The Sun. — London, England, 1820-08-22 00:00:00

bed in the -vestibule 'repose, Bergarni was, after some -time, observed to come from it—he, wad he only, having been there with her Majes ty. Her Majesty's dinner was brought to the vestibule, and she and Bergami dined there by themselves. -Her Majesey . wason the sane day, observed sitting on a travelling bed which she carried with her, Bergami being, seated on the . . floor near her. After dinner, Bergami was, for a coasiderable time s ' alone iti die vestibule with her MaJeSty. Agaitk I ask your Lordships, why - was it that Bergami of all her Majesty's attendants,' be selected to attend in her -Majes trs.bed-rooth ?•- Why were even her female attendants excluded, except for the purpose of indulging' in that criminal intercourse with which her Majesty is cbarged ? • My L9rds, I know no otherseasOn, nor do I think your Lordships can tind any other for this preference Of Bergami by her Majesty: At other places, also, • this con duct ,was pursued. At ,Ann,, in Syria, her Max s iesty bad 'a, tent fitted up'; in which a bed was placed.. Her: Majesty *as seen in that bed un dressed, Bergaini'litting in his shirt sleeVes; al most undresses's, on the side of the bed. Some time after, -he • (Bergami) was observed com ing from the tent en disha.bile,, her Majes tys,being still -undressed and - in bed. I ask your Lordships, if you can after hearing this fact, which-tdok- place in the open day, doubt that an adulterous intercourse , existed between her Majesty-and this - man ?- If - her -Majes ty, while in bed. required an attendant, why was not a fro . ale 'selected ; why was not the Countess of Oldi'called upon ? I may be told that this is matter of strong Suspicion, but that I mint go much further to establish the adultery. I. say, that in ordinary cases, this would besa'f ficient proof. , Built is not an isolated fact- s -it is, one of a series of circumstances; which go to establish beyond a doubt, the adulterous inter course which existed.—W hat" woman of virtue or delicacy—what woman who had not granted a man the last favour, would aIIOW him to be in her bed-room alone, she being . undressed.,and in bed ? At Jerusalem, her Majesty, not satisfied with having made , Bergami a Knight of Malta, had him also made a Knight of St.- Sepulchre, a Catholic. order, which exists in that country ; nay further, not satisfied with' even this, her Majesty created a new order, the Order of St Caroline, of which, After having conferred it on some of her servants, she ma de Itergami the Grand ,Master.—(A - am aware that your L4dships must smile when you hear these facts, but that smile marks strongly the degrada tion and disgraceful ConduCt which describe. Thus we now have this Bergami a Knight of Malta, Knight of Saint Sepulchre, the Baron de la.Francina, and Grand 'Master of the Order of St. "Caroline. ; (Laughing.)—lles Majesty em barked on board the , polacca; 'at Jaffa, on the voyage home Ward. •The weather was excessively hot, and,, her Majesty found it inconvenient to sleep in lite cabin. Her Majesty directed a tent to be put up upon the deck, that she might sleep there, In that tent MA' only was a sofa placed for the Princess, , but close to it a bkil. for BerganniS In that tent slept her Majesty and Bergami from that time , -until their 'arrival in Italy. 'The lower 'Part . of ,the tent was raised during the flay 'to admit the air,, but at night.it was h let ' down so as exclude to obserVation. During the time her Maje Sty and Bers ' ami remstined , in it, the tent was so closed. Not only-did they remain in it during the night, clos ed n.that :manner, but in the day, and after dinner. This,' as :Is have alrea'dy stated, was continued until her Majesty's 'arrival at Terracina in Italy. This fact alone would bear out the charge ,in the preamble' of the Bill before your Lordships. .Itis not presumptive, but conclusive . evidence of the fact. Was it,, my 'Lords, ever heard of,that'a woman slept alone - in the same rooms night after night, with, a man, except for the purposes to which I havealluded ? Can your Lordships doubt for a moment the motives which induced her Majesty to act in 'this manner ; but if you do entortain any donbts,. they' rinist be re moved, when, you find that her Majesty, in the open . day, and before her servants, is seen sitting on Bergami's knee s _ embracing and toying with him..., if such be-her Majesty's conduct in the open day, how do your Lordships'Suppose 'she acted When alone with Bergami, • and when the veil of night-had removed all delicacy, if any de licacy-remained in a Lady who excluded her fe male.,attendants and shut herself .up with a man in her bed-room ? In order to prove that all re straint was removed betWeeu her *Majesty and Bergami, I have only to state the following fact. During her, Majesty's voyage froth Jaffa, she had on several occasions baths prepared for her, and on those occasions she, was attended' even while bath ing, by Berg,ami,and by Bergami only ! 