ditions were fulfilled, particularly the latter, he would admit that this country should have followed it up by a treaty of peace. But the point in question was, whether the de facto King of Naples did or did not co-operate on his part cordially in the cause of the Allies. Very soon after the treaty was concluded they had reason to suspect, from a variety of sources, ' that Marshal Murat was not only not cordially co operating with the Allies. but that he was acting a doable part, and waiting the issue of the contest be tween the two great contending parties. When a N..ble Friend of" his had arrived at Paris he also re eeived farther information, and from a quarter that afforded Government'a moral conviction that a con nection existed between Murat and the great Military Power in France. In fact, there were no doubts as to the negative of the question of his having co-ope rated cordially with the Allied Powers. When the case was afterwards taken into consideration by the Congress at Vienna, a long memerial was trans mitted by Murat, in the endeavour to justify his conduct. This was referred so dii person who, of all others, could be best judge of the uestioo, the Offi cer who coe.manded that part of the An,trian army most connected with Murat, General Nugent; and on this topic, and on the conduct of the campaign, General Nugent transmitted a long memorial, which should be laid before their Lordships, when they' would see an opinion founded upon the facts of the case, that; Marshal Murat had not only not cordially en-operated, but had even violated the substance of his engagements. Upon this Lerd Castlereagh felt k li:s duty to enquire further. He sent a copy of the paper to the second best authority, Lord W. Bentinck, who had concluded the arm stice. His Lordship made a report on the occasion, a copy of which should also be laid before their Lordships, who would see therein a perfect concurrence with the opinion of General Nugent and another, that the gallidit Lord had no doubt of Mural's having been in connection with the enemy, at least for a considerable time.— From these it would appear what. were the sentiments of those best qualified to judge of the question, and which were corroboi ated by the opinion declared by l the Viceroy of Italy, Mons. Beaultarnuis. to fact no doubts were entertained as to the main part of the transaction, and he trusted their Lordships would feel there was en ground for a supposition that this coun try had sacrificed its good faith in any thing like a quibble or a false pretence, or that it would not have f ulfilled every thing it would have been bound to fulfil, it the other contracting k.arty had performed the con ditions on his side. Things remained in that state, when, in consequence of the landing of the prevent Ruler in the South of France, the operations took, place, which soon led to the existing circumstances. This statement he certainly could not have made, were he not prepared to follow it up by the produc tion of documeuts, which, their Lordships would see, would abundantly substantiate those considerations to which he had referred. Earl GREY spoke at considerable length in con sequence of what had fallen from the Noble Minister. He entered into some detailed discussion of the prin. opal events which had taken place from the period ofl our Treaty with the legitimate Sovereign of Sicily to the posing events of the present day. He denied that, by that Treaty with his Sicilian Majesty, we were more bound to support and asseit his interest than the Noble Earl seemed to admit. With respect to the Treaty concluded between the Allied Powers with Murat as Sovereign of ,Naples, and to which he considered the British Government as a patty, he seemed to think, on cool and sispassionate investiga tion, it would be found that Marshal Murat had not been so deficient in the performance of his contract. By one of the articles of the Treaty, the indemnity or compensation to the legitimate Sovereign of Sicily wai not to be furnished by Murat, but was to be pro cured ler lum in some other quarter. The arrange ment was guaranteed by Austria, and in the discus veins wLicn took place, the March of Ancona was intentioned, and it was even supposed that Murat should have :t remuneration for