The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1821-06-08 00:00:00

w owing, was sent tu ••..,-.._
Corfu and a Member of the Legislative Assembly
aidered to stand his trial for hif,ot treason. The
Moo. Gentleman then recapitulated his various
statements and complaints against the Goierntnent
of the island. The monopoly of grail' under the
all-powerful management of Colonel Robinson, the
enormous increase of salt, and the employment of
foreigners, were grievances which weighed very heavily
on the people. A system of espionage bad been
established little better than in the time of Bonaparte;
taxation had increased to an enormous amount ;
Leigi/. was paid in salaries to inspectors and
clerks, the creatures of Sir Thomas Maitland. He
was paid himself 10,0001. a year, 5,000/. of this
fur bring Governor of Malta, although he was only
there a month, and his absence was very much
complained of. He was sorry •to feel obliged to
speak of Sir Thomas Maitland hi the manlier he
had done, hut, public justice anti a sense of his
duly demanded it. Of his private character he
arid nothing, but hie pahlic codtiuct was open to
sunned versioti.—( Hear, henr.)—The Honourable
Gentleman concluded by moving,
" That •• humble battery, be presented to his Majesty,
praying that be would be graciously pleased to •ppoint •
.Commissiti In proceed to the looms Weeds, to inquire
into the state of tbeGoeernmeol there, the conduct of Sir T.
Maitland, as Lord High Commissioner, the causes of the dia-
turbasices that bad lately taken place, and the
bad followed."

• Mr.-Goueettam hoped the House would make
-allowances for a person in an official situation, call-
ed• upon to answer such numerous charges upon
the uncertain notice that had been given. On
these swbjects he found himself unable to cope with
the Hon. Gentleman (Jr. Hume), for this was
the third time he had come down and repeated
the same • charges, which he (flr. Gouthurii)
thought he had answered to the satisfaction of the
House, to which he had now superadded charges
against hith, namely, of a disposition to quibble
and conceal facts from the House which had come
to Ins notice. He bad commenced with the Treaty
of Paris, which was the basis of the coustiteition
of the lonian Islands, and was tae instrument by
which the conduct of the Government was to be
judged, and before the Hon. Gentleman had
brought forward these accusations. it might have
been well if he had read some of the terms of this
Treaty. The Hon. Gentleman then ieeil au ex-
tract from tile Treaty, to shew that it was the in-
tention to establish a constitution under the Ali-.
fish Government, upon the principles which had
been before established; but fie denied it ever was
the intention to make it 'as free as the Clover ttttt eet
of this country. And here he should say, that
although we might be able here to see the defects
of their constitution, it by turmerns followed that
if we tranepkented our contritution there it would
immediately remedy these defects. It was with
states as with men ; its their infancy they
required restraint and (-Genital, and when
they were more matured, they had capacities to
enjoy and sppreenste their freedom.—( Hear, hear.)
Ile *drained that if the mode of electing the
members of the Legislative Body here and there
were compared, it was essentially diflCreirt, but that
was uo ground of imputation on Sir Thomas Wait.
. Feud. The Hon. Gentleman hied attacked some in-
dividuals by name, and he had stated that one was
notorious for. his hostility to Bonaparte; the fair
• inference is be•druwia from that was, that he enter.
. trained opittions comonent to the feelingrof English.
meth He advised the Hen. Gentlenum to compere
the mode of election not with any other country,
but . with that which they bad under the
Russ an Government, and •he • would •soon see
that that which they had under the • British
Government was the preferable mode ; and again,
the powers of the Lord High Commissioner is
compared with those of the Plenipoteutiary of the
former protecting Power. large theiugh they were,
he would Iliad them sink to nothitig in the com-
parison. At all events, those power* were defined,
which would be allowed by all who knew any thing
of government, to be a principle of control most
-esseutsal to freedom. The Hon. Member had en-
larged on the case of M. Mariiiiengo. That person
was eentenced to death; and the lion. Member,
found matter of complaint in his intinsliment bee
isig commuted to one year's close confinement,
and eight' years in irons. This punishment
was less than the Hortourable Gentleman oppo-
site desired to see ioflicted ou persons convicted
in this country of forgery, and surely it would
not be imputed to • Sir Thomas Maitland as
$ crime that he had so •comintried it. The Hon.
Member disclaimed any personal reflections on
that officer, but:he had not acted np whit decla-
ration, for he was not content with imputing acts
to Sir Thomas Maitland which took piece *halo
he was resident un the island, hut hod charged him
also with transactions occurring in his erecter. and
of which he afterwards disapproved. If there were
any blame for the proceedings at Santa Mauna,
it could not attach to Sit Thomas Maitland,
fur be was not there at the time. not that lie
meant to allow there was any ground of
blame at all, the part which Sir Frederick Adam
bore there was the only our which a British Officer
could here performed consistently with honour awl
liumaiuty. He hoped Hon. Members who heard
him bad read the letter of Sir V. Adam, which am
yesterday laid on the table ; that alone would, be
Was assured, be a -sufficient answer to uuy sugges.
tioa to his prejudice, though to dome whe knew'
him it was sionecessary, as he had too high a cha-
racter to give ground of suspicion that lie would
linellantself to any false statement, and besides, st
the time there was no motive for ins • tending
laity hat a true account of the transaction.--
The Hotiourable Member (Mr. flume) bad
charged hint -(l4r. Goulbetio) with fulseleateenente,
but be would reaffirm what he had before stated,
that the insurrection at Saute Moore was occasioned
br the dread which the asilithr hid of being sent to
the West Indite. There wee no desire•whatever to
act against those poor people, but. on the contrary,
evety forbearance was exercised towards them.—
They had as staled iu fever with arms in tngiF

