The Statesman.
London, England, 1815-05-03 00:00:00

;:tie

1

~:
7

I`
r

F

~..

L..

L


-

r‘2l

TILE ST.

was an aegnisition of territory as far as the Po, which than time of self-interest, and eelf-preservation.—
propositinn Bonaparte at first treated with contempt 1 Why had he vacillated from Bonaparte to the
for its extravagance. It would appear that in Fe- ' Allies, from the Allies to Bonaparte' bet from
!weary the Queen of Naples was communicating this anxiety his object was to ascertain which was
With her brother the French Rulei, and making likely to be successful. Most of the documents on
promise. in the name, and no doubt with the know- which the Noble Lord rested his defence were pro-
ledge of Ler husband. Bonaparte, in answer, says, bably written during this period of hesitation, and
he should not deign to answer her husband's request when the King of Naples found that Bonaparte
fur the Italian territory to tee Po, which he de- could not support him, he threw himself into the
scribes as the request of a fool or a madman.— arms of the Allies. It was, however, a serious ques.
Whit was the result ? Murat tried to. obtain from lion for the Noble Lord to consider, whether he had
the Allies what Napoleon had refused him. The not injured the cause of the country by refusing to
Noble Lord then read several letters to the House, ratify the verbal understanding that prevailed
which Prince Talleyrand had found, at his request, I between the Allies and Murat ? —That ratification
in the bureau at Paris. The first was dated Lucca, might hare bound him firmly to our cause, instead of
I
February 14, from his sister the Princess Borghese having him leagued against us. The defence hone
to Bonaparte, its A hich she stated that Murat had I upon the first intelligence the Noble Lord receivedl I
impressed his surprise at the Viceroy's passing On! at Paris from Prince Talleyrand regarding the
Adige, awl at the Emperor's supposing he could bet treachery of Murat : it was only a matter of sus- I
his enemy. The second letter was from Bonaparte picion—and why did not the Noble Lord refer to I
to the Queen of Naples, dated Norm, Feb. 17, ; Marshal Bellegarde, who could have given positive 1
beginning thus—" Year husband is as brave a man • and decisive information ? Why had not this question
as lives, ill the field of battle, but every where out ! been put to him—Whether without the co-operation
of it he is as weak as...woman or &monk—[lA:ugh- ! of the King of Naples he could have been successful I
rag]—he wantsmoral courage." It then goes on to fin Italy ?—[flear, hear!]—After adverting to what I
awes, the satisfaction of the writer with the com. had passed last year, regarding our engagements with I
metrication he had received front her husband through , the King saltine Two Sicilies. Mr.Whitbread,remarked '
her,. mad his hope that Murat would take the first . upon the state of sospence in which Murat had been '
opposition of proving his repentance, and repair- ; kept, by having no Treaty on which be could de- •
ing his ingratitude. The third letter was from pend, and upon the necessity there was on hit part •
Fonche to Napoleon, dated Lucca, Feb. ff, deplor.. ,to take some step for his own security. Ile lamented '
ling Marat's want ofitfirmness, and stating, that he . that the Noble Lord had thought fit to quit Congress,'
was eigiroacited by the'Austrians and English with before he had given his powerful aid in solving this
being the secret partiom of Napoleon. The fourth ; most complex problem. At present, it did not ap-
letter
was from Eugene Beauharuois to Bonaparte,' pear to him that the justification of the Noble Lord !
dated 29th of February, expressing a hope that was at all complete.
' I
Murat would not add to the wrongs he had commit.; Lord CASTLEREAGH explained.
ted against the Emperor by firing on his troops, par-; Mr. PONSON BY observed, that the hopes ex- !
titularly Mace a great victory had been gained by pressed by the Noble Lord, of having his advice fol. I
the French. The fifth letter was from the French lowed by that side of the House, were completely
Consul at Ancona to Napoleon, stating that neces- illusive, as they never would be influenced by it. But
sity alone, the exposure of his coast to the English, • as to their having received information from the !
and the discontents of his people, had forced Mont • agents of foreign Powers, in an indirect anti circuit- I
