Star. — London, England, 1821-06-08 00:00:00

4 • . - guarding himself from being misrepresented, and to state, that in whatever observations he had to make on the conduct of sirT. Maitland, the Lord High Commissioner, he meant nothing towards him in his ..psivataindividual character, but only spoke of his public conduct as Lord High Commissioner. The Hon. Member then proceeded to detail the circum stances attendant on the original act of the lonian Isles, in placing themselves under the protection of Great Britain, still, however, considering themselves as a flee State; and in this situa . .ion were things when Sir T. Maitland arrived in 1816. His arrival was bailed with joy by the inhairitants, who teceived . him as the harbinger of happiness and security ; they looked towards him as the person who was to put an end to all commotions and differences between indi viduals at home, and as their protector from insult abroad. But what was Sir T. Maitland's first act? why, to seize and remove several of the Senators, and branding several of them as inapt and. corrupt, though no inquiry was instituted into their conduct.; and thus, at once, invading and disregarding the Treaty of Paris, by which these States were consi dered to he free and independent, under our protec tion, and whose system of government was to con tinue. Flamboliari, one of the Senators thus branded as inapt and corrupt, was afterwards restored to his rank and employment ; but was now again degraded, and at present in a dungeon. The Hon. Member then proceeded to detail other acts of Sir T. Mait land's, which he stigmatized as oppressive; especially his having suppressed the public press, and allowed only a single press —namely, one at Corfu, to exist, and wholly under his own controul. The Hon. Member also commented on the style of splendour, pomp. and pageantry which always accompanied the Lord High Commissioner wherever he went.— Although he had, in his letters to Lord Bathurst, declared his detestation of pomp and parade, even to a foible it would, on inquiry, be found that, in his progress through these Islands, he was everywhere received with fulsome addresses, triumphal arches, fetes, and rejoicings; and in most instances it would be found that those who were most forward in these marks of adulation, were those who were advanced to office and places of trust. But, in less than two months after, the British Staff Officers even were employed in arresting a number of the most eminent inhabitants of Corfu, on a charge of conspiracy, plot, and rebellion ; their papers were seized, and they were thrown into prison ; and all this took place onl the information of an individual named Ligonerci. After they had been kept some time in confinement, Sir,Thomas appointed a Commission to inquire into their conduct, when the Commissioners reported the whole to be a fabrication of this wretched individual, who was sentenced to capital punishment. This punishment was, however, commuted by Sir Thomas Maitland into solitary imprisonment, for a term, in one of the Islands; but, long before his term of im prisonment was expired, he was found at large in the Island of Cephalonia, in the service of clerk or secretary to a British Officer; whether he was still alive or dead, he (Mr. Hume) could not say; but this he must say, the whole was a circumstance of a most suspicious nature. He would next advert to the Constitution given by Sir T. Maitland to the Islands ; and he must say it was altogether a farce, and an imposition on the People; which was calcu lated to throw the whole power into the hands of the Lord High Commissioner, and every act done was, in fact, his act. The Senate and Assembly consisted of forty individuals, composed of a Council of ten, appointed by the High Commissioner ; of this Council the Lord High Commissioner was President, making eleven; the remaining twenty-nine Members were to be elected by the People; but they must be taken from fifty-eight names forwarded to the electors by Sir T. Maitland and his Council. Could any system of Representation be worse than this, or so bad ? Yes, he begged pardon, the Constitution of a Scotch Burgh was as bad—(A laugh).—The Legislature thus formed were subjected to an oath of secrecy; and, immediately on their assembling, they set about to, compose a Constitution for the State ; this was soon done. What sort of a Constitution such an Assembly would promulgate might easily he imagined ; yet that Constitution was sent to England, and approved by this Government. By that Constitution the Lord High Commissioner was Ptesident, and might always be present, if he thought proper, to check discussion. He could, by withholding his assent, annul any act of the Senate; but be also appointed the Secretary to the Senate; and it was indispensably necessary that, to give validity to any act, the signature of the Secretary should be attached to it. The Honourable Member proceeded to detail the Constitution more at length, and to contend that the whole of this free Constitution, as it was called, was a mockery—the Lord High Commissioner having the sole controul by his intermediate agents, and therefore all the acts of the Senate must be considered as his acts. The lonians were, as might naturally be expected, dis gusted with this pretended free Constitution, and re fused to take their nominal share in the elections.