The Sun.
London, England, 1835-01-14 00:00:00

SIR ROBERT PEEL AT ROME.

(FROM A MORNING COTEMPORARY.)
During the interregnum of above three weeks, during which
the Duke of Wellington concentrated in his own person all
the powers of the State and all the responsibilities which the
Constitution had divided between several Ministers, Sir Ro-
bert Peel shared with " His Highness" the attention of Eu-
rope, because it was professedly on account of the Right Hon.
Baronet that the constitutional government of so many mil-
lions of people was suspended, and a Dictator named by the
King. It is known in every part of Europe that Sir Robert
Peel was found by the Dictator's messenger at Rome ; and
the great empire which he has been called upon to govern
will be startled, though perhaps not surprised, on learning
how the Right Honourable Gentleman was employed
during his sojourn in the Eternal City. Even before the
eyes of the nations were turned towards him by the alarm-
ing events in England, that employment was the subject of
general conversation in all the political circles at Rome, and
throughout Italy ; and of course it has since become much
more worthy of observation. A great portion of his time was
spent in the society of the notorious Prince Canosa, with
whom, it is said, he formed the closest political relations, for
the purpose, no doubt, of receiving lessons of political modera-
tion and liberality. Yes, Canosa, whose name is written in the
blood of so many unfortunate Neapolitans, and whose execrable
principles even the hated tyrant of the little Duchy of Modena
himself was unable to endure, shared more of the confidence
and society of Sir Robert Peel than any other political person-
age at Rome. Noscitur a sociis, is an old adage; and I ap-
prehend this fact is not much calculated to diminish the dis-
trust with which the people of Great Britain regard the acces-
sion of the Right Hon. Baronet to office.
You will find in "La Sun ia del generale di Genio Pietro
Colletta dal 1730 al 1825," a brief history of the life of the
monster. Canosa, the political friend and associate of your Mi-
nister. You will there see, that after a series of the most
horrible intrigues and machinations, he was appointed Mi-
nister of Police in Naples in 1816. In that capacity he put
arms secretly into the hands of the Calderari, a set of fiends
composed principally of convicted murderers and assassins,
liberated fcr the express prrose of assassinating the Car-
bonari, or Liberals. He became the chief and commander of
that diabolical sect, for whom there ,is no parallel to be found
in ancient or modern times, and by their agency filled the
kingdom of Naples with blood and carnage. The
King himself, alarmed by the fury of his Minister, was
obliged to remove him from the kingdom. He retired
to Pisa until the fall of the constitution of 1820, when
he was again recalled, and reinstated as Minister of
Police. The King was induced again, by the indig-
nation of the people, to expel Canosa in 1822, al-
though he was such a favourite with the despot that he
loaded him with riches. He again repaired to Pisa ; but,
says the historian, " the hatred and the curses of the Neapoli-
tan people following him thither, he was obliged to remove to
Genoa. From this period (continues Pietro Colletta)nothing
is known of his life, but certain intrigues too base and de-
grading to be reported. Shortly after he went into the Duchy
of Modena, and, becoming the favourite of that Prince, lived
some time at his Court, and was the principal spring of the
intrigues and cruelty that oppressed this state." He has since
retired to Rome. The historian concludes his notice of the
monster in these words—" Canosa is the most detested man
in Italy. He is hated even by his partisans for his cruelty and
Janissary principles."
Such is the man chosen by Sir Robert Peel as his political
friend and associate 1 The picture is not coloured. It is
drawn by one who was entirely dependent on the friend and
master of Canosa. But when a Neapolitan wrote so much,
you may easily form an estimate of the monster's real cha-
racter. I can state from personal observation, that his very
name excites a feeling of horror in Naples.