Memoirs of the Courts and Cabinets of George the Third | Page 7

under his command, to Washington,
and of the British vessels in the harbour to the French Admiral de
Grasse in the October of 1781, awakened universal indignation; and,
when Parliament met in November, it became evident that, however
resolved the King or the Government might be to persevere in their
policy, the doom of the Administration was near at hand. Amendments
to the Address, pointing ominously to a change of counsels, were
moved in both houses by Lord Shelburne and Mr. Fox; but nothing
further was done till after the Christmas recess, with the exception of an
announcement that Ministers had resolved not to send a fresh army to
replace that surrendered by Lord Cornwallis.
About this time, very early in the session, a motion was contemplated
on the subject, the object of which, as may be gathered from the
following notes of the Marquis of Rockingham, was to relieve Lord
Cornwallis from the disgrace that impended over him, and to throw the
real responsibility upon Ministers. The Marquis of Rockingham,
desirous of proceeding upon more certain information than had at that
time been received, appears to have advised a little delay, and to have
been of opinion that if any motion were to be brought forward at that
moment it ought to have taken the shape of a motion for inquiry. It is
evident that the Marquis of Rockingham was already collecting his
friends about him. The name of Lord Rockingham's correspondent does
not appear, but, from a subsequent allusion, it may be presumed that
these notes were addressed to the Duke of Chandos.
THE MARQUIS OF ROCKINGHAM TO THE DUKE OF
CHANDOS.
My Lord,
Your Grace does me much honour in the communication of the
thoughts you entertain of bringing forward some matters of business in
the House of Lords.
I shall be very happy to concur in opinion with your Grace, but I must
say that I cannot at present think that there is anything come to our
knowledge in regard to the actual conduct of Lord Cornwallis, as

commander of a British army in America, which calls for the honour of
a vote of thanks from the House of Lords.
The fatal event of the army under his Lordship's command, having been
reduced to the situation of being obliged to lay down their arms and
surrender prisoners of war, naturally requires that an explanation or
justification should precede anything that could be declaratory of
approbation.
As I understand your Grace's proposition, I conceive your intentions
would be, that in thanking Lord Cornwallis for his general conduct, you
would at the same time state, that the plans he was directed to pursue
and which had been so fatal, were highly censurable.
An inquiry into the causes of the loss of that army might certainly be a
very proper and becoming measure; and I have very little, or rather no
doubt that the blame and censure would fall heavy on many of His
Majesty's Ministers, if such an inquiry was taken up, and tried by an
uninfluenced or undeluded jury.
There is a particular circumstance, which possibly, as your Grace has
been out of town, may not have come to your knowledge. I understand
that Lord Cornwallis and all the officers of the army captured at York
Town and Gloucester, are under a parole of honour, and on their faith
neither to say or do anything injurious to the interests of the United
States or armies of America, or their allies, until exchanged.
Your Grace will recollect, that in the Articles of Capitulation, much
doubt has been held in regard to the propriety of one of the articles,
whereby Lord Cornwallis had left some Americans (who had been in or
had joined our army) to be at the mercy of the civil authority in
America.
Many Lords will think that some explanation of that conduct in Lord
Cornwallis is necessary; and I do not conceive that any explanation
could at present be got from Lord Cornwallis.
The Duke of Richmond having called upon me this morning, I had the

honour to go with his Grace to your Grace's house, hoping that you
were arrived in London. The Duke of Richmond will be early at the
House of Lords to-morrow, and intends to desire the House to be
summoned for Monday next, in order to make some inquiry in regard
to the execution of Colonel Harris, at Charlestown, in America. I will
also be early at the House of Lords to-morrow, and I shall then hope to
have the opportunity, along with the Duke of Richmond, of having the
honour of some more discourse upon the subject matter of your Grace's
letter, and that it will not impede your Grace's intentions of some
conversation in the House, on the loss of