The Statesman.
London, England, 1815-04-28 00:00:00

IPER

TEM BTAFF• _

Ir.

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shortest questing in the
.wciald, and incapable of se. that'sl independence in a way little becoming a the s.ftuatien of Belgium and Piedmont, which are
thins discussion. He quoted the lest paragraph of British Minister. Nay, the Noble Lord even at- the barriers Of the north end south. He then entered
the ProclamatiOn of the i4th of March, as it was tempted to convince' them that their political an- into a variety of arguments in favour of the arrange- .
referred tiinnnenf the dispatches, as the key to nihilatioti woof(' be a blessing. This reminded him of metes of Congress.
the construction of that Proclamation, and the words la story he had heard of a person once high in office Mr. J. P. GRA NT, feeling as he did that the ,
were, a Italy shall become w hat :he. was in her most lin this country, who, when applied to by a female faith of the British nation had been brokinf, could
prosperous, .ariods, and what Spain nosy is." It ' suitor for a pardon to a near relative of her's, under not consent to give a silent vote on' this question.—
was impute's)e to endt;rstaed this in any other sense sentence of death, told her, that the justice of the Ile thought his Majesty's Ministers had got into a
then 46 before the usurpations of Fiance and the sentence was so manifest, that even if her relative dilemma, out of which they could net extricate'
war;" and es to this Getiotsee, it must, therefore, applied in person, he could convince him of the ne- ' themselves. Any body who had read the instruc-
mean that the Republic of Genoa should be restored. cessity of his being hanged. It was in this way that lions given to Lord Wm. Bentinck, he contended,
If any other construction could be pet upon the the Noble Lord consoled the Genoese under the loss must at once he convinced that he was empowered
words than the ;tutus quo axle bellittn, titan be should of their ancient independence. The measure had to offer to the Italian people freedom and independ-
give human ingenuity credit for a power of converting I also been defended, on the policy of putting the ence, and to give them that assistance which was ne-
the meaning of the plainest words, of which he hail whole of the Alps 'into the hands of the King of cessary to obtain soch an end. He would, how.
not before believed it capable. If the words did not Sardinia. This policy might have had Some meaning ever, pass over all these subjects, which had been al-
mean this, did they meets that lobe subject to the King iat the period. of the Treaty of Ais-la-Chapelle, but ready so admirably discussed by his Hon. Friend
of Sardinia was the state of Genoa before the war ? i considering the character and resources of the present (Sir James Mackintosh), and proceed to the Proclaa
The Noble Lord had talked of disentangling the I Ssidinian Government, it was now rather antiquated: motion of Lord Wm. Bentinck, in Genoa, on the
consideration of Genoa from that of Italy, but the The policy; therefore, %%as at least doubtful ; but he 14th of March. By this Proclamation, he submit.
latter comprehended the former. He admitted the I would contend, that nothing short of imperious ne. ted, that the Genoese had been promised, not alone
exeeption of Lombardy, because that was an Aus. cessity could justify an act which brought the faith to be relieved from the iron yoke of Bonaparte, but
trien State before the war; and his very admission I and honour of this country into question. If at- to he, as had been the case with Sicily, with Porto-
viola this principle imported a consent that Genoa! tempted to he justified on the right of conquest, was gal, with Spain, and with Holland, restored to indes
should now become a Republic. He inset adverted lit for this that all Europe had been called to arms ? pendence, to civil liberty, and to their ancient splen-
to the Proclamation of the 27th April (this very day I Was it for this that the Coalition was formed which dour among independent natio:sc.—[/lm-, hear !]—
last yea;), for the Provisional Government, and asked interested the hearts, and had the prayers and good This was the language of the Proclamation, and in
whether it was possible to contend that that Provi. I wishes of every friend to the liberties of the world ? having stated it, he thought he should he wasting the
singlet Government was to exist till the pleasure of , The great means by which the commonwealth of Eu- time of the House, and stultifying himself, were he •
the Congress should be known ? He then entered ' rope was maintained in that balance which so happily to attempt to use a single argument in support of
upon the subject of Lord W. Bentitick's force; he ! existed prior to the partition of Poland, was by the the inference he had already drawn. As it stood,
had made enquires of high military authorities, and affection which each people, however small, had to the Genoese had been distinctly promised the enjoy-
learned that the enterprise was considered as frantic, its ancient laws, its habits, its institutions, and from merit of their ancient freedom and splendour, and
unless it was entirely founded on a certain knowledge : the recollections which were transmitted from gene- for those who argued the contrary, he had neither
of the . Inca hle disposition of the people. Lord W. ' ration to generation. The greater Powers e ere the respect for their understanding, nor sympathy for
B.'s force consisted of 8000 mete 30(X) only of • guardians of this system, and Ile? small Powers were their feeling. The avowed object upon which Lord
whom were English, the rest !wine composed of Ai. the indications of its perfect state— 'file new system Wm. Bentinck set out in his proceeding towards,
cilians, Italians, Germans, and 16reeks, inexperi- which the Noble fond had imported from the Con- Genoa, was the restoration of the ancient Govern- ,
sewed troops who had never seen the face of an ene. press was, that nothing really deserved attention but ment of that Republic, and in the spirit of her me.
