LORD BROUGHAMsaid, he had a question to ask of his noble Friend the President of the Council, which he trusted his noble Friend would be able to answer in the negative. It was, Whether there was any foundation—he hoped there was none—for the accounts that had been spread in this and neighbouring countries of the bombardment of the town of Palermo? For the honour of human nature he hoped there was no foundation for the report of such an unexampled atrocity. He said unexampled, for even the most execrable tyrant of ancient times, whose name had become proverbial for tyranny—even Nero 147 was only charged with standing by in levity while Rome was burning; but he was never charged with the far more atrocious offence of having set fire to the city for the purpose of destroying among its hundreds of thousands of inhabitants those who were his enemies. He hoped and trusted that there was no ground for these rumours; because although the sacred principle of non-intervention ought to be scrupulously observed, whatever might happen in foreign countries between the different portions of their people—no interference was lawful, however gross the crimes committed on or by any portion of its people, still that sacred principle, if it should unhappily be proved that those accounts were true, would, he should say, in such an event, be tried to the uttermost. He hoped and trusted that it would survive the trial, and that the principle of non-intervention would still be held sacred—no interference by the Government of other countries being permitted, no interference by their diplomatic representatives, no interference by their fleets and armies. No, the principle was sacred and inviolable; but that principle did not, and could not extinguish in our bosoms the natural feelings of humanity, could not prevent us from hearing with indignation and with horror—if the question asked were not answered in the negative—of those crimes that had been committed at Palermo, and still less could it prevent us from wishing heartily for the speedy and entire liberation of the people of Sicily, even though it should be attended by the fall of all their tyrants.
§ EARL GRANVILLEregretted to say that official accounts had been received of the bombardment of Palermo. In giving that answer to the noble and learned Lord he must observe that it was not usual nor convenient for the Government to reply to questions upon foreign policy without previous notice.
LORD BROUGHAMadmitted that, according to the usual practice, he ought to have given notice of the question, but he had purposely abstained from doing so in order not by any possibility to commit his noble Friend (Earl Granville) and his Colleagues upon this subject.