If it be still objected, that these crimes are irrelevant
to the charge, we answer, that we did not introduce them as matter of
charge. We say they were not irrelevant to the proof of the preamble of
our charge, which preamble is perfectly relevant in all its parts. That
the matters stated in it are perfectly true we vouch the House of
Commons, we vouch the very persons themselves who were concerned in the
transactions. When Arabic authors are quoted, and Oriental tales told
about _flashes of lightning_ and _three seals_, we quote the very
parties themselves giving this account of their own conduct to a
committee of the House of Commons.
Your Lordships will remember that a most reverend prelate, who cannot be
named without every mark of respect and attention, conveyed a petition
to your Lordships from a gentleman concerned in one of those narratives.
Upon your Lordships' table that petition still lies. For the production
of this narrative we are not answerable to this House; your Lordships
could not make us answerable to him; but we are answerable to our own
House, we are answerable to our own honor, we are answerable to all the
Commons of Great Britain for whatever we have asserted in their name.
Accordingly, General Burgoyne, then a member of this Committee of
Managers, and myself, went down into the House of Commons; we there
restated the whole affair; we desired that an inquiry should be made
into it, at the request of the parties concerned.
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