'your Lordshipsafter this .loubt the nature of the inter course which existed between her Majesty and this man ? Are not your Lordships convinced that an adulterous intercourse only could induce a woman to bear the presenceof a man on such an occasion ? Duriag this voyage the Feast of St. Bartholomew (the 24th August) . arrived, and Bergami's name being Bartholomew, this day of his patron saint was kept by all'on board (in ho nour of ,Bergami), - as a day of rejoicing and fes tivity, While this carousing went on, the healths of her Majesty and the Chevalier Bergami were repeatedly drank—that Of the latter because the feast was in honour of his name. Your Lord ships will ask me what conclusion I draw from this ? I say, that the circumstance of itself is nothing ; but, taking it coupled with the other . farts which I have stated, it points out in the clearest light the nature of the intercourse which existed between her - Majesty' and Bergami. I shall not fatigue your Lordships with a minute detail of the numberless familiarities which took place between her Majesty and Bergami; as I find that in opening this case, I ought to draw your attention more particularly' to the stronger facts of the case. I shall not,"therefore, - now, enter into a detail of the degrading offices which her Majesty performed for - Bergami. Such, for instance,as mending his clothes—(a laugh)—and other matters of a similar nature. In September 1816, 'her Majesty . arrived in Italy, and took up her residence in the Palace d'Este, on the lake of Como. There the' brother - of Bergami was advanced to the situation of PrefeCt of Ma jesty's palace. After. :this period the brother, his sister, and a cousit4 who had'also been intro-_ duced into her 'Majesty's service, ltined at a parate table,. from the Test of. her Majesty% sake. --During her' Majesty's absence from the Pa.. lace d'Este, a theatre ha&been- built by' her direction. Here, on her Majesty's return, she frequently performed on the stage with Bergami, and some other of her servants Bergaini performing the part of a lover, and her Majesty. representing., the person beloved. On other occasions her Majesty played the part of servants,; and other low CharacterS. I only mention: this as one of the very many instances of the familiarity with which Bergami was treated by her Majesty.: After her Majesty's return to d'Este, she went on a tour to Lucani,. and other places. But I must mention a circumstance which occurred while her. Majesty resided at d'Este. Her Majesty's courier was sent express with a letter to a person at Milan, to which an answer was to he returned to Bergami. The courier returned late at night, or rather early in the morning, her Majesty's household being then at rest. The-courier, thinking it his duty to deliver the answer immediately, went to Bergami's bed room for that purpose ; bat, to his surprise, Ber gami was not there. In a short time, howeveri the courier saw Bergami coming out of her Ma jesty's bed-room in his shirt and robe-de-chambre. He is seen by. the courier in his shirt coming out of her Majesty's chamber ; and this courierbeing but a short tine in her Majesty's service, he 'ap peared some4That astonished, and was about. to make some observation, when Bergami told him, it was an accidental circumstance, and'hegged he would say nothing about it. The fact, however, was obvious, for there was Bergami coming out of _her Majesty's room, which was nearly adja cent to that iu which was his own bed ; a free communication between both chambers, and nothing' to interrupt the intercourse between them, .1 say, my Lords, this fact in an ordinary case would be amply sufficient to satisfy a jury as to the guilt of adultery.. The circumstance cannot be accounted , for in any other way ;• nor can there. be any other reason assigned but the continuation' of that intercourse going on from 'day to'clay; and therefore your Lordships must be led to the conclusion stated in the preamble of the,. Bill :In a short time after she had been at Villa d'Este, there was a palace built for Bergami at her Majesty's expence, fitted up; in ,the first style of . tasteful elegance, at a cost of some thousands: And thus this man who had . been only- employed in her Majesty's service since the year 1816—is not only raised to the dignity of Chamberlain, and covered with the insignia of honourable :orders—but is possessed of a splendid seat - , called Villa. Bergami, at Baronce, purchased for him at an expence of seyeral thousand pounds. How could this man, so recently elevated from indigence , and ser vility, obtain all this wealth and those ho nours, but through the favour and munificence of this most liberal Princess ? And from ,What other motive for . these extraordinary marks of her favour, but the kind of. inter course-which' had so long taken, place between them ? 