The Sun. — 1835-01-14 (London, England)

SIR ROBERT PEEL AT ROME.  (FROM A MORNING COTEMPORARY.) During the interregnum of above three weeks, during which the Duke of Wellington concentrated in his own person all the powers of the State and all the responsibilities which the Constitution had divided between several Ministers, Sir Robert Peel shared with " His Highness" the attention of Europe, because it was professedly on account of the Right Hon. Baronet that the constitutional government of so many millions of people was suspended, and a Dictator named by the King. It is known in every part of Europe that Sir Robert Peel was found by the Dictator's messenger at Rome ; and the great empire which he has been called upon to govern will be startled, though perhaps not surprised, on learning how the Right Honourable Gentleman was employed during his sojourn in the Eternal City. Even before the eyes of the nations were turned towards him by the alarming events in England, that employment was the subject of general conversation in all the political circles at Rome, and throughout Italy ; and of course it has since become much more worthy of observation. A great portion of his time was spent in the society of the notorious Prince Canosa, with whom, it is said, he formed the closest political relations, for the purpose, no doubt, of receiving lessons of political moderation and liberality. Yes, Canosa, whose name is written in the blood of so many unfortunate Neapolitans, and whose execrable principles even the hated tyrant of the little Duchy of Modena himself was unable to endure, shared more of the confidence and society of Sir Robert Peel than any other political personage at Rome. Noscitur a sociis, is an old adage; and I apprehend this fact is not much calculated to diminish the distrust with which the people of Great Britain regard the accession of the Right Hon. Baronet to office. You will find in "La Sun ia del generale di Genio Pietro Colletta dal 1730 al 1825," a brief history of the life of the monster. Canosa, the political friend and associate of your Minister. You will there see, that after a series of the most horrible intrigues and machinations, he was appointed Minister of Police in Naples in 1816. In that capacity he put arms secretly into the hands of the Calderari, a set of fiends composed principally of convicted murderers and assassins, liberated fcr the express prrose of assassinating the Carbonari, or Liberals. He became the chief and commander of that diabolical sect, for whom there ,is no parallel to be found in ancient or modern times, and by their agency filled the kingdom of Naples with blood and carnage. The King himself, alarmed by the fury of his Minister, was obliged to remove him from the kingdom. He retired to Pisa until the fall of the constitution of 1820, when he was again recalled, and reinstated as Minister of Police. The King was induced again, by the indignation of the people, to expel Canosa in 1822, although he was such a favourite with the despot that he loaded him with riches. He again repaired to Pisa ; but, says the historian, " the hatred and the curses of the Neapolitan people following him thither, he was obliged to remove to Genoa. From this period (continues Pietro Colletta)nothing is known of his life, but certain intrigues too base and degrading to be reported. Shortly after he went into the Duchy of Modena, and, becoming the favourite of that Prince, lived some time at his Court, and was the principal spring of the intrigues and cruelty that oppressed this state." He has since retired to Rome. The historian concludes his notice of the monster in these words—" Canosa is the most detested man in Italy. He is hated even by his partisans for his cruelty and Janissary principles." Such is the man chosen by Sir Robert Peel as his political friend and associate 1 The picture is not coloured. It is drawn by one who was entirely dependent on the friend and master of Canosa. But when a Neapolitan wrote so much, you may easily form an estimate of the monster's real character. I can state from personal observation, that his very name excites a feeling of horror in Naples.