— The appointments were therefore filled up by the Lord High Commissioner, as provided by the Con stitution. The Hon. Member then proceeded to take a review of the conduct of the Government, and contended that the late disturbances and insurrections at Santa Maura and other places, were provoked by the misconduct of those in power—the imposition of excessive taxation for carrying on unnecessary public works—by the employment of foreigners— by giving extravagant salaries to those holding offi cial situations—and to a disregard of the petitions and remonstrances of the People; and he who could sanction such proceedings, was answerable for 'the results, for the blood which had been spilt, for the confiscations which had taken place, and for the lives which had unfortunately been lost—(Hear). — Taxes were imposed on oil, wine, grain, live cattle, pigs, &c. amounting almost to confiscation ; and, in addition to this tax it was determined that 3000 dol lars should be raised on persons of property. This last, however, was not raised by the regular func tionaries, but by two individuals appointed by the Lord High Commissioner, who were to assess dif ferent individuals as they thought fit. When the in -dividuals were called upon for their contributions, they found them to be so sevete that they bad no inclination to exert themselves to suppress the insur rection ; and in fact, forty-five persons were wholly Wearable to pay the contribution at which they had been taxed. A military force was sent, and some, • among whom were two or three Priest s, _ were hanged. made. No confiscation of the Church property had On the return of the Commissioner, he annulled all ever been contemplated by Sir T. Maitland, whose the orders of the Senate, a clear proof of their origi- only object had been to preserve it to the rightful nal injustice. A Senator w ho had been superseded, owners. The Decree that had been ;Ted by the applied,.as he had-a right, to be tried ; but the Lord Senate had been recalled by the Commissioner, and Commissioner interposed and refused the trial; another had been substituted more conformable to though he should have been the last man to refuse the Act of Parliament. He denied that genera - l rope inquiry. In the du case of a native of Co, who bad far disturbancee or an armed rising, was to be justi preferred a claim to Church property, the Tribunal, fled on the ground of issuing a Decree such as that composed of two English and two native Judges, published by the Senate of the States. Mr. Martinengo differed in opinion ; and the case came before the was certainly arrested, but he was so in common Commissioner, as having the casting vote, who re. with many others ; and he contended that their a rrests fused all inquiry, though his two cou ntr y meh thou g ht were perfectly conformable to the Constitution of it should have been granted. The attention paid to the lonian Islands. Sir Thomas Maitland had, by the religious opinions of the natives in India, where that Constitution, the authority formerly given to Sir T. Maitland had served for many years, formed a the Venetian High Polic n e i t h o se lencesslands marked contrast to his conduct, as Commissioner of Martinengo being charged woff against the the lonian Islands. By a fat of the Executive Conn- State, the Lord High Comm ldissioner was be alone d the cif, there was an Administrator of all the Ecclesias. person before whom he cou possibly trie.— tical revenues appointed, from whom there was to be But before that, the Lord High Commissioner con- RO appeal. By a letter of the Commissioner, it was stilted the men best skilled in the law of the Islands ; , most positively declared that no time, not even five and they agreed that his was the only Ti ibunal be nundred years, could constitute a prescription in fa- fore which the individual ceuld be tried. The indi your of the occupant; and at the same time, in the victual himself never protested against the Tribunal; teeth of the Charter, it was declared there was no but he claimed not to be tried until the answer to a appeal to any Tribunal. A Resolution of the Senate Petition he had sent to the king of England should enabled a Captain of Marines to abolish Convepts, arrive. If this had been granted to a man of high and he was also to appoint Clergymen. By the same rank and great possessions like Mr. Martinengo, they Resolution, all the private patronage of Churches could not have refused a similar indulgence to the was taken away. The discontent that followed was meanest individual. Whatever inconvenience Mr. theenevitible consequence of such proceedings. In Martinengo suffered by not entering on his defence, the Island of Zante, Martinengo, one of the richest he brought upon himself. The Court was obliged men in the Island, and of the age of 66, had been to hear evidence against him, and to proceed to sen seized in his bed by order of Sir F. Adam, and sent tence. Mr. Martinengo was allowed indulgences of, to Corfu ; and when he demanded by what authority communications to les friends, until it was found that he had been so proceeded against, no answer had he wished to exert his great influence in tampering been returned. On the return of Sir T. Maitland, the with the witnesses to be brought against him. Mr.' proceedings had been