COMMITTEE OF SUPPLY. (Hansard, 29 June 1821)

§ Sir R. Wilson
rose to oppose the grant. If a foreigner misconducted himself in this country, it would be much better to proceed against him by indictment, than as now summarily by the Alien bill, on clandestine information. In some cases the evasion of the law prevented the foreigner from availing himself even of the scanty means of justification, which the bill itself afforded. In France, by the charter, although a passport was necessary 1448 to the admission of a foreigner into the country, when he actually had arrived, be could not be removed without having committed some offence obnoxious to the laws. By the existing Spanish law, Spain was allowed to be an asylum for foreigners who fled from their own countries, in consequence of political offences alone. There were many cases of the treatment of foreigners under the Alien bill, which were highly reprehensible. There was the case of a foreigner, who was sent out upon the representation of a foreign ambassador, that foreigner not having committed any offence in this country. There was the case of madame Montholon and her child, the latter of whom died, in consequence of not being allowed to land. There was the case of general Gourgaud, suddenly hurried off, without being allowed the opportunity of justifying himself from the charges alleged against him. Who did not recollect the conduct of colonel Browne, which induced M. Marietti, the banker, to warn his son, that if he were not cautious, the Alien act would be used against him? In fact, he scarcely met a foreigner who did not begin conversation by asking him, whether he thought an alien might now live in England free from the vexatious operations of this measure.

Mr. Hobhouse
said, that several cases had been quoted to prove what were the evil effects of the alien law. He would take leave to mention another, which went to show what was the idea that was entertained of it by foreigners themselves. Some time since he happened to be in the theatre at Milan, in company with an English physician. His friend being incommoded with the cap of a grenadier officer who stood before him, begged him to take it off that he might see what was going on. To this civil request a rude answer was given, and the Englishman desired the grenadier to walk out of the box. The invitation being immediately complied with, both himself and his friend concluded that the preliminaries of a more particular meeting were immediately to be arranged. The House would judge of their mutual surprise, when, upon crossing a lobby, his friend was seized, put in the guard-house, and next morning desired, by a message from count Saurau, to quit the Milanese immediately. Upon his remonstrating with, the count, upon the hardship of the case, the count replied, "I believe you are 1449 aware that the same thing might be done in England by my lord Castlereagh, under the alien act." This was very ridiculous to be sure; very unlike the noble lord, and very unlike the law: but it showed that the principle of that law was so odious in itself, that even well-informed men, attributed to it an operation of the most despotic character.

Mr. Bernal
observed, that while we were holding out to foreign nations every inducement to trade with us, we ought to remove that impediment to a closer connection with those nations, which the Alien bill presented.

The Marquis of Londonderry
said, the gallant general was too well aware of the course and practice of parliament, really to suppose that a question upon the charge of the Alien-office was a proper opportunity for discussing the Alien law. That law would only have operation for one year more; and a much more fitting occasion for such a discussion might be found. With regard to the law, he had always protested against the notion of its having been framed with a view to the particular wishes of any foreign nation whatever. Whenever the gallant general could make out a single case, in which any foreigner for his conduct abroad had been excluded from these shores, contrary to the well known hospitality of the country, and the generous spirit of our foreign and domestic policy, he would admit that the Alien act had been abused. It was a very different thing, however, that, where a foreigner came here, in order to make this kingdom the theatre of his conspiracies, and of his hostile machinations against other and friendly powers, he should be prevented from remaining. When this bill expired, and his majesty's government propose its renewal, it would then be for the gallant general to bring up his artillery to bear against it. At present he was only wasting his powder and shot, and directing his fire, not against the principle of the law, but against the officers and clerks of the establishment.

§ Sir J. Mackintosh
said, that such was his abhorrence of the measure, that he felt himself bound to avail himself of every opportunity of opposing it. Unfortunately it was now too late in the session to think of proposing the repeal of this law; but still he felt it necessary to object to the money by which it was to be carried into execution. Having no other means of 1450 reaching the monster, he would starve it to death, and therefore, if his gallant friend went to a division, he would vote against the resolution.

Mr. Bennet
said, he would give his decided opposition to the grant. As an instance of the conduct pursued in Naples, he begged to state a fact which had been communicated to him upon the best authority. A Neapolitan senator had taken refuge on board a Spanish ship. He was there visited by sir W. A'Court and the French ambassador, who expressed their regret that he should entertain any jealousy or alarm, and promised that he might come on shore with perfect safety. The senator, relying on these promises, went on shore, accompanied by his son, a boy of 18 years of age, and they were immediately arrested and thrown into one of the worst prisons in the town. The confinement of this gentleman was the more unpardonable, as sir W. A'Court, by speaking one word, could instantly release him from prison. A recollection of some transactions which took place some time ago when he (Mr. B.) was in Italy, made him tremble for the fate of this unfortunate senator, under the government of the king of the Lazzaroni.

The Marquis of Londonderry
said, it was no bad Criterion of the mildness of the king of Naples' government, that he was beloved and respected by the Lazzaroni. With respect to what the hon. member had said of sir W. A'Court, he could not believe that that gentleman would lend himself to any such transaction.

Mr. Hutchinson
thought that a system of tyranny was now acted upon by the chief of the allied sovereigns, and that their great object wus to put down liberty in Europe; and he believed that though the noble marquis had not dared to affix his name to any of their public declarations, yet he was not unfriendly to their system.

List of the Minority.
Abercromby, hon. J.	Harbord, hon. E.
Becher, W.	Hume, J.
Benyon, B.	Hutchinson, hon. H.
Calcraft, J.	Lennard, T. B.
Cavendish, hon. H.	Martin, J.
Clifford, W. J.	Milton, vict.
Creevey, T.	Monck, J.B.
Davies, col.	Palmer C. F.
Denman, T.	Phillips, G. R. jun.
Fergusson, sir R.	Robertson, A.

Robinson, sir G.	Warre, J. A.
Robarts, A. W.	Wilson, sir R.
Rice, S.	TELLERS.
Smith, R.	Bennet, hon. H. G.
Smith, W.	Hobhouse, J. C.