Star. — London, England, 1822-03-26 00:00:00

r 11 I \ • -1, • I t :At A l s.. * _ of the Britikkkoverternent era rouse all the nations of Eisregie• egiNt.the olliptcsatva domination of the French, no means were spared to make such a feel ing general. Amongst the rest, Italy was not over looked, and overtures were made, in the most direct manner, to the Government of Naples. It was to be observed, that the Government of France over Italy, though of the most despot ic nature, yet pos sessed some advantages, as it was calculated to re animate the Italians, and it gave every encourage ment to the cultivation of literature. There was, there fore, a large portion of the people fi iendly to it, though there was another party, and a numerous one, who sighed for the liberation of their country. The expulsion of the French being accomplished, it would be now his duty to state the manner in which the Ita lians had been treated by the British Government. At the peace of 1814, a deputation from the Milanese .waited upon a Noble Lord, who then filled an im portant office in Italy ; but, in answer to their de mand of a Constitution, as the reward of their efforts, they were told, " that however good liberty was for the people of England, it would not suit the people of Italy"—( Hear, hear).—He wished that Noble Lord was here in his place, that he might set him (Lord J. Russell) right if he stated that which was untrue. — From that time the hopes of the Italians were disap pointed, and the consequence was, that Italy was given up to Austria, without any guarantee being made for her liberties. He (Lord J. Russell)• had seen a Gentleman from Calabria a few days ago, and he (Lord J. Russell) was assured by him, that there was no education permitted by the Austrian Govern ment in Italy, but what was administered by Jesuits and Priests. But this Gentleman stated a still more carious fact. He said he had seen a Decree of the Free Court of Justice of Turin exhibited, in which the condemnation of four persons was announced, of whom one was for treason. and the other three " for being notoriously Fanatical, and for having a pro pensity to a constitutional system !-'—(Hear, hear). — And what did the House think was the punishment allotted to these men ?—nothing less than the punish ment of the galleys for life!—(Hear.)—Here, then, were men who had evinced a friendly disposition to liberty punished with the gallevs for life. Several other sentences had been passed equally arbitrary and unjust. Amongst others, the Mat quis Cologini. a subject of the Pope, but in effect a subject of Aus tria, was arrested at Venice, and without any cause assigned, for there were no papers found upon him, he was taken up and sentenced to death, but by a great exertion of mercy, this sentence was commuted to solitary confinement for ten years! Tne meaning of this was, that the unfortunate individual was to be shut up, deprived of the use of pen, ink, or paper, and allowed only half an hour to walk during the day—( Hear, hear). —Such was the fate of a Gentle man of fortune and family, who had also a young wife with two children. All this he (Lord J. Russell) contended, was in consequence of our giving up Italy without extorting from Austria a guarantee for the preservation of their liberties. Ile contended, that nothing could justify the treatment which the British Government used towards the people of Italy. They bad, in fact, sanctioned the suppression of schools, and had given their aid to the progress of inciviliza tion and darkness. The future historian never would acquit England of the crime of taking away from unfortunate Italy all those means from which she could hope for her regeneration—(hiar). The Noble Lord concluded by moving that the petition be brought up.—Upon the question of its lying upon the table, Mr. WILMOT rose.—lt was his duty to explain some facts of this case, which had been either over looked or mistated by the Noble Lord. He did not quite understand the object which the Noble Lord had in view. It never was denied that Captain Ro meo had rendered services to the British army in Slcily, but for those services he received an adequate temuneration. The Noble Lord was incorrect in saying the Petitioner was the principal agent in the transactions to which he alluded. The fact was not so ; Captain Romeo was but a subordinate agent upon these occasions. The promotion in which the Noble Lord said he was disappointed was this: he had been promised a Captaincy in a Calabrese corps, which, as it happened, was never embodied, but when he was leaving the service he received three months pay in advance. From 1811 to 1814, this individual never claimed arty further remuneration. He had, in Pact, received the most ample recompense for the services which be rendered the British army. But it was said he was since persecuted by the Nea politan Government. But what had we to do with that? The question, and indeed the only question in the case, was, whether he bad been persecuted 'for his attachment to this Government, or whether *the harsh treatment he received was a consequence of his individual demerits? This latter appeared beyond doubt to be the case. The Court of Naples upon being applied to, not only disavowed the persecution of Captain Romeo on the ground of his British con nections, but they absolutely stated the particular causes of their treatment of him, which were, that be had been engaged in several conspiracies —(Hear, hear, hear). —Then as to the annuity of £5O a-year, that was not for life, but for a given period of time ; and it was a little too much, after he had quitted all future claims by selling that provision, that he should claim more.