The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1809-03-21 00:00:00

. •
criminal point of vie* ; to this AJdioni stns.-pros
posed an aluendmeilt. ;tad, afterwards the stone
Right HomeirableGenti who propused the amend-
meet, thought proper that a Resolutioir, Aye or
No, should lie submitted to the cousiefereuou of the
House, whither there was or was out pruof of ioi-
ruption or conuivieuce ou the part of his Keyed
Highness?, In the amendment first proposed
the Address, it were oil father, addressing His
Majesty, saying, that HiS,lejesty's faithful Conn:.
mons felt with the greatest regret and concern,
that a conneeiou should have subsisted which
had thus ex;rosed his Royal Highinia's character
to public calumny ; it also expressed a confidence,
on the part of this (louse, that his Royal High-
ness would keep in view His Majesty's must ex-
emplary conduct, thereby, Sir, drawing a ciao-
pavilion en that occasion. I was thertthre led clue-
ing the discussion to meditate upon :hese louvred-
ings, and to turn my mind upou the a look cameo
of this most important debate. Looking at the
whole of the question which had thus come under
our serious couoideration, I was of (pontos the
(louse should conic to a elecisien, mini I was the
more induced to think the House ought to adopt
such a line of duty, on the present occasion, thut
they ought to insert such a decision on their Jour-
nals, as would contain Loth example and ad. 1111 l .
tenon, because the Resolutions, by wily of amend-
ment, proposed by the alight Houourable the
Chancellor of the Exchequer, amounted to no
more than a disposal of Alm question of corruption
and criminal connivance. They had no further
'omit attached to them, but went directly to
sponge over every other consideration arising out
of the subject ; and what is still another objection,
in additirin to those which I have already stated,
was that of drawing an improper comparison be.
tweets the example mainfede d by this Illustrious
Personage, and the einiueut virtues which so splen-
didly adorn the wearer of the Crowe. I still
continue, as 1 have already said, to think thaws'
grounds for my calling upon the Huuee to come
to a direct decision on the whole of the proceedings
now before us, are not in the least remora cJ ; mid I
conceive it my duty, even since the intervention of
what has been communicated, to place on the table
boom proposition, which, although it doer away the
-charge and imputition of any corruption, does not
wipe away every thing else that calls forth our
serious attention amidst the whole of the evidence
adduced before us, to support the accusation.
In doing this, Sir, I am persuaded I shall be
found ouly to act in compliance with the general
feelings of the House. If it Le considered how
this subject was first of all taken up by me, soil
in that pre rise view which I have thought proper to
explain, and to take up a cousiderable pui tire, or
time its detailing before the House, it will not he
deemed extraordinary when I declare the rese;-
• nation of his Royal Highness does not make oily
change with respect to my intended
opinion which
may have been delivered by the Chancellor of the
Exchequer, or any other Member, which should
preclude uhservetions upon what is Inameht at this
j time before our determination. If any inference
I should be drawn, winch might tend to induce
the House to comae to any other result upou the.
Conduct of his Royal Iligliums than that pro-
posed by the original ch.vges, the Hodse
leering come to a certain determination, svould
'neve exhibited the propriety of removal, or of
the acceptance of resignation.—ln submitting the
Resolution which I out about to propose, it will
riot be my wish to detain the time of the House
its enteeing into all the observations which I was
led to make on a former night, nor to ranspi-
tulate all the arguments which I then stated.
Neither, Sir, do I consider it necessary to enter
into many arguments at this time, for the purpose
of *hewing how and in what manner the evidence
justifies the resolution proposed. If any Weenie
attach to another quarter from adopting it, I
would only wish than Gentlemen will not suppose
tine raises out of my resolution, but pi u-
erects from those facts wkich have transpired iii
the course of the evidence. Aud surely there can
be no impropriety, since the House has been eta-
• • g into the origin of the complailits made,
and has found it to exist in a connexion, which
even his Royal Highness laments himself, that
they should-conic to a determinatinu of express-
ing their disepprobation of what they are convinced
has taken place. Disepprobation, on the ground
of morality dome, would nut surhaps justify ceiling
for the iaterfereuce of the House of Coinmous. I
am not aware, after having paid attention to the
forming the present resolution, that it contains any
thing whatever, which is not borne out by the evi.
dente. His Royal Flightieen's resignation certainly
precludes much wore beitig swirl upon the subject. I
shell only encoder it necessary to desire the !louse
will duly appreciate one important consideratioti.
We ought, me a einestiou like the preseut, toeome
to sonic tival resolution, so that our Journals may
chew we have done our duty. The House, Sir, on
its Journals, has acquitted this Illustnous Per-
m:neer of. all criminality in respect to eorruptiou
or counivauce, but he is nut acquitted of irregu-
larity and negligence. How will it be in regard to
our proceedings, if we do not get quit of the subject
before the House by is proposition of thisdesci iptiun?