1 would.. ask, has there been any other intelligible reason to induce her Majesty to heap on.this man all those honours and munifi , cent proofs. of her bounty.? _During the period of the Carnival, the most disgraceful scenes took place, the description of which I would much rather leave.to the witnesses who are . to be ad duced before your Lordships, but that it forms a necessary link in the detail, I have,.the painful duty of subuiittina ' for your Lordships' attention, The scenes which took place at her Majesty's liOnse on that occasion were such, as rather de served for it the name of a brothel than any thing else. Balls were ,given there during the'Carni.. Val,'not for the entertainment of the Nobility of the place, who would have been proud of the honour of her Majesty's ,countenance ; but for persons of the lowest description, amongst whom scenes the most licentious took place; and I can satisfy your Lordships by evidence, that : those scenes passed under her Majesty's notice, because if I could tiot, : those who defend her Majesty would say, such scenes might take place in the kitchens of the hoese, amongst the very lowest description of servants„ wholly without the knowledge of her Majesty, and ought not therefore to be :adduc ed for her crintination But I say this passed un der her Majesty's own observation ; and so far from being displeased, she expressed , high satis faction at those disgraceful proceedings. It may be said, my . Lords, that although this woman May have done things unbecoming her rank ; yet not sufficient to prove the fact of adultery. I admit, my Lords, the fairness of such an obser vation wherever it can apply; but this fact shows to your Lordships and to every, reasonable mind, what must be the' disposition of her Majesty in permitting such transactions to take place under her roof ; and that the debasing intercourse to which she had degraded herself had so far de'- , prayed her mind as to render her careless not only of the decorum which should belong to her rank, but even.all sense of decency; and this can •only be accounted for from the disgraceful inter course which had taken place. About the. 18th of February,lBl7, her Majesty made a tour . into Gerthany, and a remarkable circumstance took place at the commencement of this tour. I t happen ed that on her arrival at Charente, on the way to Inspruck, M. Bergami was obliged to go forward to obtain passes for ,the journey. Bergami had not, returned at a late hour. of the night, and her Majesty ordered one of her female servants to sleep in her chamber. Bergami returned, how ever, froth Inspruck in the middle of the. night. What was hiS conduct! Did he retire to his own chamber, and forbear to disturb her Majesty till the morning ? No ; he goes immediately into her Majesty's chamber, and her. Majesty immediately orders her female attendant to get up and retire from the room, which she accordingly did, leaving Bergami alone with her Majesty, where Ire remained For the night. t would asli your Lordships whether : this occurrence does .not fully explain itselfs or whether it leaves roam for any other conclusion than that of adulterous con. nection. Butthis was not all. Upon their sub- % sequent,slrrival at Carlsrhue, on their arrival at W.1 . 1,,kre t o y .to ,s p tie A nitlit,re - erbonis were 'provided, each openhig into the other—numbers 10, 11, and 12—and it was so contrived, that Bergami alone could find access from the rooms assigned for him to that of her Majesty—and there, mY Lords, her Majesty is seen in the day time, on the bed ,of Bergami, who was there naked, with his arms round her Majesty's neck. Is it probable, then, that such a circumstance could take . place_ be tweet' persons of such description, if a criminal intercourse had ndt previously taken place ? But your Lordships will find, that after this scene took place, a cloe.ky which belonged to her Ma jesty, is found in Bergami's be(' by one of the servants, which cloak is.afterwards worn by her Majesty. After this fact; I would ask, can any. .doubt remain of the adulterous intercourse ? After this her MajestY pursued her route to 'veil, and in the course of her journey caused a separate carriage to be hired exclusively- for her self and. Bergami, the rest of her suite travelling in separate carriages. This separate carriage was Purchased' by Bergami by ,her Majesty's direC - tions ; and- the same kind' of arrangements were made at every inn where she stopped for the' night for securing a chamber for Bergami close to that of her Majesty. In her Majesty's bed room was her small ttavelling bed, beside a large bed, capable of accommodating two persons, and here the same unequivocal proofs were - obserVed, that two persons had occupied thelarge bed, ivhie . the small one was unoccupied, and no 'PeTSon but Bergami had access to; the chamber ;aiifl in the course' of — their journey, wherever they stopped on the Toad to Change* horses, it was ob served, that even during that short interval, her Majesty and Bergami always retired to the same room, and reposed • together on . the same bed. This was observed upon more than one occasion during the journey. Upon what other grOund was it possible to suppose thathe could have used such familiarities unlesS an adulterous intercourse exist ed 'betiveen them. They returned to Milan, and there, at the Barona, Bergami'S mother and bro ther Leivis were permitted 'to dine