- It was true that Government refused him a passport, because they were unwilling that he should have the sanction of an English traveller, not knowing how far he might prejudice their relations with other States. Upon the whole he could not re cognize any claim which this individual had to fur ther relief; and he was sure that, so far from being badly treated, he had experienced the most liberal treatment from the British Government—(Hear, hear). —He concluded by opposing the laying of the Petition upon the table. Sir JANIES MACKINTOSH was at a loss to see bow the Honourable Member (Mr.Wilmot) could misunderstand the precise object of the Noble Lord near him. The object was clearly to make an ap peal to the generosity of a great People; and being made by an individual, a foreigner, who had done important services to this ceuntry, he (Sir James Itlackintosh) did not think it redounded much to the honour of the country, to take this appeal in the way it had been done. If the allegations of the Peti . were to be believed, he was most inadequately .ded for his services. Of these services there to doubt, but an attempt had been made to un glue them by a statement that the Petitioner was ;ewar Was rt 4 du vgi but a subordinate agent in these telseattions. But admitting that he was but a subertfinet e agent, still he had large claims up on this Government. Besides, the statement of the Honourable Writher was at variance with the certificates of the British Officers whose names had been mentioned. Lord William Bentinck stated distinctly, 44 that Captain Romeo had rendered most important services." General Maitland's expressions were more remarkable. He said, 44 that it was chiefly by the means of Captain Romeo that he had obtained such assistance as enabled him to counteract the machinations of con cealed and open enemies." These were strong testimonials. If then it was true that the British Army had been saved by means of Captain Ro meo, was it to be said that a pension of £5O was a sufficient remuneration? And then as to arguingl that because this Gentleman had, in a moment of temporary distress, sold his pension, that he had ex cluded himself from any further claims, one would expect that some petty attorney would take such ad vantage as this. But the question was, had or had not Captain Romeo performed important services to this country ? Had he suffered in her cause? The proofs that he had were above exception, being the certificates of British Officers: that he had not, we had only the allegations of Neapolitan Ministers — those men who themselves plotted the schemes which he overturned. No Court of Justice in the world would hesitate between these two classes of proofs, and still less should the British Parliament hesitate between them. He asked was it worthy a great na tion to discharge him with a pension of £5O a.year ? He had no doubt, that it was solely on account of his services to England, that Captain Romeo was imprisoned and persecuted. To those services he might attribute the sentence of exile, imposed by the Neapolitan Government, which to him became one of perpetual banishment, as he dared not return to a country where the Government were his enemies. It was not honourable to this Empire—it was not con sistent even on the score of liberality, that we should suffer a person who had rendered services to our arms—services admitted and acknowledged —to be persecuted, imprisoned, and exiled, without afford ing him some remuneration. It would be far more creJitable to the country, more honourable to our own Government, that a full and sufficient reward should be given to Captain Romeo, for the valuable, services he had rendered. Every im p artial man would admit, that he had been the chief cause of saving the British army. Mr. GOULBURN said, that he hoped the House would grant him its indulgence, in the few observa tionsbe would make, as lie had not the opportunity of refreshing his recollection on this subject since the last debate. He could not help entertaining very dif ferent sentiments upon it from the Hon. Gentlemen opposite. He had received such information, that he had made up his mind that what Capt. Romeo had received at the close of the war, had been allowed as full compensation, in comparison with others, as was proportioned to his services. He considered it an ad mitted principle, that Government should apportion their remuneration not only to the services rendered, but with reference to the rank of the person by whom they were performed. Though the Officers who held a superior command to Captain Romeo might have said that he had given some valuable services, it would be found that they had only a tompensation moderately greater than the sum paid to that indivi dual. It should be recollected that Capt. Romeo re ceived the usual pay of the Army all the time he was in Sicily. Whatever duties he had performed, he was bound to render every service in his power to that Army—(Hear). During the time he was in employ ment he had sufficient remuneration for his exertions. Captain Romeo claimed now a compensation for losses he had suffered to the extent of £2,500. Was it not consistent that the Officers who were