reeouncing his claims tr i m. Sicily, as King Gf Naples, to consist of some ter ritory containing four hundred thousand souls. There was no proof whatever that Murat opposed the inten. &al indemnity to the King of Sicily, and as he was not to furnish it, they could not allege that he had violated that part of the Treaty. AVith resp.ct to the second con Jitiim, his cordial co-operation ssith the Al. Ns—though hewn no apologist for Marshal Murat, still he believed it-would appetir that his co-operation ; and - iesistance had greatly relieved Austria from the treat pressere the etpetienced at the time In Italy. fie had cleared the dentitions of the Crawl Dike of NAPLES. Tuscany Ad the Ecc'ethnical States of the armlet i puke side had constantly bpastefl . 'ortiiving the means of France. The Proclamations of Marshal Bellegarde. of convicting the government of a breach of faith, and of the Viceroy of Italy would bear tesi io i and one Right Hon. Member. (Mr.. Poosonby) had the important effects of Muratisco-operation and the 'so perfect a conviction of • the injust ice of the Allies, frirmidable force 'which the Viceroy had in Italy at as to be frequently provoked to me for the purpose the time of the negotiations at Fontainbleau had been of expressing that opinion. He therefore hoped the admitted by the Noble Earl himself on a former oc- Honourable Gentleman would not hesitate to open casi n. This was a subjat of reproach. however, to the House the grounds of such reiterated charges, hey could be better informed on when the reports of not merely confined to a prima facie catr,e of evi -1 General Nugent and Lord William Bentinck 'should sure, but absolutely arising t o a c o nfi rmed convic be before the House. He well knew the ezcellent tion of guilt. He had no objection to grant the pa understanding, and had a high respect for the mili- .. pers, but was willing to repel the calumnies uttered tary talents of the latter. But if the Allied Powers against him. • Of the British Government were certain of this dere- Mr. HORNER obse in rved, that never, s ince he had fiction on the part of Murat, the charge.should be the honour of a seat that House, did he hear a openly . made and supported , by an exposition of the proposition so d st . ran H at e ly hi r d ec z e facts. In this part of hits discussion, the Noble Earl the Noble Loiveddesaisrehistohashdribir firobmy adverted to the letter addressed by the Prince de Be- the question ; r and if such an opinion was . entert . ained it w nevento to Lord Castlereagh, on the subject of Murat by the Noble Lord, it WAS not founded an realary.: as Sovereign of Naples, the object as well as the tenor The suggestion had not been fait ly of which his Lordship reprobated in the most pointed made for the purpose of saving t r h e e ce t i * v m e i d e o I t the terms, as transcending in. point of crime and audacity House ; and, having undersiood from the Nol any thing that• elicited in the worst period of the Lord that the papers would be granted, he asked, French Republic. In concluding, he seemed to inch- Wa ss it fair to compel the House to listen to an mane cate his intention of moving for the production of fur. ay statement ?He had the po wer to embarrass they documents, should those communicated by the .the Noble Lord—the papers were a lready granted in Noble Earl not prove adequate or satisfactory. another place. (Cries of Orcler.)" At least," added The Earl of LIVERPOOL. in a short explano. Mi. Homer, Ii I may put the question in your hands, tion, adverted to some of the leading propositions of Sir, and leave it to the H iuse without speaking a the Noble Earl, and contended that what he had ad. word on the subject." He then proceeded to state vanced on these points were nut borne ou t b y the the grounds that induced him to move for the papers facts of the case, or by any thing that appeared on relative to the existing relations between Great Bri the face of the documents reined to; but of these tain and Naples. He had formerly asked, whether points their Lordships would be better able to judge a formal-Treaty had been concluded between the when the Papers should be before the House. The two Crowns ? and, if not, whether there was any ho- Noble Earl then, after a few words interchanged