Star.
London, England, 1818-06-02 00:00:00

DON DIEGO CORREA.

Lord MORPETH, on rising to present a Petition
from this person, related the proceedings which had
taken place respecting him, in 1614-1815, when his
case was advocated by, an Hon. Member, now no
more (Mr. Whitbread). He was one of the Patriot
Officers, who, on the return of Ferdinand, were de-
manded by his Government, and were surrendered
by the British authorities at Cadiz ; after which, he
and his companion were sentenced to ten years' im-
prisonment at Ceuta ; but in consequence of the re-
presentations of our Government, they were delive=
red up to us, and M. Correa had ever since resided
in England. It now appeared, that wishing, on ac-
count of ill healea, and for other reasons, to return to
Spain, he had so icited a passport from the Spanish
Consul in London, who had refused it, on the ground
that as he had been claimed by the British Govern-
mein, he had no longer any claims upon Spain. The
Petition, amongst other circumstances, contained a
prayer that the House would grant him such relief
as might enable him to subsist in this country till be
could return to Spain.
Lord CASTLEREAGH said he did not rile to op..'
pose the Petition ; but it was material that the
llouse should consider how they could interfere in
the prayer of such a Petition, if it was intended to
found any ulterior motion upon it. After detailing the
circumstances which had led to the petitioner's arri-
val in this country, where he was brought, at his own
desire, and free of expense, the Noble Lord said,
what he wished the House to understand was, that
tile petitioner had no claim on Government, which
ought not to be called on to recommend him to the
Crown. His conduct had been adverse to the Bri-
tish Government ; but as he had been delivered up
by a British Officer under an erroneous notion, Mini-
sters had thought it proper to interfere in his behalf;
bue they had never telt themselves called upon to do
more than erect his liberation.

Sir JAMES MACKINTOSH said, that having
taken an active part in this affair, at a former period,
he wished to make a single ohi,ervation. He had no
desire to revive the warmth of that discussion, or t'S
reflect on the memory oC the dead (alluding to the
late Briti,it Consul General of Cadiz). But even if
the Petition contained a prayer for pecuniary relief,
which he believed it would be found it did not, there
were still grievances stated in it which the House
might properly consider. The British Government
had thought itself bound in honoar to obtain the re-
lease of this Gentleman, and he was released accor-
dingly. But now the Consul of his nation informed
him that he was divested of the character of a Spa-
niard, and of all protection from his native Govern-
ment ; and this sentence was pronounced upon him
on account of our obtaining his release. Thus, he
belonged to no country, was the subject of no Power,
and was declared to have forfeited every privilege of
a Spaniard, if a Spaniard could be said to have any
privileges--(Latc,y.ter.)—lt was an act of ill will to
punish this individual, because he had applied for
our protection. In short, this unfortunate Gentleman
having suffered through the misconduct of a British
Officer, had an undoubted claim on the liberality and
generosity of the British nation.
Lord CASTLEREAGH, in reply, observed, that
his sentence had not been executed through our in.
terference, and he was consequently in a much bet-
ter situation than he had been. His egress from this
country was perfectly free, and the only utility of the
Spanish passport was to recommend him to the pro-
tection of other States. If he had not been arrested
at Gibraltar, he would probably have been now in a
Spaaish prison. Therefore, though we must lamer.t

. .
this has happened, yet the inconvenience he now suf.
fens is front the view his sown Governittent takes of
his conduct.

Sir JAMES MACKINTOSH repeated, that the
only reason Which appeased for the refusal of the
passport was, that he had been claimed by the Bri-
tish Government, and therefore could rink be consi-
dered under the protection of that of Spilt.

Mr. BROUGHAM wished to ask the Noble Lord
whether any efforts had been made to effect the res-
toration of those unhappy persons to liberty, who
had fought the battles of Ferdinand, and were now
confined in loathsome dungeons, almost in sight of a
British garrison? He should abstain from using any
severe epithets against that Monarch, as they were so
unpleasant to certain ears; but he wished to know
whether any remonstrances or appeals had been
made, and with what effect, to what, out of compli-
ment, he would call the liberal id enlightened po-
licy of the grateful Ferdinand ?—(Laughter.)
Lord CASTLEREAGH answered, that such re-
presentations had been made to as great an extent as
was prudent towards the individuals themselves. But
the ill juiged efforts and language of the Hon. Gen-
tleman might rather be expected to retard than
ob-
tain the object in view.
Mr. BROUGHAM replied that it was no fault of
' his if he had uttered what might be deemed bitter
sarcasm. The odious nature of the case qualified any
language that might have been used.
Mr. BENNET was of opinion that if such language
had not been used, no interference would have taken
place.
The SPEAKER said, with respect to the Petition,
it was quite unusual to bring up any Pe~•:ion pray-
ing for pecuniary relief without the previous consent
of the Crown. In this Petition the word money cer-
tainly was not mentioned, yet it came so near to a
prayer for pecuniary aid, that he begged to call the
attention of the House as to the difficulty of admit-
ting such a precedent. This being the first instance
of any thing running so very near the line of distinc-
tion, he hoped the Noble Lord (Morpeth) would not
take it ill of him, that he had endeavoured to call the
attention of the House to that part of the Petition.
The Petition was then brought up and read.--
After stating the sufferings of the Petitioner, as al-
ready described, it prayed for such relief as the House
might think fit, in consideration. of what he had en-
dured through the conduct of a British Officer, and
also to enable him to subsist while he remained in
this country.
On the question that the Petition do lie on the table,
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCIIEQU ER briefly
opposed the motion.
Lord COCHRANE apprehended that the House'
could not reject the Petition because it prayed for re •
lief. It was quite obvious that it could not receive
the sanction of Ministers, who would give no relief
to those who differed in opinion from them. He
hoped some Member in the next Parliament (and
this Parliament was, happily for the Nblic, near its
end) would relieve the people from some portion of
that oppression under which they now laboured.
Lord MORPETH then consented that the Peti •
tion should be withdrawn.

