§ SIR R. H. INGLISsaid, he had given notice of a question relative to the treatment of British Protestants in the dominions of Spain and Portugal, and wished to know whether the noble Lord was prepared to lay on the Table the correspondence that had taken place between the Government of this country and that of Portugal with reference to the expulsion of Dr. Kalley from the island of Madeira? He hoped, also, that there would be no objection to produce such correspondence as had passed since Dr. Kalley's return.
§ VISCOUNT PALMERSTONconsidered the subject to which his hon. Friend had called his attention, and that of the House, as no doubt one of great importance, not only as respected the interests and feelings of British subjects, but also as a subject of great delicacy in so far as regarded the amicable relations of Great Britain and other countries; because, though treaties existed to secure to British subjects in foreign countries the most perfect freedom of action in the exercise of their religious opinions, yet, when that freedom became involved with most laudable, most sincere, and, in the abstract, praiseworthy endeavours to propagate their own religious opinions, and to convert the subjects of other Governments to their own belief, the House would at once see that there did arise questions of a very different nature to that of merely giving British subjects freedom of conscience, and that matters might arise that involved also a just regard to the feelings and to the prejudices of the natives of other countries. If any persons 335 doubted that this must be the case, let them suppose that a party of Spanish or Portuguese Jesuits came to this country, and openly began to attempt the conversion of British subjects to their tenets, did they not see that our national feelings would be so wounded by the proceeding, that the question would assume a very different aspect from that of a mere assertion on the part of Spanish or Portuguese subjects of the free exercise of their own religion? Now, the case which had just been referred to was a case of the kind he had just sketched out; but he had no hesitation in saying, that Dr. Kalley and other British subjects were ill used and unjustly treated, and that compensation was due to them from the Portuguese Government for the insults and outrages to which they had been subjected. Dr. Kalley was one of those persons thus injured. He was compelled, not by any act of the Government, but in consequence of the danger to which he was exposed by a popular tumult in Madeira, to leave that island. The tumult was excited, as his information led him to suppose, by priests of the island and a small number of the people, and was by no means the result of the general feeling of the town. But, be that as it might, Dr. Kalley was compelled, from a regard to his personal safety, to quit the island, when his house was taken possession of by the authorities, and his property held in deposit by them. In consequence of these circumstances a commission was appointed to examine into the matter, which resulted in the two persons highest in authority being dismissed for their conduct. A trial of the rioters was ordered; but an acquittal took place, in consequence, he believed, of the vicious composition of the jury, persons having been placed upon it who were interested in the persons upon trial. Her Majesty's Government, looking at these and other circumstances which had occurred, had called upon the Government at Lisbon to take measures for bringing to trial the principal parties concerned, especially one individual holding an office in Madeira. Dr. Kalley was in this position: A long correspondence was yet going on with him. He had made a demand of compensation for ill-usage; and he (Lord Palmerston) had called upon him to state the amount of his claim, and had not yet received an answer; so that, until he got this statement from Dr. Kalley, he could not say whether the demand was fit to be entertained; and it would be premature, 336 therefore, to lay any of the papers before the House. If it should appear that there was any legal demand upon the Crown of Portugal—that there was any ground for claiming compensation to Dr. Kalley, and the demand was made and conceded by the Government of Madeira—as far as Dr. Kalley was concerned, there would be nothing which called for the opinion of Parliament. But if there should be a different result, the Government would then have to consider the question. As to Dr. Kalley's return to Madeira, nothing but his own apprehensions prevented it. He had put a question to him (Lord Palmerston) which it was difficult to answer. He had written to him to inquire whether he would be protected in all his rights? He would have all the protection which the British Government had a right to give him, and the Consular officer at Madeira was authorized to afford him; but if Dr. Kalley asked him whether, if he should go back, and pursue that system of conversion which the authorities at Madeira said was contrary to the law—if he asked him (Lord Palmerston), should he pursue that course, would this Government protect him against insult?—that was a question which it was totally impossible for the Government to answer. The utmost he could rely upon was, that he would have all the protection to which he was legally entitled, and all the redress which could be justly afforded to him. He hoped that his hon. Friend would be satisfied that his demand for the papers was premature; but he (Lord Palmerston) would be quite ready, if the transaction did not end in a satisfactory manner, to lay the papers before Parliament.
§ SIR R. H. INGLIS, under the circumstances, should not press for the production of the correspondence, relying upon the explanation given by the noble Lord.