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

SCOTCH LUNATIC ASYLUM BILL.

Lord BINNING moved the order of the day for
the second reading of the Sco*ch• Lunatic Asylum'
Bill, for the purpose of postponing it. He did not
repent having brought it forward, and thought it
probable he should again 'submit it to the House, in
the next Parliament, as he thought every one must
be convinced of the necessity which existed for
adopting some such a measure. He moved that the
Bill should be read second time on that day three
months.—The motion was agreed to.

CONDUCT OF f.I.ELITENANT-GENERAL CAMPBELL.

Mr. BENNET said it would perhaps be in the re-
collectior. of the Hotise that a few weeks back he
had presented a Petition from a Gentleman of an an-
cient family of Cephalonia, from a Count Flidan.
complaining of the conduct of Lieutenant-General
Campbell, who had dictated to the Tribunal, before•
whom it was tried, a decree, not according to the
written law of the country, but one tluit was pala-
table to himself. From this decree General Camp-
bell had been pleased to declare there should be no
appeal. It had been said, when this subject was be-
fore the House on a former occasion, that if Count

Fladan had to complain of injustice, he could obtain
redress in Cephalonia. He was however prevented,
from the Decree which he had mentioned, and which
he (Mr. Bennet) had seen, that had been issued by this
new Military Judge. He contended that Count Fla-
dan, under all the circumstances, had a right to seek
redress in this country. This he shewed by a refe-
rence to the case.of Fabrejas and Martyn, in 1772.
Beside; the testimony of this Noble General (Count
Madan) he had a witness of rank and character in
this town whom he could bring to the •Bar of that
House. This person had been in the island at the
time when the atrocities complained of by the Peti-
tioner took place, and had seen a person accused. of
embezzling spirituous liquors, taken out on a mule
and flogged three times round the town till he was in
such a state that it was with difficulty he could be'
supported into the Hospital, and this punishment was
inflicted without trial, at the sole pleasure of Lietne.
nant General Campbell. He stated other facts against
the General—declared himself to be. wholly uncon-
• nested with Count Fladan, and strongly insisted on
the necessity of instituting an inquiry into the merits
of the case. He moved that there should be laid be-
fore the House, Copies of the Correspondence which
had taken place between the Secretary of State for
the Home Department, and Count Fladan, relative to
the conduct of Lieutenant General Campbell.
Mr. GOULBURN recollected these charges had
been brought forward before, but then, as now, they
rested solely on the authority of the individual who
conceived himself to be aggrieved. lie had com-
plained then as he complained now, that the Hon.
Gentleman had in this instance taken a part which
it did not become him as an individual to take, and
which that I louse ought not to sanction. Ile had
said, that if the conduct of Lieutenant-General Camp-
bell was such as had been described, there were
Tribunals in this country or in the lonian Isles be-
fore which he could be tried, and it was not before
the House that the case ought to be brought. The
papers moved for he had not the means of producing,
as the most important had already been sent off to Ce-
phalonia. Ha (Mr. (ioulburn) had only known Lieut.-
General Campbell as an officer who had eminently
distinguished himself in the service of his country.—
He could not now go into the accusation urged
against that Officer, without adding to the injury he
believed him to have received from Count Fladan,
and which had already been aggravated by the speech
of the Honourable Gentleman. He trusted the House
would never forget that the charges rested solely on
the authority cf the complainant, and that if they re-
mained unrefuted, it was only because the facts char-
ged were said to have taken place in a distant coun-
try, from which proofs of the truth could not speedily
be procured.
Mr. F. DOUGLAS was not satisfied with the sort
of defence which had been set up for Lieutenant-
General Campbell. He thought it was the duty of
that House to inquire into the merits of the case.
Lord CASTLEREAGH rose merely to protest
against the principle that the House could take upon
itself to give redress in cases of this kind, which were
cognizable before the ordinary tribunals. The inter-
ference of the House in such cases was the means of
infinite mischief out of doors, by deluding the wretched
victims of such a system, and bringing into the
House die most foul and unjustifiable calumnies....-
The present case had no other effect than enabling
the Honourable Gentleman opposite to bring forward
an exparie statement to prejudice the character of an
Honourable Officer, not now in the House to defend
himself. This system, by which Members held them-
selves out as ready to bring forward any complaint,
and to pledge themselves to any statements to calum-
niate the character of persons connected with Govern-
ment, had grown to a most mischievous extent, and
it was high time that the discretion of the Roux
should arrest it--(Hear, hear, hear).
Mr. BAItHAM said, if he understood the nature

of the present case, part of the complaint was, that
the Officer whose conduct was implicated had taken
upon himself to reverse the decisions of the very tri-
bunal to which the present complainant was referred,
and had thus set himself above the law. If this were
true, what was the use of referring the-present com-
plaint to that Tribunal ?
General THORNTON said a few words in favour
of the character of General Campbell.
Mr. LOCKHART supported the motion. He
thought this a case which loudly called for the exer-
cise of the inquisitorial powers of the House.
Captain WALDEGRAVE protested against the
doctrine of the Noble Lord (Castlereagh) with respect
to the impropriety of Members bringing forward the
complaints of individuals. He thought it the duty
of every individual to bring forward any complaint,
and present any petition respectfully worded.
Mr. MONEY said it was impossible for him to
believe the truth of. the complaints against General
Campbell. He was sure that Officer would shrink
from no inquiry ; but at this period of the ScAon,
an inquiry was impossible, and to agree to the mo•
Lion would only be to give circulation to the calum-
nies against this Officers character.
Colonel ELLISON said, he should vote against
the motion, from a sense that to agree to it would be
an act of oss injustice.
Mr. RENNET begged it might be distinctly under-
stood that he did not accuse General Campbell of
having fled from this inquiry.—The House divided,
For the motion • - - _ - 8
Against it - 46
Majority against the motion —5B
The Slave Trade offences Bill was read a third time.
The Report of the Committee of Supply on the vote for a Re-
muneration to the High Bailiff of Westminster, was taken into
further consideration.— Mr. BA NKES opposed the vote.
After a few words from %Ir. Waco:vaster and Mr. LOCKHAST
in favour of the vote, the Gallery was cleared for a diviticm. It
was found that there were only 16 Members present, and the
House of necessity was adjourned.

THE 'EVENING STAR.