The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1809-03-16 00:00:00

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' With army promotions, I am sure they would;
when called to your bar, have stated fairly, that
such we gs had been given; for the real fact is,
that the soldiers and sailors of this country, at the
same time that they have strong bodies, have vigo-
tour minds. It is, this and the nature of the Bri-
tish Constitution, that makes every une of theta
feel himself a man ofeeinsequence.--I have merely
spoken of that part of, the evidence which shows
that many suspicious must have rested on the
Duke's mind, as to these corrupt practices ;
and I cannot go the length of acquitting him of
all connivance. Undoubtedly Ido free him from
ally real knowledge, amounting to participation iii
that corruption ; and it gives me the sincerest sa-
tisfactiou to do so. -Besides this, it is absolutely ne-
cessary to make that reparation to the wounded mo-
rulity of the country, which we can only effect by
explissing an opinion, that the command of the
army cannot any
.hunger remain in the hands of
his Boyle! Flightless the Duke of York." Ile
concluded by imploriog the House to consider,
that the safety of the country depended on their
decision.
Mr. C.S*.NING. in a long and snort eloquent•
speech, tleferoleil the cambia and clotracter of the
Duke of York ; uud contended, it' the House
could not decide that he was guilty of corruption,
they oii4ht to acquit him altogether. Ile did not
couccive it was the duty of the House to decide
on religion mid morality ; at the some time he
wished it to be understood that he thought they
were necessary prop,+ to the Constitutioa. He
wallah rather go the fall length of tce Ho:moral&
Geutlemaii who brought foment the acousations,
them adopt theamenilinent of his lti_ht Hon.
If sone• persons thought the rank' of the Royal
Personage neensed ought not to semen him ; it was
not justice to contend, that it imould snake him a
subject of vengeance. Was it justice or policy to
baud down to pos•erit the: Le had heen admitted
or corruption, tuid lintel guilty for acting mitrary
to morality ? What would he said °fa ..111,1ge, who,
after summing up evidence, in his charge to the
Jury, should say, it snakes no co iseipietiee whether
you consider the prisoner guilty of his cri:,l •or that,
but if you titul it convenient to get him out or the
way, Inn hirn I—would it lie called justice? He
did not ask the House to take into comoderatino
the high hi th of the Comm 'oder-be-Chief, he only
desired, it' they thought he *as guilty, to send
him to a proper tribunal for trial, and not con-
demn him unheard.
Lord FOLKSTON E spoke in explanation.
Mr. BATHURST Said a few words, but a loud
cry of " questiou," prevented their being heard.
Mr. PONSONRY said, that lie woold trouble the
House with but a very few remarks ; lie wits the
more coecohraged to offer them, as the Right Hon.
Gentleman bud iilistamed from all eiersouality, and
set sit example of such fair leasoning.—(Hear!
Hear !J--tie wondered how any one could think
the Duke of York nut guilty of connivonce, after
the evislcuce they had heard. The letter upon the
clew of Tonyu he considered in ; if
they did not agree that he was guilty of cor-
ruption himself, yet they insist admit that
he was subject to an int' (truce interfering
with the public service. The transirdtion with
Kennet wits one of personal conveniedre to the
Cominander-in-Chief. It was mentioned iii the
letter from Mr. Kennet, that if lie obtained the
situation, he would be able to procure a loan fur
the Duke of York ; there was every reason to be-
lieve that that letter was laid before the Commis.
der-in-Chief, yet they did not find that a communi-
cation was discontioneil in consequence of it. The
Hon. Member who snake last, had warned them
against popular clamour; no sine agreed More
than he del in the opinion that popular clamour
should be gnu tied against; bat thellouse ought
to cons;iler, that thew case, of all others, the edu-
cated part of the community was *Toddled to de-
cide; they ott,Ott to c.iiisieler that they had ...rot
authentic copies abroad, and that the educated
part of the community were in the habit of acting
as Jurymen, and consequeutly competent to decide
upon evidence; though they ought not to sutler the
prejudices of the community to interfere with, or
influence their opinions, yet their just judgments
ought to be respected. He thought that the ease
was fully proved, and that they could not hi justiei
decide that the Commander-in-Chief was not
guilty.
Strangers were then ordered to withdraw.
Mr. TIERNEY rose to make a proposition.
The House divided on .Mr. Bankea's amendment;
whim there appeared,
Ayes 199
h toes . 994
Majority
The house then divided on Mr Wardle's Ad-
dress, when there appeared:
Aye 143
hoes 364
Majority .. ••••••441 •
Mr. PERCES, Al. then moved, s, That the House
should decide on his recoil(' Resolution, deelorutory
of the innocence of his Royal Highness the Duke
of York;" which Iwiug opposed, and *debate like-
ly to take place, he proposed to euljount the
taking it into consideration till Friday, Whiell was
agreed to, and the House adjourned, at HALF
PAST SIX O'CLOCK, to that day.