The Marquess of Londonderrytook the opportunity, on presenting several Petitions to the House, of calling attention to the papers which had been laid upon the Table of the House with reference to the case of Sir John Campbell. It appeared, that since he had lately drawn attention to the case of that gallant Officer, his Majesty's Government, having 1352 let the matter sleep for nearly four months, had suddenly interested themselves respecting him. A communication had been made on the part of his Majesty's Government to the government of Don Pedro in Portugal on behalf of that Officer. Under these circumstances he had no wish to proceed further upon the papers for which he had moved. His sole object was, to obtain some interference on his behalf on the part of his Majesty's Government, and in that he had succeeded. He trusted, that the answer to the communication made would be imparted to that House, and that it would come before the Session was over. Before he quitted the subject, he could not help remarking upon the absence of Sir George Shee's Letter from the papers laid on the Table by the Government. That Letter was, he believed, most favourable to Sir John Campbell, and its absence appeared to him to indicate a spirit on the part of his Majesty's Government against Sir John Campbell by no means satisfactory. Having achieved two important points, he should not press the matter further for the present. The first of these points was the production of the papers on the Table, amongst which was the Letter of the gallant Officer himself, stating his case in a clear and convincing manner. The second was, that he had the satisfaction of seeing his Majesty's Government, after three months' silence, making a renewed application in his favour.
§ Earl Greyexpressed his surprise at the remarks made by the noble Earl. When, originally, the noble Earl communicated to him, that he wished the production of the Letter of Sir George Shee, he replied, that he believed it was a confidential Letter, which could not be produced. He, however, requested the noble Earl to furnish him with a memorandum of the Letter, that he might look for it. From that hour to the present he had heard nothing more on the subject from the noble Earl; and he had therefore reason to express his surprise at the very extraordinary course taken by the noble Earl. He could only say, that if he had any accusation to make against his Majesty's Government upon this or any other subject, he should be fully prepared to meet it whenever the noble Earl chose to bring it forward. But he called upon the noble Earl not to deal in dark hints and suggestions, and to bring forward in an intangible shape, matters of complaint against the Government. Considering the course usually taken by the noble Earl in his 1353 opposition to his Majesty's Government, perhaps he ought not to be surprised that he had now reason to complain of the noble Earl. But he did think that, even in the noble Earl, his remarks upon the absence of Sir George Slice's Letter were most surprising and unfair. Upon the question of Sir John Campbell's wrongs, as advocated by the noble Earl, he could only say, after the fullest consideration, that Sir John Campbell had no claim whatever upon the Government as a British subject. It had been stated, on a former occasion, that Sir John Campbell was confined in prison with unusual severity. He (Earl Grey) had made inquiries, and found that that Officer was confined in a large room, which, during the dominion of Don Miguel, contained eighteen prisoners of the highest rank, and that he was at liberty to receive the visits of whomsoever he pleased. As there had been many misrepresentations in circulation upon this subject he thought it right to make this statement in order to set them at rest.
The Marquess of Londonderry, with great deference to the noble Earl, begged leave to state, that when he told him the Letter of Sir George Shee was a private Letter, he declared that he would not press for its production. The noble Earl called upon him to bring the conduct of his Majesty's Government before the House with reference to this subject. This he had already done, and in consequence of his having done so, the papers to which he had adverted had been laid upon the Table of the House, and, as he had already observed, an effort on behalf of Sir John Campbell had been made by his Majesty's Government. From the information be had received, he was sure that ever since Sir John Campbell had been removed from St. George to Belem he had been in a most inconvenient apartment, and had not been treated either as an Officer or a gentleman. So strong was his feeling upon this point, that he assured the noble Earl, that nothing but the belief that the next Letter from Portugal would bring news of the release of Sir John Campbell prevented him from proceeding with his Motion.
§ Earl Greysaid, the noble Earl might bring forward any Motion he pleased. He begged, however, to assure him, with the most perfect sincerity, that what had passed in that House had not had the slightest effect in influencing the conduct of his Majesty's Government with reference to Sir John Campbell.
§ The Conversation was then dropped.