§ COLONEL RAWDONwished to call the attention of the Government to a matter of ssme importance. He had seen a letter, dated from Florence, on the 11th of this month, in which it was stated that a British officer, in the full uniform of the Royal Marines, had been cut down in the streets of Leghorn by the Austrian authorities. He wished to know whether Her Majesty's Government had received any information on the subject of this transaction, and, if so, whether any measures had been taken to obtain redress?
§ The CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERI believe it to be quite incorrect that a British officer, in the uniform of 1245 the Royal Marines, has been cut down, as stated, at Leghorn. But information has reached the Government to the effect, that a petty officer of Marines, being on shore on leave of absence from his ship, has been maltreated by the Tuscan Customs police at Leghorn; that, in consequence, the commander of the vessel, the Firebrand, Captain Codd, communicated with Mr. Scarlett, our Secretary of Legation at Florence, between whom and the Tuscan Minister much correspondence had taken place; and that the result was, that the head of the police, who, it appears, was involved in the transaction, has been imprisoned for eight days. That is the substance of all the information that Her Majesty's Government has received upon the subject.
§ VISCOUNT PALMERSTONI should wish to put to the right hon. Gentleman the Chancellor of the Exchequer a question on a subject which may be said to be in some respects similar to the matter that has just been mentioned. It may be in the recollection of the House that some time ago an outrage of a very aggravated character—an outrage which would have been unmanly under any circumstances, but which, under the peculiar circumstances of the case, might be said to be cowardly—was committed on an unarmed British subject at Florence, by an armed officer of the Austrian service, who was marching at the head of his regiment, That outrage was made the subject of an inquiry in this House; and the noble Lord who was then at the head of Her Majesty's Government stated that communications having reference to the officer were going on at the time, and he did not hesitate to express it as his opinion, that reparation was unquestionably due on the part of the Austrian Government to Mr. Mather, the English gentleman who had been so shamefully outraged. Now, I wish to ask the right hon. Gentleman if he is aware whether the Austrian Government have inflicted any punishment on the officer who so grossly misconducted himself, and whether any kind of reparation has been made by the Austrian Government to Mr. Mather?
§ The CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERAs the noble Lord the Member for Tiverton has not given me notice of his intention to ask me any question on this subject, I must be pardoned if I cannot immediately give him an answer upon this particular point. But, Sir, although the noble Lord has not given notice of the 1246 question, I am in a position to assure the House that Her Majesty's Government have insisted on the Tuscan Government giving reparation to Mr. Mather; for the Tuscan Government, being an independent Government, is not in an condition to avail itself of the excuse in the case of an outrage of this kind, that it was committed by the Austrian authorities; and we have, therefore insisted upon reparation from the Tuscan Government. With regard to the correspondence between the British Government and the Government of Austria on the subject, I believe—though I could have spoken with more certainty had notice been given—I believe I may say that it has terminated, or is approaching to a speedy termination, and that the result will most probably be satisfactory to the House.
§ LORD JOHN RUSSELLsaid, he wished to know whether the inquiry into this transaction that had been promised on the part of the Tuscan Government had taken place; and if so, what had been the result?
§ The CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERI must repeat my regret that due notice has not been given me of these questions. I will, however, be prepared to give all possible information on the subject to-morrow.