to join the .Allies ; that he remembered he was a ous manner, it was a serioercharge, such as should !
Frenchman, end the brother of the Emperor. The be distinctly proved ; but which was, in the present
sixth letter was from Conaparte to Murat, without instance, totally false. He conceived it to be a base I
a date, and beginning with the words " Sire, and insinuation, and unworthy of any Member of that
my Brother ;" he reproached Murat with a violation House. The Noble Lord was also very oncandid in
of duty, arising from the weakness of his nature; his representations of his Learned Friend's idea of an
tells him that he was a good soldier, bye had no cisa.. Halite kingdom. The idea had been started, not as
meter elsewhere ; that he (the writer) relied upon his ,opposing the possibility of its attainment, but as a
promises, and hoped he was not among those' who political chimera, more to be desiied than expected.
supposed the lion dead, "et Its'on pent ',laser our Lord C4STLFREAGH said, that he felt himself
jui"—(this latter observation, read by the Noble bound to call on the Right Honourable Member for,
Lord as are havegiven it in the original, produced mach :an explanation of an expression used in the debate.'
laughter through the !louse)—and tells him that his lie alluded to the word " false," which was mime%
head was turned by his title of King. The last letter, liamentary. I.
from the same to the same, reproached him with the '• Mr. PONSONBY.+" I understood that the No-
difference between Isis words and his acts; proposes ble Lord had charged this.side of the House with
to judge of his real aentiments.by his coleluct at An- obtaining information indirectly and circuitously
coma ; reminds him that the kingdom of Naples had from agents of Foreign Powers. This I conceived i
been procured for hint by the blood and treasure of to be a severe accusation, and as my feelings** it 1
France for her use; and tells him, that when he ceased were strong, I expressed them with warmth. lam
to be a Frenchman he was no longer any thing sorry for using words offensive or unparliarnentary-1
to him; advising him, at the same time, to but I must repeat that the insinuation was a base
guard against his letters being intercepted.'.-- one."
He (Lord C.) would now appeal to the House, whe- I Lord CASTLEREAGII—" I had heard that an
tber auy thing could be more unjust than the aver- Honourable Member had received information trees-
sit's upon the conduct of the British Government • mitted to him from Genoa. On that knowledge I
in regard tnislorat.—[flear, hear !j—But he could felt myself justified in making the observation."
produce, not only the incontestible proofs of . Mr. WHITBREAD—" lam extremely happy to
treachery he had just read, lie should state, on the have an opportunity of stating publicly to the House,
authority of General Nugent, that the French force the• circumstance to which the Noble Lord alludes •
at Reggin had been enabled to escape, by an opera- . to show bow ridiculous is the charge now preferred
tion which Murat had directed in person fur that' against us. neverai.docoments had appeared in the'
purpose. But was it not very probable that Murat public prints, not sent there by me, but on which I
was acquainted with Bonaparte's intention of re- proposed many questions in this Home.
.1 certainly •
turning to France ? It was remarkable, .that a note some short time since, received a letter, purporting
complaining of the French Government, had been !to come from Genoa, which I never answered; and.,
sent by one of Murat's MinisterS on the 28th of : I remember having mentioned the circumstance to the
February, the exact period of Bonaparte's escape, Noble Lord some nights ago in the lobby. But ,
to the Austrian Government, demanding a passage ,at the same time I will never refuse to receive
for 80,000 men through the North of Italy, against' ' any information, while I exercise my own discretion
France, which was peremptorily refused ; and that, whether I shall use it or not."
however, without %siting for an answer from Vienna, r Mr. PONSONBY—" I declare upon my word of ;
or from Rome, or Florence, where he had seat mes. honour, that I have never received any commenica.l
sengerryhe mare ed beyond Aucona in actual hostility . lions, such as the Noble Lerd alludes to, from the
With Austria, without any declaration of war, vio. I agents of Foreign Powers."
