The National Register. — London, England, 1809-03-12 00:00:00

MARCH 12. they were presented to the House, and were examined by a Se -I.et Committee, appointed for that purpose, they 'were put into the hands of Mrs. Clarke. Nature would at once show how far and in what manner, She was qtrected. Ile had seen simpli city go through the most arduous examination clearly and cor rectly, but he had never known design to succeed. In the ease of Mrs. Clarke, it was hut World for her, on procurito , the hang-writing of General Clayecing, which she had imagined was destroyed, to smile, when she felt that that writing was to clear her character front the imputation of falsehood cast on it by the testimony of that gentleman. lle watched her counte nance, hut saw no other expression. Could this be attri buted to a preconcerted conspiracy ? The next point in which it is attempted to he proved that she had prevaricated In her evidence, wits that in which she had denied having passed as the wife of Mr. Fowler. This assertion was disproved by whom? Hy Nichols, who had proved, by the baseness of his conduct, in retaining in his possession the letter entrusted to him to destroy, that he was himself unworthy of belief, as it was evident his object for keeping them was to extort money from Mrs. Clarke hereafter, by threatening to poblish them. It was of little or no importance; for if we looked hack to our own youthful days, we should probably recol lect that we had stiled the partner for the night our wife, who was in fact no wife at afl ; and that, in the course of Our amusement, we have gone h names foreign from our real and actual titles. The assertion, Whether true or false, was immaterial ; and if it was in a case of life and death, he de dared to God it would not in his mind invalidate the testimony of the Witness. At the court-martial she was also described as a widow, and %vas examined as such, ilia was not asked a ques tion on the subject, consequently there was no conduct of her's on that occasion that could warrant a charge of falsehood. Of the twenty-seven remaining cases, the Right Min. Gentleman had not been able to prove any one. The lion. Gentleman thijh y f Tet through the several cases brought forward by Mr. Wardle, on the respective merits of which he descanted in the most clo intent and able manner, asserting, that from the clearness of the evidence adduced, and the presilmntive inferences that must he drawn from the various details, that he should with the most per fect conviction of the justness and impartiality of his decision, i•ole for the Resolutions proposed by his Honourable Friend t 'lr. Wardle) to whom he paid the most distinguished compli ment for his zeal and efficiency during the whole of the long and arduous examination. • The ArronN rr (ir.NETt. .1 spoke at considerable length it stlpport of the first resolution of M i r. Ilerce‘al; and against the original motion.—Adjourned. - Friday, March 10.. COLONEL. ItENCIL ' S LEVY. Mr. IlcsNv . soN . moved fur certain Papers respecting the Levy of t 7 olontgl French. The' Hon. Cent. then moved fur an account of the several charged a;;;ainst 0)N-eminent on ac count of Colonel French's Lev v. The motion was agreed to, :..nd the lion. tientle.nan afterwards brought op the account, w hie!) was laid on the table. DUKE OV YORK. Mr. B‘vus. I am Wot . the man to throw the broad shield of flattery and, servility over any corrupt practices in public men, .it is my avowed opinion that such corrupt practic e s in such men ::.hould be branded «ith greater infamy in proportion to their greater mischiefs. I can never, therefore, allow that the rank of the ()Wender, be it ever so exalted, should screen him personally from the ptmishment and infamy which should avail his criminal acts. In this point of view, rVery one must be sensible that his Royal nighties-. ! . root his princely rank and connection ., , could not stand he!'4lre that tiowe as an individual_ It would, in a degr , '(' at le;1 1 , atrcet the public estimation, and the public re,:reet for Vie reigning family ; and in these time:, nothing WO , ! , 0 he dreaded as this diminution front the respect due to sot.ereign how- es, through all their branches. 1, for one, therefore, Sir, heard this Inquiry proposed with reluctance, and saw it proceed in the form and manner in w hich it has proceeded, with the most profound regret. Circumstances, however, have now changed ; the matter has been brought forward, and having been so pro duced, it now becomes a paramount duty with tin' House, to discharge the part which belong:to it. Under these impression:, I shall not deem it necessary to qualify my sentiments, and ,hall therefore proceed to give any opinion on the caw, as it 171 stands, on its own merits. The Honourable. Gentleman by my bide (Mr. Bathurst) very property suggested to the House, in the debate of last night, that the Address, as propieied by the Chau, cellor of the Exchequer, iecluded (tidy two members of the ge neral charge, that is to say, personal corruption and criminal connivance. My Honourable Ft ietel e cry justly added, that there was a third point, he bay ing granted away the places aid appointments of his °dice, under undue infhwece. My Hon. Friend stated, at the same time, that this undue influence was as directly pernicion: to the spirit aed character of the a; my, as ever the alleged personal corruption and commercial connivance. Mould not such an opittion, it . generally current in the army, and generally current it was, most totally destroy - all that spirit and emulation, which in the army, as iu (very thing else, was necessary to excellence ? 