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

THE GREEKS.

Sir JAMES MACKINTOSH said, he- rose to present a
Petition, which, though signed by few names, and of a novel
description, was entitled to the attention of the House, and
particularly of the Noble Marquis at the head of the Foreign
Department. The Petition was from some individuals at
Macclesfield, and couched in warm, but as regarded the House,
respectful language, in reference to the sufferings of the
Greeks.—(Hear!)—lt was in language of that kind in which
the feelings of mankind were usually expressed relative to such
transactions, and he was satisfied that the sentiments were such
as pervaded all classes of persons in his. Majesty's dominions,
and would be more generally expressed, wereit not for the diffi-
culty that existed of pointing out any praCtical effect to which
it might lead.—(Heai !)—The tientiments he willingly avowed
were his own, and although he could not but see that any in-
terruption at present of the general tranquillity of Europe, would
be a most unspeakable calamity to this country ; yet he thought
that a simultaneous effort of all the Governments of Europe in
favour of that oppressed nation, could not but ))e effectual.
What probability there might be of obtaining such a cam-
bination of the Governments of Europe for so excellent an
object, he must leave those who were better acquainted with
them to say ; but he would venture to assert, that a failure
in such a cause would be honourable to any Government who
should make the attempt.—(Hear, hear !)—Such an attempt
would be worthy of the Government of such a nation as this,
and it would be in the spirit of the ancient policy of this
country towards oppressed nations. Territorial security was
the only security that could be thought of for the Greeks ; for
even the despotic sway of the Turkish Divan would be unable
to
.secure from its barbarian subjects the observance of any sti-
pulated safety. The only way, then, was to give the Greeks
possession of their territory, with a guarantee from all the
Powers of Europe, without being affixed to the interests of any
one.—( Hear. hear !)
The Petition having been read,
Mr. HUME asked if it was true that refuge had been re-
fused the flying Greeks in the lonian Islands, seeking shelter
from their murderers ? He had received information to that
effect, from good authority ; but notwithstanding he had said,
and still thought, that the acts of the individual at the head of
those islands were contrary to the spirit of the British Consti-
tution, and notwithstanding all he had said of him, he amid
not believe that he could have issued an order so contra"' to
the principles of humanity. He had also heard that morning
of some individual, connected with the naval service of this
country, having gone out to assist the Turkish fleets. He
hoped this was not true, for it certainly was incumbent
upon his Majesty's Government to observe as strict vigilance
in this respect with reference to the oppressors, as they did
.towards the insurgents.
Mr. WILMOT said, he was utterly unaware of any measure
having. been taken by the Lord High Commissioner to repulse
the flying Greeks from the lonian Islands. There were acts
against their permanent residence, but he -did not suppose
these would be put in force in such a case. He certainly had
received no information up to that morning, to countenance
the sup Position that the Lord High Commissioner had issued
any orders contrary to the principles of humanity. With refer-
ence to the latter allusion in the speech of the Hon. Member
for Aberdeen, he could only say, in the absence of others more
competent, that there was an order of the Admiralty against