lating the Papal and Tuscan territories, and pro. I Lord CASI'LEItEAGH repeated his request of I.
vOkiag general insurrection. What a flimsy pre. •an explanation. I
tence then was his civility to the English, or 1 Mr. TIER N Eir —" This question is easily settled : '
his rights wider the armistice, violated by him, .if the Noble Lord declares, that be never intended to ;
and, of course, not binding upon others.--Ito , impute to the Gentlemen of this side, conduct incon..
was proud of having this cleared from ethrepresen. ! sistent with their duty-to the country, my Right lion.'
tation and calumny his own conduct, the conduct of , Friend can have no objection to disclaim any desire'
his Government, and tine public faith of his country. of personal offence."
I
He trusted those who so readily, and with so little Lord CASTLEREAGH conceived commanica-
fnuudation, brought charges against Ministers,l dons with Foreign Powers, and any indirect sources I•
would benefit by the lesson of that night. lie de. lof Information, to be unconstitutional.
precated the conduct of Gentlemen on the other 1 Mr. WHITBREAD—" Does the Noble Lord
side, opening their ears to information secretly con. ' mean to attach any harsh interpretation tb that word
veyrd by the agents of Foreign Govesnments, whe. 4 unconstitutional ?' does he mean to imply auy thing
that directly or circuitously, as tending solely to ca. of a treasonable correspondence? if so, lethim charge
lumaiate tine Gorermnent of the country, and in-; os openly with such conduct."
jure the public service.—[fear, hear !.] —lle only I The SPEAKER--." I am persuaded the House I
asked that the Gentlemen on the ether side would i will not permit the discussion to take such a dim. I
tot always prcsurn.eesithout proof, that the enemy lion. lam confident the Right Hon. Member will !
was right, and din, onie Government wrong. Let disclaim any intention of using this word, personally :
:hem but sunpend their judgments until information he owes such an explanation to the House."
is fully end fairly before them. Mr. PONSONBY—" There is no place where I
. Mr. WIIITBitEAD did not mean to miter into should be so cautious in abstaining from all ewes-
the ease at length to-night, as a more fit opportunity I lion that could be deemed improper, as in this Home. I
would be afforded lifter the production of the papers, I But I conceive that I am not the first to be called on
but in his view it did not teem clear, from the state-' for an explanation. It was not I who charged any I
meet of the Noble Lord that he alone was the Go. Member with a delinquency almost treasonable."
vernmeut of the nation, that he alone was the whole Lord CASTLEREAGH--" When information is
empire, and consequently, that he alone was to de- received by any Member indirectly, I feel myself
(ermine the future fate of the country ; nor was it justified in alluding to it. The Right Hon. Member
mere satisfactorily proved that all those who argued should be the last person to deviate from Pattie- i
that the Noble Lord had grossly misconducted the mentary usages."
affairs of the nation, were not Englishmen and the Mr. BOHN ER••••'.46 I hope I may be permitted to
real friends of their country. It was not at all say a few words, as it was from a warm defence of
proved, itt the opinion of Mr. Whitbread, that the me, during my absence, that my Right lion. Friend
Noble Lord was blameless in those transactions; he was indeced to use the expression.* The charge was
must have been blind, indeed, if he did not perceive certainly a very severe one, and if the Noble Lord
the system upon which the King of Naples was acting would disclaim any ititention of implying an anjusti.
from the begitiniug. Bonaparte and the Allies were ftable conduct on this side of the House, my Right
agreed on this point, that he was a most excellent Hon. Friend can have no difficulty in lamenting the
General in the field, but treacherous and pusillani. use of that word."
moos in the Council • the whole statement of the Lord CASTLEREAGIE—" I did not mean to
Noble Lord displayed a scene of diplomatic insinuate that the mode of intelligence was in an/-
treachery, that Mr. Whitbread hoped would ever wise treasonable, but chat it was not such as Perim.
remain without a parallel, and the Noble Lord must, meet could act upon.
indeed have been a puny politician, if he ever con- Mr. TIF:RNET conceived that the explanation
mired that Murat au guided by any other views removed all difficulty.