The Sun.
London, England, 1840-04-20 00:00:00

EVEN INur EDITION.

THE SULPHUR QUESTION.

The following clear and intelligible account of the dis-
pute between Great Britain and Naples on the question of
the Sulphur monopoly is copied from the casual corre-
spondence of a Tory Contemporary. It reflects great cre-
dit on Prince Cassaro, Ex-Minister for Foreign Affairs to
the King- of Naples, whose exile to Foggia, after the ve-
nerable man begged to be allowed to retire to Rome, will
disgrace the memory of his Royal Master:—
' The Sovereign of the Two Sicilies granted in June,
1838, a monopoly cf the whole of the sulphur trade in
Sicily to a French Company, in direct contravention of the
existing treaty with Great Britain that country remon-
strated, demanding the annulment of such monopoly.
Prince Cassaro, then Sicilian Minister of Foreign Affairs,
represented to the King the necessity, both for the good
of Sicily and to avoid a collision with England, of doing
away with the contract.
'• His Majesty in July, 1839, declared himself convinced
of the necessity, and commanded Prince Cassaro to assure
the British Charge d'Affaires at Naples, Mr. Kennedy,
that the monopoly should be abolished. This promise not
having been fulfilled, Mr. Macgregor was despatched by the
British Government, and reached Naples in September
last : this gentleman strenuously urged the immediate ful-
filment of the verbal promise made to Mr. Kennedy,
or at least that a written one should be given to him,
fixing tbe period when the monopoly should cease. The
King refused to allow Prince Cassaro to place the promise
on Asper, but authorised him to assure Mr. Macgregor, by
word of mouth, that the monopoly should cease on or be-
fore tbe Ist of January, 1840. This assurance was also
guaranteed to him by the Austrian Ambassador, and Mr.
Macgregor left Naples for England in the end of Novem-
ber last, having settled the articles of a treaty abolishing
the monopoly, and placing the trade between the two coun-
tries on a footing of reciprocity.
The evil genius of bad men, who surround the weak and
vacillating King, gained new courage en Mr. Macgregor's
departure. The Ist of January arrived, and the contract
remained existing in all its vigour. Mr. Kennedy con-
tinued his unavailing efforts to obtain the promised satis-
faction.

Finally, in February last, a strong note reached the
British mission from Lord Palmerston, calling on the
Neapolitan Government for the immediate dissolution of
the monoply, and full indemnity for all losses suffered and
to be sustained by British subjects trots' the beginning to
the and of the monopoly. This note having been communi-
cated to Prince Cassaro, and the substance of it made
known to the King, the Prince was desired to obtain the
favour of Mr. Kennedy's retiring the note for eight days,
in which time the Prince hoped the contract might be can-
celled. • _ __ _

On the 24th of February last a Council of State was
held on the subject, which having broken up without any
positive determination, Mr. Kennedy insisted on an imme-
diate promise in writing that the monopoly should be, with-
out more delay, put an end to, or he should send in to
Prince Cassaro the official note of Lord Palmerston, the
eight days having expired.
Prince Cassaro, on the 26th of February, obtained
orders from the King to inform Mr. Kennedy confiden-
tially, and officially in writing, that the monopoly should
be immediately abolished, commanding him to add, that
his Majesty did this in deference to Great Britain. The
note was transmitted to Mr. Kennedy the same day.
A few days afterwards Mr. Temple, the British
Minister, after eighteen months' absence in England, re-
turned to Naples, with full and strong instructions from
Lord Palmerston to insist on the immediate dissolution of
the monopoly, and indemnification for all losses.
Mr. Temple, while be informed Prince Cassaro
of the nature of his instructions, expressed great
surprise at the delay in executing the promise made
to Mr. Kennedy. The Prince was commanded by
the King to ask for eight days' delay. Finally,
these eight days having expired without any practical re-
sult, Mr. Temple sent in his note to Prince Cassaro ; and
on Sunday, the 16th of March, a Council of State was
assembled to decide on the nature of the answer to be
given to Great Britain. The King opened the discussion
by saying he would never consent to the demands made by
Great Britain, and that the monope.y was no int' ingemeni
of the Treaty of 1816. All the Ministers, excepting
Prince Cassaro, Marquis Pietrocatella, and some people
say the Marquis Del Caretto, lauded the magnanimous re-
solve of the young Sovereign.
The two first named Ministers humbly represented to
bis Majesty that the Royal word baying been officially
given to the British Government, the monopoly was done
away with, and his Majesty could not retract it without
compromising his honour and dignity.
The voices of the majority rendered these wise counsels
of no effect, A letter was dictated by the Sovereign,
which was to be signed by Prince Cassaro. and sent to 11r.
Temple. His Excgency respectfully informed His Ma-
jesty that His Majesty miett command him to make any
sacrifice, excepting that of his honour, which being com-
promised by the note written to Mr. Kennedy on the 26th
of February, by His Majesty's command, he could never
sign a note to Mr. Temple which was contrary to the sub-
stance of that sent to Mr. Kennedy, and, as his services
euuld not any longer be of use to his Sovereign, he prayed
His Majesty to accept his resignation.
The Council broke up. Two days afterwards the
'Prince sent his written resignation to the King. The
Sovereign insisted that the Prince should first sign and
Seal the note ; the Prince respectfully but firmly dared to
refcse, and on the 21st of March the proud Sovereign de-
creed the dismissal of his faithful servant, after having
served. lais.grandfather, father, and self, with fidelity and
zeal for upwards of 30 years.
Prince Cassaro has, since the publication of a most in-
ascreet circular from the Britisb Consul, been exiled to
Foggia under circumstances that would have added dis-
grace even to the infamous Joan of Naples. The pre-
tence was that he advocated and served the interests of
England, and not those of Naples, and having signed with
Mr. Macgregor a treaty in favour only of British trade.
These arc the facts as they stood up to the .sth of
this month at Naples, where the British steam-ship of war
Hydra had arrived, in order, as was supposed, to be ready
to take away Mr. Temple. The fleet was expected in a
few days from Malta.
Nothing but energy on the pact of England can bring
this deplorable state of things to a sati.Jactory or honour-
able adjustment, No " little war" will avail. Making a
few reprisals, which will contain cargoes Lelonging, not to
N,!apolitans, but to foreigners, and chiefly to British sub-
jects, will never bring the question to a conclusion, and
will only ruin individuals fur whom the King of Naples
feels neither sympathy nor interest.