Star.
London, England, 1822-03-26 00:00:00

allied by the Nolge Lord opposite, why those claims
for conspensatios, and testimonials of sufferings were
not brought forward sooner? k was because ihe per-
secuted individual was on the desert shores of Egypt,
where he had been banished by his own Court. The
Noble Lord had last year jestingly spoken of the money
which had been paid, as if given to the mistress of
a French General. It should now be understood, that
Captain Romeo states that he escaped through the
influence of such a person, to whom that sum was
given by agreement for having procured his libera-
tion. An offer was, indeed, made of a passport to
Malta—be could not consider it as a matter of much
indulgence or liberality to give him permission to go
to Malta, and from there to let him find his way
home in the best manner he could. The persecution
of his own Government to Captain Romeo, the total
indifference to his sufferings on the part of ours, the
refusal to grant him an adequate compensation, was
only a part of the system adopted by the Holy Alli-
ance, which, if suffered still to extend without any
check or alteration, would eventually deluge Europe

with blood.
The Marquis of LONDONDERRY said he would
not go into a wide range of discussion on the present
question, or debate it on general principles. He
should make a few remarks only on the case of the
individual now brought forward. He was glad to
find, from the anxiety for the individual whose case
was before the House, evinced by the Honourable
Gentlemen opposite, that the character of a police
officer abroad was much more respected by them
than at home. Captain Romeo was one of that class
of persons. The services he had performed were
stated to have been made und. 1. the observation of
General Officers, by whose opinion the measure of
compensation was required to be allowed. He con-
sidered that the best authority on the subject was
that of Sir William A'Court, our Ambassador, who
had been twice referred to, and who had twice re-
ported that the statements of losses in the British ser-
vice, by Captain Romeo, were not founded in fact,
and that his expulsion was a punishment inflicted for
acts committed by him after our army had left Ca-
labria. Surely the House would agree in opinion,
that after the full investigation of our Ambassador,
nothing further was required to be done, and that
the Government were justified in acting on that
official Report. He could not think that a Commit-
tee of the House could have better opportunities of
judging on the question than our Minister at Naples.)
It was argued, that Lord William Bentinck had re-
commended the case of Captain Romeo. That No-
ble Lord had the entire controul of the Treasury-
chest at ihat time; if he thought proper, he had the
power of giving remuneration for service rendered
to our army. He had done so in all other cases, and
why should the present be the only exception ? He
did not wish to give pain to Captain Romeo, but he
could not see any justice in the claims now brought
forward. The Government could not give rewards
in solitary cases, or on any system which they could
not generalize. He did not consider that this ques-
tion was submitted at the proper time to the House,
or that the proofs which are relied on were brought
forward sufficiently early. It was an unpardonable
neglect on the part of Captain Romeo, and of those
who supported his claims. He hoped that the House
would be perfectly satisfied with the circumstances
that occurred since the arrival of that individual in
this country. With regard to the passport which is
complained of not being granted, he (the Marquis of
Londonderry) did not wish to compromise the Go-
vernment, by giving a passport untisn4l in all such
cases, one that was only granted to British subjects.
Mr. HUME said the Noble Marquis (London-
derry) had adopted a tone totally different from that
which be held last year. He was astonished to find
the Honourable Secretary (Mr. Goulburn) not giving
unqualified credit to the statements of General
Campbell. That gallant Officer says, that Ca; twin
Romeo, -and every other person who had rendered
service to the British Government, were persecuted.
The Ambassador at Naples (Sir William A'Court)
had promised protection to all those who had done
so. It was unjustifiable on the pair of the British
Government now to refuse compensation to a person
who had so severely suffered in their cause. Captain,
Romeo was useful in penetrating the plans of the
Queen of Naples to destroy the British influence; by
his exertions it was preserved. The Noble Marquis
had perverted the admission that a sum of money
was paid to the mistress of a French General: if that
money was paid as a ransom to escape from an im-
prisonment to which his exertions for us had con-
signed him, Captain Romeo was pei fcctly justified
in submitting it as a loss in our service, and in claim-
ing compensation for it. It was not fair to argue that
£5O a year, which he had received, was the remune-
ration awarded, as that sum was only granted at the
intercession of the Duke of Yolk, as an allowance
pending the investigation of his claims. Ile thought
it most unjust to deny him a British passport, which
he had reason to expect when he intended to proceed
to Naples. Captain Romeo had lost all his property,
and he (Mr. Hume) hoped, when all the circum-
stances of his case were considered, that Government
would pay proper attention to his just claims.
Mr. C. FORBES thought it by no means honour-
able to the character of the British Government that
any person to whom it had promised its protection
should now be suffered to starve in the streets. He
trusted that the mind of the poor individual in ques-
tion would be set at case upon one point in particu-
lar. He was now under momentary alarm of being
arrested under the Alien Act; for the police, about
a week ago, paid frequent visits to the wretched gar-
ret which lie occupied at a rent of four shillings per
week. He (Mr. Forbes) had endeavoured to assure
Captain Romeo that it was impossible he could be
arrested under the circumstances; however, that Gen-
tleman thought otherwise, and he still was uhder the
impression that it was intended to give him up to the
King of Sicily. Consider ink; the neglect with n hick
Captain Romeo was treated, he could not help stating
that a pension had lately been granted as a reward
for the services of a meritorious British Officer whose
claims were not stronger than those of the unfortu-
nate Gentleman to whom he adverted. lie would
not now name the person who had obtained the pen-
sion, but he pledged himself to afford an opportunity
of contradicting the fact, if it could be done. It was
talrnestly to be hoped that the Government' would
reconsider his case, and that the sum of 1:,50 a year
would be restoied to him, in comileration of which
he had been induced to accept LAW a
.leaa. At this