my ; and there was a body of 6000 veteran• French lines of country, and froutierCsod flanks ' • that the ginal Constitution. In the arrangement of the Pro-
troops in the city and environs of Genoa; and yet affections of nations, and thileancient and dearest' visional Government, there was no specification of
the) were compelled to ley down their arms. It was recollections, were all to be unmercifully sacrificed its termination in the manner which it had termi.
calculated that it would have taken 25,000 men to to complete this line, and round off that flank. The elated; quite the reverse; for from a perusal of the
.cnisquer Genoa, and on this datum he entered into a prophetic mind of Mr. Burke foresaw the present correspondence of Lord Wm. Bentinck, with the
calculation of the numerical value of the friendship situation in which the Congress had placed itself..-e. Government at home, it would appear that he was
of the Genoese. Lord Wellesley's instructions to In his Letter on a Regicide Peace he observed, " I fuly impressed with the feelings of the Genoese upon '
the Commanders pf the British army. in Italy were can see a fund likely to arise out of which it may be this point. For he expressly states, in one of his
not to precipitate insurrections, but to wait for the ' proposed to carve indemnities and equivalents ; but letters, " that they dreaded their annexation to
favourable moment of throwing off the French yoke. I forbear to touch upon it—it is opening an flied of Piedmont, and rejoiced at the prospect of the resto-
Besides the Genoese garrison of 6000 men, there was woes to Europe." Though that great man then al- ration of their old Government ;" and yet this offi-
at. Alexandria an army of 50 or 60,000 French, luded to the partition of the ecclesiastical States of cer, in possession of such information, and having
within a march of the Genoese territory. He knew Germany, in which Russia took so great a part, yet' communicated it to the Administration by whom he'
that great bodies of the Genoese peasantry rose, and his words were equally applicable to the system now was employed, was by them traduced, and stated to
that Lord W. B. received important communications pursutel, of which it might be said—animo vidit, in- have acted one part to the Genoese, while he har.
from agents in Genoa, assuring him of this friendly gcitio complexes est, cloquentia illuntinavit. That boured another.—[licar, hear !] —When he reflect-
disposition of the Vettoese ; and on the very morning system, like its French predecessor, was a con- ed on those transactions, he could not but feel a de-
of the investment, there was a revolt among the p! o- spiracy of the great States to partition the small, in- gree of humiliation at seeing the honour of the coon- I
pie, who destroyed the statue of Bonaparte under stead of protecting them. Whoever visited France try sullied and betrayed by those who were bound to
the very guns of the French. And so much for the in December last, must have witnessed the effect have maintained it •with purity and integrity. The
lukewarmness of the Genoese! lie appealed to the produced open that ardent people by such measures character of British faith had been prostituted for I
Ilouse whether this was not an important military as that of Genoa ; how much the military spirit was' the purpose of enslaving n nation which it was
co-operation, and whether success could have been inflamed, The French army had all the feelings of pledged to have liberated.—[hear!]—Other treaties]
obtained without it. The. lan s which regulated the deposed tyrauts; and it was before them that the had been alluded to on former European Confederacies,
distribution of prize-money said, that every ship Congress was every day setting an etample which as justifying the outrage which was then under dis.l
which Came_ in sight eters a moment before the goaded en their ambition to phrenzy. The Noble cussion, but they had no applicability to the case ofi
enemy struck, should share the prize, and this Lord and his colleagues shook the pillar on which Genoa. That State bad been annexed to France by
upon the principle that the sight of her may , the throne of the Bourbons rested, by compelling force, still retaining a great part of her integral
have contributed to the intimidation. So here lee the French to see in them an authority of no weight character: When she was taken possession of by
attributed a share of the French overthrow in in the affairs of Europe, and to contrast the Bout- Lard W. Bentinck, she was not taker, as a eon.
