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    jpgJB 19, 1352.] T H E L^ E A D EJR. S75

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    The Week In Parliament. Loed Jomr Russei...

    the tieme of ¦' .- ¦ what Can be got . ' ( Cheers and laugh-° \ That was in the true spirit of the peddling instinct ^ hich presided over the Foreign , office . " Stung by ^ e sarcasms of Mr . Osborne , Lord Stan-E rose and declared that Government had no intention of damaging Mr , Mather ' s character ; whereupon ^ . OSBOBNE retorted that " if Mr . Mather was satisfied with that apology at the eleventh hourhe was not the HJan ^ * '' *" ^ * " - ^ * ° the responsible Government— .

    « It was the Austrian Government they were bound to call upon to show Lieutenant Forsthuber was justified in his conduct , and , if they failed to do so , then to demand ^ me m ark of their regret for what had occurred ; but the Austrians , so far from expressing contrition , had com-r mended Lieutenant Forsthuber ' s conduct , and he was p-oinff about Florence as a sort of hero , as ' the man who had ciuV down the Englishman . ' ( ' No ; no . ') Yes , he knew it to be the case ; and it Was said lord Malmesbury had give n L ieutenant Forsthuber ' a step . '" ( A laugh . )

    The only man who showed well m the case , and kept up the character of the country , was Mr . Mather . « He regretted very much the question had been brought before the House in its present shape , and that he was prevented by some form of the . House from moving a direct vote of censure on Lord Malmesbury for trifling with the honour of the country , and for having disgraced us in the eyes of the whole continent of Europe . " ( Cries of " Move , move ! " )

    Passing over Lord Gbanby , who made a mad Protectionist speech , and did not touch upon the Mather question , we find Lord Pai-mebston ; oil his legs , insisting that debates on Protection were a waste of time ; that protection was dead- ^ -that no doubt its death and burial would be duly registered at the ensuing election ; and that Lord Granby ' s speech was a " convenient diversion" of the debate from the damaging topic of the outrage upon Mr . Mather . The noble lord then

    continued" I must confess I have read with anything but feelings of satisfaction the papers which have been laid on the table of this House with respect to the affair of Mr . Mather . ( Hear , hear . ) I own , sir , that for the sake of the country—for the character of the country , I wish the whole of this correspondence had been , very different . ( Hear , hear . ) I am sorry to say that that observation applies to the whole case , from the beginning to the end of it ; for I must own it seems to me that it was not a comedy but a tragedy of All in the Wrong . I . must say that I find much to criticise in the-conduct of almost all the parties concerned ^ except Mr . Mather and his son . ( Hear . ) I think the late Government took a wrong view of the

    case . (' Hear , hear , ' from the Ministerial benches . ) I think , also , the present Government took a wrong view of it , and I am sorry to say that our ChargS iV Affaires at Florence took a wrong view of it too . What is the course which in the case of a personal outrage committed upon a British subject abroad—what is the course which I think the British Government ought to have pursued ? Why , it is the first duty of the Government to ascertain clearly the facts of the case—to ascertain clearly the character of the injury which the British subject has sustained , and how far he was in the wrong , or if not in the wrong , liow far those by whom the injury was inflicted were to olanae . Well , Sir , haviner done that , if the Government find that

    an outra ge has been committed , l-eporation ought to be demanded . That reparation may consist , first , in a demand for the punishment of tho offender , and next also in a demand for compensation to tho sufferer . ( Hear . ) Upon those points it has been always tho practice for the Secretary of State to consult tho Queen ' s Advocate , to lay tho facts of the case before him , to ask him what , according to his viow and his knowledge of tho habits of courts of justice in other countries , what might bo a fit sum to demand for pecuniary compensation ; how far , according to international law , tho Government would bo justified m asking for tho punishment of tho wrong doer . That « oes not appear to have been done by either Government in tlus

