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

THE NATIONAL REGISTER. ton, ae• even twice recommended by one of them, yet that no thine cipeld overpower the iftfluence of Mrs. Clarke, who had determined that Major Shaw should be put on half pay, Find that bec..use it appeared that be could not accommodate Mrs. Clarke with the thousand pounds which he had promised to give to her? He maintained that the whole of this disappointment to the views of Major Shaw. arose from the circumstance of his having fallen short of giving to Mrs. Clarke that 10001. which he stipulated to give to her on his appoinnueat to the rank of Co lonel ; but in which he was disappointed ; and was put on half pay, only havine the nppointmeut of Barrack-Mrener-General at the Cape of Good-Hope.—The next case which he took notice of was the case of Mr. Dowler, for the appointment of whom he read from the evidence of that witness. that Le gave to Mr s . Clarke for the office which he now holds one tainisand gyineas.— Stating further, that he applied to no other person for it, and that be was gazetted in that office o ithout aey further proceeding. The next was the case of Samitel Car ter. Here lie read the evidence of Mrs. Clarke as to his ap pointment, and also the evidence of her servants, Thomas Walker and William M‘Do wall, who were her footman and coachman at the house in Gloucester-place, by which he main tained that this youth was the servant of Mrs. Clarke ; that the fluke of York knew hint to he such ; and that he wus appointed by her influence w;th the Duke of York ; that he %vas en the Staff in the 1 4 ( est Indies for near three yteirs, Ivithout any ap plication made in his behalf; and that it was impossible it should be known here whether he was alive or dead for that period, as no inquiries were made concerning ; all which he maintained to be owing to the influence which Mrs. Clarke had over the mind and cond uct of his Ro‘al Highnee. The case of Major Turner he also maintained to he one in which the in fluence of Mrs. Clarke over his Koval Highness oas very great, atk oe which he read the evidence. As to the case of Robert Kennett, and connection with the agents of the Duke of York, under the idea that that person would he able to lend to his Rov al Hig - hness a sum of money, it was a matter which, although in itself improper, upon which he should not dwell.— " I have now," said he, 6' perhaps troubled the House too lone. I have only to state, that I have put my sentiments into the form of an address to his Majesty, which I shall conclude N% ith moving in this House—l thought it justice to this House— fhought it justice tq the Duke of York—l thought it justice to myself, to state distinctly - , and without disguise, my real sentintents en this important subject. 1 have endeavoured, Sir, to do so with all the delicacy which Is doe to his Majesty, both as the Sovereign of this country, ond the Father of the Duke of York. I should he the last man in this country who would hurt the mind of an illustrioos Sovereign; l;ut on this occasion I have no choice. 1 have, to the best of nty judgment, and to the utmost of my power, done my duty. The country will de cide upon the conduct of the Commander in Chief—the country will decide upon the conduct of the House—the country will decide upon my conduct ; and to the decision of my country 1 cheerfully submit. 1 now move, Sir, 4 "chat an humble Address be presented to his Majest:v, hum bly statim. , ; to his Majesty that certain information has been com municated to thL House, and evidence produced to support it, .of various corral;t practices and other abuses having prevailed for some years past, iu the disposal of commissions in his Ma... jest)/ - s Land Forces ; that his faithful Commons, according to the duty by wide!) they are bound to his Majesty, and to their Constitueati;, have carefully examined into the truth of the seve ral sundry transactions brought before them in proof of such corrupt practices, and - it is with the greatest concern and aston ishment that his Majesty's faithful Commons find it their duty most humbly to inforin his Majesty that the result of their deli berate inquiries iuto the factscharged by the examination of the persons concerned, together with other witnesses, and a variety of documents, being such as have satisfied hi, faithful Commons that the existence of those corrupt or dangerous practices are ,•learly proved : that his Majesty's faithful Coinmons are re strained by their attachment to his Majesty% perstin and Govern rhent, from entering into a detail of these transactions, being convinced they could not he seen by his Majesty without excit ing sensations of grief and indignation in his Royal breast : they humbly represent to his Majesty, that the proceedings of Pus faithful Commons have been public upon this important subject, and that the evidence has been recorded ; and that they trust his Majesty will give them credit when they assure his M-jesty, that in this paiuful discharge of their duty, his faithful .toinim,bs have proceeded with all due care and deliberation. -'they humbly represent to his Majesty., that without entering into the many injurious consequences which may hey expected '11) follow by a belief only being generally established of tat prevalence of such abuses in the Military Department, there is one great and essential consideration inseparable Flom the pre sent subject, which they humbly beg leav e, in a particular manner to submit to his Majesty's consideration; namely, that if an opinion should prevail in his :Majesty's Military Forces, that Military Promotions may he obtaieed by other means than merit and military