at the same table with the Princess and Bergami. From that time forward they were regularly admitted to the same table. These favoUrs, conferred upon the fathilY might, unconnected with other circum stances, prove nothing. Here, however, they showed the anxiety with which the' PrinCesS strove to please this man, by gathering his rela tions round her. It is a singular circumStance, that they were daily gathering round her. Ber gami's Mother: held no situation in the family ; she was not a maid of honour; she perfOrnied no kind of duty. :Why then was she introduCed ? What possible reason can be Assigned. for it, but a desire to shew her extraordinary regard for this man. It .might be said, that thtl circurm= stance of bestoMing the title of ,Princess on his daughter proves nothing, - 'as the youth Austin was also dignified with the title of Prince. In itself, and taken alatie, it Might be considered unimportant, but is far from being so, when con pled with the other circumstances of the caSe.--- , In some time after . the period of which I am speaking, they visited the Villa d'Este, and from thence went to Rome. - They first resided at the Rupinella Palace, a house which for merly belonged to one of the , Buonaparte family, but soon after took up their residence at another house in Rene, called the Villa Bram . chi. Here also, as at various othet Bergami's apartment was near that Of her Ma jesty, there being a COmmunication by a corridOre between them. Here he was observed,' upon more occasions than one, going at an early bOlir in the morning from his own room into that of the Princess, and there remaining, for a conside rable time. This ,was in July, 1817. Your Lordships shall have it proved, to 'you that, upon two,or three occasions, at an . early hour, he was seen going towards her apartment, entering.and. there remaining for some time. This alone would be sufficient eviOnce of the .criminal in tercourse that : existed. In ordinary cases of criminal conversation, would there be felt, on the part of .any jury, ,the slightest hesi tation in deciding 'upon this circoapstance alone? Can 'any doubt remain after this, as to the impropriety of, the intercou7se, more' particularly when it is not a solitary,. in stance. here too, Bergarni, as in other places, was .admitted into the Princess's room while she was *dressing, ,while in her dishabille. out the least reserve, or previous notice, he was permitted to go into her room upon all occasions. There also, your Lordsbips will find, that upon two or ,three occasions he is ,seen visiting her room at night. From .Villa Bran chi they return-, ed to Milan in the month Of. 'August, and there the same arrangements were made with respect to their bed-rooms. So' great' was .the influence he acquired over h er , that his absence was oh .served always to create a visible. uneasiness in the mind of the PrinceSs. Upon one occasion he visited the Barona. His absence appeared to give her the greatest trouble. She sent a mes senger .for him, and a t th e i r meeting th e y em bracedthe- Princess expressing that sort of joy and satisfaction, in countenance and manner, that is naturally to be expected from persons between •whom 'such a connection exists. This took place in August, 1817. Here some Noble Lord expressed a wisil that the dates of the various transactions alluded to should be distinctly stated. The Loan CHANCELLOR said, it would be convenient if the dates of the arrivals and depar tures. from the different places mentioned were given in by the Learned Gentleman. The ATTORNEY-GENERA L proceeded.—The date of the arrival at Trieste is the 11th April, 1817. At the Itupinella, about 23d June of the same year : at the Villa 13ranchi, a few days after 'the end of June, or early 'in July, 1817. They left the Barona in January, 1817, for the putpoSe of prkeeding to TridSie. 'nett hirival at Pesaro was oti the 9th de August, 11.317 6 Where they took up their residence •for a time, and it was after this the facts "tvhicli tam mow goiog• to state occilfreil! Manywatticutars:ivhich Have not ni . entirme ttshall "'ear irk eyidencei. , While at Villa ct•Vste,,it will be proved by various wit , 'asses, that the Princess and Bergami frequently rode out alone, in a vehicle, so contrived that there was only room for one to sit down, so that if there was a second person, it was necessary that one should sit on the other: In this they frequent ly drove out, the Princess sitting on . his kneel with his arms round her waist while he guided the horse. In this indecent posture, they were frequently seen together. On the River Brescii they were often observed indulging in most inde= cent familiarities, kissing one another, and taking other freedoms which it is impossible to account for, unless by supposing that a criminal inter course took place. All this will be proved by various witnesses. On the return of'the Princess from the East', she. brought in her train a man named Leone, of the most brutal and depraved manner. This person used 'to exhibit himself at the Villa Branchi in the most indecorous and shameful