It is not surprising that British generals were suspicious of anyone getting involved with Calabrian peasants, especially since their bloodthirsty tendencies had been luridly reported in 1799.

If the English generals had any notion of what went on in 1799, I have yet to find any certain indication of that. Of course, in 1799 the only English involvement was by the navy, Nelson et al, so . . .

It is interesting to note that General Stuart, before and after Maida, actually issued proclamations to the Calabrian people to rise up against their French oppressors, promising them the protection of the English army. These proclamations paint a very different picture of the situation in Calabria than normally seen in the English army histories.

Stuart's proclamations can be found in The Literary Panorama, Volume 1, (1807) "Victory in Calabria" pages 181 - 187. https://books.google.com/books?id=5t8RAAAAYAAJ&

What then happens is that Stuart upon returning to Messina, everything has changed. He is no longer in charge of the army; instead, it's now General Fox, who also replaces the English minister in Palermo, Hugh Elliot, Fox having full plenipotentiary powers. Fox immediately makes it clear that the only goal of the English army is to protect the Island of Sicily.

There is a series of letters between Sir Sidney and General Fox see "The life and correspondence of Admiral Sir William Sidney Smith" vol 2, starting at page 175 https://archive.org/stream/lifeandcorrespo03smitgoog#page/n194/mode/2up

On page 182, Fox gives his frank assessment of the character of the Calabrians:

In fact, I am fully convinced that no confidence nor dependence can be placed upon these people, and that our interference in the country is only giving opportunity to the lawless and vicious, to oppress and plunder the better sort of inhabitants; and encouraging a disposition to revolt, that will not in any way assist our cause, and bring upon them a tenfold vengeance from the French government.

In sum, after Stuart public proclamations of support to the Calabrian insurgents, the new sheriff in town turns around and immediately abandons them to their fate, which was, as previously stated, The Most Monstrous of Wars. At every intersection, the bodies of Calabrian peasants were hung. Thanks to "English humanity" of General Fox . . . "for the better sort of inhabitants."