service, at once utjast and disgraceful to his Majesty's army, that the effect of such an opinion must twee,- , sarily be, to wouud the feelings and abater the zeal of ail tanks arid descriptions of his Majesty's Military 'Forces. Thai it is the opinion of this House, therefore, that the abuses o hieu they have most huuthly to represent his Majesty, could tint have prevailed to the great extent to which they rinse proved to exist, without the knowledge of his Royal Iliginiess the Commander in Chief. And that it his Majesty's faithful Commons, reasoning upon any principle of Prshability, should think it t , hould he presumed that abuses so ‘L.ry enormous, so long continued, in elFect, have prevailed with his knoo ledge, such a belief would not warrant a conclusion that he ought to be continued as Commander in Chief of his Alajostv's Military Force : That on this principle, his Alajesty's faithful Commons submit to his Majesty's most gracious conshlet at ion, that his Royal Highness the Duke of York ought to be deprived of the Com mand of his Majesty's Army." Mr. By wros7 then rose, end epologized for trespessing upon the attention of the "louse thus early. In offering his opinions upon this subject, he had prepared his mind upon it by paying the best attention he could in his power to the evidence he heard by a constant attendance on the House, and a careful study of • that part which he had hot heard. It Was scarcely tie ; eessary for him to state to the house, that :tee testimonv of • such persoas, unless corroborated by full and respectable evi dence from other quarters, must certainly fall to the ground. • Mrs. Clarke was the principal actress in this scene. Site was either an accomplice, or nothing. There were many others of I the witnesses who stood in a similar predicament. lie iestanced Capt. Sande°, Airs. Favory, and Miss Taylor. With respect to the specific charges, he was not inclined to enter into minutia. lie • would leave it to other Grentlemen more recently conversant in such matters. But he must observe, that in the ease of Colo nel knight, there was no testimony whatever which could con nect his Royal Highness with any thing which could be regard- • ed as criminal in the transaction. This business rested solely on the evidence of Mrs. Clarke, and there was no testimony to show that the Illustrious Personage in question had any knowledge, either directly or indirectly, of the affair. The note of a hun dred pounds, said to have been changed by Lodowick,•was not identified in any way, and may therefore i.,e fairly supposed to form a part of the ample allowances made to Mrs. Clarke by the Illustrious Personage in question. But there were other circumstances to show, that the appoitameat, of Co;ottel Nnight was not procured through the intervention of . Mrs. Clarke. W ith respect to the case of Capt. Mating, he had no he s itation in ' say ing that the evidence before the Hease mt.st decidedly vindicated his Royal Highness from every imputation and sus picion of undue influence or corrupt views and cals. That Gentleman had been fairly promoted on the recornmea: s stion of General Fraser, an officer of distinguished merit and w most undoubted integrity. The fact which had been so sroresly . relied upon, that Captain Mating was still to be found at Mr. Greenwood's desk, was disproved by the testimies of Colonel Gordon, who had clearly stated to the Committee, that in his opinion there was not to be found in the army, for the chink he held, a more meritorious officer than Captain . He next came to that part of the charges which ielateti to Col. French's levy, and here he would maintain, that it was sanc tioned by the necessity of extraordinary exertions fin increasing our military force by recruits and new enlistments at !Ili,: par ticular period and urgent crisis. Mr. Burton nese iitered into a long detail of reasoning, for the purpose of ,:ltew it:;; that, in the single conversation which had occurs:at respect ing Colonel French's levy, there did not appear any psoia'ss hat ever that his Royal Highness had been influenced, in Cie course of that transaction, by ,motives in the slightest degree improper •or corrupt. In the consideration of Captain Tonyu's case, it was stated, that the sum of 3001. had been paid to Airs. Clarke. But what was the real fact? The interference of sirs. Clarke had no influence whatever in obtaining that gentlemati's promo. tion. Captain Tonyn was the son of a General Officer, of whoa, recommendation he had been appointed and promoted in the ore diutery .and regular way, as appeared front the testimuay • or latuor turner ne also maintained to tae one in tv 0 iCli tile 10- I ltellt -0 of Mrs. Clarke over his RoN al I i i-hue,ss was very great, 1 that part w hich he had hot beard. - i il s, oessary for him to state to the house, that :lie testimony of • ;111,4. 1 Oi: which he read the evidence. As to the case of Robert . : 1 1 111 ilrl .Kennett, and iiii; connection with the . nts of the Duke of it was a matter w bleb, .. , .. , n it e l l i t er persoas, unless corroborated by full and respectable evi- nae York, under the idea that that person would he able to lend to his Royal Highness a sum of money, • although in itself improper, upon which he should not dwell.