    case . But tho first question which arises , is what was the injur y inflicted , or was thoro any injury inflicted ? I think no man who has road those papers can hositato one moment in acknowledging that a grievous injury was committed ( cheers ); that a British subjoot was oxposod to a most violent , a most cowardly outrage , for which no fuloq ^ iate , in fact no provocation whatovor , was given . A British subject was accompanying a band of music in tho Btreets of Floronco , and ho was Btruek , first by a sword by one officer , thon by tho fist of another , and then , in a oowar dly manner , was cut down w ith tho sword of the officer who first assaulted him . Now , what is tho fooling oi different countrios with regard to an attack by an arnica { igainst an unarmed man P ( Choors . ) Why , Sir , wo all « now tho old anecdote of tho English butcher , who , w hilo flni

    ployod in tho avocation of his profession , was struck by a man with whom ho had words , and whom h « reproached ^ vitli th o good old English scmtimont , ' Why , what a mean , cowardly follow you must bo to utriko a man who has a Kmfo in liis hand , and who cannot rot-urn tho blow . ' ( Hoar , ' and laughter , ) That is tho English fooling . ( Ohoors . ) What is tho Fronch" feeling P ( Hoar . ) Why , ""¦» many of us know that thoro was a distinguished , oflicor in tho British sorvico in tho cavalry , who had lost « n arm , bufc who served in tho Peninsular war , mutilated a « ho then was . In an action in whioh ho was ongagod , j got into " milde , and a Fronch oflicor rode- up to »» 'n , and was going to cut him down . But tho Fvonchttian Baw that his opponent had only one arm , and , seeing hat , ho dropped Inn sabro point ( ohoom ) , and passed on to se ok out an opponent with whom ho might contend on "Jiual towns . That is tho Fronch fooling . ( Cheers . ) * hon , % uUoU t ) 0 toi ( i tnat thfer cobo i & a proof of tho

    Austrian , feeling in such matters . Sir , I don't believe any such thing . ( Hear , hear . ) My conviction is that the cowardly conduct of that lieutenant who cut down , without provocation , an unarmed British subject , has met with as much disapproval and disavowal on the part of his comrades in Tuscany , as they in their service dare show by their conduct towards their , officers . I am persuaded that if Marshal Radetzky had known the true f a cts of the case at the time when he said that the officer was fully justified in what he did , —I am fully convinced that such a brave man would have sympathize'd with Prince Sehwarzenberg , who , when appealed , to by the' Earl of Westmoreland , who said to him , ' We are both soldiers , and never raised our sword against an unarmed man , ' replied ,

    ' No ; such a thing could never have happened to either of us ;'—I am persuaded that had Marshal Radetzk y known the truth or the matter , ho would never have written the despatch which we find among these papers ; for , whatever we may think of the policy which is pursued by the Austrian Government , no man who knows the Austrian people and army can for a moment doubt their generosity and universal courage . " He then declared , as his own opinion , that had the Austrian Government been applied to they would have given ample redress ; And he further animadverted on the fact , that Mr . Scarlett had been left without definite instructions , both by the late and the present Government , as to what kind of reparation he should demand ; and he

    condemned as unusual the act of Lord Malmesbury in calling on the sufferer to assess his own damages . Nor was he less severe on Lord Malmesbury for "forcing Mr . Mather to name a sum against his inclination and against his protest , and then showing him up to the Tuscan Government as being exorbitant in his demand . " He censured Mr . Scarlett for the manner in which he executed his office ; and coming to the Stratfords , gave the following interesting exposition of their case : — " But the fact , in regard to these Mr . Stratfords , is , that they were accused of that which was in itself an offencethat is to say , they had in their house a private printing press , which is prohibited b y the law of Tuscany , and it was shown that with this printing press they had printed

    papers inveighing against the Government for the purpose of distribution . 5 fp doubt they had incurred the liability to punishment , but they were tried by an Austrian courtmartial at Leghorn . Well , the Government , when I was a member of it , protested against this proceeding . We consulted our legal advisers , and found that by the fundamental law of Tuscany even the Tuscan Government could not establish martial law to the suppression of the ordinary tribunals , much less those of a foreign garrison acting under the orders of a foreign Government . We protested , both at Florence and at Vienna , against the competency of the court , and against , therefore , the validity of the sentence ; and . I presumCj from what I have heard to-night , been

    that that protest was insisted . upon , that its force had admitted , and that these two young men were to be liberated in consequence of the incompotency of the court and tho invalidity of the sentence : therefore , their release , while it was no great satisfaction to Mr . Mather , was , dip lomaticall y speaking , not , I think , a fair arrangement , inasmuch as we should have had them released without it . " He contended , that if any pecuniary compensation was to be d emanded , the sum of 5001 . was " altogether inadequate . " One thing , he insisted , that Mr . Scarlett had not done . He had not surrendered , he had only waived the discussion of the principle of the responsibility of the Tuscan Government . And then , said the speaker , —