witnesses of those losses, who had the power of giving him re muneration, should have then done so? If they have not, it was a strong presumption in favour of the course adopted, and a sufficient reason for the House not to interfere. The annuity of £5O which had been settled, was afterwards commuted for a sum of £3OO, at the desire of Capt. Romeo. When that settlement was effected there was not any objection to a pass port being given him; but Capt. Romeo refused to accept a passport, unless it was one signed by the Noble Lord below him, which was never granted to any other than a British subject. He was then offered one to Malta or to Spain. If Capt. Romeo's objec tion to the terms that were made with him arose from the circumstance of his not receiving the passport he desired, he should at least have returned the money he had been paid. His (Mr. Goulburn's) decision was made on the report of the best authority on the sub ject, that of our Ambassador at Naples. .His report was sufficient to satisfy the House that the proper line of conduct had been pursued. Sir ROBERT WILSON said that most essential services had been rendered by Capt. Romeo, in the detection of conspiracy. That several persons had been condemned and executed for treason in conse quence of the information given by that individual, and his exertions in detecting them. The remunera tion he had been allowed was by no means propor tioned to the advantages derived from his assistance. Mr. C. H. HUTCHINSON was desirous to ask the Hon. Secretary (Mr. Goulburn) if he ever knew a case, similar to the present, where an Officer, who had ren dered such services as those of Capt. Romeo, had been so ill requited? He had been imprisoned, he had been banished to the shores of Egypt, he had for feited his property in Calabria—he claimed compen sation for those sufferings is our service—he produced the best possible testimony, that of the Officers under whom he had been employed. The only compensa tion given him was £5O a year, and which sum was afterwards commuted for £3OO. He asked if there ever was an instance of similar service thus poorly remunerated ? If the Hon. Secretary could produce an instance equal to the present, the House would then admit that Capt. Romeo had been sufficiently remunerated. It was a strange proceeding that our Government should refer the case of the individual for investigation to those very persons who had per secuted him. The distinction should be made, that the claim was not for protection titan the Neapolitan Government, but fur losses incurred in the British ser vice, and which were attested by the evidence of six of our Generals. He was justified in stating, on the authority of General Campbell, that Captain Romeo had incurred the indignation of his own Government for valuable service rendered to our Army. It was allied by the Nolge Lord opposite, why those claims for conspensatios, and testimonials of sufferings were not brought forward sooner? k was because ihe per secuted individual was on the desert shores of Egypt, where he had been banished by his own Court. The Noble Lord had last year jestingly spoken of the money which had been paid, as if given to the mistress of a French General. It should now be understood, that Captain Romeo states that he escaped through the influence of such a person, to whom that sum was given by agreement for having procured his libera tion. An offer was, indeed, made of a passport to Malta—be could not consider it as a matter of much indulgence or liberality to give him permission to go to Malta, and from there to let him find his way home in the best manner he could. The persecution of his own Government to Captain Romeo, the total indifference to his sufferings on the part of ours, the refusal to grant him an adequate compensation, was only a part of the system adopted by the Holy Alli ance, which, if suffered still to extend without any check or alteration, would eventually deluge Europe with blood. The Marquis of LONDONDERRY said he would not go into a wide range of discussion on the present question, or debate it on general principles. He should make a few remarks only on the case of the individual now brought forward. He was glad to find, from the anxiety for the individual whose case was before the House, evinced by the Honourable Gentlemen opposite, that the character of a police officer abroad was much more respected by them than at home. Captain Romeo was one of that class of persons. The services he had performed were stated to have been made und. 1. the observation of General Officers, by whose opinion the measure of compensation was required to be allowed. He con sidered that the best authority on th e subject was that of Sir William A'Court, our Ambassador, who had been twice referred to, and who had twice re ported that the statements of losses in the British ser vice, by Captain Romeo, were not founded in fact, and that his expulsion was a punishment inflicted for acts committed by him after our army had left Ca labria. Surely the House would agree in opinion, that after the full investigation of our Ambassador, nothing further was required to be done, and that the Government were justified in acting on that official Report. He could not think that a Commit tee of the House could have better opportunities of judging on the question than our Minister at Na p les. ) It was argued, that Lord William Bentinck had re commended the case of Captain