— 1 " I have now," said he, " perhaps troubled the Douse too long. I have only to state, that I have put my sentiments into the form of an address to his Majesty, which I shall conclude with moving in this House—l thought it justice to this llouse— dence from other quarters, must certainly fell to the ground. • Mra Clarke was the principal actress in this scene. She was an aceomp ice, or nothing. There were many others of the witnesses. who stood in a similar predicament. He iastaneed Capt. Samlon, Mrs. Favory, and Miss Taylor. Wit h respect to the spec; tic charges, he was not inclined to enter into minutia. lie • would leave it to other Gentlemen more recently conversant in such "natters. But he must observe, that in the case of Colo- •., , i. • 1 thought it justice to the Duke of York—l thought it justice net knight, there was no testimony whatever ivhieli could con- . I to myself, to state distinctly - , and without disguise, my real nect his Royal Highness with any thing which could be regard- • sentiatents en this important subject. 1 have endeavoured, Sir, ed as criminal in the transaction. This business rested solely ( to do so with all the delicacy which' s due to his Majesty, both 1 1 1' or the evidence of Mrs. Clarke, and there was no testimony to sho ßi as the Sovereign of this country, and the Father of the Duke of that the Illustrious Personage in question had e any knowledg . . York. I should he the last man in this country who would either directly or indirectly, of the affair. The note of a him- bort the mind of an illustrioas Sovereign; hut on this occasion dred pounds, said to have been changed by Lodowick,•was not I have no choice. 1 have, to the best o' my judgment, and to identified in any way, and may therefore I,e fairly supposed to the utmost of my power, done my duty. The country will de- form a part of the ample allowances made to Mrs. Clarke by .1 IL cote upon the conduct of the Commander in Chief—the country th e Illustrious Personage in question. But there were other will decide upon the conduct of the House—the country will circumstances to show, that the appointmeat, of Co;ottel Nnight deride Upon my conduct ; and to the decision of my country I was not procured through the interventiou ot.Mrs. Clarke. With • cheerfully submit. 1 now move, Sir, respect to the case of Capt. Dialing, he had no he s itation in " That an humble Address be presented to his Majesty, hum- ' say ing that the evidence before the Ilelse most decidedly ‘ 1 ' bly 6tatir . 4. , ; to his Majesty that certain information has been coin- vindicated his Royal Highness from every imputation and sits- municated to tai: House, and evidence produced to support it, picion of undue influence or corrupt views and cals. . That of various corruLL practices and other abuses having prevailed h Gentleman had been fairly promoted on the recornmen:i . - , aion of for some years past, iu the disposal of commissions in hi s - M —Ft- General Fraser, an officer of distinguished merit and 1)I i •.t: most jelly's a 1 an.l Forces ; that his faithful Commons, according to undoubted integrity. The fact which had been :-.0 -!rongly i. the duty by which they are bound to his Majesty, and to their relied upon, that Captain Mating was still to be found at Mr. • ; Coostitueata have carefully examined into the truth of the seve- Greenwood's desk, was disprove? by the testinite, of Colonel 1 • rill sundry transactions brought before them in proof of such Gordon, who had clearly stated to the Committee, that in his I . corrupt prat. lices, attkit is with the greatest concern and aston - o p inion there was not to be found in the army, for ti at. rttok he a ishment that his Majesty's faithful Commons find it their duty held, a more meritorious officer than Captain. :fattier-,-- ; •• twist humbly to inform his Maje - sty that the result of their deli- , He next came to that part of the charnel which i elateti to CA. : . . ~ !aerate inquiries into the factscharged by the examination of the French's levy, and here he would maintain, that it was sane- persons concerned, together with other witnesses, and a variety tinned by the necessity . . of extraordinary exertions leer iota-easing .;• of documents, being such as have satisfied hi, fait Vol Commons our military force by recruits and new enlistments a. Ilia par- that the existence of those corrupt or dangerous practices are ticular period and urgent crisis. Mr. Burton tier,. , ;:tercel .. learly proved : that his Majesty's faithful Commons are re- into a long detail of reasoning, for the purpose of :Itt:%; O:g- • . strained by their attachment to his Majesty's person and Govern- that, in the single conversation which had occurred res . pect- I meat, from entering into a detail of these transactions, being ing Colonel French's levy, there did not appear any proo; %s hat- l' convinced they could not he seen by his Majesty without excit- ever that his Royal Highness had been influenced, iu t... course ; ing sensations of grief and indignation in his Royal breast : they of that transaction, by ,motives in the slightest degree ! to pro per - t humbly represent to his Majesty, that the proceedings of or corrup his faithful Commons have been public upon this important was stated, that thet. In the consideration of Captain A Toiiyo s case, it - •1 sum of 3001. had been paid to rs. Clarke. ''' subject, and that the evidence has been recorded; and that they But what was the real fact ? The interferenceof sirs. Clarke trust his Majesty will give them credit when they assure his had no influence whatever in obtaining that gentleoma s pronto. c: i, M-jesty, that in this palled discharge of their duty, his faithful tom. Captain Tonyn was the sou of a General Officer, ut w ha., • toubto,,bs have proceeded with all due care and deliberation. t ri; u com y in u e ti n d ilti r ti c i , m li h . e r h l a i d i) het a i s a a p i p l it r e e t ti l and fo i l l i t ro t t h a e ot,: ,e d ,t i t n iu t o ht a ;o o tie 1,, : . 'they humbly represent to his Ma j esty, that enterin g i 1 1 • • MARCH 11. 161 1 I r ' : 1 1 • i I 1