- sokli lei/ Milker Ilegmi . - What- . --
and afterwards only four individuals, who had been
the ringleaderi, were executed, and their property
conliscuted. The Hon. Gentleman complained
because lie (Mr. Goulburn) had not furnished
him with a return of the killed and woutideds
but in a popular dirturbance that was obviously
impossible. From the best information (that of
respectable persons on the spot), he could state
that the total was not more then fifteeu or twenty
persona killed and wounded ; but that information,
though he believed it to be correct, lie could not
embody in a formal return. He had before denied
that Sir T. Maitland wished to confiscate the pro-
perty of the church to swell the revenues of the
island, and he denied it still—the intention was, to
rescue that property from those who bad im-
properly obtained it, and restore it to the
church to which it rightfully belonged. The Ho-
nourable Gentleman had referred to the case of
Aleiisundro Bartaglio, which came before the Court
there, and the questiou turned on the operation to
be given to so old Venetian law. A division arose
between the Jedges, end two voted one way atid
two the other. Here be begged the Houle to ob-
serve the inconsistency of the lion. Member's.
stetements and inferences : whilst lie accused Sir
T. Maitland of exercising ouch a predorninetiog
and tyrannical influence that no sentence of a
Court of Justice could be obtained contrary to
his wishes, yet on this questiou, about which, ac-
cording to the Hum. Member, he moat be knows to
feel great interest, the Judges were divided iu
opinion. It was afterwards referred to Sir Thomas
•Maitland, and in the decision which lie was corn•
pelted to come to dine could no imputation be
Ilsed, whether that decision was or was riot coned
' inn p . t of law. He denied that the disturbances
at Zente or Santa Mauna were occasioned by the
decrees of the Government. The Honourable
Member (Mr. Hume) objected to the arrest
of Martiiitogo on two grounds :—first, that it
was uusutleiritied by the law of the States ;
-sod secondly, that his treatment was deficient in
that regard which Sir Timms. Maitland ought to
' 'have paid to 'Gentleman of his high considerstien.
The lion. Member went much at length on both
' these penile; on the ti:st contending, that as by
one article of the Constitution all those powers
which had heeu enjoyed by the Venetian Govern.
anent, under the head of high police, were reserved
to the Lord nigh Commissioner, the proceedings
taken against Martitiengo were fully justified. It
i should be remembered, that that iudividual pro-
tested against the triboruil appointed to try him
eltugether on different grounds ; namely. that be
kid petiliourid the King of England, and claimed
not to be tried till that answer were received ;
' but shit deka could not possibly be granted.with-
oot overturning the whole criminal jurisprudence of
the country. The Tribunal proceeded on the evi-
deuce for the prosecution, sod possibly much of the
Iseitilit of pinvielinrent was • to be attributed to the
!taut of a defence which he had it in his power to
acike if he had choseu, but which, us he refused.
be left the Court the bard task of proceeding to
udgment on the evideace'whieb had been laid be-
im them, With. respeckto the second point, the
/Mesh ttrogment of Martineogo: he was not con-
fined clonty,..bal permitted to take exercise daily,
• accompanied by a military oflicer. lie admitted
that he was riot permitted to correspond wire-
, atesieedly with his (ritual'', on account of a dis-
position he had sliewn to tamper with the au-
thorities. Again, it was stated es a hardship,
that.be should be confided to one udvocute; but it
*elite role of the Court to allow only one advp-
; hahe for the prosectilipar, mid there could be no
hardship in allowing oue only far the prisoner,
more particularly so he was not limited to oue ad-
aerate, though only oue could be allowed to plrad
for him. He instanced the indulgent conduct of
the Court to another prisoner, named Pater,
who way arrested with Mortineugo, as a proof
of the disposition of the Court to afford every
fticilite to them fur their defence. lie denied
that the island of Santa Mama, where &farti-
near° was confined, was particularly unhealthy ;
on the contrary, with the exception of Cerigo,
it was the most healthy climate of all the lonian
islands. Mr. Goulburn then proceeded to vindi-
cate Sir Thomas Maitland from soy imputation
with respect to the conduct pursued towards Signor
Flatoheriani. That person had libelled the Legisla-
tive eteenobly, charging them in a printed petition
to the King, which he published, with venality and
cerruptiou, for which he was expelled by that
Assembly, who afterwards Instituted proceedings
spinet Lim for,. -perjury. The Honourable
Member justified hip former statements as to
1111 g Islay of the [.ord High Coausissiouer ;
and defeassied the monopoly of grain as necessary
to preserve the islands from famine. lie would
not reply to the personal imputatious which the
Hon. limber had cast Olson Sir Thomas %tit-
letd. 1/s, chersieter amid derive no additional
Notre from. any thing which he could. state; all
therefore that lie should say. was, *het the whole
of the -charges against him were totally devoid of
foundation. The Hon. Member (Mr. flume) might
;whir io his reply bring forward fresh uccusations,
as he wet iu the habit of doing, or the accounts
published iu the daily press to-morrow might ma-
ntis stateanente on one side without the counter-
acting:lents of-the other side ;. but let the Hon.
Member's conduct be what it might, be thought
he hail Mid eueeigh to convince the House that the
CeMPlatute against the Gallant Oliver ware nothing
-mute then the malignant spirit of eal umny, which at-
tended on all eminent persons, or the consequence
of the hatred of those who folded his power or
were desirous of paitakiag or it-
Mr. BENNETT referred to the Treaty by which
. the locator Ulm& were to be considered am s free
mud independeut State, though the Hon. Geotle-
tuao (Mr. Goulburn) had argued as if that Treaty
tweets only intended to revive the old tyranny of
att„.:Yetteliso Goyim:meal. - The constitution
they hind gives to the loMan Islands
well to the eye, bat it was of no sub.

