§ Mr. Scarlettsaid, that since he had given notice of a motion to call the attention of the House to that part of the Report of the Committee upon the Consular establishments, recommending the transfer of the Consulary Correspondence with the Barbary States from the Colonial to the Foreign Office, he had seen it announced in the public prints, he knew not from what authority, that such a transfer was in contemplation. He begged therefore to ask the noble Lord, the Secretary for Foreign Affairs, whether this was true, as, upon receiving an answer in the affirmative, the observations which he should otherwise think it his duty to submit to the House would be narrowed into a very small compass.
§ Viscount Palmerstonreplied, that the Government had resolved to act upon the opinion expressed by the Committee, and that arrangements were in progress for carrying into effect a transfer of the business. Preparations had been making at the Foreign Office for the receipt of the books and documents alluded to by the hon. and learned Gentleman.
§ Mr. Scarlettsaid, he should abstain from adverting, at that moment, to the situation of the African States, which particularly required the attention of the Secretary for Foreign Affairs, and from several other topics; and would content himself upon the present occasion with noticing the disastrous state to which the regency of Tripoli had been reduced by the indiscretion, he would not use a stronger term, of the British agent. Though the immediate cause of the war which had now for several years devastated that unhappy country was the striking of the British 1197 consular flag, contrary to the spirit of the instructions given by the British Admiral then commanding his Majesty's forces, the calamities which preceded this misfortune began in the banishment of the representative of the ancient and illustrious family of D'Ghies, whom he was proud to call his friend, a most excellent and honourable man, who was at the moment of his banishment filling the situation of first Minister of his Sovereign. The British Government owed a deep debt of gratitude to this family, which it had repaid with ingratitude and neglect. By means of the influence and integrity of this family, the slate of Tripoli had been brought, during three generations of men, into a state of some order and civilization. From the moment of the expatriation of this enlightened Minister, the only Mahometan perhaps perfectly acquainted with European civilization, the calamities of Tripoli had increased. From want of his counsels, the reigning dynasty was overturned and compelled to quit the regency, and the country had become a prey to internal war and to every sort of disorder. He therefore implored the noble Lord's humanity and compassion for the miseries of this unhappy country, and trusted that, as those misfortunes arose in a great measure from the imprudence of the British Consul, he would endeavour to apply a suitable remedy to them. By such conduct the noble Lord would erect a monument to his fame more lasting than any other—the reputation of a judicious exercise of the duties of his great office. The hon. Gentleman concluded by moving for the correspondence between the British Admiral and the Consul relative to the debts of the Pasha, and the striking the British flag at Tripoli in 1832; and for correspondence between the Pasha of Tripoli and the Consul upon the events of the war which broke out upon the striking of the British flag in that Regency.
§ Viscount Palmerstoncomplained that the motion was different from that of which the hon. and learned Gentleman had given notice, which was to call the attention of the House to the correspondence in question. He would not, however, dispute upon the point of order; but he assured the hon. and learned Gentleman that he would endeavour to make himself master of the subject, of the importance of which he was quite sensible. As the correspondence was to be trans- 1198 erred to the Foreign Office, he trusted the hon. and learned Gentleman would not persevere in the motion.
§ Mr. Scarlettsaid, he would withdraw it, with the leave of the House, as the object of his motion had been answered, and he felt sure that every attention would be paid to the business in the Foreign Office, when the Consular correspondence should be transferred to it.—Motion withdrawn.