§ Mr. Broughamwished to know if the right hon. gentleman opposite would have any objection to inform the House whether the proclamations issued by the governor of Trinidad were put forth upon his authority alone, or in consequence of instructions received from his government at home? He also wished to know whether any information could be communicated respecting our relations with the Spanish and Portuguese ports of South America, in possession of what were called the insurgents? It was a question of great importance to our merchants. He had heard that the Spanish government had agreed to cede Monte Video to Portugal, in exchange for Olivenza. Now, he maintained that Monte Video did not belong to Spain, but to the independent party; or, as they were sometimes improperly called, the revolted settlements, which had conquered it before the restoration of Ferdinand; and that therefore Ferdinand could have no right to dispose of it. Be this as it might, he understood, that a force of 10,000 Portuguese troops were now under the walls of the place; and this was of the more importance, as they were said to have been handed over, in a complete state of discipline and equipment by lord Beresford, to the Portuguese commander. He did not know whether our funds had also been employed in the preparation of this force, but he considered the intelligence to be of a very ominous nature.
The Chancellor of the Exchequersaid, the hon. and learned gentleman had better move for the production of any papers he might wish on the latter subject when his noble friend was present, to whose department the subjects referred to more particularly belonged.
§ Mr. Broughamsaid, he should have thought, if any thing had been done with regard to such matters, it would have been known to all the cabinet ministers. However, he should move to-morrow for the production of any correspondence that might have taken place. Meanwhile, he should content himself with moving "That an humble address be presented to his royal highness the Prince Regent, that he will be graciously pleased to give directions that there be laid before this House, copies of all proclamations, issued by the governor of Trinidad, since the 1st of January 1814, touching the intercourse with South America."
§ Mr. A. Brownesaid, he was very happy to find his hon. and learned friend applying his great talents to the consideration of the little politics of Trinidad; and as they had the misfortune of contending with him on questions of great colonial policy, he was rejoiced that they should now have the benefit of his exertions in investigating the evils of the internal government of that island. Those evils would be found to be of a serious nature; in addition to the restriction of all intercourse with the Spanish main, which was a great source of their prosperity, and indeed of their daily subsistence, they had to contend with the evils of a despotic government, which was under no sort of local check or control; and they had the still deeper evil of a privation of British laws, and the strange anomaly of living under a Spanish code of laws administered by a British judge.
The Chancellor of the Exchequersaid, this was a question that could be more properly answered by his noble friend, with whose department the subject was connected.
Mr. Ponsonbydid not wish to embarrass the right hon. gentleman, but this he would repeat again and again, with a loud voice, that England had in no foreign quarter of the globe, so strong an interest as in South America. It had been asserted in another place, that this government had interfered with the United States, as to the conduct its citizens ought to pursue with respect to the Spanish provinces. It was of the utmost importance that the truth of 1192 this statement should be ascertained; and he did expect to receive a direct answer on that subject.
The Chancellor of the Exchequermust again observe, that this matter belonged to the department of his noble friend, who was not then present.
§ Sir M. W. Ridleysaid, he should not then take upon himself to trouble the House with any opinion, whether it would be more advisable that Trinidad should be under Spanish or British laws; but he would confidently say, that the laws of that island would never be administered with greater justice than they were by the individual now at the head of it.
Mr. Marryat,from his connexion with Trinidad, could not refrain from stating, that the present form of government was the subject of loud complaint, and that in addition to the general evils which had been stated, he had been informed, that the governor had refused to give an asylum to some of the Spanish insurgents, who had fled thither for protection, and had sent them back, where they were all murdered; and that British hospitality had been actually sold in that island.
§ Mr. A. Browne,in explanation, said, that he did not intend the slightest imputation on the distinguished judge of the island. On the contrary, he was convinced that he discharged the difficult duties of his situation with great honour to himself and great advantage to the community.
§ Mr. Broughamconcurred in this explanation as far as it related to the judge of the island.
§ The motion was agreed to.