The Sun.
London, England, 1822-07-16 00:00:00

GREEK HOSTAGES.

Earl GROSVENOR seeing a Noble Earl in his place
(the Earl of Liverpool), wished to know whether he would
have any objection to an Address being moved to his Majesty,
requesting that he would order copies or extracts of dispatches,
received from the British Ambassador at Constantinople, rela-
tive to the execution of the Greek hostages in that city, to be
laid before the House ? . .

The Earl of LIVERPOOL conceived that the motion was
of too much importance pot to require some previous notice.
Earl GROSVENOR 'then. was understood to say, that It,
should move such an Address on Wednesday next.
The Loan Bill, the Charge of Pensions' Bill, and the Excise
Licenses' Bill, were read a third time and passed.
TRADE WITH SOUTH AMERICA. _ _

The Marquis of LANSDOWNE had been prevented by
the illness of the Noble Earl opposite, from putting to him the
questions of which he had given notice, respecting the relations
now existing between this Country and the independent States
of South America. What had since occurred had shown him
that it was important for the interests of trade that he should
obtain some information on the subject. Their Lordships
must know, that a British vessel engaged in carrying on trade
between one of the independent South American States and our
Colonies' had been captured by a Spanish ship, carried to a
Spanish colony, and there condemned under the laws of Old
Spain. It was, therefore, important to know whether his Ma-
jesty's Government intended to do that which the whole world
would approve, namely, to recognise openly the independence
of those States, or whether the relations which existed with
them were such as to induce it, without such a recognition, to
give protection to British vessels engaged in that Luna fide trade,
which was already highly beneficial, and was likely to become
still more so to this country. If any reasons existed to prevent
a direct recognition of the independence of these States, there
could be none after the abandonment of all claims by the
Government of Old Spain, and the transfer of the Spanish
vessels to the Independents by a regular convention, to with-
hold from vessels engaged in that trade the same. protection,
which would be granted to them if they were trading with an-
other power.
Earl LIVERPOOL stated, that when it had been heard that
the British ship, the Lord Collivwood,thad been captured by a
Spanish vessel, under the pretence of its having violated the
blockade, no time had been lost in demanding information
from the Spanish Government on the subject. Undoubtedly
had a blockade been declared, it ought to have been observed,
but in the present case no notification whatever of the exist-
ence of a blockade., had been received. The answer given
was, that the Spanish Government had received no informa-
tion whatever on the subject from South America, or from any
part of its own Colonies, but that inquiry should be made.—
Matters rested there till a copy of the Decree, ordering the
condemnation of the vessel, arrived. The first step then to
be taken was to ascertain the ground on which the con-
demnation was founded, and this appeared to be, not a
charge of violated blockade, or any informality in its papers,
but au assumption ofpiratical conduct on the part of the
Captain of the ship. No time was then lost in sending po..
sitive instructions to the British Minister in Spain, to demand
that -justice should be done, and that reparation should be
made to the owners of the 'vessel. With respect to the rela-
tions existing between this country and the South American
States, ever since the beginning of the contest in 1808 or
1809, England had enjoyed the benefit of a free trade
with South America. Explanations had taken place 'on this
subject between the English and Spanish Governments,
both during and after the war, and our mediation had seve-
ral times been fruitlessly offered. In all the communi-
cations which had passed between the two Governments it
had been always clearly understood, that the trade between
this country and the Spanish Colonies should not be interrupt-
ed, and that in any part where Spain might regain the supreme
command, the most complete protection should be granted to
British property, and the ancient Spanish colonial system
should not be resumed without giving us proper notice. In
consequence of the present situation of South America, an
important alteration had been made in our system towards the
States of, that country. Hitherto the trade with them could
only be carried on in British ships ; but by a clause inserted
in the Act lately passed for amending our Navigation Laws,
that trade might now be carried on in South American as well
as in English vessels, and the result was, that the inter-
course with those countries was now as lawful an intercourse
as that carried on with any other country. This was the
state in which our trade with South America at present
stood, and he admitted that it was the duty of his Majesty's Go-
vernment to_see that its benefits should be duly enjoyed. As
to any farther recognition of the independence of the South
American States, it was a question of great importance, in which
it was proper that his Majesty's Government should exercise
its discretion according to circumstances. It would not be
suited to the dignity and honour of this country to take such a
step without any communication with the Government of
Spain, and whatever negociations might now be carried on
with that Government, they were not in such a state as to autho-
rise him to make any communication on the subject to the
House. •

The Larquis of LANSDOWNE had hoped that if his Ma-
jesty's Ministers did not think . themselves justified in openly
recognising at once the independence of the South American
States, they would at least have engaged in the preliminary
steps necessary. to bring about such a recognition. But al-
though an admissio. that effect would have been more gra-
tifying to him, he was glad to learn that our trade with South
America was under the same protection as that with other
countries, and that in the case to which he had alluded, the
owners of the captured vessel were likely to obtain redress.—
He should submit to the Noble Earl whether it would not be
expedient that a copy of the communications and remonstrances
which had taken place on that subject should be laid on their
Lordships' table ?
Earl LIVERPOOL said, that a strong remonstrance had
undoubtedly been made to the Spanish Government, but was
understood to object to its production at present, as the commu-
nications had hitherto lea to no result, and the knowledge of
the fact that such a remonstrance had been wade, would be suf-
ficient to satisfy the public. With respect to the opening of
negociations with the Spanish Government, to attain its consent
to the recognition of the South American Independence' he had
not wished the Noble Marquis to understand that suchnegoci-
ations had not been opened, but that the result of the commu.
nications made was not in that state that would enable him to
lay it on their Lordships' table.
The Marquis of LANSDOWNE would not press for the
production of those communications, but would reserve to him•
self the right of asking some time hence what had been the result.