§ MR. MONCKTON MILNESsaid, that it had been mentioned in the public prints that the Governor of Malta had thought fit to prevent certain persons landing in that island, those persons being refugees from Rome. Whatever political opinions might be entertained by different parties respecting their cause, their bravery had undoubtedly excited the admiration of the civilised world. He therefore asked the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies whether it was true that those persons had not even been allowed to land in Malta, and whether the English authorities were going to imitate that want of hospitality of which there had been such flagrant instances in a neighbouring nation?
§ MR. HAWESsaid, that the refugees to whom reference had been made consisted of persons who had left both Sicily and Italy, and were not confined to parties who had quitted Rome. They arrived, however, in such crowds at Malta, that it was absolutely necessary for the Governor, acting on his own responsibility for the preservation of the peace and tranquillity of the island, to limit the numbers frequenting it. This was not done with any inconsiderateness; on the contrary, whenever sickness was given as a reason for landing, the parties were at once allowed to disembark, and they received every care and attention from the Governor himself. Nevertheless, considering the crowds of all characters who flocked to the island, the Governor had stated, and he (Mr. Hawes) thought him justified in so doing, that if he were to be responsible for the tranquillity of the place, he must limit the numbers coming there; and, unless the Governor had intimated to the proper authorities not to allow these parties to land to such a great extent, he would probably have been obliged to take other steps which might have appeared more severe.
§ MR. HUMEthought that even the re- 1162 port of such a transaction was disgraceful to the country, and he wished to know what number of persons arrived at Malta at any one time?
§ MR. HAWESsaid, he had received no notice of this last question, but he believed he was right in saying that several hundreds arrived there within a short period, and more were on their way.
§ Subject dropped.