manner, the Princess and Bergami bey ing present.. The circumstances are so shocking, so disgusting to the mind, that I cannot, without. difficulty, bring myself to mention them to your Lordships, but it is necessary. The painful situation in which I am placed; re quires that , I should make yotir Lordships un derstand the nature of the disgusting exhibi trun, which shall appear by the testimony of various witnesses, This man, in the situation 1 described, among other things, used to imitate, in the- most indelicate manner, the sexual in O ter- ; urse before the servants, and in the presence f the Princess. These degrading circumstances do not certainly of themselves prove, the filet ... of . adulterous intercourse ; but a woman who conic]. condescend to this, would not hesitate to sacri fiecia her virtue in the most licentious manner. These facts prove the disgustin4 and licentious . conduct alluded to in the preamble, and leave no doubt as to the other fact of adultery. .Your Lordships, after this, will not be snrprised to find that she visited Roman Catholic places of worship with Bergami, though on her first arrival in Italy she acted as beckne a Protestant Prin cess,. and either attended divineworship in Noilic Protestant Chapel, or had it performed in \ her own house.. This rule she observed while at Genoa, but relinquished it soon after Bergarni came into her service. How is this fact. to be accounted for, unless your Lordships suppose an influence arising, from criminal Connexion. The Princess had taken into her service, and placed. in various situations not less than ten of Bergami's relations. This, coupled with all the other circuiristances, is a strong and almost convincingproof :of guilt. I Iplow it has been said, that these facts are to be proved by Italian witnesses. I know a general cry has been raised against them. It has been said, that no depen dance is to be placed oh the- testimony of me nials and Italians. By what other witnesses could the factS alleged he proved.? Persons of rank and distinction could have had no oppor tunity of becoming acquainted with 'stfch'circum stances. lit most cases of - crimiiial conver sation it is impossible to bring forward other evidence. than that of servants. But how can her Majesty complain that the witnesses are Italian :—she who took this Bergami into her service—who heaped upon him' so many favours and honours—who, soon after her arrival in Italy, ceased almost to be an Englishwoman, and filled every situation in, het house and , about her person with Italian do mestics ? How can her Majesty,..after this, say, do not call Italian witnesses they are not to be believed., So, my Lords, a person as culpable a 4 the meanest wretch on the earth, may do what she pleases abroad, and-when coming before . art English Court of Justice, cries out you must re fuse receiving evidence of criminality ? But , will your Lordships receive such au argument ? lam satisfied you will not. You may, as Eng- lishmen, feel yor superiority over other nations; but you will not, therefore, refuse all credit to the witnesses because they happen to be foreign ers. Her Majesty, who caressed foreigners, who gave them the most distinguished places about her, must not now turn - round and say, foreigners are not to be credited against her. If any difficulty occurred on this point, her Majesty alone was to blame. But, however, that, I am sure, will not•operatc on your Lordships as to the witnesses not being seen abroad and in thb streets; he would to God it could have been otherwise. But the conduct exhibited on their arrival forbade it. I am isure, however, when the evidence is shown, the manly feelings of Englishmen will return, and the witnesses be allowed to walk when and . where they please. My Lords,' I now conclude.. If the facts I have stated be proved, your Lord ships will have but one duty to perform; you will discharge it 'with temper and discretion; you will come to your decision only on unexcep tionable dis'cretion ; you will scrutinize the tes timony, and view the case as affecting the public morals and' tranquillity of the country. I shall now, my Lords, proceed to call evidence to sub stantiate my charge." At twenty minutes after twelve, the Learned .ATTORNEY-GENERAL concluded his speech; and after a few minutes had elapsed, Lord,ErtsKlN'E said--" I wish to know what arrangements are made for the attendanceitof wit nesses Is it to be so ordered that we can re-call them, if it should be found necessary, or how are they to be forthcoming ? Their presence may be found absolutely necessary.'.' The LORD CIIINCELLOII.—" It is competent to your Lordships to put questions on this case before its conclusion. The witnesses, after being called and examined, may be re-examined. And I now therefore move the usual order, That the witnesses do attend from day to day till further orders." Lord KING.—I wish to know, that if in the event of the witnesses prevaricating, or giving', false testimony if they can be punished other.- , I Teat Th . Gene SU RD] ' fl ty h "a n th e 13, 111, - " lsi 1„ t t„, N„I