nor:try engagement Subsisting, by which this country with Earl GREY, across the table, Moved an Address guaranteed the Throne of Naples to Murat ? These to the Prince Regent, praying for the production of questions admitted of a direct answer ; but the Noble those various Papers and Documents which he had Lord having said that he was not prepared to give adverted to in the course of his speech. any, he contended, that the hesitation justified an Lord GRENVILLE contended that the regular inquo y for the purpose of obtaining explanation con parliamentary and constitutional course on all occa. c:ritiag it. Under such circumstances, he would stons of the kind, was a communication from the bring forward his motion ; and to facilitate the in- Throne, accompanied by the necessary documents quiry, he would divide the transactions into three for the purpose of illustration. In the way just pro- periods : The first comprising what occurred during posed, Parliament would in effect interpose itself the time of active war ; the second ref sting to the between Ministers and their due responsibility. He affairs of Congress ; and the last, what since took who censured the novel practice of laying the sub• place between the Crowns of Great Britain and Na. stance tit tanratified treaties before Parliament; a pies. A Treaty had been signed on the 11th of 11. state in which Ministers must know they could not nuary, 1814., between Austria and Naples, that was be binding on the respective parties, and it was a the first negotiation, although evettures had been course which he deemed equally unconstitutional and made by the Allies to Murat since the battle of Leip injurious. tic. A statement had then made to Murat thr o ug h Earl BATHURST briefly, but successfully, yin- the Court of Vienna, that England would accede to dicated.the line of conduct pursued by Ilia Majesty's that Treaty—and stabseqtemt events proved the pro- Government on the cession in question. Papers were bability of such a circumstance. Instrtictioes were received by Lord William Bentinck, at Sicily, from called for by a Noble Lord at the other side of the House. And the copy of the substance of a recent Lord Castlereag!', commanding him to Zo, in come• treat was not communicated b Ministers, but quence of the Treaty, to Modes, and conclude an y ordered by the House on the m otion of a Noble al mastic& with Murat. This %vas accordingly clone Lord, generally in the habit of opposing his Majesty's by .I.rird Wm. ileatinck, and the armiaice d &red 'Government. but in name front a treaty of defensive and tiflAtsive Some further conversation of an explanatory kind alhance. Without ta.aitilig for the ratification of this, took place between the Ealle GRLY and Liveiteoen., Murat immedi.itcly commenced military operatii-nt, respecting the documents to be produced, in which attended with the most important advantag,l to the the former expressed his wish to have a copy of the Alties. In the beginning of January Eugene 11.'All representations made by Marshal Bellegarde and Sit harnois ;...as carrying on offensive operations against K. Wilson, our accredited Agent with the Austrian Marshal 13tIlegarde, between the Mincio and Adige ; Army in Italy, respecting the coaduct of Marshal !but no sooner had Murat advanced beyond the Eccle- Murat, produced, to which the latter seemed to have siastical States, than Eugene retreated. The Ho-1 no objection, provided such documents were in any siourable Member next undertook to shave that EnA.• of the public offices. . land was not bound by treaty to ,ward the interests of the King of the Two Sicilies. In 1808 a treaty . The question was then put, and the documents moved for by the Earl of Livitaram, as above, were was concluded, by which England engaged never ordered to be produced accordingly. to make peace with France without securing the At :awned till to-morrow. rights of that King ; but in 181 g. a second treaty, li supeneding the former, was concluded at Palermo,! HOUSE OF COMMONS. The House was summoned to the House of Lords to bar the by Lord William Bentinck, guaranteeing the King's rights to the island of Sicily only. The with of Eng- Royal Assent given to several Bills—(for which see Lords). The Scotch Preservation of the