Genoa to a fear of the Genoese population.— bons with a Chief, who, if he oppressed them ai
...tittered Power, but rescued as an Independent State
Lord W. B. was doubtless perfectly acquainted with home, exalted them abroad. Louis XVIII. though from the hands of an enemy.—[/fear!}—Aeld was I
this disposition'of the Genoese, he having beet; three it was the interest of every Monarch to strengthen ! there any precedent in the law of nations, that el
years engaged in negotiations with the north of Italy, him on his throne, had net even the power to obtain power so rescued became the property of the cap.
. • e view to resist the oppressions of France. He pardon for the condemned King of Saxony. He de- ; tors ?—[flear !1—He denied Clot the Treaty of
AC et agents in the city, and understood that tired Gentlemen, who, though they did not go so far t Westphalia was a case in point ;it was true the in-
'lke' s surrection was not premature; and it was as he did, yet still thought that some stain had been I tinsel state of Germany had received on that oc-
%proved, that the people if Genoa acted upon the De- inflicted on the honour of their beloved country, to casion a complete organization; but there was no in-
;Acta ration of the 14th of March. He mentioned one consider that we were now possibly on the eve of a new I stance of the-transfer eta whole Independent Power.
,Ifact more, that the Commandant of the French gar- war, the result of which might be, that vast masses of —When Bonaparte offered to Mr. Fox, that Sicily
rison actually implored the protection of Lord %V. territory might be again to be disposed of. Was it, should receive Ragusa, as a compensation for the
Bentinck against the Genoese people, who would then, unfit for that House to convey to the Allies, ; cession of Napks, what was the reply .of that dis.
otherwise ha destroyed him. The next question by their vote of that night, the sense of all conside. tinguished Statesman ? Why, that the King of
was, whethef he was sufficiently authorised to issue' rate men in Europe? What body more fit for such Sicily should consider of the compensation in the.
ese Proclamations ; and to prove that he was, he - a purpose than that [louse, which was now in the ' first instance, and that even then, perhaps objet-
erred todLord Wellesley's orders of 1811; recom- seventh century of its existence, and which had of--' tions would exist which would require deliberation.
iu ssistance to the people of Italy in all their forded the best practical proof that liberty can exist This new system which has, been introduced, under
inns 'cola against the French ; and under these in a great empire ? It was an Assembly that might this auspices of the Noble Lord opposite (Castle.
instructions Lord W. B. was sufficiently authorised speak with authority, anal to implore them, as they reegh) was not likely to be' of long duration—it'
to proclaim the independence of Genoa ; for that , valued the blessing of Providence on those new '. was built upon ton narrow a basis to exist when
• was in the same situation in the spring of 1814, efforts which they might be called upon to make, to force, which introduced it, became weakened or di-
the autumn of 1811, when those instructions , banish for ever the counsels of spoliation. 'fhe vided. The idea that smaller States could not
given. There were also Lord Bathurst's in- Honourable Member concluded by reading a series maintain an independent footing, was contrary to the
ictions of December, 1813, authorising the con. of ten Resolutions, embracing the various inStruc- ! known experience of history. The ancestor of one
to the annexation of Genoa to Sardinia, if, ' tions sent by this Government, at different times, to of the Allied Sovereigns, engaged in these transac-
the unanimous concurrence 'of the inhabitants Lord W. Bentinck, with respect to the conduct he tions, whose wisdom and activity made Prussia what
he former. \Vas not this a dirc...'on to take the' was to pursue towards Genoa ; inferring that, by she -was, is recorded to have said :•••-:46 I have seen ;
ion of the people ? These were direct I..struc. , them, his Lordship was authorised to hold out pro- that small States can sustain themselves against large
hut there were other indirect ones, which mises of independence to the Genoese—and con- : ones, if their internal affairs are regulated by attest.