Romeo. That No ble Lord had the entire controul of the Treasury chest at ihat time; if he thought proper, he had the power of giving remuneration for service rendered to our army. He had done so in all other cases, and why should the present be the only exception ? He did not wish to give pain to Captain Romeo, but he could not see any justice in the claims now brought forward. The Government could not give rewards in solitary cases, or on any system which they could not generalize. He did not consider that this ques tion was submitted at the proper time to the House, or that the proofs which are relied on were brought forward sufficiently early. It was an unpardonable neglect on the part of Captain Romeo, and of those who supported his claims. He hoped that the House would be perfectly satisfied with the circumstances that occurred since the arrival of that individual in this country. With regard to the passport which is complained of not being granted, he (the Marquis of Londonderry) did not wish to compromise the Go vernment, by giving a passport untisn4l in all such cases, one that was only granted to British subjects. Mr. HUME said the Noble Marquis (London derry) had adopted a tone totally different from that which be held last year. He was astonished to find the Honourable Secretary (Mr. Goulburn) not giving unqualified credit to the statements of General Campbell. That gallant Officer says, that Ca; twin Romeo, -and every other person who had rendered service to the British Government, were persecuted. The Ambassador at Naples (Sir William A'Court) had promised protection to all those who had done so. It was unjustifiable on the pair of the British Government now to refuse compensation to a person who had so severely suffered in their cause. Captain, Romeo was useful in penetrating the plans of the Queen of Naples to destroy the British influence; by his exertions it was preserved. The Noble Marquis had perverted the admission that a sum of money was paid to the mistress of a French General: if that money was paid as a ransom to escape from an im prisonment to which his exertions for us had con signed him, Captain Romeo was pei fcctly justified in submitting it as a loss in our service, and in claim ing compensation for it. It was not fair to argue that £5O a year, which he had received, was the remune ration awarded, as that sum was only granted at the intercession of the Duke of Yolk, as an allowance pending the investigation of his claims. Ile thought it most unjust to deny him a British passport, which he had reason to expect when he intended to proceed to Naples. Captain Romeo had lost all his property, and he (Mr. Hume) hoped, when all the circum stances of his case were considered, that Government would pay proper attention to his just claims. Mr. C. FORBES thought it by no means honour able to the character of the British Government that any person to whom it had promised its protection should now be suffered to starve in the streets. He trusted that the mind of the poor individual in ques tion would be set at case upon one point in particu lar. He was now under momentary alarm of being arrested under the Alien Act; for the police, about a week ago, paid frequent visits to the wretched gar ret which lie occupied at a rent of four shillings per week. He (Mr. Forbes) had endeavoured to assure Captain Romeo that it was impossible he could be arrested under the circumstances; however, that Gen tleman thought otherwise, and he still was uhder the impression that it was intended to give him up to the King of Sicily. Consider ink; the neglect with n hick Captain Romeo was treated, he could not help stating that a pension had lately been granted as a reward for the services of a meritorious British Officer whose claims were not stronger than those of the unfortu nate Gentleman to whom he adverted. lie would not now name the person who had obtained the pen sion, but he pledged himself to afford an opportunity of contradicting the fact, if it could be done. It was talrnestly to be hoped that the Government' would reconsider his case, and that the sum of 1:,50 a year would be restoied to him, in comileration of which he had been induced to accept LAW a . leaa. At this 'ainnent he had not a single sixpence in W s pock et, and nothing could be more deplorable than his sita.t 'tion. Some time ago a subscription was set on foot for him, but though the names were high, he was sorry to say that the sum was by no means liberal. The Marquis of LONDONDERRY said, that with regard to any order for removing Captain Ro. meo from the country, he had not heard one word about it. The Hnn. Member had been, he tho ug h t , in a credulous humour upon. several points. A s to the hidden charges against the Government, he en. treated the Hon. Member not to use them far pur poses of extortion, but to bring them forward at once, without observing the least ceremony. Mr. FORBES said, that if the subject was ant, it. relevant to the question before the House, be had no objection to point out the case to which he alluded—, (Cries of " Go on.")