§ EARL RUSSELL—I have to state to your Lordships that I have received information since the meeting of the House yesterday, with reference to the Neapolitan proclamation which was brought under your Lordships' notice by the noble Earl opposite (the Earl of Derby). It appears that when my despatch reached Turin, Sir James Hudson was at Milan, and that explains the delay which arose in the return of an answer to it. I have received an intimation last night that an explanation on the subject would be sent to the representative of the Italian Kingdom in London, who accordingly called on me this morning, and brought me the answer of Baron Ricasoli. The answer is to the effect that the proclamation of the commandant at Lucera was published without the sanction of the superior military authorities, and was immediately suppressed. The despatch went on to say that it was necessary to take very active and stringent measures for the suppression of brigandage, which is extremely injurious not only to the general peace of the country, but to the pursuits of industry and agriculture in the various districts where it prevails. The measures for putting it down are stated 848 to have been always concerted with the municipalities; so that if they contained anything injurious either to the prosperity of the districts or to innocent persons, the municipalities would not have agreed to them. As, however, the proclamation in question did not meet with the approbation of the superior military authorities, it was, as I have stated, immediately suppressed. The diplomatic representatives of Her Majesty are, therefore, not to blame for omitting to report it to the Foreign Office.
§ THE EARL OF DERBY—I am very glad to hear the explanation which the noble Earl has given us. I am only sorry that he did not receive it in time for the answer to the question which I put last night, because it would have saved a good deal of conversation which turns out to be useless, inasmuch as the genuineness of the document is now admitted, and the very valuable information brought by the noble Duke (the Duke of Argyll) from Turin, that the proclamation was a copy of a document published in 1810, turns out to be no information at all. It appears that the Armonia was right in publishing it as a document which emanated from an officer in the Neapolitan dominions, that it is entirely genuine, and that it is precisely of the character which I stated. I am extremely glad to hear that the Italian Government have felt it their duty to renounce and repudiate it in the strongest terms, and I hope your Lordships will now consider that I was fully justified in bringing the matter under your Lordships' notice.