necessity of the change, the extent to which it should be carried, nor of the mode in which it should be effectuated.

The 2 Houses of Parliament having, in concurrence with the Executive Government, fruitlessly laboured at effectuating the change in contemplation, have themselves called upon the Crown to nominate a Commission for deliberating on the proposed alterations I then continued, in your Lordship's words, to state, "that due justice ought to be done to the principles upon which the British Government was alone induced, when charged with the defence and security of Sicily, to interfere in its internal concerns. The necessity constituted the right, and with the discontinuance of that necessity, every pretension, as well as disposition, on the part of Great Britain, to interpose, had also ceased; except so far as the considerations of good faith and honour before alluded to, and which arose out of our former position in Sicily, might again impose it on us as a duty."

This discourse appeared to make a considerable impression on His Sicilian Majesty's Ministers, who requested that I would deliver it to them in writing. I did not feel myself authorized to comply with this request, but I said that I had no objection that a Note should be taken of all I had said, which proposal was immediately accepted, and ****** committed the whole to Paper.

As soon as I had thoroughly explained the line which the British Government had determined to pursue, and had received the most unqualified assurances of His Sicilian Majesty's intention, strictly to abide by the conditions which His Royal Highness the Prince Regent had thought proper to declare to be necessary, to ensure his non-interference, I was asked whether, (setting aside my public character, in which I had disclaimed all responsibility whatever,) I would, as Mr. A'Court, allow them to detail to me the projects they had in contemplation, and point out anything which might, in my opinion, expose them to the charge of having violated the conditions prescribed.

As this proposal was not at variance with the Instructions I had received from your Lordship, I did not hesitate in giving to it my consent. In order to prevent any misunderstanding, I again repeated, that whatever fell from me, under these circumstances, must not be considered as official, nor as binding the British Government or British Minister to anything.

*****, at the desire of his Colleagues, then entered into a long historical detail of the Privileges which had been at different times granted to the Sicilian Nation, and afterwards, passing to the project now in contemplation, endeavoured to convince me of the many advantages which would accrue to the Sicilians from the new arrangements, in comparison with those they formerly enjoyed.

The King, by a Proclamation, will declare the perpetual union of the 2 Countries, and will in consequence assume the Title of Ferdinand

the First, King of the Kingdom of the 2 Sicilies, &c. &c. &c. Fresh Credentials and Patents will be made out for all Foreign Ministers, Consular Agen's, &c. &c. A 2nd Decree will announce the institution of a General Chancery for the United Kingdom, in which all Laws and Decrees are to be registered; this Chancery will be presided over by 1 of the Secretaries of State, who will take the Title of Grand Chancellor. A Council, to be called the Supreme Chancery Council, will be established for discussing all important affairs, before they are submitted to the Royal decision in the Council of State.

The Office of Minister Secretary of State will be abolished, and its duties transferred to the Grand Chancellor.

At the same time that these Decrees are made public, a 3rd will be issued, confirming to the Sicilians all the Privileges conceded to them by the present Sovereign and his Predecessors. In order to combine the observance of these Privileges with the unity of the Political Institutions, which are to form le droit public of the United Kingdom, the following Regulations will be made:

All Civil and Ecclesiastical Offices and Employments in the Island of Sicily to be granted to Sicilians only, including the Archbishopric of Palermo, which former Sovereigns had always reserved to be disposed of according to their pleasure. The population of Sicily forming, as nearly as possible, 1-4th of the whole population of the United Kingdom; the Sicilians are to hold by right the same proportion of all the great Offices of State;-1-4th of the Seats in the Cabinet;— the same in the Council of State;-the same in the Grand Chancery Council; the same in the Great Offices at Court;—the same in the Corps Diplomatique.

The Army and Navy, as well as all inferior Offices about the Court, to be open to Individuals of either Nation.

The Government of the United Kingdom to be wherever the King resides. If in Sicily, a Prince of the Royal Family, or a Person of distinguished rank to be the King's Lieutenant at Naples, or vice versâ, if his residence be at Naples. If the Lieutenant be a Prince of the Royal Family, he will have near his person a Minister of State, charged with the Official Correspondence, and also 2 Directors, to whom such portion of the official business will be confided as the Minister of State shall think proper:―these Directors to be of either Nation. If the Lieutenant be not a Prince of the Blood Royal, he will himself have the character of Minister of State.

All Sicilian Causes to be finally decided in Sicily. The Tribunals of Palermo to be entirely independent of those of Naples, as also the Tribunals of Naples of those of Palermo.

The permanent Revenue of Sicily to be fixed by the King, but never to exceed the sum of 1,847,687 ounces, voted by the Sicilian Parliament of 1813, as the permanent Revenue of the State. This sum to be

considered as the maximum, susceptible of diminution according to the King's pleasure.

From this Revenue a sum of 150,000 ounces to be applied annually, in the first place, towards the extinction of the Debts of the State, bearing no interest, and afterwards towards forming a Sinking Fund for the payment of the interest, and for the ultimate liquidation of all other Debts.

This very necessary and just disposition will be particularly agreeable to the Sicilians, who have long despaired of receiving either principal or interest.

His Majesty finally declares, that he will at no time, nor under any circumstances, attempt to levy any Taxes in Sicily, exceeding this permanent Revenue, without the consent of the Parliament.

This last expression gave rise to a considerable degree of discussion in this, as well as in several subsequent Conferences;* * *** wishing to substitute the words, without the consent of the Sicilian Nation to this I most strongly objected. The immense importance of the word will certainly not escape your Lordship. It is, in fact, the key-stone of our consistency, the omission of which would undoubtedly subject us to the reproach particularly pointed out in my Instructions. We cannot consent to its omission, and of this the Neapolitan Government is fully aware.