Game Bill was read a first land, therefore, was not compromised by entering' time, and ordered to be read a second time to-morrow. into engagements with Murat, smiting to that Sir GEORGE CLARKE said, that he wotdd, on to morrow sennight, move that the Report of the Select Committee on the -person the Throne of Naples. The I I iniairable Ways and Means be referred to a Committee of the whole Member nOw came to the suspicions which were en.' House, tertained by Murat of the disinclination of the Allies' Mrs CROKER moved, that the Memorial of the Barrack- to ratify the Treaty with hint of the I lth of Ja- Maaiers of the Royal Marines Le referred to a Select Committee, to report to the House thereon. ' nuary. Murat had ratified this Treaty himself on The Greenwich Hospital Bill was reads second time: to be the sth of February, but tits ratification was sent on committed to-morrow. the part of the Allies. Murat naturally complained Mr. BuoGDEN brouglie up the Report of the South Sea BBL— Ordered to he read a third time to-morrow. of this delay, but he was assured by the Austrian Mr. BDOGDIN brought rip the Report of the Committee of Cabinet that they would, in all events, undertake Ways and Means. that the ratification should ultimately take place; Mr. Serjeant ONSI.OW gave nodes, that he would on the but that some objections had been made on the part 2oth, move for leave to bring in a Bill for registering Deeds in of England, which would finally be overcome. The February, and all the counties of England and Wales, where there were not however,letter con ta w i n a s i le agedi this pl t e o d e on o i n sth the o f p now registries. Mr. H. ADDINGTON moved for leave to bring in a ill to amend the Militia Laws; and after some conversation between it was not until Marshal Bellegarde aFrte h b a fr il tu. reached Lord MILTON, Mr. H. ADDINGTON Lord STANIAT, and Sir T. ACKLAND / leave was given , and the Bill was read a fi rst and Villa Franca, and that Murat had declared that no second time, and ordered to It:printed. farther advance of his troops should take place, un- Lord MILTON moved that there be had before the House a less the Treaty was ratified, that it was dispatched. Return of all Regiments of Matta pow embodied, with their In consequence of this solemn promise, Mtietet im. several stations, and a Return of all Orders to the Lords Lieute 6th of March took the town of Reggio. It was rot mediately proceeded to active operations, and on the nants of Counties for calling them out. After some conversation between Lord CASTLINEASU and Lord MILTON, the first part of the motion was negatived, and necessary to detail what followed hom that—it was the second part agreed to. sufficient to state that, after a set ies of victories, Mu. * Mr. LUSHINGTON brought up an account of all the sums of money given by Great Britain to foreign countries, by way of rat at length arrived under the walls of Placentia. loan, subsidy, or In any other manner, since 1793. Up to this period, as far as Austria was concerned, Mr. VINEY FITZGERALD obtained leave to bring In the there was no manifestation upan the part of Austria to break the faith which she had so distinctly pledged. Assessed'raxes Bill, and the'Excite Duties 8111 for Ireland. Mr. TIERNEY said, that en Monday he would move that It would be for the Committee on the Civil List have power to call on and exa minestatement of such parboils from the the Noble Lord to say, whether the Lord Chamberlain's Office as it may Austria, that Great Britain only re. choose. quired a slight modification in the Treaty, to agree to it, was true or not. If it was truo, then di d Great Britain remain equally pledged to the Tieaty in scb. stance; and up to this period her faith had also re mained unqueaioned. Alter this Lord Win. Ben. tinck landed at Leghorn; but notwithstanding the Treaty of concert and alliance with Murat, and the plan of military co-operation for the war in Italy, which lead been agreed upon with him, Lord Wm. Bentinck took the place without any previous concert with him whatever, a circumstance which was ul it self sufficient to excite his distrust. 