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Georgia Gazette.
An ADDRESS to the Gentlemen, Clergy, and Freeholder* oftheCoupty
• of Devon, preparatory to tbe general Meeting at Exeter, On Thursday
tbecth ofOflober 1769. By Dr. Musqravb, PbyGcianat Plymouth.
Gsktlsuen,
# Sheriff having summoned a Meeting of the County
J in order to consider of a Petition for redrefa of grje
)y( vajices, I think it incumbent upon me as a lover of
W T M my country in general to lay before you a tranfa&ioa,
ve • which, I apprehend, give jnfler grounds of complaint
* od a PP re heafion than any thing hitherto made pub.
C DmMmC _J lick. Having long had reason to imagine, that the
•*-** v .•*-* Nation has been cruelly and fatally injured in away
which thy little fufpeft, I have ardently wished for the day, when iny
iui perfect information! should bejfuperfcded by evidence and certainty.
That day, 1 flatter myfelf, is at last approaching, and that this spirit
which now appears among the Freeholders will bear down every obstacle
that may be tnrownin the way of open and impartial enquiry.
I seed net remind you, Gentlfemen, of the universal indignation and
abhorrence, with which the conditions of the late peace were received by
the independent part of the Nation. Yet such is the candid, unfufpefling
nature of Englilhmen, that even those who condemned the measure did
not'&ttriWu e,t to any worse motive than an unmanly impatience the
.burdens of the war, and a blind htad.long dt lire to be relieved from them.
They did not conceive that Dcrfoosof high rank and unbounded wealth
could be seduced by gold to betray the interest ot their country, and Aij
render advantages* which the lives of so many heroes had been willingly
facriffcedto purchase. Such a fupprofition, unhappily for m, is at pipfcht
far from tHcteftibln. The important secret was disclosed to mein the year
1764, during my refidcnce at Paris. I will not trouble you with a detail
of dieintermeidiaie steps t took in the affair, which, however, in proper
time I (hall mod fully and readily discover. It is fufheient to fay that on
the 10th of May 1765* by tbe direction of Dr. Blftckftone, ( waited! OP
I*>rd , then—, of—, end delivered to him an exaflui^’
rativiofike iatplligence I bad rjrqeivcd at Faris, wUb copies of four let-,
ters to and from I*ofd ———. The behaviour of Lord -■■■-■ ■*■>- W*bfttr
liteaad When I pressed him with a second interview to enquire
into the trptii qf the charge, he objefted to. all publick steps that might
give an alarm, and piked me whether 1 could point out to.him any,,way of
prosecuting the enquiry in secret, and whether in so doing there was any
probability of hit obtaining po(£cjv proof of the fad. I was net Io much
tne dupe of his artifice, is to believe that he had any ftripus intention of
following the cige 1 bad giyeohiob though hi* difcoorfe plainly pointed
that way. It appeared by the sequel that I had judged right.-For hav
ing four days after given a direit and fatiafaffory answer to both hi* quef
tiom, be then pet an end to my felicitations by'a peremptory reftifal t#
take any steps whatever in the afFaif. ; . . .
It is here neceflary to explain what T mean by enquiring into the truth
of tbe charge. In the fumgter of the year 1764, an overture had been
made to Sir G. Y. Mr. F n-t, and several other Member* of Parlia.
ment, in the name of the Chevalier D’Eon, importing that he, the Cheva.
lper, wa yeady to impeach three perfon*, two of whom are ---*, and
Membera of tbe —-, of fefliog the peace to the French. .Os thi* prop**
fal i was infonneJ at different time* by the two gentlemen above menu,
oned. Sir G- if. in particular told me that he understood tbe charge could
befupported by written as well a*living evidence. The step that I urged
Cord ■ tp take wa* ta fend for the Chevalier D’Eon, to examine
him upon the fubjeft of thi* overture, to pcrufe’hi? papers, and then to
proceed according to the proof*., In such a case a more decifiye evidence
than the Chevalier D’Eon could not be withed for. He had hlmfeltf 05.