any thing of the kind which the Hon. Gentleman had stated to
have occurred.
Mr. C.-HUTCHINSON could not permit this oppOrtunity
to pass without expressing his horror at the conduct of his Ma-.
jesty's Government in not affording more protection to the
Greeks. He.considered war in the preSent state of this coun-
try as-the greatest calamity that could befal it except a peace
upon dishonourable terms, such as no great empire could long
exist under with the Maintenance of character. He gave great
credit to .his Majesty's Government for their exertions at Con
stantinople to maintain peace betwixt Russia and Turkey. But
if the object of these exertions were havoc on the one side, with
impunity to the otherehi proclaimed it conduendiegraceful and.
antischristian. He called upon his Majesty's Ministers to de
-
Clare upon their honour, whether the establishment of peace.
between Turkey and Russia left the Greeks open to massacre,
or if that hid been specially provided for. If not, he should,
say there-was no free spirit in that House; if it prorogued be-.
fore obtaining alemarantee in favour of that unfortunate people.
He would tell the people of this country, 'suffering as he knew
they were, that peace,under such circumstances was a disho-
nour tathem. He did not expect any thing from Ministers ;
he appealed to the people. He held the policy of Ministers
ever since the 'peace in abhorrence—they had Leen doing all
they could to violate the most sacred principles of right. He
appealed, therefore, not to them, but to men, such as the
Horiourable Member for Bramber (Mr. Wilberforce) opposite,
who Were not lost to every sense of religion and honour. The
despots of Europe he knew had succeeded every where but in
this country, in crushing the germs of. liberty. Ife was re-•'
joiced to see the struggles against tyranny making in Spain
and elsewhere ; and he hoped to see the tables' of both Houses.
loaded with petitions on this subject, to awake them from their
lethargy, and rouse them to exert their influence to check the
further effusion of human blooel.2..(fienr !)
Mr. WILBERFORCE having been applied to by the Hon,
Gentleman, begged to assure kith, that for the cause of the,
unhappy Greeks-, it was impossible that any one could feel
More warmly than himself.—(Hear !)—lndeed he ShOuld hope
that there could be but one feeling among generous and en-'
lightened and Christian minds on their behalf. It was, in '
truth; rather a disgrace to all the' powers of Europe, that long
ere now they had not made a simultaneous effort, and driven
back a nation of barbarians, the ancient and inveterate ene-
mies of Christianity and freedom, into Asia. He was a: all
times far, indeed, from advocating war (more especially where
to undertake it was to expose the resources and the welfare of
the State to imrninent hazard), unless indeed peace could only
be acquired at the price of disgraCe. and infamy. At the same
time he must declare that he knew of no case in which the
power' of a mighty country like England could be more nobly,
more generously, or more justifiably exerted than in rescuing
the Greeks from bondage and destruction.—( Hear !)
The Marltiis of LONDONDERRY protested against the
practice of entering into a discussion of so comprehensive a
question upon the occasion of a Petition being presentedee-.
He could not avoid, however, remarking on the readiness of
the greatest friends of peade in that House, at times to plunge
into the bloodiest wars. His Honourable Friend (Mr. Wile
berforce) had disclosed to them a problem to drive into
Asia the whole population of European Turkey, to the num,
ber of four or five millions of infidels. Those who knew
something of the character of these barbarians, might perhaps
think that they would not be disposed to yield willing obe-
dience to the mandate of European Sovereigns for their trans-
portation. After the bloody war they had seen terminated., if
such an attempt were made, their prospects of a long peace
would, he feared, be found premature. He should not,how-
ever, allow himself to be led into the-discussion of a question,.
which both politically or morally was as large, as any which
'could occu his mind. The House would do injustice to his
'M pyajesty's Ministers, if they supposed that their etibrts at Con-
stantinople were confined to prevent war between Turkey and
Russia.--(llear l)—He could not, 'however, coincide with the
Honourable Member's (Mr. Hutchinson) views relative to
the Management of the Foreign Department,and ,of the politics
of Europe. It must not be supposed that the barbarities of the
Turks were without parallel or provocation, and that nothing
was to be deplored in this war but their atrocities. The Greeks
were certainly making efforts to free themselves from that
thraldom under which their state could 'not but be that of
misery, and in the efforts to mitigate their sufferings by this
Government, it was. to be borne in mind, that the Rulers of
their enemies, the Turks, enormous as was their depotic
power, could not always put in execution what they were will-
ing to do, through the mass of prejudice 'and passion with which
they had to contend. But still the works of ferocity and cruelty
which had marked this war on the part of the Greeks, were of
the rnostpainful nature. It was not to be supposed that the
tide of barbarity flowed only in one direction. elf this country
were well enough to embark in a crusade to establish good
'order in that country, she whole power of Europe would not be
able to controul the effervescence of the elements of discord
that would be excited. Ile called upon Parliamentt6 keep its
mind temperate and cool on the question. They had done
much for thepeace of the world; and might rely upon it that
his Majesty's Government would do all they possibly could to
preserve the general tranquillity with the security of the Greeks
(Hear, hear'!)—=although they were not sanguine in their expec--
tations•of accomplishing the banishment of the population of
European Turkey into the Asiatic:provinces.
Sir ROBERT WILSON was convinced that the Greeks,
with proper assistance, might establish their emancipation. He
(toped, however, that orders would be given to maintain a fair
neutrality in the lonian Islands.
Lord A. HAMILTON observed, that if he hadrightly un-
derstood the Noble MarquiS to say, that the whole of the Holy
Alliance had not influence enough to procure from the 'Turkish
GovernMent the cessation of their atrocities, it followed of
course that the war between that power and the Greeks could
not stop till the annihilation of One or the other party. What-
ever the Noble Lord might intend with regard to the lonian
islands; he must say that he did not expect that a fair neus
trality would. be preserved.
Sir R. WILSON asked whether the same respect would be
paid to the Greek flag, as had been to the South American ?
The Marquis of LONDONDERRY said, that the regula-
tions for a rigid neutrality had been made with regard to the
lonian islands, and if the Noble Lord :opposite knew of any
circumstance of a contrary tendency, he hoped he would men-
tion it with a view to its being examined. He knew of no in.
terference that had taken place ivith regard to the Greek com-
mercial flag. Neutrality was also observed to armed vessels
of both powers.
The Petition was then ordered to be printed. _
, ALE AND BEER RETAIL BILL.

