THE Parliamentary Register; OR, HISTORY OF THE PROCEEDINGS AND DEBATES OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS: CONTAINING AN ACCOUNT OF The most interesting SPEECHES and MOTIONS; accurate DURING THE FIFTH SESSION of the FOURTEENTH PARLIAMENT OF GREAT BRITAIN. IN SEVENTEEN VOLUMES. VOL. XII. LONDON: REPRINTED FOR JOHN STOCKDALE, PICADILLLY; By WILSON and Co. Wild Court, THE HISTOR OF THE PROCEEDINGS and DEBATES Of the FIFTH SESSION of the HOUSE OF COMMONS OF THE Fourteenth Parliament of Great Britain. THE May 6, 1779. Y HE house went into a committee to consider of the several papers which were presented to the house by Mr. De Grey. [See the papers, page 253 & seq. Vol. XI. Frederick Montagu, Esq. in the chair. Chairman said it was an instruction to the committee from the house to call in Earl Cornwallis, and examine him relative to the subject matter of the said papers. Earl Cornwallis was called in, and being seated in a char covered*, the examination began by Sir William Howe. Q. Was not the knowledge of the face of the country of America, for military purposes, extremely difficult to be obtained from the inhabitants? A. I am happy to take this public opportunity to declare my great regard and veneration for the character of Sir William Howe, I think he has deserved greatly of his country; I think he has served his country with fidelity, assiduity, and with great ability. After having given this public testimony of my opinion of the general's conduct, I beg this house will understand that I do not come here to answer to questions of opinion, but merely to questions of matter of fact; the private opinions of a subordinate officer can give very little satisfaction to this house; they VOL. XII. B may * His Lordship fat two or three minutes with his hat on, but as soon as the examination began he rose and gave his answers uncovered. |