!newly justified Lord W. B.,—such as the re- eluding with a severe censure on his Majesty's Mi- lion and industry ; and that great States proceed
to recognise the Republic of Liguria without a nisters, who had broken those promises, although ! only by intrigues anti abuses, in proportion to the
pledge for the re-establishment of her ancient insti- they had never disavowed either the instructions extent they embrace."—The Honourable Gentleman
lotions, the Declaration of Frankfort, and the Treaty given to Lord W. Bentinck, or the Proclamations,, concluded by declaring, that the country stood dis-
of Chaumont. Would it have been becoming in Lord founded thereon, which he had issued. graced in the eyes of the• world, by the line of con-'
W. B. to believe that this pledge of faitirwas made The first Resolution being put from the Chair— I duct which Ministers had adopted in the course they
with a lie in the mouth, and as a fraud on all people Mr. C. GRANT said, he bad heard with great ,had sanctioned towards a small but independent
promise coming from an Assembly (would to pleasure those sentiments of regard for ancient in- ;State.---(lfeor 1]
God he could say !) as unparalleled in their honour stitutions which had been expressed by his Hon.' Mr. ROBERT IVA RD preferred common sense
as in their splendour; and was there any object Friend : and he had heard them with the more Mei. fetkittllitriitttih. He read the Declarations issued by
which Lord W. B. could think equivalent to a de. sure, as in their conduct of late, such sentiments had the Allies at Frankfort, to show that they had pro-
tai mination not to throw a doubt and suspicion on all not been habitual with the Gentlemen on the other' claimed their policy to the Whole world ; that the
the Power; of Europe, and all the faith of the side of the House.—[ Hear, hear! front the opposite i political state of Europe was to be recast, as it were,
Christian World ? Ac to Lord W. B.'s negative benches.]—So much at least he was led to presume, and not that every State was td be•restored to its for.
ord..rs, he had searched hut found that no instate.. from their wish to speak favourahly,and to make peace mar and precise situation. He explained that Mr.
t:on had been given publicly to disavow the act done. with that man who had trod under foot all ancient in. I Novosilsnff's breaking up of the negotiations was
Ile then commented upon the letters of March 30; stitutions, and destroyed as far as lay in his power the not in consequence of regard for the feelings or Coe-
April 3, and May 16 ; anti said, that the Declaration 'old land-marks of nations. The Honourable Gen-istitution of the Genoese, but because he was to treat
in the second of these came too late, and that if tlemao then proceeded to argue that the faith of !for peace only in case France would relinquish her
Great Britain wished to escape from the previous the country had, been in no respect pledged ,to the ' syitetb of aggression. The •sheifiretion of Genoa
act of her agent, it was iricoinbent
_on her to have restoration of Genoll either by the instructions !was taken as a proof that she continued to act on
taken the earliest moment of making. 'that intention given to Lord W: Bentinck, or by the conduct of the same principles, and the signal for hostilities.
as public as the agent's act bad ,aken medsk, The • that officer. He argued that even if Lord Ben- Genoa had been found acting against us as an enemy ;
Noble Lord said, that we had done ualing since to • tinck's Proclamation pr'pmised the restoration of its ! her transfer could not, therefore,- be ,compared with
deceive Genoa ; bat it was oar duty to have untie. ancient Constitution. the people of Genoa did not 1 the partition of Poland, which had been effected in
ceived. But it appeared that his Lordship did use an I perform their part of the.eptitract by co-operation.—; a time of profound peace, and without the least
argument to deceive Genoa to alt.. Pareto, when hel What a proposition watinide dorint.Mr. Fox's pretence for such enact. The Proclamation in Lord
said to him that the city of Genoa might be a Bowed,. i...ilanititratinn rot the surrender ..Sicily to Pifapiaat t' Bentinck's Mind, and that of the persons
like the Hausa Towns, to retain her indeptnctency-, , and for the Ateini an equivalent hi .2libasite. Or towitons Were, addressed, only referred to n Pro-
provided she would consent to give up her Territory, ! Dahleitis, Mr. Fox, who was not likeij, to ideate, visional Government: Had Genoa been a friendly
that is, to be doomed to beggary. lie further ar. the independiece of nations, said it was soil wiestieri" oeljon, deald we have takemthe t booty which great
dVii' and since geed that Genoa was deceived by the silence of the of cession, but of compensation. It appease in the `bad been brought from iltat • „
sou-
Treaty of Paris,. and also by the words of that "general system of European affairs, that,Fropce and dirtied in our ports ? Its feet, i it nut not beetti
Ter the Gentlemen opposite, -tlie're would Imre .beets
Treaty. lie then commented on the letter
..oUtlie I Austria wero most likely to he tiropi.lo‘.;(4otoot-
means W.W.l.°f the I DO misunderstanding whatever as butqo
Noble Lord to Colonel Dalrymple, annnuncieg the in Italy, and thereby
transfer of the people of Genoa. The style and strengthening of the barriers of 4V?
I is, of' the argamen4 now going .4em many
in Fraate against,
. -
this couttley, would nevet hale been thought of.—
manner of it, seemed to depredate the va!ne of na. stgrestions of France. Such. to 'a. •
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