1 must fully, there:sore, adopt this ad ditional point of in Honourable Friend. There is still another point, a fourth point, to w hich I must call the attention of the House, as to my mind, and to that of many of my Honourable Friends, it has very considerable weight ; 1 mean the offence against puhlic morals, in the scandalous and unbectening con nection acknowledged by his Royal Highness. Whatever ell'ect ed the State, either directly or censequentially, was within the province of that 'louse, and no one w ill, 1 hope, deny, that this open adulterous connection had been without Some detriment to the official dischar:re of the ditties of the Commander in Chief. ith this view of the subject, therefore, 1 intend to conclude my Motion with an Address sti framed as may include all these point.. and thus enable the House to Cool(' lo a decision, w be ther his Royal Highness ha been guilty of such personal cor ruption, such criminal connivance, end of havine acted tinder such undue influence. These will be the main points of wnat have to propose. 1 come now to say a few v. tads on the case itself. There appears to me to be Oa ee or fintr ponds in the es i dence which bring it home to his Royal II ighness ; the Ist is, ilia Taylor. I do not mean io say, that this person's testi inoey is alto gether unsuspicious, though I terteinly w ill not b.') to the teneth of saving, on the other hand, that there is enough to iityalidate or even to weaken it. ow, let any Gentleman consider for a moment the word which she alle t eal the Deke to have spoken, and l thiiik on the very interval evidence of these w ord3, he will have no doubt but that his Roy at Hielmess di:l sn speak them. To in, mind they have all the characters of truth, all the little circumstances wlt ich , in questions of this nature, speak more powerfully than volumes. ll' Miss Taylor l a id beets a conspirator witii Yl Es. Clarke, she would have reinteabereti many more cons e ut , ations, she allid 'Well pi escut at many mere unreserved communications. This circunisiauce ;done is sun:- Omit to me that Miss Taylor's evidence is here to be received as genuine, amid w hen I add this coosiderati on to the internal testi mony of the words themselves, l can really nave no doubt but that such words were spoken by his Roy-al loteAs. The twat circumstance which certainly brings the matter home to leas Royal Highness, is, the in\ sterioas note, as it had been called, but a note on w Inc It no one, I. believe call now entertain any doubt. If the note had been a foreery, it tv mei have been more direct, more completely to the purpose. It. would have left nothing to doubt. The note (114:1Criei'e lo m y mind, a eeneine note; and I. Call have no doubt but that it was seat by the Duke of l'ork to Alt... Clarke, for th a puroose of sliewing Major Tony n. Under these circuinstames., theta what was the necessary inference? 1t lay, it at least proved that there was an unrest reiecd intercourse itad conVelea • lion between Mrs. Clarke and his EZ oyal I I igheegs the subject of military matters, anti this couversatieo and intercourse is what I !neon by meltee iotluence. cal Clavering's letter is of the same general tenderer. It tau, French's levy cad the same strong probability inherent oa the face of it, —it was indirectly cootioned by beters, w hich were , o:elt accidentally discovered, and seized. I inust avquit his Ito\ al airy personal corruption, but I cannot acquit him of sonwthiug approachiog to frit:Ho:A roolii%aufe. Under this int pression, Sir, I shall move aim; all Address be presented to his ajesty, humbly representing to him, that the House haying duly* examined all the charges produced Oefore them, and the evidence in suepurt of them, coneolered it as their duty to state to his Majesty, that the corrupt practice: alleged had existed ; but that this House has the satisfaction to state, that there dees no t appear any proof that his It o)al lligluness the Commateler in Chief Leis guilty either of personal corruption, or of a direct criminal connivance. That furthermore. in the execution of their duty, in eNaininioe . the evidence, the House have had the satisfaction to discover the excellent condition of the artit . under I 1, MARCH 12. THE NATIONAL REGISTER. 