duffed the negotiation on the part of the enemy, and wa* known to hav*
fn his poftefßoa the difpitche* and paper* of the Duke de Nivernots. , Thu
Gentleman so qualified and so disposed to give light into tbp affair ;pid
kprd refufe to examine, whether from an appreheafion that the
Charge would opt be made out, or ot* the contrary that it would, J
y6u. Gentlemen, ar.dcvery Impartial reader, tp judge. te stsof
’ Jtirtun n'6t be’tinderfdb/.’ that 1 can in vfelf support a charge of corrup
tion ac.unft the noble Lord* named in my information. My complain! J 5.
ofa different nature and again!! a different perfpp. I eooWer t ere w
of Lord —at a svilfuj obftruilion of natutnl j£(lce, fpr whiffy I'M*
io fee him undergo a suitable punL/hmeot. Ec/tpit me to obf*rve,,<Jq
tiemtn, that fudb an obflruftion not only gives a temporary impunity^ i)
offenders, butti tends also tortile that impunity pett etual by deftryymg
or weakening tU proof, of their guilt. &iipC£ of jH
frerilbahlc ihxng. LiVinf ar<* exposed to tta chance
and written evidence to the not uncommoncafoalty ojfi.re. In_tl\fj3. r e.
Tent case foinething more than these ordinary accident* might
season be apprehended. |t ftand* upon record ou L ot
bad confclred toaflaffinate the Chevalier Vi'top, net!her ha* thM.criargc
bjthertc been refuted or anfwercd. I’hi# npt, fupcecding, a band pf ipf
fan* wulVhl to kidnap that Gcnt.eman, apfl CVry off,
Though iM second attempt failed, it docs qot follow jhit thmf j'OfVn
tant p*B*ti at&llill fccure. 1 was informed by Mr. F ■ j®
#ibe f7*h a(*4&v 1765, that he bad then inteliigeoce
fng to D’Eon. the bbieft of whjcK wa. to •
put or bli hind tin ‘return fdr'a rfipuTatcd funs of ^pcr < , v Tbaccp , m|f
femfeAJleaHbd Lord ‘t_,
posing these precious document* to so many compHca*ed ha*ard,. IW
JV EDNES D A TANARUS, January io, 1770.
tend produaive r °f mifehiefc to the nation, and cannot
tend to the ad Vintage or fatufedion es any but the guilty.
to™ ir — “ xcufe for hi. rsfufal, will probably alledge, as he did
?£*■; P ,r fofoo that the charge wa* wholly groundless. 1 need not
observe how oufplaced and frivolous such aa allegation is when applied to
jutlify a roagiftratc for not Bat 1 wiU fupuofe, ftr
ESTl*} u the * ccufcd t 0 t* P Wffoy innocent. 1. it not
the interest and the wtfh of every innocent man to have hi* eondua feruti
mred while f*a* art recent, and truth of cpnfequence easy to be diftin.
lined frprn falfehood ? Is there any tendercefs in fuffering a ftaiu to re
main upon clu-ir charafter* till it bccomei diffipultor even impeffible tb be
wiped out i Will therefore these noble perfon*, if their udion*
upright, will they, 1 fay, th*;ik Loid ——• for depriving |htncf airefrly
oppertunity of eftablithing their innoceace f IFill they 801 regret and ex
ecrate his caution, if the lubfcquent fuppreiiou or dcilruaion of tbe evi
dence Ihoutd concur with other circun/ftances to fixoa them the fufpkioa
of guilt i How will Lord excufc himfelf to hi* 8 n for ftf
fenng io atrocious a calumny to spread and take root to the evident haaard
of hi* royal reputation ! And what amends will ly make to the Nation
for the heart buruiegs and jeJuulies which are the Batural frqit of such
aj rocedurc? Yet thtfe, Gentlemen, are rhe lealt of tbe tnifebief* that
may be apprehended from hit benaviour upon the footing of hi* ow plea.
