COPY of the DEVONSHIRE INSTRUCTIONS.
To Sir RICHARD WARWICK BAMPFYLDE, Bart. and JOHN PARKER, Esq; Knights of
the Shire for the County of DEVON.
We, the Freeholders of the County of Devon, assembled in a General
Meeting at the Castle of Exon, find ourselves called upon by many weighty
considerations to exercise the constitutional and unquestionable right
of instructing our Members with regard to their conduct in Parliament.
It becomes now more highly necessary, when an opinion has been publickly
avowed, derogatory from that relation which ought to subsist between the
Electors and their Representatives. We, therefore, enjoin you to promote
and support an enquiry into all those grievances that have so justly
alarmed the subjects of this kingdom; particularly, for what reasons a
magistrate, in the immediate service of the Crown, to whom informations
of the most important nature were imparted by a native and Freeholder of
this County, refused to examine or enquire after the evidence pointed
out to him; being a person the most capable of clearing up the affair,
both from his own knowledge, and the papers _then_ in his possession;
in consequence of which refusal, secrets of the most important nature
to the safety of this kingdom have been probably lost, and the alledged
instruments of dishonour to his Majesty’s government _screen’d_ from
censure and punishment; and that you will diligently pursue an enquiry
into the criminal transactions referred to in that information; and
that you also use your utmost endeavours to shorten the duration of
Parliaments.
Voted at the Castle of Exon, Oct. 5, 1769.