§ LORD LAMINGTON, in rising to ask Her Majesty's Government whether any correspondence had passed between the Foreign Office and the Italian Government respecting the proposed desecration of the Protestant Cemetery at Rome; and, if so, whether it would be laid on the Table, said: My Lords, there is no English Cemetery to which greater interest attaches than the Protestant Burial Ground at Rome. Many of your Lordships, on visits to the city, must have seen the place, which is in a beautiful, retired spot, and is associated with many imperishable names—the 999 name of Keats, of Shelley, of Gibson, and of Wyatt, among many others. It is the first place to which Protestant visitors to Rome go. It is proposed by the Municipal Government of Rome to carry a road through the lower part of that burial ground, for the purpose of widening a thoroughfare which is very little frequented, and the so-called improvement necessitates the removal of, I think, 73 graves. It is true that the road which passes the lower inclosure of the cemetery to the Via Ostiensis is somewhat narrow, and a few yards might be gained by the removal of the wall; and for this trifling object, to widen a road on which there is scarcely any traffic, it is proposed to violate the sanctity of 73 graves, and that notwithstanding that a large sum has been subscribed by British and other families for the protection and maintenance of the cemetery. In addition to the illustrious Englishmen I have named, there are the names of Humboldt, of Bunsen, of Goethe and many other great Germans associated with this burial ground. What I wish to know is whether any correspondence has passed between Her Majesty's Government and the Italian Government with the object of preventing this act of sacrilege and spoliation. I say spoliation, because, as I say, a fund was started some time ago and received large support from Protestant Christians for the purpose of protecting this graveyard; and I call it sacrilege because many of the graves there are revered by Protestant Christians of all nationalities. Much that is beautiful and attractive in Old Rome has disappeared under the new state of things; but I hope that Her Majesty's Government will interfere to prevent a change which would really be an outrage, and which would wound the feelings of many families.
§ *THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURYMy Lords, there has been no correspondence between Her Majesty's Government and the Italian Government on this question. It would not be precisely a subject for international interference. I imagine that the suppression of graveyards is occasionally necessary in some cases, and I do not think that our consciences are entirely free with respect to the City of London in the matter. But we have had a communication unofficially with the Municipality of Rome on 1000 the subject; and although I have not got the details here, and cannot repeat them quite accurately, still I do not think the Municipality deserve the reproaches which my noble Friend—at all events by implication—aims at them. They have shown great consideration in the matter, and it is the first time I have heard them charged with spoliation. I believe all private rights have been respected, and with regard to foreign Governments, I understand the German Government, at all events, to be at one with them. We offered some observations to induce them to preserve the tomb of Keats and of one or two other illustrious men which it was proposed to remove, and the result of the correspondence was that they behaved in a very kindly and considerate manner, and undertook that these graves should not be disturbed. If my noble Friend wishes to have the correspondence published it will be done; but I doubt if it is worth the expense. If my noble Friend will step over to the Foreign Office he may see the correspondence.
§ LORD LAMINGTONAfter what the noble Marquess has said, I will not press for the correspondence. I may say that I used the word spoliation because I knew that a fund had been created at Rome for the protection of this burial ground, and if that were taken away I say it would be an act of spoliation.
§ *THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURYI think another burial ground was provided of quite equal value.