171 •', . . . . • . they were presented to the House, and were examined by a Se - stands, on its own merits. The Honourable Gentleman by my • .; - i e I.ct Committee, appointed for that purpose, they 'were put into bide (Mr. Bathurst) very properly suggested to the house, in the 0. the hands of Mrs. Clarke. Nature would at once show how debate of last nig ht, that the Address, as proposed by the Chao- oi what tar and in n manner, She was affreted. lie had seen simpli- cellor of the Ex chequer, included only two member; of the -e- ; 1 city go through the most arduous examination clearly and cur- neral charge, that is to say, personal corruption and climatal i, -s. redly, hut he had never known design to succeed. In the ease conn i vance. - My honourable Ii leo,l 1 ery justly ended, that . .1: 0 • of Mrs. Clarke, it was hut World for her, on procuring there was a third point, he ha% lug “Tamed away the places a nd i't 6 the haoil-writing of General Clattering, which she bad imagined . app o intments o f h is „ t h ee , mu t er undue. i n o nence . Ah . Hon. I . vas destroyed, to smile, when bhe felt that that writing was to I Friend stated, at the same time, that this undue influence was - S , il clear her character from the Imputation of falsehood cast nn it as directly pernicious to the ,pint al.(1 eltaratter o f the a; my, as by the testimony of that gentleman. lie watched her counte- ever the alleged •••t . • d • • • •••11 ••• , - . 'l, e per s onalt•to i it? ion an t oni nit it•n (Aleuts amt. • stance, hut saw no other expression. Could this h e attri- 11 ould not such an () pillion, ji generally curator in the army, 1 bitted to a preconcerted conspiracy ? The next p oint in and generally current it was, most totally destroy - all that spirts '' 0 1 which it is attempted to he proved that she had prevaricated i and emulation, which in the army, as ill every thing else, was In her evidence, wit.s that in which she had denied having passed necessary to excelleace ? 1 must fully, t here:ore, adopt this ad- as . , the wife of Mr. powler. This assertion was disproved ditional point of my honourable. Friend. There is still another i by whom ? By Nichols, who had proved, by the baseness of i point, a fourth point, to w hich I must call the attention of the - i his condtict, in retaining in his possession the letter entrusted i !louse, as to my mind, and to that of many of my Honourable to him to destroy, that he was himself unworthy of belief, o Friends, it has very considerable weight ; I mean the offence il as it was evident his object for keeping them was to extort against public morals, in the scandalous and unbecirming con- i . money from Mrs. Clarke hereafter, by threatening to publish nection acknowledged by his Royal Highness. Whatever effect- .i them. It was of little or no importance; for if we looked led thn State, either directly or censequentially, Was within th e back to our own youthful days, we should probably recoi- I province o f that House, and no one w ill, 1 hope, deny, that this lect that we had stiled the partner for t he ni g h t our wife, I o p en adulterous connection had liven V idiots: Some detriment to vlio was in fact no wife at 141 ; and that, in the course of 1 the o ffi cial discharge of the duties of the Commander in Chia. our ammement, we have gone 11 names foreign from our real ; With this view of the subject, therefore, 1 intead to conclude and actual titles. The asserti m on, Whether true or false, was ' my' Motion with an Addrcss tits framed as may include all these 1 1 ! i .. ' • irOlnaterial ; and if it was in a case of life and death, he de. point.. and thus enable the House to come to a decision, n he- . , dared to God it would not in his mind invalidate the testimony titer his Royal Highness has been guilty of sorb personal car- of the Witness. At the court-martial she was also described as ruption, such criminal connivance, awl of Inivin:; acted under a widow, and %vas examined as such, but was not asked a t ine:- such undue influence. These will he the main points of wnat I. ) flint on the subjeet, consequently there was no conduct of her's have to propose. 1 come now to say a few V. tads on the case on that occasion that could Warrant a charge of fal s ehood. Of itself. There appears to me to be int oe or four polio, in thee\ i- t 1 the twenty-seven remaining cases, the Right IlOn. Gentleman (dice which bring it home to his Royal flightless : the Ist is, Miss had not Ist en able to prove any one. The lion. Gentleman th t ik Taylor. Ido not moan 1 0 say, that this person's testi away euglli of is alto- 1 viTnt through the several cases brought forward by Mr. Wardle, get her unsuspicious, though I tertf:inly w ill not 1..0 to the t , on the respective merits of which he descanted in the most clos saying, on the o ther ham!, that there is enonsa to invalidate it, A. ), intent and able nuinner, asserting, that from the clearness of the or even to weaken it. `, uw, let any Gentleman consider for a I evidence adduced, and the preslimptive inferences that must he moment the words which she ally ed the flake to have spoken, ' lel drawn from the various details, that he should with the most per- and l thiiik on the very internal evidence of these w ord3, he feet conviction of the justness and impartiality of his decision, • will have no doubt but that his Loyal nielmess did so . 