Star.
London, England, 1821-02-20 00:00:00

any part in the contest between the belligerent Powers. every endeavour should be exerted to effect an agree- 1
He confessed, there was much logical acuteness in ment in Parliament with the People on all great
this way of settling the question, and perhaps it questions of policy—(Hear, hear)—and to revive, if
inis4ht accord with \the notion of Lord Castlereagh, possible, mutual confidence between the Government
which he had spread throughout Europe—that what and the People, without which it would be in vain,
they had on paper, they had in truth; but was there in any case, to remonstrate; without which we could
nothing between man and man? No one could doubt have no strength, and could only degrade our chti-
tliat one great point in the Ways and Means of Aus- rector and expose our weakness to the world—(Hear).
ma was, that she had great Britain in her pocket!— Lord CALTIIORPE thought that pledges and
He could conceive some• Minister of some German security ought to have been given at the conclusion
Power, who -had received this paper of the Foreign of the war, and particular care taken to prevent such
Secretary, calculated to inspire so great a ieverence an interference as was now attempted by the Allied
for his talents, before it was published. He could Powers. Burdened as this country was with the
fancy that he saw that pleasant German face with a fruits of war, the fruits of peace ouslit to have been
smile on it, whilst perusing this unintelligible stuff, secured to her. The necessity, of a disavowal which
and deriving new comfort when he found by that the Circular proved, was evidence that sufficient
I able composition that there still was a " moral foresight had not been employed to prevent a misun-
strength" and a " physical power" in the Holy Al- derstanding-. He did not wish to speak harshly of
liance. In alluding to our foreign politics, he could Austria; but he thought it incumbent upon this
assure the House that he did not mean to disparage, country, looking to the commanding situation she
especially in the presence of the Noble Duke oppo- occupied in the world, to endeavour to restrain her
site (the Duke of Wellington), the feats achieved by from embarking upon those measures which her pre-
our armies abroad. Never, he believed, did any sol- sent distracting solicitudes for the welfare of Naples
diers contribute so much to the glory of a great were likely to engage her in—(A laugh and cheers).
country ! Money and character were necessary to Earl GREY replied. He was not satisfied with the
maintain our ascendancy on the Continent of Europe. explanation given by the Noble Earl. Had a strict
Character and influence had been at work to that neutrality been observed, he would not so much have
effect ever since the reign of Henry VIII. and aueen complained ; but in expressing disapprobation of the
Elizabeth. Queen Elizabeth, who for her extraordi- Revolution, at a moment when the effect of that was
nary wisdom and perception to her own interests, to strengthen and encourage the Allies to proceed
made her the greatest woman that ever interfered in against the country they threatened, was departing
politics, saw the use of keeping up her influence on from the strict neutrality which Ministers professed it
the Continent, which she accomplished by making was their intention to observe. If fair neutrality was
herself the rallying post of the Protestant Religion. intended, the usual friendly intercourse ought to have
The Carbonari, who had beets instrumental in the been maintitined. This, however, appeared to have
late Revolution, had their origin in the policy and ceased. He would now a±, whether Sir W. A'Court
measures of the Governments opposed to France.— was our accredited Minister to the Government of
They had their origin in secret Societies established Naples? 13ut if this were so, more was still wanting;
in most countries for the purpose of shaking off the it was necessary that an accredited Minister from
yoke of France. They were encouraged in Italy, he Naples should be hem. The Noble Earl said Count
believed, for that express purpose—and he believed. Ludolph was an accredited Minister fiord Naples.—
with the exception of Austria, there was not a Power, He wished to address the Crown, to communicate in-
including the Czar of Russia himself, that was not formation on this subject. He would ask if it were
desirous to give,his subjects a free Constitution. He nut notorious that Count Ludolph had been recalled
admitted that carehad been taken not to let the %tit- by the present Government of Naples, and that the
ferers imagine that the Government of England in- Prince Cimitile, sent to England as an accredited
terested itself too much in their affairs. Throughout Minister from the new Government, had not been
Italy, so far from its being supposed that the Go- ..received at this Court? This was a breach of
vernment of England interested itself for the People, friendly intercourse, which, if Naples were not a
it was generally believed (he hoped the idea was a weak State, would be resented as an insult on her
false one), that it was opposed to their wishes, and was character and independence. He wished, if this
quoted (he spoke from what he knew) as most ini- country were to be neutral, that an equal measure
mical to its own subjects, and to those of every other of her regard should be dealt out to both coun:
country. He would ask the Noble Lord what in- tries.—He then adverted to the difference of Naples
duced Austria to interfere on the occasion ? He and Sicily, and with reference to them remarked,
wopld ask if any man, who knew anything of, the that the utmost the Allies could have a right to
proceedings of that Power, could have the least do was, to take part with Sicily against Naples.—
doubt that the motives which swayed it on this mei. If the Carbonari were found actively spreading mis-,
sion sprung from an apprehension that the establish- chief and endangering the Governments of other coun-
ment of a free Government in the vicinity of her ter- tries, the utmost the Allies could in reason demand
ritory would be likely to endanger her dominions, would be security against the continuance of these
from the aversion it was calculated to inspire, for the practices. The sects described under that name had.