revoked, though the individual Fatar was tiled with Mr. Martinengo; but he did not in question was still detained from August to Novem- protest against the authority of the Court ; and he bee and his only son was excluded from-all access to had seven or eight Counsel, one of whom spoke in him. He(Mr. Hume) would not have brought forward his behalf, and the others examined the witnesses. the present subject, but from regard to a numerous He denied the unhealthiness of the Island of Santa population, exposed to every species of oppression. Maura, and read the Report of the Medical Inspector- The unhappy man was sentenced to be degraded from General, which shewed a proportion of one sick per- Nobility, to be imprisoned for twelve years, and to son to twenty-five and a half healthy persons. Serigo pay all expenses. He understood that the Govern- was somewhat more healthy ; but then it was a bar ment had mitigated the sentence to three years' con• ren rock. He denied that Mr. Flamburiano had been finement in which of the Islands he pleased. But he harshly dealt with. He was expelled the Senate, be (Mr. Hume) was certain that he would never remove cause he admitted a libel on that body to he in his till his honour and character should be cleared. If hand-writing, which imputed venality and corny his Motion were agreed to, he believed many similar tion to the Senate. .He contended that the moderate cases could be produced. Two individuals, who in- salaries granted to the different Officers of these tended to transmit a Petition to the King, signed by Islands, were less than when they were allowed to thirty-two individuals, were arrested. One of them, take fees of office. The Lord High Commissioner of the name of Rossi, made his escape, but the other destroyed the monopoly in grain, until a famine came, was sent to prison. Another Petition, signed by fifty when the merchants of the islands would net invest persons, had been presented to Colonel Ross, and the their capital in purchases of grain, and then he was consequence was, that they had all been arrested.— obliged to invest the iesources of Government in pur- The monopoly of Corn in the lonian Islands still con- chases of torn from the shores of the Black Sea. Ile tinued, though there existed not the smallest reason defended the character of Sir T. Maitland from for such monopoly. Many complaints existed against charges of being corrupt, fond of parade, and open the Commissioner, for breach of quarantine, and also to adulation. That gallant Officer needed no culo for the high duties on salt, which duties were col- gium - from him ; but he must expect to receive the lected by foreigners. On the subject of the Police, a maliCious attacks of those who were envious of his system of espionage was kept up, worthy of Bona- situation or of his glory. parte. The sum of E 16,000 was paid to Inspectors Mr. BENNETT wanted an explanation why the and Sub-Inspectors ; and Colonel Robinson was to Colonial Legislation Vas not allowed to alter and have one-half per cent. on the collection of the whole improve the • Constitution of the lonian Islands, as of the Revenue, and which per tentage amounted to was ecpressly stipulated by the Treaty of Paris?— upwards of 21,000 dollarse the whole of the Revenue The Constitution given to them was much to the eye, amounting to 455,000. He had been actuated by a something to the ear, but of no practical good to the sense of public duty only in the statements he had people. It was like some of those Constitutions which made, and the charges he had brought against Sir the French Government for twenty years was in the Thomas Maitland. The Honourable Member con- habit of giving to the Nations they over-ran. The eluded by moving an Address to his Majesty, to ap- Lord High Commissioner gave them a Representa point a Commission to proceed to the lonian Islands, tion fashioned on the model of his own beautiful little to inquire into the state of the Government and con- family pocket Boroughs of Lauder and Dunbar.— duct of Sir Thomas Maitland—the causes of the dis. This was on the model of Scotch Representation, not affection that existed—and the numerous arrests that of English. The Lord High Commissioner was the have taken place. grand Punchinello, that moved the puppets of the Mr. GOULBURN said, that the present was the Senate of the whole lonian Islands. The Lord High third time this subject had been discussed in the Commissioner invested a Captain of Marines to in- House, and the Honourable Member had repeated quire into the Church property ; and he determined statements which he (Mr. Goulburn) had repeatedly to deprive a native of property that had been in his refuted, to the satisfaction of the House. As the Ho. family since the 14th century. Mr. Martinengo was nourable Member had referred to the Treaty of Paris, put upon his trial, as being suspected of being sedi ,it would have been well if he had stated the stipule- tious ; and he did not believe that there was a Court Lions and limitations contained in that Treaty. Ile in this country, from the Court of King's Bench to (Mr. Goulburn) denied that it was the object of the that of Pied Poudre, that would have put a man on Treaty to give the lonian Islands the same Constitu- his trial on such a charge. Was it no severity of tion that was enjoyed here. Such a