1. :.ate for the ftesolutions proposed *by his Honourable Friend speak them. To in mind th.sy have all the charat•ters of truth, t Mr. Wardle) to whom he paid the most distinguished coition- all the little circumstances whit•ii, in questions of this nature, „ I Went for his zeal and efficiency during the whole of the long and speak more powerfully than volumes. if Miss Taylor h ad b e e n Irdttons examination, • The ArrOnNES." GrNrnet T. spoke at considerable length iil t snpport °Ethel:test resolution of M i r. Berm al, an . wt. 3 ...--. d •i• in t the a iatty more conversations, she w o u ld been p i esent at man y innre; unreserved communications. This circunistaoce ;done is soil.- cietst to me that Al iss la.\ lor's evidence is here to be received as Ouiginal inotion.—A4journed. genuine, and when I add this consideration to the internal testi- • f l. - Triday, March la. ninny of the words themselves , 1 can r eall y have no doubt but that such words were spoken by his It oyal I 1 i;•lnfest , . The nest 11 . COLONEL FRENCH ' S LEVY. circumstance which certainly brings the matter home to his , Mr. llesistssox moved for certain Papers respecting the Royal Highness., is, the mvsterions note, as it had beet] called, 4 4 Levy of Colonel French. The' Hon. Gent. then moved fur an . bast a note on u hie It no one, I. believe can tinw entertain •• ; I , account of the several sums charged against Government on ac - any doubt. If the note had been a foreetv, it iyiiiiii v. count of Colonel Vrenelk's Levy. l'he motion was agreed to, I hare' been more direct, more completely to the porpow. It. end the lion. Gentleman afterwards brought up the account, II would h ave l e f t 11 , 1 1 h i " to d ou b t. Th e note t l e . tet e n , to my '.s ha" It was laid on the table. II mied, is strictly a eenaiih. note; and 1 can have no douht but • DUKE or VORK. 11 that it was sem by the Duke of York to a 11... Clarke, for th e . Mr. B s eus. I am niit . the man to t h row the broad shield of ° I purpose Of spraying Major Tony le, Under these eircuinstaneos, flattery nod, servility over any corrupt practices in public men, li Oleo, what was the necessary inference ? \\ hy, it at least 't .it is my avowed opinion that Snell corrupt practices ill such men i I proved that there was an unrestraiard iotercourse itud eanversa should be hranded with greater infamy in proportion tot Lion between Mrs. Clarke and his R oyal Ilighaess en their greater mischiefs. 1 can never, therefore, allow the subject of military matters, anti this coliversati.,o that the rank of the ()Wender, be it ever so exalted, should and intercourse is what 1 meal] by audios iotioence. l;er, - ri, l ig screen him personally from the puoishment and infamy which rat Clavering's letter is of the stink! general Iv:Mercy. It ',toy should avail his criminal acts. In this point of vice, every .I.' reach's ley) eat' the same strong probability inherent a (hi- nny must be sensible that his Rural nighties-. ! . roto his face of it, —it was indirectly co:dime-a by le•ters, w hich wet., princely rank and connection:, could not stand hie'ere that 0:11 lied deal ail discovered, and seized. I mos; remilit bi s It o \ a l ii ,i • lft i t . IN' , llowe as an individual. It w t oa d, in a degr‘ at least, Highness of an:. personal corruption, but I cannot acquit him of 0: affect the public estimation, and the public re,:peet for sotneihiug a pproacitiog to mint in.:i roanivaufe. Under this int it' Vie reigning family ; and in these times, nothing was so .:....1 hto pression, Sir, I shall move &ha; an Aildress la, presented t o his 1 1 . Al ajesty, humbly representing 10 h I al, that the house having duly be dreaded as this diminution front the re s p ect due to sot.ereign li , houses, through all their branches. 1, for one, therefore, Sir, eNamined all the charges produced Oefore them, and the evidence heard this Inquiry proposed with reluctance, and saw it proceed in suoport of them, eio - n•nlereU it as their duty to state to his 1 :... in the form and manner in w hich it has proceeded, with the most Majesty, that the corrupt practices alleged had e N ISWit ; b ut profound regret. CirealllStafirt's, however, have now chant•d ; that this II ouse has the satir.raction to state, that there does not Ili the matter has beets brought forward, and having been so pro- apie•ar any proof that his Royal I Ugliness the Commander in itl, dneed, it now becomes a paramount (lilt)' with the House, to Chief v;as g uilt y either of personal corruption, or of a direct s.• discharge the part which belong: to it. Under these impressions, criminal connivance. That furthermore., in the execution of 1: i shall not deem it necessary to onalifv my sentiments, :and i their duty, in eNaminiug the evidence, tht House have had the ii ,]hall therefore proceed to g - tve any opinion on the case, as it 11 satisfaction to discover the excelleut condition of the arary under . L 1 , 4., .. 4 1 ' i, ) i l ' . : /a THE NATIONAL REGISTER.