DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.70301#0022
10
kirby’s wonderful museum.
1764, an overture had been made to Sir George Younge, Mr.
Fitzherbert, and several other members of parliament, in the
name of the Chevalier D’Eon, importing that he, the Che-
valier, was ready to impeach three persons, two of whom are
peers, and members of the privy council, of selling the peace
to the French. Of this proposal I was informed at different
times, by the two gentlemen above-mentioned. Sir George
Younge, in particular, told me, that he understood the charge
could be supported by written as well as living evidence.
The step that I urged Lord Halifax to take, was, to send for
the Chevalier D’Eon, to examine him upon the subject of this
overture, to peruse his papers, and then proceed according to
the proofs. In such a case, a more decisive evidence than the
Chevalier D’Eon could not be wished for. He had the ne-
gotiation on the part of the enemy, and was known to have
in his possession the dispatches and papers of the Duke de
Nivernois. This gentleman, so qualified and so disposed to
give light into the affair, did Lord Halifax refuse to examine;
whether from an apprehension that the charges could not be
made out, or on the contrary, that they could, I leave you,
gentlemen, and every impartial reader to judge.
It must not be understood, that I can myself support a
charge of corruption against the noble lords named in my in-
formation. My complaint is of a different nature, and a dif-
ferent person. I consider the refusal of Lord Halifax as a
wilful obstruction of national justice, and for which I wish
to see him undergo a suitable punishment. Permit me to
observe, gentlemen, that such an obstruction not only gives a
temporary impunity to offenders, but tends also to make
that impunity perpetual, by destroying or weakening the
proofs of their guilt. Evidence of all kinds is a very
perishable thing. Living witnesses are exposed to the chance
of mortality, and written evidence to the not uncommon ca-
sualty of fire. In the present case something more than these
ordinary accidents might with good reason be apprehended.
kirby’s wonderful museum.
1764, an overture had been made to Sir George Younge, Mr.
Fitzherbert, and several other members of parliament, in the
name of the Chevalier D’Eon, importing that he, the Che-
valier, was ready to impeach three persons, two of whom are
peers, and members of the privy council, of selling the peace
to the French. Of this proposal I was informed at different
times, by the two gentlemen above-mentioned. Sir George
Younge, in particular, told me, that he understood the charge
could be supported by written as well as living evidence.
The step that I urged Lord Halifax to take, was, to send for
the Chevalier D’Eon, to examine him upon the subject of this
overture, to peruse his papers, and then proceed according to
the proofs. In such a case, a more decisive evidence than the
Chevalier D’Eon could not be wished for. He had the ne-
gotiation on the part of the enemy, and was known to have
in his possession the dispatches and papers of the Duke de
Nivernois. This gentleman, so qualified and so disposed to
give light into the affair, did Lord Halifax refuse to examine;
whether from an apprehension that the charges could not be
made out, or on the contrary, that they could, I leave you,
gentlemen, and every impartial reader to judge.
It must not be understood, that I can myself support a
charge of corruption against the noble lords named in my in-
formation. My complaint is of a different nature, and a dif-
ferent person. I consider the refusal of Lord Halifax as a
wilful obstruction of national justice, and for which I wish
to see him undergo a suitable punishment. Permit me to
observe, gentlemen, that such an obstruction not only gives a
temporary impunity to offenders, but tends also to make
that impunity perpetual, by destroying or weakening the
proofs of their guilt. Evidence of all kinds is a very
perishable thing. Living witnesses are exposed to the chance
of mortality, and written evidence to the not uncommon ca-
sualty of fire. In the present case something more than these
ordinary accidents might with good reason be apprehended.