§ LORD EDWARD HOWARDsaid, that bearing that atrocities had been, and were 709 likely to be, committed by the Sardinian Government and Army in Southern Italy, he wished to ask the noble Lord the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether Her Majesty's Government will use its influence with His Majesty King Victor Emmanuel to prevent bloodshed in his present hour of success, and will instruct its Diplomatic and Consular Agents to keep it fully informed of the measures ordered or adopted by the present de facto Government of Southern Italy, for the purpose of re-establishing order?
§ LORD JOHN RUSSELLSir, I have not thought it necessary to use any influence with King Victor Emmanuel to prevent bloodshed. I should say that, generally, the Sardinian troops have shown as much humanity in victory as they have displayed courage in the contest; but there have certainly occurred cases which it was painful for an army to deal with, and with which the Sardinian army have dealt in a very severe manner. For instance, it appears that orders were sent out—I cannot say by whom, but orders, proceeding from Gaeta and Rome—according to which brigands, convicts, and persons of the worst character were armed in parts of the kingdom of Naples, and committed great atrocities. In one case, they seized a young man, of the age of nineteen, the son of a person known for his liberal opinions, put out his eyes, and then burned him by his own fire. Atrocities of this kind, frequently repeated, induced the Syndics of the town to arrest these brigands, and put them in irons; but presently there came an order from Gaeta that they should be let loose again. They then committed other similar atrocities, and when the troops of the King of Sardinia came there they were seized, tried by a military commission, and shot. Atrocities of that kind, my noble Friend must be aware, cannot be dealt with according to the usual laws of criminal justice, or the usual proceedings of one regular army towards another. It is certainly very greatly to be lamented that, as there is now no army in the field to oppose that of the King of Sardinia, encouragement continues to be given—no longer from Gaeta, to be sure, but from Rome—to persons of the very worst character, who commit acts of brigandage and robbery in the villages, and put to death, in the most cruel manner, any persons who are supposed to differ from them in their opinions as to who should be King of that State. I can only say that I think it would be almost an affront to the 710 Government of the King of Sardinia to preach humanity to them. I believe that it is the wish of the King of Sardinia, as he has shown repeatedly by the orders which he has given, that, while war is carried on, it shall he conducted with humanity; and, I trust, from a letter with respect to the siege of Gaeta which I received this morning from a correspondent, which says:—
Indeed it is a great blessing to have done with the siege of Gaeta, and you will see, as I before predicted, the whole kingdom of Naples, or rather Southern Italy, will settle down into a state of tranquillity nearly equal to that of Tuscany, Romagna, and Bologna.that encouragement will no longer be given to the robberies and murders which have for some time been committed in Southern Italy.
§ LORD JOHN MANNERS— Will the noble Lord allow me to ask a question as to the information which he has just given us; whether that information appears in any of the papers which have been laid upon the table of the House, or from what source it comes, and whether he will be willing to communicate to the House any papers in which it is contained?
§ LORD JOHN RUSSELLThe information came to me from the Sardinian Minister. I have no documents to produce, but I certainly believe that it is true information.
§ MR. HENNESSYPerhaps the Chancellor of the Exchequer will inform us when he intends to ask for a Committee of Supply, as we can then discuss these things in a more regular form.
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERI cannot give any positive information, but I had understood that it was intended to propose a Committee of Supply on Monday next. At any rate, information as to when it is to be taken will be given to-morrow.