supposition, con- punishment to sentence a man of 66 years of age to soldering the state and condition of the lonians, was twelve years' imprisonment in a fortress in the centre repugnant to common sense. It was too common to of the marshy Island of Santa Mama ? Ile had no measure the Institutions of other countries by those doubt but that, if it were wanted, evidence might be of our own. The Treaty of Paris had . a reference to produced to prove the Island of Walcheten the the former state of the Islands, and to the protection healthiest spot on the face of the earth, though he of a foreign Power. From the various changes that firmly believed that Santa Maura and the Island of had taken place in the lonian Islands, it miglit be hi- Walcheren were on a par with respect to healthiness. ferred, a priori, that they were not in a state to be He complained of the introduction of English and left to their own government. That had been the Sicilian persons into power and authority over these opinion of the lonians themselves, in the Memorial Islanders, for Government purposes. He would wish addressed to the Emperor of Russia, in the year to know whether Gentlemen opposite would like Ha -1802, in which it was stated that there was no class noverians to rule over us rather than Englishmen, of men in the Islands to whom their countrymen Scotchmen, or Irishmen? He was disposed to speak were disposed to look up ; and that the Govern- civilly of the Lord High Commissioner; but he wished ment must be formed by the protecting Power.— these Islanders not to be governed by One man, and No names could have been selected better qualified that man's will being the law. than the Council of Sir T. Maitland, to ful fi l the ob- Mr.EVANS acknowledged the pr om p titude with ject for which they had been selected. The mode of which the Colonial Office attended to the Petition of election was not to be compared with that of this Mr. Martinengo, but he must say, that no man in country, but with what had formerly taken place un- England, Scotland, or Ireland, could understand why der the Russian Government. He admitted that the that Gentleman was tried. He condemned the giv. powers of the Commissioner were large, but they ing power over the supposed Church Lands, as well sunk into nothing if compared with what had been as the moveables of the Churches, and even the pic enjoyed by the Plenipotentiary of the former protect- tures of the Saints, to a Colonel of Marines. He ing Power. Though the Honourable Gentleman had believed that the power of Sir T. Maitland was abso professed to abstain from all personal reflections on lute, if he had the power of arresting and imprison- Sir T. Maitland, he had brought charges against him ing whom he pleased, and of bringing them to trial for what had been done in his absence, and which, on when he pleased. He thought inquiry necessary, to his return, he had revoked. But though he (Mr. justify the character of Sir T. Maitland. Goulburn) vindicated Sir T. Maitland, he was far Mr. J. P. GRANT was not satisfied that any im from intending to censure the conduct of Sir F. putation rested against the Honourable Officer who Adam ; as the conduct of that Officer could not pro- represented his Majesty in the lonian Islands. If it perly have been different from what it was. Those mere otherwise, it would be the duty of that Officer's who had heard the statements of the Honourable - friends to support the motion for an inquiry into the Gentleman he would refer to the letter of Sir F. nature of his conduct. Sir T. Maitland was not re- Adam laid yesterday on the table of the House. He ! sponsible for the species of Constitution under which would again state to the House, that the cause of he was obliged to act, inasmuch as it had received the disturbances in these islands was the fear of (however faulty it might be) the sanction of Parlia the Militia being sent to the West Indies. It was ment and the King. No man could defend the spe , not till an assassination had taken place that a Regi- cies of Act of Accusation under which Mr. Marti. ment had been sent to the island of Santa Maura.— nengo was tried ; but as the law of Venice was the After an insurrection so general, only four executions law of those Islands, it became not a matter of dis. had taken place; and he believed the whole number cretion on the pair f Sir T. Maitland, though it was of killed and wounded amounted only to from fifteen wrong in our Government to suffer these Islands to to twenty, though no official return had or could be , remain under the authority of the Veueteuelew. Now, after all which had been said of the judgment pr o , bounced on the individual who had been so often al• luded to, what had been the conduct of the Lo r d High Commissioner? He did not preside at the trial; he had nothing to do with the sentence; ;H a after it was pronounced, he exerted all the powe r h e had to mitigate its severity; and to effect that obje ct , he suspended its execution, and referred the wh o l e proceeding to his Majesty, for his royal opinion__ Then with respect to the confiscation of the prope rty of individuals, it was property acquired by th ese during the revolutions in the Gnvernrnent, and to which those who held it had no title. But the p ro „ perty did not, as had been represented, go i nto t h e pockets