HC Deb 14 March 1862 vol 165 cc1503-4
SIR GEORGE BOWYER

said, he rose to ask the First Lord of the Treasury regarding certain events which have recently taken place in the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies. He had been informed that lately the Archbishop of Amalfi having died, his body was lying in state in the cathedral; and that, while the funeral service was being chanted by the clergy, a party of revolutionists rushed into the church with drawn daggers, and repeatedly stabbed the corpse of the prelate. He had also been informed that an expectation existed at Naples, that the tombs of the Royal Family in the church of St. Chiara, were about to be attacked and violated by the revolutionary party, and it was believed that the Piedmontese police were willing to connive at these outrages. He was also informed that her Royal Highness the Countess d'Aquila, sister of the Emperor of Brazil, and who had two children buried in that church, had called for the protection of the Brazilian Legation, and that its protection had been given to preserve the remains of those children from the outrage that threatened them. The question he had to ask was, Whether the Government had received information on these subjects; and also whether they had addressed any, and if so, what remonstrance's to the Government of Turin, with regard to the insecurity of persons and property in the South of Italy?

VISCOUNT PALMERSTON

Sir, I can only say that Her Majesty's Government have received no information of any sort or kind with regard to the events that the hon. and learned Baronet supposes to have passed, or to be about to pass in Southern Italy. The hon. and learned Gentleman Speaks of the "Kingdom of the Two Sicilies," but that Kingdom has ceased to exist. I must say I; entertain some doubts as to the correctness of the information which he has received in regard to the events which he supposes to have taken place; and should he permit me to do so, I would advise him to receive with considerable caution any statements that may be made to him by persons in Italy with regard to supposed intentions attributed to those who are under the authority of the King of Italy.