-1Ie would theta ask s whether pension of 8001, per annum bad not been lately settled upon Lady Torrens, the wife of Sir Henry Torrem, a name which claimed the highest respect. It had been stated to him, that that gallant General, whose services had been attended with so much advam Age . and bestowed with the greatest possible attenticn,had some time agn resigned the situation which he held, and taken one with less duties and art inferior salary; and that in consequence a pension to the amount he had stated had been granted to Lady Torrens. Mr. ARBUTHNOT said, it was most certainly true that a pension had been granted to Lady Tor rens. It was in the knowledge of the House that the disposal of pensions to a certain amount formed a part of the constitutional power of t..e Crown. Sir Henry Toner's was well known to the country— (neer, hear)—and he thought a pension granted to his Lady, as an acknowledgement of his services, would never be considered an improper exercise cf the Royal prerogative—( ( fear, hear). Lord J. RUSSELL thought that the testimony of the British Generals ought to outweigh that of the Neapolitan Government. Ile was quios - sure that the Government could have no intention (.f enforcing the provisions of the Alien Act against the Petitioner. He was ce tain they would do nothing so violent; and he did hope that they would reconsider his case, and ' come to the conclusion, that there was still something due to his services. The Marquis of LONDONDERRY said, that the difficulty which occurred to him was, that he wanted to know why Captain Romeo had concealed that so large a sum of money was due to him until 1818 or 1819? . He was quite sure, with the Noble Lord, that the last thing which the Secretary of State would be likely to do, would be to the Alien Act to such a case as the present. After a few words from Colonel DAVIES the Peti tion was ordered to be printed. COMMITTEE OF SUPPLY. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER moved the Order of the Day for the House resolving itte:i into a Committee of Supply. Mr. BERNAL was anxious, seeing the Hon. tlls. Comptroller of the Navy in his place, to make quiry as to the state of the working men in the U.:::- yards, and whether it was intended to make any alters ations in their favour ? He complained that their rate of wages was too low. Sir B. MARTIN observed, that the present sy-tem was recognized by the Navy Board, and existed under its special direction. He wished, however, to take to himself whatever responsibility might attach to it, as it had been adopted at his suggestion. When the re ductions were made, he said that instead of consii:l - 5,000 men, with aye: age Coniles of five childrea each to starvation, he had made all partake their share of the general privation. He had never heard anything but gratitude expressed by the parties at the course he had so chroen and acted upon. Sir J. YORKE col roborated the statement made by his gallant Friend. Upon the question that the Speaker quit the CbaTr, Sir B. MARTIN said, that before the Speaker should leave the Chair, he was desirous of addressing himself to a subject which had been alluded to by the Hon. Member for Aberdeen on a former occasion. Ile stated that the use of coal-tar for ships would be detrimental to the interests of the Navy, and that the first time the ships came into action they would be blown up : he stated alto that it was destructive of the iron work of the vessel, and destructive of human life. These opinions the Hon. Member had founded upon the authority of a Mr. Boot, who was once a shipwright, afterwards a hanker, and subsequently to that, he believed, a bankrupt. This Mr. Boo: came to the Navy Board with his plans, and demanded £5,000 in advance before he could carry them into execution. But the Board were not sl ready to part with their money, and then this person declared that the Navy was in danger, and that the first pistol that was fired in the ships would blow them up. This the lion. Member for Aberdeen adopted and repeated in that House, and he now called upon him to state the result of an experiment which was tried on Saturday last in Iris presence, as well as in that of four distin guished Naval Officers, and other persons, who ail agreed that there never was a more gross imposition upon the Public than the statements which had been sent forth. The lion. Member for Aberdeen believed them, and it was very likely that he (Sir B. MartiA should have done so likewise, under similar circum stances. But he called upon the Hon. Member to state in that House what he candidly stated on Satur day, with regard to the opinions be had before pro fessed. The Owen Glendower affotded sufficient prod that the coal-tar had no bad effect upon the health of the sailors. There was a complement of 261. men on board that veisel,which was completely saturated with coal-tar, and had been for two years in a but climate ; and, out of the 26k, living as they did in a constant atmosphere of coal-tar, only two had died.- • Mr. HUME was extremely happy in the opportu nity of setting this subject in its proper light before the House. It had been represented to him, and to many other individuals, that the practice of the Navy Board for the last six years, which had been recent mended by Sir R. Seppings, was detrimental to the service. Under these circumstances the Board allowed the experiment to be made, with the greatest fairness on Saturday last ; and the result was, that net only Irianselt and others, but the son of Mr. Boot, went away, convinced of the error of his father's opinion. He was sittisfied that no one could entertain any opi nion but that the Gentleman iu question had certainly deceived himself. Sir J. YO It K E concurred in the nbsartations of the I.luu. Member l'or Aberdeen.