Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1817-05-09
FOREIGN.
HOUSE OF LORDS.
Tuesday, March is.
NAPOLEON BONAPARTE.

Lord Holland rose to bring forward the
motion of which he had given notice on a
former evening on the subject of the
mode of detention and general treatment
ofNapOieon BOnaparte, in the Island of
St Helena. The exordium of the Noble
Lords speech consisted of statement of
his motives for coming forward on this
particular occasion: i'll which he 2iSclaIuS
ed all party and political considerations
whatever: though througlp Mt he was
mucbopposed 10 the system of conduct
with regard to the disposal and treatment
of the renowned parsonage in question
The object Of his motion was to afford an
opportunity of vindicating the honor ana
character Ofthe country, the character of
both branches of the British Legislature,
and even of the crown of Great Britain,
as itwouid enable his Majestv's ministers
decidedly TO contradict and do away such
parts of The statements which lie was
about to Law before them as were unfoun-
ded; and with respect to those which had
some foundation, the opportunity would
he afforded 10 Parliament of vindicating
IFS own honour and that of the country,
in correcting and redressing what was
complained OF. With respect TO the con
f'nement and detention of Napoleon b.
naparte on the Island of Saint Helena, it
had been sanctioned bv the Legislature,
expressly on the ground of IFS being cal
led for by necessity. But OH that ground,
as was well observed by the Noble Lord
OF the Woolsack on a former OCCASION
" Necessity should limit these powers
which necessity created" The particu-
lar spot was avowedly chosen on that
principle.
In the present discussion, he should
lay no stress, howeverimportant i'll anoih~
er view, on the enormous expense incur
red by this country in consequence of de-
might be stated at between $50 and 900
0O0e. But it ought to be kept in mind,
that this was the act, not only of the Exc
cutive Government, but also of the Le-
gislature. Parliament was party TO il,
and it was the duty of Parliament TO in
teriere, in case TIE parsonage so detained
met with any harsh treatment i'm his con-
finement. And he coDtended further,
that ifrumOurs and reports were in cIrcu-
laiion, attended with any degree of pIau-
sibility, and calculated to produce in
this country, i'll Europe, and on the minds
of posterity, the impression that unne.
cesarly harsh and cruel treatment had
been used, If then became the duty of
Parliament to Investigate the facts, and
TO ascertain whether the reports were.
orwere not we'll founded /; in order that. il
not true, they might be contradicted /:
and that, If true, measures might be re-
sorted TO, without moments delay, to
apply the proper remedy for if such re-
ports and rumours were allowed to re-
main uncontradicted, when thus plausi-
blv brought to public notice, the opinion
ofths country, of Europe, and of pos
terity, would be, that they were not with
out foundation, and deep stain would
rest oil the character of the British natl
on. What, then, were these reports p
And why had he not, till now, brought
forward the subject? He admitted that
such reports had reached him i'm the
course of the last three or four months
from variety Of quarters. 1t was mat
ter ofnotoriety, thathe had opposed tie
policy Of OBTAINING Bonaparte in this
manner, and had recorded his opinion on
that subject ; and for these, and perhaps
some personal reasons, it was natural
that the reports should have reached him
sooner than they reached others. No
doubt many communications on the SUBJ
iect had been made to him; and from
whatever quarters they came, he did not
think that, in matter where the justice
and character ofthe country was concern
ed, he ought to have shut his ears against
such communications but as long as
they appeared TO him TO be founded mere
" OF speculation. without any plausible
grounds, he did not think himself called
upon 10 bring them in this way before
their Lordships. But when, in addition
10 these rumours,a paper fell into his
hands, containing the same complaints,