    " I think , if the Government were not satisfied with the amount which the Tuscan Government offered , tho more handy way of dealing with that case would have been to say , ' Wo take the money in our sense ; and remember , that if ever the same thing happen again , we will compel you to g ive us what wo think amplo compensation ; and wo don't care a pin what you say about your non-responsibility—we will make you responsible . ' ' ( Cheers . ) As to suspending relations with Tuscany , or inflicting any punishment on its governors , that would bo making it the whipping-boy of Austria .

    "If you wanted to inflict a practical lesson , I think it would have boon better read by applying it to Austria . The practical lesson read to Tuscany was this—and it is applicable to all small States—you say to Tuscany , You possess practically an independence , but you have novortheless let in a foreign garrison , over which you havo no control ; we will toach you to do that again , for wo will make you pay for tho conduct of that garrison . No doubt thoro ' is a moral in that , bufc I . am not suro that greater European good could not have boon accomp lished by roading a lesson to tho other party , and by flaying to groat Powers , If you tako advantage of your superior forco to impose upon a smaller Pawor , and occupy and garrison that small Stato , you shall eontinuo responsible for tho conduct of that garrison , and if that garrison misbehaves itself towards English subjects wo shall como to you instead of to the weak Powor which you havo overruled and overborne . Both lessons are good , but in a European sonfie , that would have been best . " ( Oheors . )

    The peroration of his speech is so remarkable at this juncture of affiiiivs , that it is oh well tho reuder should peruse it entire . " I am very much interested , as tho Govornmont naturally aro , hi Mio independence of Tiwcany , and I muflfc Hay thoBO papers do call i ' ov serious attention on tho part of thp GoVornmont to tho unfortunate condition of largo portions of tho Italian States . ( Loud orioH of " Hoar . ) Tho" Italians aro a poopjo endowed with vory great and ominont qualities ; thoy aro gifted wHh great natural ability ; thoy havo shown in former times that thoy avo not inferior as statesmen and in political knowlodgo and capacity to tho pooplo of any ofchor part , of Europe I apprehend their qualitioH roinain tho finmo , though tho cultivation of thoso poworo by tho poHHOBBion of opportunities of employing thorn aro not tho fuuno as thoy possossod in formor poriodo . It is lamentable- to boo tho

    present state of Tuscany , the Roman States , and of Naples . It is difficult to say where the greatest . misgovernment prevails . ( Loud cries of " Hear . J At . . nas been said of Austria that they wished the people ot Italy should draw a comparison favourable to them between the condition of the States which they govern and those which other Governments administer ; but , like the ^ gentleman from the sister island , who complained of Ins bootmaker that , whereas he had ordered him to make one larger than the other , the bootmaker bad made it less than the other ( laughter ) , so the Government of Austria , instead of making a comparison in such guise that the Italians should think the Lombards and the Venetians are better governed than the rest , only compels them to think that the other territories are worse governed than the other States . ( Cheers . ) This isI say , lamentable , and

    , I do not believe there is another example in modem times of such a system of cruelty , tyranny , and violence of every sort as exists in the Neapolitan and Koman States . ( Cheers . ) It is a disgrace to modern Europe The position of affairs in Tuscany is not so bad ; but the public there are exposed continually to acts of violence from a foreign garrison , for which they have no redress , and which , if committed in England , would arouse the indignation of every man from one end of the kingdom to the other . ( Cheers . ) This occupation of the Italian States , especially of Tuscany , by foreign troops , did not escape the attention of the late Government . It is evident that that occupation cannot cease except by common consent between the Governnent of France and the