'this was fol lowed, however, by a measure which WAS calculate d to confirm that distrust, for Lord William Bentinck, on the landing of the Sicilian division of troops, which accompanied him, issued a proclamation as from the Prince Regent of Sicily, calling upon the Italians to join his standard and reinstate the ancient dominion of the King of Naples. Murat naturally required a n explanation of theseproceedings, but he ish, h rieim i e s pc : dsi l ru a sbs i u m ili dc s, ti: anai in was assured by Lord William Bentinck that there a w s a s s uran no ce int w en h t i i ch u w ol as ca a ll f i te ng rw in ar q d u s es c ti o on n , a llob tf le ur L at or b d ei verbally u th us t again Bologna. lulled, concert with the Allies, his efforts to destroy the Mr. HORNER said, that although he had not received any intimation from the Noble Lord (Cas dereagb) whether the papers he intended to move for would be granted, or in part refused ; yet, as he had learned from other sources, it was the intention of his Majesty's Ministers to grant them, be should abstain from pressing the reasons that bad originally induced him to give notice of his motion. He would, how ever, remark, that in the case of hostilities commen, cing between this country and any other, it would be more consonant with the dignity of that House, and more consistent with the spirit •of the Constitution, that a communication should be made to Parliament by message of such an event, and of the motives leading to hostilities. If. however, the Noble Lord intended to present all the necessary information to the House, it would be of advantage to give an im mediate intimation of such intention, as it would save the House the trouble of any unnecessary statement ; imperfect, as of course it must be, from his not having documents perfectly at thentic. Lord CASTLEREAGH expressed his surprise at hearing ouch an acknowledgement of imperfect ialoriuquiblall from the Lim condemn. The op power of France its Italy. The Honourable Gentle - man now proceeded to adyert to subsequent corres pondence which had t +ken place between Lord Wil liam Bcntinck and Lord Castlereagh, from whe n " he deduced, on the part of the latter Noble Lord, 2 clear recognition of the title of Mtitat to he dam of Naples—and an turequivecal engagementl;y this country, in the petion of its Minister, to cons,. tier him in that point of view, to Cie e x c 10..4 ) King:of Sicily. This recognition had been so clear, that Murat acted moo cordially with d.c Allies, a i d contributed inirretaidly to the success of the e at , A variety of circ,imistances had tended to cutsfi ru this statement. lii the first instance there had bee;, an attempt by Ileatihantois to enter i n to a svitrer• armistice with Murat, asserting that a similar twriis tice had been entered into with the Allies. Ktrz, however, fa'thful to his engagements, referred Beau. hareois to Marshal Bellegarde, as the person tit: whom any arrait;;cmeet I an armistice with her must be made. Another en curnstance had occu rred , which was peculiarly calculated to r. move 41 dun;, , from Mitrat's mind, as to the intention of Austra, and England to recognize his title, and that was '4 note from nioce Mem.* nick to Lord Cas t i v r e ,..,;, , do ted Troyes, 1' -b. 11, in which a di s tinct retro :.. was made to a-lib'eral inJeniiiiiv L a I L ,Ly, to h e :.;„.., to the King of Sicily for Naples. Tl,e confo-trc,. with Bonapatte at Coatillon, too, aft. i-J t o COliht reation ot this inientiot...l:,r nApArte deltrAlided the right of of C.e d,,. minion of Italy, he was told that the kingdom ot Naples lied been already .—.Uttar.)—l..tsrly, in the Treaty of ~out, en the Ist ot March, there was a distilct iustltottlun t , ) Murat, as King of Naples, to accede to it. it all re Ally of these statements were true, for L. O honour of the count. y he hoped they were no:, his apprehension dune could be no doubt, that •i,inr, was a manifest recognition, on the part of the lists Govetnownt. of the title of Murat to the Ili dom of Naples—(Hear, hear)—and, as far as 1:.: I: :t had an opportunity of juti;titg, Mara tool, to letter, performed his part of t'e engagement. 1!.: would now, as far as he was able, give a com;e:r tive statement of the forces of, the different P.m :s in Italy at this period.