something like the
the late Goren 4
d had upif 4.sf, )
)pposite • w
I the riddle' Siab...
imoirst. He, for one, would
would not recommend it
r any country as it was now
rpt red to him that .the Lord High
Commissioner took his rule of government Isom
the burgh of Dunbar, and wished to make the
loniuu Isbirids • family burgh, according to 44e
fashion of Scotland. The Hon. Gentleman than
alluded to the absurdity of a Captain of Marine*
having the inspection of the church and the •Ir.,
',ointment of its abbots. He was ready to stlmit,
the Commissioner wished to retrace his steps; but
that was nut sufficient to stop inquiry. After seve-
ral other observations, lie concluded by observing
it was absolutely necessary that the power of the
Lord High Commissioner should he controlled,
and cease to be under the law of one man.

In. it.•'

Mr. EVANS supported the motion for inquiry,
as the power of Sir Thomas Maitland could nut be
&filled, if lie had the power of arresting and im-
prisoning as lie pleased,
Mr. E. F. MAITLAND, in a speech of some
length, defended the conduct of Sir Thomas Man-
toed, mid observed, if the law of Venice was the
law of the lonian Islands, the Lord High Com-
missioner was bound to carry it into effect. He
was far from sling or upholding that such • law
should be continued in any place where Great
Britian had the control; but the fault of the law
being that of the lonian Islands belonged to the
Government at lionie,and not to the Commissioner.
If the inquiry went merely as to the conduct of
Sir Thomas Muiditid, he would vote fur it, but
when it went to make him ancwerahle for the laws
lie administered in his high office lie would protest
egeimit it.
Mr. BROUGHAM begged to be understood as
not wishing to attach any blame to Sir Thoinas
Maitland in any thing that might fall from him ;
but he had heard enough of what his fellow-sub-
jects in the lonian Islands were suffering, told lie
had to thank God that the same sufferings were not
experienced by any other place attached to the elll
pire. What particularly struck hum was the case of
M. Martinengo, and the charge that was brought
against that individual no one could find out. It
was, that he was charged with c • a and offences
against the State as principal actor. Here, mid
the Hon. and Learned Gentleman, one would have
expected to lean the nature of his crime, but not
a word of it was staled. The charge goes on to
slate that he was principal or accessary in the offeucc
which took dace at the island of Zinte in the
mouth of July last, or with having riegjected to
give notice to the Government of the same when it
came to his kuowledge, and of limit% scattered
discontent and suspicion by seditious means. The
offence was carefully wrapped up, although there
were allegations sufficient. He would then ask,
what was the crime ? Acccording to this record,
every lawyer would answer, None; but the punish-
ment was every.thing. Was
_it to be borne that Otrii
should be put on their trial for en indefiiiitentfenre ?
It might certaially be the lee of Venice, and the
galling officer (Sir Thomas Maitland) might be
vetted with the power of the Doge of Venice; but
if it was so, it ought to be known to
.that Houio—
as they might, by the legitimate power they pos-
sessed over the Servauts of the Crown, obtain re-
dress fat the sufferers. He offered no charge against
Sir Thomas Maitland ; he acted according to the
Venetian law, and lie believed by his official duty
lie was bound to Jo so. He would repeat, his ob-
jections were not to the UM4I, but to the system,
to the state of the law which prevailed there ; a
law inconsistent with justice, and which it was
tilting that Parliament should abrogate as speedily
ua possible.