    Government of Austria . France would not withdraw unl il Austria has evacuated Tuscany and the Legations , which it cannot be expected to do until the French have retired from Rome . We have been told that nothing could be done until the month of May had passed , and there was much force in the arguments and statements then made . ^ But May has now gone by . I do intreat Her Majesty ^ Government to turn their minds to . this question * It is one which really concerns—not merely the happiness and welfare of a most interesting part of Europe—but which also involves great international questions , and which deeply affects the balance of power in Europe . ( Cheers . ) I should hope that Her Majesty ' s Government , being on eood and friendly terms with the two Governments mainly

    interested in a decision upon that matter , will exert that influence that justly belongs to the Governme nt of this great country , and will endeavour to persuade the Governments of France and Austria to put an end to the anomalous and irregular state of things which now prevails in so great a part of the Italian peninsula . ( Cheers . ) I shall be told that the condition of the Eoman States is such that , if the French garrison were to retire , a great revolution and disturbance would take place . But 4 et me remind the House of what passed in 1831 and 1832 , when the five powers of Austria , Prussia , llussia , France , and England , gave to the then Pope advice with regard to the improvement of the internal organization of Ms Government , which , if it had been acted upon and carried out , States which

    would have secured the tranquillity of the he governs . ( Hear . ) Some such arrangement might now with advantage bo adopted . I shall be told , perhaps , that some steps are already taken with that object , but I feel that they are practically i llusive , and that no practical step has been taken with the view to those improvements which were then recommended , and which are now more wanted than ever . ( Hear , hear . ) I ought , perhaps , to apologize to the House for the time during which I have occupied its attention . ( Loud cheers . ) I am sure , however , that tho subject I havo mentioned is one that must engage the sympathy of every man in this country ; and I auTpersuaded that if Her Majest y ' s Government will take it up in tho spirit in which I think they are disposed to act , great good will result to Europe from their endeavours . ' ( Much cheering . )

    Mr . Dishaem then took up the cudgels , and valiantly defended his obnoxious colleague . Ho donicd that the national feeling was involved in the outrage at Florence , and ho added , although " it was an outrageous , n wanton , nnd a cruel act ( cheers ) it was still an accidental one " ; HodefondodLordMalmesbuvyatall points ; and fully adopted tho courso pursued by him , making a merit of tho demand for redress being made to Tuscany , as , if it had been made to Austria , that would havo been a virtual acknowledgment of Austrian supremacy in that stato . " He , in common with the O pposition speakers , applauded Mr . Mathor—to a certain extent .

    " I will not say ono word that would cheapen the conduct or character of Mr . Mathor . I have no reason to believe that ho is otherwise than a respectable Englishman , and was placed under circumstances of groat difficulty , and which , from his previous habits of life , ho was unaccustomed to , and had littlo experience of . Ho appears to mo to have conducted himself with discretion and good sonse , nnd any attempt to criticise his conduct or hie character would , I think , bo not only wanting in good tasto but in good feeling . ( Hear , hear . )" tt

    And after uttering this eulogy , ho turned round o he HouBe , and asked thom to viow tho case as " mono ! " tho world , and mombors of Parliament . " Ho thought Lord Malmesbury had acted with groat propriety in requesting Mr . Mathor . to stato tho sum at which ho valued tho injury , and in demanding pecuniary reparation . Neither was thoro any "infirmity of purpose" about Lord Malmusbury » conduct—it had boon " porlbetly proper . " , And lie wound up with Bomo remarks in reply to Lord Palmorstou » peroration . ¦ _ __ __ _ _ , . a it _ _ . _ . attention to tho state of

    " Tho noble lord has callodour Italy , and ho only does justico to tliefuolingH ot tho Govornmont when ho assumes that thoy look with great mtotort and Homo anxiety to that important country . But no spoko in a tono as if tho Government were responsible tor the Htato of affairs thoro . Tho otato of Italy ib no worse than wo found it . Tho noblo lord haa boon making theso HpooohoB on tho stato of Italy for a considorablo time , and very iust aro his observations , and vory ingonioushiB policy ; but tlio stato of Italy haa not boon improved hitherto by

    Jpgjb 19, 1352.] T H E L^ E A D Ejr. S75

    jpgJB 19 , 1352 . ] T H E L ^ E A D EJR . S 75

• Citation
  • Leader (1850-1860), June 19, 1852, page 3, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_19061852/page/3/