—Eugene B:aiiharivas, ir. the best information he could collect, had 54,00. men, some of whom were certainly in garlic - ,u ; ha: his force in the field amounted to 4.5,000, v.. 1. • t:,e tro. ps under Marshal Beilegarde did not exceed 31,000.—Marshal 13;;I1egarde had certainly a itenii• nal force of between tau and 70,001 men, but of C.-se :;O,OOU were always sick, "old 10,000 had eau ii!e tired. It waii clear, thetetore, that but for the co operation of Murat, v. hielf clei.rly arose from Ilc recognition of his title, Marshal Ikliegarde have retreated, and the whole of the north of 11.1. y would thereby have been kst. It waS true that i - e had heard of instances of treachery, w:ich had been discovered between Murat and I.:..tavil.arnois ; that a propckition had been made for uniting their inv, and proclaiming the independence! of Lao-. Tins might or fright not he the case ; but, on t!.e ther hand, the House should recelle, - :, !..lat thee? were also proposition on the part of Mat;aal legarde to unite his at Ms with those of (tree and the other Allies of E _trode, and, by destroyirig; Morat, overturn his rretens.°:ls to-military .:,yea. 'holey. He earnestly entreated the House, ho Auer-. it the Nol.le Lord rested the defence of his c• - )11,'.1.c: - . upon Ciese grouads, that they would requi. e of tan: to spec f'y the tones and places of these irmisactio.i., a nd t al i , her posterior or anterior to the Treaty t' ::e the A 11: s. fle -did not mean to r y into the reeding: at Congiess, yet tie wishe,! to know r the question ot the title of Murat to the king.l •IL. Naples had been there called in qu•sion ? !! part of France, it was probable that a claim ht have been made to t! n kingdom, but he are:, !tended the united voices of Austria and Englaria once set the question at test by a distinct recognititia on their pent of their Ally. The Honourable (lee ttentan now pioce..-Jed to comment, with upon the letter ot Pinter . : Talleyrand to Lord C tlereagh, which he desciibcd as one of the nio,t grace iii that could have conic from the pen of a 1110111al . I I ;Vi his .sincere: W that it mig::c be aiiavowed by the Noble Lord, because' it pre supposed a communication with 11;s Lortist..ii, which would be disgraceful to the Minuter of aq country, under the engawinurts vatic; had viously existed. The lionourable Gentletaiii next adverted to a propos:li which ha i be, .1 made from Murat to this country, pi; v . oro the arrival of the Noisle Lad (Castl is ) 11 1,1 u the Continent, which gave us an opporttio.ty deeming our breloeit faith with him, and sec.e..4 Inns as a powerful ally to Great Britain. At period to sv loch he alluded, a person artiec.! lull pawets from Murat, offering, Lrovidei as King of N..ples WAS ICC - gtuzed, to hi iiig an a::.: of I'o,ooo men into the &Id in support id 5' •b, of Great Britain,- and to cuter into Treaty, whereby the principal matn:acii•res 1 ., !':•-• Britain, woollen and cotton cloths, 1.. .. milted into the kingdom at a mere ,« , sple.nditl oiler had, however, been :claw:. " opportunity of gaining so powertul .11: Al's+ new war was lost. An attempt was s:: 1 -%t tote mad: to renew this negmiation, sense that was entertanied of the had been lost, bat in ya.n. The a tine of ali Italy, :.• - lung pionmed visionary specufeian, he :idyl: would best winnow the teterest. of this : that being impossible, he thought it wab Lf" !icy of Great Britain to suttee the alliance (fa .1r • tny force in the South, as well as that of a (%" menial State like Genoa. Upon ail tense t•• lie thought he Wits jofilfhtil in call ng tiro:• 1 7 :.1 to inquire —first, as to whether Ow 1;00,4 country had not.b.en bt.,krii -and, mct.n.; , ri '", ther there was any just cause Sur ur s'-ar Napes ? HonouiaLL. Gentleman conclide.i moving— " That there should be laid 'more the biotite Ce,•its. Negccatious which lead taken place bywean his M4: 4 1 ... t.. vcronteot, the Court of Napleff, and the Ciwit of Au•er.J. cou-se of last year, revealed tl.e acknowiellentent :`• of Naples, prior to the corns:tomcat:n:la eat bosaties tioveratuent a:te, At..stria." Mr. TIERNEy szconded the motiln. The queatiork having ben put tto ti the Ch):** Lord CASTLE R EACH hoped the iirt `•°' carry back its attenticn to t h subject a I W I, .1141 appealed to the candour of the Honour ible Gisatie m viv (Nli. Homer) whe Itad taken it tor gr t 1