The remaining points are, the confirmation of the entire abolition of the Feudal System in both Kingdoms, and the regulation of the Order of Succession, according to the settle:nent of Charles III, in 1759. This last Article will be inserted in order to silence the absurd reports in circulation respecting Prince Leopold, and the Crown of Naples.

As soon as these Decrees are promulgated, the nomination of the Sicilians, who are to fill the great Offices, will take place; and this nomination, I am happy to inform your Lordship, will include every Individual of note who took part with the British Authorities during the late turbulent times.

Such is the Plan proposed; and it must be allowed that (admitting the necessity of the changes,) it could hardly be effected in a more prudent manner. There is not a word in either Paper that can be ob jected to by the Power most delicately situated, and most interested in these alterations. There is no offensive allusion to the past, and nothing that leaves an opening for any just accusation against us for dereliction of principle.

The Union of the 2 Kingdoms necessitates certain changes; these changes involve, without pronouncing, the abolition of several parts of the former System. The ancient Privileges of the Nation are distinctly preserved by the stipulation that the King shall raise no Taxes exceeding the fixed Revenue of the State, without the consent of his Parliament. The fixed Revenue of the State is that

voted by the Parliament itself. And, finally, a number of personal advantages are granted to Sicilian Subjects, which cannot but prove most acceptable to them.

It may still, and no doubt will be, necessary to keep a watchful eye over all that is done in Sicily; and your Lordship may be assured, that I will continue to do so, and in such a manner as in no way to commit my Government. The advancement of those who acted with us, to Offices of trust and profit, will be a secure pledge to your Lordship, that nothing in the proposed changes will take the character of a re-action. This is a very principal point, and I have every reason to hope that, in other respects, the alterations will be so conducted as to leave little for me to do, but to congratulate your Lordship upon our total release from all the responsibility arising from the part we were obliged to take, and the position we held during so long a period in that Island.

I have the honour to be, &c. Viscount Castlereagh, K.G.

WILLIAM A'COURT.

No. 3.-William A' Court, Esq. to Viscount Castlereagh. (Extract.) Naples, 9th December, 1816. YOUR Lordship has already been made acquainted with the decision with respect to the projected alterations of the Sicilian Constitution.

The important Stipulation, that the King shall raise no Taxes exceeding the fixed Revenue of the State, without the consent of Parliament, remains unaltered. The whole plan will be put into execution immediately.

The Marquis Circello has forwarded to me the enclosed Official Answer to my verbal declaration upon Sicilian Affairs. He has also communicated to me, Officially, the 3 Papers, Translations of which I have the honour to enclose.

I have the honour to be, &c. Viscount Castlereagh, K.G.

WILLIAM A'COURT.

(Enclosure.)—The Marquis Circello to William A'Court, Esq.

(Extract.)

(Translation.)

Naples, 6th December, 1816. THE Marquis Circello has taken into his mature consideration the verbal declaration, which his Excellency Mr. A'Court, His Britannic Majesty's Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary, has made to him.

It was stated in this declaration, as nearly as the Marquis Circello can remember, that His Royal Highness the Prince Regent, from mo

tives of friendship to his Ally, the King of the 2 Sicilies, wished that these changes should be wisely and prudently effectuated;-that, as to his own conduct, His Royal Highness the Prince Regent would abstain from all interference in the internal affairs of a Foreign and Independent State, provided his own honour and the good faith of his Government did not otherwise require it, and this would be in the 2 following cases:-1st. If the Sicilians, who, during the last few years, had acted in concert with the British Authorities, were exposed to a re-action; and 2ndly. If the condition of Sicily should be rendered worse than it was in former times.

The Marquis Circello having submitted, as was his duty, this declaration to His Majesty the King, his Master, must first assure Mr. A'Court, that His Majesty acknowledges in this declaration a new proof of the particular regard and friendship of his August Ally; and he desires that Mr. A'Court will express his most lively gratitude to His Royal Highness.

Reverting to the contents of the declaration, His Majesty, applauding the principles by which the British Government is animated, declares that he accepts and confirms the 2 reserves, which are expressed in the declaration.

With respect to the first, concerning the Sicilians who have acted in concert with the British Authorities; His Majesty will not only consider them in the same light as his other Subjects, but promises, besides, that wherever, by their talents or their moral qualities, they may be capable of rendering themselves useful, he will employ them without any regard to the opinions which they may have formerly pro fessed. The conduct pursued by His Majesty since the recovery of the Kingdom of Naples, is an evident proof of the sanctity of the principle he professes, that all those of his Subjects distinguished by talent, zeal and good moral conduct, have an equal right to his royal consideration.

With respect to the second reserve, the annexed Papers, marked (A) (B) (C) which the Marquis Circello has the honour to transmit to Mr. A'Court, will explain to him the system of organization, which the King proposes to establish in Sicily. His Majesty could do no less than occupy himself about it, when he saw that the Commission of State, charged with this labour, did not correspond with his royal wishes, and had let 18 months pass away without doing anything.

It must be observed, that His Majesty has, in some measure, diminished his authority in the Impositions, by the maximum to which he has consented, which modifies the amount of the Public Revenue fixed by the Parliament of 1813; and His Majesty has not hesitated to promise, in the event of there being a necessity to exceed it, that it shall not be done otherwise than with the consent of the Parliament.