LAND TAX ASSESSMENT.
Mr. BROUGHAM, alluding to the conduct of the
Commissioners for the Land Tax in Westmoreland,
said, he held in his hand a paper which stated that
an order for the Assessment, dated the 23d of May,
signed and sealed by two Commissioners, by which
it appeared, that instead of holding their first meet-
ing on the day appointed, they issued an order, re-
quiring the assessment not to be made till the 27th
of June. Thus, supposing an Election to take place
in a few days, no voter could have his assessment
corrected, and be able to redeem his land tax, till
the assessment was made. The names of the Com-
missioners were ChristopberWilson and John Hudson.
The latter, who was a Vicar, and a very•respectable
man, it was very likely had been practised upon.—
He had been informed by a very respectable person,
that Vilson is Chairman of the principal Election
Committee in that part of the country on the l!elialf
of those who were to benefit by the delay in the as-
sessment. These were rather awkward coincidences ;
but having noticed this matter, and expressed his
opinion, and feeling confident that those Gentlemen
will not take on themselves to exercise a discretion
which may cause the disfranchisement of a large
body of Electors, he should trust to the effect which
this exposure would have, and was willing to hope
that what had happened had arisen from an over-
weening zeal in electioneering interests. But he ac-
quitted the Noble Lord and his colleagues of any
interference, if it were only from the circumstance
of its being a weak measure, calculated to do more
harm than good. He therefore trusted that no far-
ther notice would be taken, till he heard respecting
the Letter of Thompson, when he might deem it
necessary to offer a few more observations.

Lord LOWTHER believed this was the only in-
stance in the kingdom where the people, instead of
waiting for the .assessment, had come forward and
desired to be taxed. He defended the conduct of the
Commissioners, who in consequence of these applica-
tions had deemed it necessary to write to the Tax-
office for instructions. He proceeded to shew that
the delay arose from the difficulty of making the as-
sessments of land in extensive parishes, and the in-
quiries with the Tax-office. The Noble Lord con-
cluded with observing, that he believed the Honour-
able and Learned Gentleman had made an unjusti-
fiable use of Johnson's name.

Mr. BROUGHAM denied that he had passed the
smallest censure on Johnson. He had called him an
Election Agent, because he had called himself so.
His observation was on the Tax-eflice, and all he had
since heard had not removed his opinion that it was
indecent in that Board to recognise an Election Agent
in that capacity.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER con-
tended that the Tax•ofllce had done no more than
their duty. They were bound to give such informa-
tion when called for.

Mr. WYNNE was of the same opinion, and added,
that if they had withheld such information or created
any delay in affording it, they would have been
guilty of a gross dereliction of heir duty, and liable
to be brought to the Bar of the Ilouse, and punished
for it. Whether they had done so in this case would
be a subject of inquiry for an Election Committee,
if there were grounds for it. But the other case was
more important, though it waL quite impossible for

the House to investigate it at preinit% and therefore
the less that was said about k the bettei-:
Sir S. GRAHAM bore testimony to ihC Conur.i
goners in the part of the country in piestion heir
more active, and their assessments at this period
forward;"than those of any others in the kingdoi
Mr. WALDEGR AVE said, if the assessment
delayed, all those persons who were net proper]:
sessed would be disqualified in the event of an
tion.. He hoped the subject would be taken ul
anothei Parliament.—The conversation then drop

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Gentleman who had just sat down, on the fair and
liberal manar r in which he had discussed this mea-
sure. The present Bill had only been framed to meet
-a particular emergency, and had not been intended
to bring the whole Regency Question into discussion.
Had this been considered desirable, a more serious
consideration of the subject, and a wider range of
argument would have been necessary. Originally
it had been decided that no provision for the death of
his Royal Highness the Prince Regent should be
made. At so late a period of the Session he did not
think it could properly be brought forward, and the
measure now before them would provide the best
means for meeting such an event, if unfortunately
it should happen. Whenever the demise of the Crown
should take pace it would be proper that the Wind-
sor establihment should be considered, hut at pre-
sent every mind would revolt from effecting a saving
by diminishing that establishment. No undue lati-
tude had been taken on the present occasion, and to
him it appeared no objection could be fairly urged
against the Bill as it at present stood.
Sir SAMUEL ROMILLY thought it reasonable
that a new Parliament about to meet should assemble
to the exclusion of the old Parliament. He thought
the Windsor Establishment ought to be reviewed.
Mr. C. W. WYNNE approved of the provision
made against the demise of the Queen, which to him
appeared wise and proper.
The Bill was then read a second time.