Mr. BERNAL presented two Petitions against this bill—
one from Boston, and the other from Warrington, in Lancashire.
Mr. WESTERN rose to present a variety of petitions against
the ale and beer bill from the publicans of almost every town in
the county of Essex.—(A laugh.)—He must, in the first place,
profess himself decidedly favourable to the bill, for the com-
mittee upon which he should certainly vote. At the same
time, he thought that the greatest care and attention should be
devoted to its enactments.
Mr. BROUGHAM observed, that these Petitions were all
from one description of persons—namel', licensed victuallers.
111 r. WESTERN—" And brewers."
Mr. BROUGHAM—" Oh ! and the brewers, of course ;
no doubt of that.''--(A laugh.)—With respect to these brewers,
he had no doubt that their signatures:were signed with their
own hands and with their own good will. With respect to the
names of the victuallers, he might be allowed to doubt whether
their names were signed by their own hands, or even by their
own consent. In support of this reasonable doubt, he begged
to read a letter from one of the most respectable victuallers in
the county, whose name it was not necessary to mention.' It
was to this effect—" I have just been waited on by one of the
brewers' clerks (the House would observe this was not one of
the three great brewers), and very much pressed by him to
sign a paper which he presented to me, telling me that it
would be much to my benefit," &c. Now, this brewer's
clerk left the writer of the letter to conjecture, it seemed,
what the purport of the Petition was, for he went on to
say, " Now I knew not what the purport of this paper might
be, and therefore 1 declined to sign it ; but I understand they
have signed my own name to it themselves. We brewers'
°licensed publicans, who are, as 'tis said, their property, are
very doubtful that the brewers are forcing their way, by peti.
tion, against a bill now depending in one of the Houses of Par-
liament, which, if carried, -will benefit us and the public very
-much." This letter wassubscribed with the sign of the writer's
inn, for the sake of identification ; and after this there followed
a note in these words :—" We-11:...g. to sign our names to this
letter, as under 'brewers, and we are very-anxious that thp mo-
nopoly of 'beer should be discontinued,in order that the public
may be supplied with a better article at a theaper rate." To
this note the several subscriptions and signs were affixed. The
Hon. and. Learned Gentleman then observed, that no oppor-
tunity could be more proper for acquainting the Rouse with

• the contents of this letter, than the presentation `
off' 61' these
petitions. •
The several petitions, being all of the same tenour, were,then
read : fonrwere :from the publicani of the county of Essex,
• and the others from thoSe of:Billericay, « altham, RuMford,
West Hain,-Chelmsford, Dunmow, Cplchester, and 11eptford.
Mr. WESTERN then presented aTetition agzkinst the 4igh.
gate Chael Bill ; it was from the_liontired of Hignote, con-
sisting of-the parishes of Hornsey, Islington, and St. Pancras.
Mr. .HCME presented a Petition from the Inhabitant
Housekeepers of Kensington, Chelsea; and the adjoiniu, disc
trict, complaining of the 'inadequacy of the present County
Court for the dispatch of business, and that the fees takenthere
Were double those prescribed by the Act of Parliament.
Mr. Serjeant ONSLOW presented Petitions from Wands-;
worth, Ripley, and Kingston-upon-Thames ; and
Mr. WODEHOLTSE another Petition from Bath, against
the Publicans' -LicenSing Bill.
After a few words from Mr. I3ncitrolmi, these petitions
were ordered to lie on the table, and to be printed.
Sir R. WILSON gave notice, that early in the next Session
the Member for •Cumberlrd woUld bring forward the case of
Colonel Wood.
IRISH CONSTABLES -BILL..

On the motion of Mr. Secretary PEEL, the Report- of the
Irish Constables Bill was taken into further consideration, and
agreed to, and the Bill ordered to be read a third ,time toj
morrow. • :