1 will venture however to a/fert, that, as far a* hitherto appear*, tb
weight of evidence and probability is on the contrary, fidf. Now fuppeff.
lug the charge to be true, there can be no need of long argumenti to con
vince you of the injury done to .the Nation by fuiferiug -ucH capital of.
fenders to escape. For what is this but to defraud u* of thy only compcn-
Oition wc can exped for tk loss of so many important territories, a lof*
rendered still more grievous by the indignity of paying a pen (ion, as We
notorioully do, to the foreign who negotiated tjii roinou* bar
gain F Yet even these considerations are infinitely outweighed by tbe dah
gcr to which th* whole expofyJ from the coptifued operation
olio r uck thorny, influtpea, apd fayonr to thejr prejudice, and abovt
aft from the pofSbility that* the lupreme government of the kingdom may
by the Regency, Ait devolve 104 pufon diredly and pofflively of
High Treason, Even the encouragemeut th*t such an impunity mnft
give to future Treafous, is enough to fill a thii.kiug mind with the molt
painful appiehenitons. We livp in an age,, hot greatly aduided so
fcfuples, when the op*u avowalof rlpmf (lick venality feenu to lead toffn
by an easy gradation to connexion* equally mercenary with.roreigoera and
huemics. How then can we exped perfons to,rpftft a teaapti
tion of this fort, when they Treafon may be detected* sn d proof*
of it offered to a Magirtrate, without producing either punUbmetlt or ini
quiry f The conivqucnce of this may be our living to feet* French party,
fs well as a Court t party in Parliumept; sVhich (houlrf it ever happen, nb
-nxgtnation can’ Uifccicntly paint the calamitous and horrid (late so
which our late-giorious.trjumphaipight finally be reduced. When f tall*
of a French party in Parliament, 1 do not speak a mure vifwnary language
unsupported by experience. , The, biftorjr of aU fga iafonn* hi, tbit
France, whcre,other weapon* hays faiJetU. has confUntly had recorfe|,o
th ‘lefs alarming weapons of intrigue andcorraptmn. And boweffedatt
these havp fomeume* ,been 4 we*Wave,a recent and tragical example in the
total enfiaving of Corsica * in #• ■-■r. <a .. ’*
T hare been thus particular in eappierating the evils tM may re Cult from
the refuf.il of Lord , frpjp a dffiro of aggrpeing *hf Nobln
man’i offence, but merely to evince the neceflity ofc*ifpeedy enquiry,
while there is yet a chance of iu.not bgiiqg wMly fruitiaft Tshoagb the
course of my naimtiv has unavoi4*hiy led me to Lid(hip, am
eolation is not my ot>jed', bdt cpifawy, which, cariqqt bedsltgreablr ©
any but those to whoni }fku fifagfeeable. ,!• porfusag this point
f have lutherto betn Fraftrated from the very circamftance which Ought to
have iofured my fqsc*(i>, imporuoce it has
been apprehended* JOW juftly4Jci|Ow,p|, that atjj Magi (bat* who should
commence an enquiry, or any Gentleman who (houldopenly ronvwftr tt,
would be deemed refponfihle for the truth of the charge, and fubjeded to
severe penalties, if he could,not make it good. Thi* iaginatinn>o.nb.
ever did ndt tfeter 1 ffie, though fiftgTe aod unproteded. from carryipgany
paper* to, the Sntaker, to be iHff Vfore the late. Houle of,
The Speaker 1 W pleWeiFWcondeft by allowing
OBght to be enquired into, Vuf related at the fame time to be mfiromew
tal in promoting.tW enquiry himftLf. What then remaipqd foftn dfff f
What, b wrMHjFtt&ariceend tillnpfppif
op port 0 nfr y ftihuldblFer lot appAlfnJtdthe publ.ck u* tijl
InefVcQmaiatfd errbr, ofgdmflfl|nkjfcould a weljen 4 M ,iop
dowerfuf- io bb Ydittyff'dr riddel WVhU fpirtf now r s w*
tlv,, fctlMhJsi.l w-.! m *S
UfaWnl o t ,&ktf WWW'JKM* co.in4.j, <c vubbUd/raq
r. inportm, *’ fcyM ‘JgKKhfiF H P '“*?•'?! H w f u 2
yif.race Jf,. fWM few,.Art J M ,•** l>r
feme tcroiMWiry
on.lVw.-?/ Indeed .k. n ..
(rbtufh <wt bauf btihtrto