Sir K. Mums said. that lie heard sufficient
that night no convince him that there was, he would
not say ground for stir proceeding to criminate
or involving censure on Sir Thomas Maitland, but
the strongest ground for inquiring Muslim system
of WIN winch prevailed in the lonian Wends, and
if lie were in the situation of Sir T. Maitland,
he should feel most anxious for the clearing of his
own character in the eyes of this country and of all
Europe, that such inquiry should take place. Ile
was aware that the iuhabitaiits of those islands might
be found difficult to govern, more particularly on
account of the difference of religion ; but whatever
their conduct might be, whether correct -or other-
wise, they were entitled to justice, and had a right
to demand it of the protecting power, Th, m*,
Secretary of State had stated that it was not the in-
tention of the Treaty of Paris to give the Egllish
constitution to the inhabitants of the lonian Islands ;
he (Sir K. Wilson) firmly believed it was not,
for lie believed that it was not the intention of the
framers of that Treaty to give freedom tither to
them or to any other people whatever.

. •
Mr. MONET admitted that much good might re-
sult from a revision of the laws of the lonian Islands ;
but be contended thin Sir Thiamin Maitland, acting
only as the agent of this Government, which was
merely a protecting power, was bound to admi-
nister the laws as he there found them.

The Marquis of LONDON DERRY said, the ques-
tion had been much narrowed by the Honourable
and Learned Gentleman cad the gallant Officer,
whose observations were directed solely to the aye.
tern of government prevailing io the lonian Islands,
and not to the particular conduct of the individual
by ilium that Government was administered. It
was unnecessary for him to enter into the defence
of Sir I'. Maitland, which had been alveady so ably
and completely established by his Honourable
Friend near hint (Mr. Goulburn); therefore is the
few observations he had to make he should conaue
himself to what had fallen from the Hon. mid
Learned Gentleman' who had taken a scope of
argument to which he (the Marquis of London-
den) could by no means anent when he supposed
that the lonian Islands were in any wanner to be
regarded u a colony of this camas! He was
ready to admit that these did exist w the proteetiug
power invested in this country loch en authorities
enabled her to watch over the interests of than re-
public; and where there esiated a ease sieetti
enough to call for its interference, that it might be
proper that it should exert its in forum to effect such
• change in arty pert of the system of govern.
went there prevailing at that eircurnstenCee might

of the first men in the country, sixty-six ears of bands, and though the first, the natural suggestion stance ; it was so'
age, witbo t crime or fault, was treat • , ~ . . .uld be, to re . • by tot* y thAtilitary ti. - . i .3, the
manner h e' . I eed hp u I,• "ro. er had se. _.. j,lw . 0 ' lied
the Coven :•711 .4. 4 _ 4„,,,......8.,,,,. 11, . : .' i II It" r • • the
three year . olpan •ba
r
/g/ . .
, cer of over - ill 'lc t 1
•• ' the day - 11" ,_. n .1, i •D. L•
i Mb 1 e
I , I ' 1 ' .. an opi
- ••ly in
they li,. - o 114110 Ishatoptit o - ..
they thought -he should submit to • dr_ • . Ire an order was - • at Corfui remove the regimen the false of Cowl
compromise. A*Petition was signed by some's/ of militia, an. was only after the insurgents had answer no, as he
.the *test etapeetable men on his behalf, -anstrsignhe burst into the town; eftlrria lirel• -See -piff enirlp . be. sdojrtat'*--.
Rossi, for so doing, was sent to be imprisoned in that the tollitery officer illeputtsiallt agrismitilten.o formed. It appearet
_ .