of the Government, or of individuals, b ut was appropriated to the building a new Church, a n d endowing the Clergy ; and the day on which this Church was opened was a holiday with the pe op l e. Ile concluded by declaring his wish that the condu ct of Sir Thos. Maitland should be inquired into. Th e more it was investigated, the more, he was convin ce d, would it redound to the honour of that Officer. Mr. BROUGHAM considered the object here eat not inquiry into the conduct of Sir T. Maitland, b ut an inquiry into the errors of the lonian Constitution. The Honourable and Learned Gentleman then pro. seeded to comment on and to condemn the system of law as administered at present in these islands, by which the Lord High Commissioner had all the power of the Judge, without any of the responsibility. Ile would again and again state, that his objectious were not to the man, or to the case, but to the law under which he acted—a law subversive of all justice_; the sooner it was abrogated the better for the pm*, who were suffering from its operation, and for the honour of this country, by winch it was sanctioned. Sir ROBERT WILSON was ready to acknow. ledge that the charges against Sir Thomai M•A;tiand were not made out ; enough, however, had been made out to spew the necessity of inquiry into the system: and he could not but consider that Sir T. Maidaud himself ought to be anxious for such investigation. Mr. MONEY thought much good would result from a revision of the system of law at present Fe vailing in the lonian Islands; he, however, defended Sir Thomas Maitland, who was only the agent of this Government, and was bound by his duty to adminis ter the laws as he found them. The Marquis of LONDONDERRY contended, that no part of the charge made against the inns. trious Officer whose name had been so frequendy mentioned in the course of this discussion, had bees made out. Tlie speech of the Hon. Mover of this question had been so fully answered by his Has Friend, the Secretary for the Colonial Department, that any observations of his would but weaken hi arguments ; he would, therefore, confine the few bb. nervations he had to make to the speech of the Hos. and Learned Gentleman opposite; and he must, it reply to that Hon. Member's observations, remind him that the lonians were not subjects of Great Bri. fain; and, although we were bound to watch t h e conduct of this State, any premature or precipitate interference with their establishments would only tend to create jealousy in the minds, not only of the lonians, but of other States ; and, even allowing abuses to exist, we could not prudently nor properly interfere until it should appear that the power of redress did not exist under the present system, if sought for by indi viduals having cause to complain; and lie submitted no such case had, at present, been made oat. Mr. LENNA RD supported the motion. Re con demned the system pursued towards the lonian Isles, and contended that the Treaty of 1815 had beenbmken. Sir I. COFFIN had known Sir T. Maitland for 33 years, and a more honourable, liberal, generotssOfli• cer did not exist in his Majesty's service, and therefore he would oppose the present motion—(/fear, hear). Mr. HUME replied. He was ready to acknow. ledge the justice of all which had been said respect• ing the private character of Sir T. Maitland; butt was of his public acts that he complained, and henow contended that not one of the charges he had brought forward against him had been refuted. The House then divided— For the Motion Against it Majority against the Motion - —79 Mr. CIIET WY ND moved fur leave to bring in a Bill tab . cilitate the proceedings before Justices of the Peace and odes, ' at Sessions.—Leave was given. The I lonourable Member then moved for leave to bring iet hit to facilitate the transmittal of Depositions, Ike. from Magis trates to General :•dons of Jail Delivery and Courts of Sodom of the Peace.—!save was given. The other Orders were then disposed of, and at nalfint One the Douse adjourned. THE EVENING STAR. LONDON. FRIDAY, JUNE 8, 1821. THE FUNDS PRICES OP STOCKS TUIS DAY AT Owe O'CLOCK: Bank Stock 230-3 per Cent. Reduced7o/1 3 per Cent. Cons. shut-3 1 / 2 per Cent. 86 1 / 4 4 per Cent. 94% %-5 per Cent. shut Long Anns. 19 1 / 4 1-16-India Bonds 495. s:fr..pn Exch. Bills par 3s. pre.—Cons. for Acct. 77% i• Last night, in the I-louse of Commons, Mr. Ht" brought forward his Motion, relative to the Ws Islands. The Honourable Member, in a long speeelli enumerated the various acts of oppression under which, he contended, the lonians laboured ; obse", ing, that his statements were partly the result • actual observation during a residence in the 1 40 ' 4 and partly of the communications which be had 1► ceived from them since that period. The speech cc * chided with a Motion for a Commission to pro to the lonian Islands, for the purpose of into the conduct of Sir THOMAS MAITLAND, the High Commissioner, and the general state of the Goer' ment of the Island. The Motion was opposed bi Mr. GOULBURN ; and after several other Gentleeo had delivered their sentiments, most of whom eal°' gized the character of the gallant General, the Hoot divided :—Ayes, 27—Noes, 97. Th e Motion wah therefore, negatived by 70. Intelligence has been received from the Palo Islands to the 9th of :%lay, at which time the puma