yoke under which her subjects in Italy now groaned ? probably sprung up during a period of general op-
, That there was reason for such an alarm he mould pression ; it was, however, little likely, that they cor-
not deny. The principles on which the Au.trian Go- responded with the malcontents of other countries,
vernment acted, though, in his opinion, an internal after the circumstances which called them into
and a diabolical principle, he must still admit to be existence had ceased; and still less likely was it that
consistent and rational. This was his sincere opinion, they were encouraged by the Government, which
for unless Austria changed the system of her Govern- was the only case that could prove a right to inter-
ment in Italy, he, in the event of a tree Government fere on the part of the Allies. Ministers had said
being established in Naples, would not give five yews they were not called Upon to interfere, anal they
purchase for the peace of her dominions. As a spec- wished not to prejudgethe question. He would ask,
tator and a citizen of the world, he rejoiced in this if this was tot a questie'i closely connected with dill
prospect. But he would say to Austria, " Avett the law of nations and those principles on which the
impending evil, by improving the condition of your peace of Europe must depend? If, then, Ministers
own people, and not by making that of others worse would not now prejudge the question, when were
than it would otherwise be." The Noble Lord con- they ever to judge of it at all? He would say, that
eluded by expressing his ardent and confident hope, when the question first came before them, that was
that those who attempted to stop the tide of freedom the time when they ought to have judged of it. When
and improvement, which had set in so strongly and were they to judge of it now ? After Austria had over-
so auspiciously, would themselves be overwhelmed run Naples? After the violation of public law had
in the torrent—(Hear, heat-)—and that the spirit been committed? After all was over, then were they
which manifested so many auspicious indications of to judge what was proper to be done, instead of coming
its soundness and strength, a null fully accomplish forward in the first instance to prevent a scandalous
its object, by renovating corrupted States, anti esta- violation of public law, as the Noble Earl admitted
bushing the liberty and security of rations—(Hear). it would be, if unaccompanied by those circumstances
' Lord ELLENBOROUGH said, that having con- which seemed to justify it in the present case?—
sidered the speech of the Noble Earl (Liverpool) op- Here, however, the Noble Earl, not to prejudge the
posite, and the conduct of Ministers, he was of a dit- question, was to sit still, with his hands behind him,
ferent opinion from the Noble Baron who had last till all the mischief was done. This was the picture
spoken. He thought the Circular cot only justified of.the miserable policy by which this country was to
but beneficial. He regretted that the authority of be degraded. With respect to the change of Govern-
the Noble Lnrd had been given to a revolution meta at Naples, it was to be remembered that the Go-
brought about by the military: We ought to have vernment had continued to be administered in the
protested against such a revolution, because a Go- name of the Sovereign, and therefore the change did
vernment established by the military had no secu- not disqualify us from continuing a friendly inter-
rity. The Government of Naples had been for the course. If he recollected right, it was England that
last few years as mild as its Constitution admitted, had first set the example of placing the Vicar-Gene-
though he had himself occasion to see that the Go ral in the place of the King, when a Constitution was
vernment was bad. Had there not been an eztraor- given to Sicily from this country by Lord William
dinary coincidence in the time of the revolution and Bentinck. The King of Naples at that time objected
the return of the heir apparent from Sicily, who had to the Constitution proposed, and so the Vicar-Ge-
been since at the head of the Government? From this neral was named in his place, to get over the diffi-
the Noble Lord contended that Naples did not con- culty. If these exceptions were to be taken, it was
time under the same Sovereign. The disapproba- but fitting that they should be taken fairly. He
tion of this country' would have been beneficial, by was prepared to admit, that when a Government
inducing Naples to shew that, however impure the like that of England remonstrated With foreign
source of its Government might be, it was fitted for Powers, it ought to be prepared, in possible cases,
the ordinary relations between State and State. The to support its remonstrances by force of arms.—
presence of a British fleet, his Lordship argued, was It was for those who were for ever talking of the
necessary for the protection of British interests and successful termination of the late war—who contended.
property. He agreed with the Noble Earl (Grey) that the country never stood so high as at present—
that the principles of the Allies were odious and in- who told them every day, that, through the policy
consistent with the independence of any State. They Ministers bad pursued, the influence of England was
Were founded on the monstrous idea that Govern- more universally acknowledged in every Court of
meats were not to be conducted-for the benefit of the Europe than ever it had been before—it was for those
governed, but according to the interest alid pleasure who held this language to explain hoW it was that our
of the Governors. Our refusal to join had disarmed power had declined, till we were so miserably re-
the alliance of onedialf of its force in the very outset. duceds that we had no longer the ability to support,
Austria could only direct its efforts to the putting with arms, the remonstrances we might feel it our
,down of the sect of the Carbonari, and deiCand only duty to make—(llear, hear).—Unhappily, even since
that the government of Naples should not be in their the commencement of this debate, he had learnt, from
hands. fhe Noble Lord (Holland) might write a a quarter to which lie could not but give credit, that
remonstrance with the most classical put ity of style, the turn things would take was no longer doubtful,
but it would have no effect unless written with the but that the die was cast--(Hear).—He had learnt,
sword. Foreign Powers were not ignorant that our from a source which made it impossible to doubt the
distress and inability to go to war had arisen from 1 information, that the Austrian army had already
our warlike exeutidris, and they would therefore neg-
,' passed the Po, and was advancing upon Naples in
feet any remonstrance on our part. The less we three separate columns—(llear, hear).—The King of
said and did the better, unless we were prepared to' Naples had published a Proclamation,- ordering his
take a decided part. Feeling, as he did, the distresses subjects to receive the Austrians as friends, dissolv-
and complaints of the People; feeling that the confi- ing the Parliament, and promising to give the Nea-
deuce of the People had been one of the great means politans a Constitution on his return!—(Hcar, hear.)
of our influence before in Europe, his most anxious Such was the result of the journey of a Monarch,
wish *as, that every attention should be paid by whom it had been thought proper to treat as if he
Parliament I t
to the complaints of the People; that were in a state of restraint and compulsion while he