The Statesman.
London, England, 1821-03-21 00:00:00

strike the Hi:use as curious—it was no less than 1401.1
for ; ayrnent to the French General in Chien; osilitreseu
—(llear: anal laughter.)—lt was impossible not to be
struck with the patriotic disposition of Capt. Romeo,
who would not only pay such a suns out of his own
pocket for the benefit of the British nation, but was
content to lay out of it for nine years. The Hon.
tient. next alluded to what was brought forward,
after this was forgotten, a remuneratory pension.
Captain Romeo, meanwhile, was not idle; he went to
distinguished officers in the army. from whom he pro-
cured certificates of service. upon which a pension of
tUI. a year wee granted, although eventually at the
request of the Captain, Lord Bathurst agreed to give
him 31101. instead of the annual suns. With respect to
hie exile, and whilst lie was in prison, in consequence
of the complaint he forwarded to this Government,
they had deemed it their duty to apply to Sir William
A'Court, and Intreat him to ascertain whether, as ;vas;
stated, Captain Romeo was suffering the displeasure
and punishment of the Neapolitan Government, in con-
seirence of any services be had rendered to the Bri-
tish. The reply to that application was extremely an-
favonrahle to Captain Romeo. His imprisonment and
etile were declared to be in comequence of his own con-
rinct in Naples, subsequent to his connection with
the British. He could assure the Honourable Gen-
tleman who presented the Petition, that the British
Government was not satisfied with one application
to the Neapolitan Government on the subject,
Pitt the second brought another detail equally satisfac-
tory with the first, as far as regarded the exculpation of
the British Government being at all to Mame for the
persecution of Captain Romeo. Pt British passport had
teen demanded for tbat inelia Willi it was true, lint the
House was not aware that it was a fixed principle of this
Government not to give a British passport to any
fareiener, except in the case of a foreigner of distinetion.
A British passport indeed was regarded in the light of
a letter of reeommendation, rather than as a passport.
Anti it was far that reason that Capt. Romeo, no doubt,
was anxious to procure it. He (Lord Castlereagh)
would net hesitate to declare that he would not have
riven a British passport to an English subject under the
same circumstances. Every accommodation was offered
to Captain Romeo that was in the power of Government.
lord Bathurst cave him the option of a free passage to
Malta, with his expenses paid, whence he could go to
Naples. lie hoped, therefore, the House would see that
the British Government had dune every thing that de-
pend's' upon them in this case.—(llear,.hear.)
Lor.l W. BEN I'INCK asked, did it appear that the
:rilshir which Captain Romeo stated that he had
encountered, were suffered in consequence of his being

su:ijected to trial?
Lord CASTLERBAOUI said that he understood
Captain Romeo bad escaped, and was not brought to
t ial. It was not his duty to direct that any inquiries
st•ould be made, farther than to ascertain if be was
siihjecteil to any hardship in consequence of haring
rendered cervices to the British troops. Ile hal only
to answer fur the conduct of the British Minister ; and
h. was sore the character of Sir Wm. A'Court stood
too high to he affected by any aspersions coiling from
Ii e individual in question.
Lord W. BENTINCK only asked the question, be-
ta:use it appeared there was a paper among the docu-
ments quoted by Captain Romeo from the King, or-
dering his transportation. With respect to the other
',iris of the ease, he had only to observe, that the see-
s!, es which this indirislasi rendered to the British
ra.v were of :1 stature deserving of the highest con-
s': ieration. With respect to the conduct of the Nea-
p.alitan thivertiment towards those who had taken part
with ie.. British, it was most true that they hail been
r• Irked out as objects of particular persecution, and
t•ic moment after the departure of the English, the
King of Naples broke all his engagements, and swept
away all the good which the English hail laboured to
iis!ablish. Ile was not acquainted with the facts hint-
soli; bit? he hail been led to make some inquiry into
t:e subject after what had fallen from the Noble Lord
(Lord Castlereagh) upon a late occasion, lle had in
consequence discovered, that in ISIS, the King of
Naples hail given out an Edict, stating, that in con-
*Auraee of his having been a party to the late acts of
the Congrrss of Vienna, it w s his duty as far as he
was able, to give Weil to the same, and therefore he
ordained that the Kingdom of Sicily should he joined
to that of Naples.
Lord CASTLERF.ABIL in explanation, declared hel
I:atl never heard of any such document as that quoted
by the Noishs Lord opposite. lle hoped the Noble
Lord. would produce the doeunstnt if in existence.
When appliml to on the subject he had refused to give
ft e King of Naples any advice as to his conduct with
regard to Sicily. The Noble Lord (isird A. lientinck)
karts' very well that he (Lard Castlereagh) hail, in
conjunction with the Noble Lord endeavoured. in vain,
ta administer that system to which he alluded. The
Noble Lord well knew that they came to a stand. The
l'irliament not being able to reform itself, threw itself
lilts the arms of the King. With respect to the tes-
timony given by the Noble Lord to the services of
Captaiu Ramo, if he had not thought the pension
granted to him enough, he might have used his in.
Inenee with Lord Bathurst to increase it. Crow the
g -sterol outline of the case, he tea.. sure Lord Bathurst
gave as much as he thought right.
Sir J. I%IACKIN'fOSiI felt heartily rejoiced that
hail delayed the few unimportant words he had tss
deliver in favour of the Noble Lord's explanation, of
t: e utmost importance, not merely as related to the
q ,ection then before the House, hut to the general af-
of E trope, and to the discussion which was about
t,. come on that 'sight. The Noble Lord (Lord Cam-
Cereagh) had set out with the intention of contradict-
his Noble Friend (Loral W. Bentinek), but he
toped its a few words to be able to chew that he ha i
rut established the shadow of a contradiction. 114
Noble Friend %hewed that the King of Naples was
obliged to abrogate the Constitution of Sicily in obe-
dience to the injunctions of the Congress of Vienna. The
Noble bird opposite denied that ; butt lie hail forgot-
tea the Secret frosty which was made three days af-
ter the breaking up of the Congress, between Austria
nail Naples t—that must flagitious nod nefarious trans-
action, which haunt! the King sit Naples not to intro-
duce any maxims of tiovernsnent into his policy ex-
• .-pt those of Austria. This Secret Treaty was to do
away all that the British hail established—such was
ti.e harmony, good understanding, honesty, and sin-
► erity of these contracts, which were nsade for the
good of Eurape. With respect to the next part of the
Noble Lord's explanation, he must confess that it ra-
ts.er struck bias as suspicions that the Noble Lord
should think the Neapolitan Liovernment more proper