HL Deb 13 April 1840 vol 53 cc999-1002
The Marquess of Londonderry

must again press upon the attention of the noble Viscount, the subject of the claims of the late unfortunate British legion. This was, it was well known, a subject on which he took the greatest interest, and he trusted, that the noble Earl opposite (the Earl of Clarendon) had seen the letter lately published by a gallant officer, who held a high command in the legion, repelling the taunt which had been cast on the officers of the British auxiliary legion, of a want of esprit du corps, and of a proper sense of dignity and decorum in having applied to the Marquess of Londonderry to support their claims in the House of Lords. He was also desirous of calling the noble Viscount's attention to a great grievance, which arose from the circulation of the certificates granted by the Spanish government. Some of them had got into the hands of honest tradesmen and citizens in this town, and they would either be ruined or put to the greatest inconvenience, if they were not paid. The following letter had been transmitted to him on this subject, which he would read to their Lordships: 7, Paul-street, Finsbury-square, April 9, 1840. My Lord—I know and feel that I am taking a great liberty in occupying one moment of your Lordship's valuable time. I beg, however, most humbly, your Lordship will please to read my letter, and humbly trust to your Lordship's humanity to pardon me. Some months back, in my little industrious pursuits, I took, in the way of business, a Spanish certificate for 16l. 15s. 6d., signed by two commissioners, and also by General Alava, for which I gave good and honest value, but not till I ascertained from General Alava himself that it was correct and would be paid. Since that, owing to illness in my family, I fell into great distress. I endeavoured to sell the certificate, but could not get half the amount. Having seen it stated in the Morning Chronicle that the amount of the certificates would be all paid, in consequence of an arrangement made by Lord Melbourne, I wrote to his Lordship in deep distress. I received his answer, desiring, me to apply to the Foreign Office. I received Lord Palmerston's answer, desiring me to apply to General Alava, the Spanish Ambassador at this Court. I did so, and presented both the letters, and, after calling every day for a week, his secretary said the General was very sorry, but if he paid me it would be a precedent, and he would be troubled, and I must wait till the time of payment arrived. My daughters were ill, and we were literally starving. A respectable tradesman in this neighbourhood lent me four pounds on the certificate. He has got it, the Morning Chronicle which I purchased, and the letters of Lords Melbourne and Palmerston. I humbly beg to state to your Lordship that the amount of the certificate, or less, would enable me to earn a living. My daughters are, thank God, recovered, but I am in a state of total destitution, and know not what to do. I have no claim on your Lordship more than being an Irishman in great distress, and pray your Lordship to pardon me. I have the honour to be, with the greatest respect, your Lordship's most humble and obedient servant, THOMAS FITZGERALD. I beg most humbly to state to your Lordship that I have been extensively in business in London for twenty years as an importer of Irish provisions, but have been unfortunate and lost all; and, small as the amount of the certificate is, it is enough for me to earn an honest living and be happy the remainder of my life. If your Lordship will benevolently condescend to notice my appeal to your humanity, my gratitude will never cease. I have not this moment the command of one shilling, and know not what to do. The notice in the Morning Chronicle to which the poor man referred, was this:— British Auxiliary Legion—We have great pleasure in stating from authority that the claims of the officers and men of the unfortunate legion upon the Spanish Government are now in a fair way of being speedily settled. The notice then stated some other particulars, which it was not now necessary to mention. The answer which the noble Viscount (Melbourne) sent was as follows:— Downing-street, February 3, 1840. Sir—I am desired by Viscount Melbourne to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 1st instant, and to inform you that you should make your communication to the Foreign Office.—I am, your obedient servant, Thomas Fitzgerald, Esq. "C. HOWARD. This poor man was told that he should make his communication to the Foreign Office. He did so, and he was referred to General Alava, the Spanish Ambassador. The answer of the noble Lord at the head of the Foreign Office was as follows:— Foreign Office, Feb. 5, 1840. Sir—I am directed by Viscount Palmerston to acknowledge the receipt of your letters of the 31st ult. and the 4th instant, stating that you hold a Spanish certificate for 16l. 15s., signed by General Alava, and requesting to be informed how you are to obtain payment of the same; and I am to acquaint you in reply that his Lordship is not in possession of the information required by you, but his Lordship suggests that you should apply to General Alava, the Spanish Minister at this Court—I am, Sir, your most obedient, humble servant, W. F. STRANGWAYS. Thomas Fitzgerald. Mr. Fitzgerald then applied to General Alava. He saw the secretary of the Embassy, and was told the General was sorry—that if he paid him it would be a precedent, and that he must wait till the time for payment arrived. The consequence of this was that this poor man was thrown into a starving condition. This case was quite disgraceful to the Government and to the Spanish Embassy, and therefore he trusted that during the Easter recess some steps would be taken towards the final settlement of these claims. The certificate was in itself a curiosity. It had on the back some twenty names of parties to whom it had been transferred. He again repeated that he trusted these claims would be settled, because if they were not, these certificates would be in circulation, inflicting injury on all those who had purchased them. Now with respect to the Bergara papers, he must say that he had never seen so meagre a compilation. He hoped, as had been the case with the China papers, that the Government would be induced to dole out a little more information. He wished now to state certain questions on which he should be glad to receive to-morrow some information from the noble Earl (Clarendon). First, whether Lord John Hay had any instructions to open a communication with General Maroto; secondly, whether that gallant Officer was instructed to aid the views of Munagorri, notwithstanding that his attempt was not recognised by the Christino government; thirdly, whether it was promised to preserve the Basque fueros as far as they were consistent with the Spanish representative government; and, lastly, whether in the proceedings which had been taken between Espartero and Maroto it was the determination of the British Government that the fueros should be fully preserved.

Subject at an end.