Why here is a letter of the Duke of York, ou our
Journals, declaring his Royal Highness's inuocence;
here is also a communication made this day, and yet
there is not any thing on your Journals to save this •
Illustrious Personage from condemnation. For
although he is declared to be innocent of criminali-
ty, as far as connivance and corruption extend, yet
there is other evidence which fully imputes to him
the charge of irregularity and negligence. It was,
Sir, with great pain, 1 considered myself called up-
omearly in the debate, to make a proposition of the
nature of this 1 nm about to submit to the judicious
consideration of this House. know there are
others who view this question differently from
myself, who are more violent, who arts much
dissatisfied with what has already been done,
acid who altogether entertained opposite !ILI i-
guenti to my own; for I can assure the House, I
have, from the first, if not impelled by duty, felt an
objection in inviting Parliament to form their opi-
nion on the conduct of this Royal Personage. But
persuaded in whet way I am hound to dichargo my
ditty en the question I would impress upon the
House, I see no reason why they should not cease
I. this resolution, although the Illustrious Paseo-

•
age ham thought proper to resign. This, Sir, icon..
tend, ought to be their conduct, because m ;heat
cause is at issue, the cause of justice betiven tars
psi ties of iinportioit (mosey tieneet between the pub-
lic, on one side, mud this Illustrious Personage on
the other, and this House ought to decide. Ido
not in the mean time belieie a :more judicious de.
eisiott cub be come to, slise.l *hat shall be at once
both an acituonitioet, and an example. I shall now,
Sir, detain the time of the House no longer, Lut
shell submit the following Resolution :
"That while this HUIOIO acktiowletlgiis the knew.*
:('seta Sitio Wealatimis adoptsd awl stied spout I y btu
Royal Highness, is the general discharge of los duties as
Cumesatider-in-Ctied, it ii.utreervsd with :be deepest regret,
list i•i cousequimee of • comic lion the met Mammal mad
oases...ling, a communication on ottbrial subjects, std as
iutcelisrace in the distribution of blibiary Appointments
tof Promotions, bare been allowed to e.itt ; which could sot
but trod to dareedit dit official udininiiitratiou of his Royal
Reoluess, and to give colour r...d cflert, as they peer sent:illy
done, to transactions the must criminal and uo.graertul:'
Sir %Vit.:tate CURTIS S:011 a few it orils, but it
was impossible for us to hear id the 6alltry the
purport Milieus. - -
Loud Atteimure•-..“ I wish, Sir, to make • few
coinineuts upon the two propositions laid elowu by
the Right Hoisournble Uenticinan, (Mr. Bathurst)
in the cuteirnem:ement of what he has addiesved
to the coi,siderotiou of the 'llouw. I agree oitii
him, Sir, it would be a great low: to lose any indi-
vidual hum the head of our army, whose uses it hod
no much promoted its welfare; hat in the present
embitter, that loss, in my opinion, will be much di.
minished in our estimation, when we re fleet the
conduct of his Ileyal Highness has been such es to
lose him the coundetice of the country.—(!'fear
Hear .Ij—With respect to the other observations
adult Right Honourable Gentler:l sn, I certainly
do not ugreewitk him. Ile iota thought it a loss
to the public—the bitti:ll;ou of rommander-i!:-
Chief ought to be Mc:spied by a per•cm of die
lioyal Duke's illuistrioli in th•it %ensue:mut,
Sirs I do not concur; Mr the psoceechugs lselbee
this; House have proved the ioemiveasienee of his
High rank, and there can be no doubt it would he
more beueticial tn. the public interest, that the
commuted of the army should be lodged in
liaeds snore responsible. (Year ! Hear :7
I feel myself inclined to say 4 trw words in justifi-
cation of the vote which I more given moots the eel.
deuce bu•fore as, mid I must say, I end thiuk Isis
Royal Well:lets to be guilty of both corruption
andemmivance. lam 0-60 of opinion, -.he question
i 3 now in a stete in which it ought not to stand,
and therefore I agree with the Right Hon. C:emle-
. man, it would be proper is place upon the Jour-
nal, of this House the re:twos ohich 'mimed us
.mot to• proceed any-(ribber. The country, I nun
pet:suedes), will be eatistied.—(Hem ! hear !p.-
It would he the last thing in the world, nji toy
pert, intentioualiy, to inlrt.
feelings; and I shall consider it my duty, on that
cousieletatime to propose, that, because the Doke
of Vork has resigned, we do rust wish to proceed
further• in the question, for I do not • think the
Royal Duke can ever ration to offices cur Can ever
regain the ccofidenee of the people. (Hine ! keel,
' I have now to propose as au Amendment to the
Resolution moved by the Hight honourable Gee.
tlenian, the otnisurion of ill the wonts contaiaed
therein after the word That," when the Resole-
tiou we old Lb as 'Mims& :
"That his Royal Iligissons the Duke of Yost lavi,,g
resigised the Comm :aid of the Aritie, this Ileum 'Lies tot
think it ueessiory hiCilV to pm iced, cl may Smite; in a.: eon-
Wei ation at the Missies of i.e: Es Write.. ts! en helm. lid'
Committee, aha wets appubited c•onipit
of Iris Ito) at ;bemires the Doke of York, as far 0111,-..ittli to
his Ro)at
Mr. WHITSHLD KEEHN spoke, but mot a word
could be heard in the gallery.
Mr. LOCIS.H4RT thought, that although this
mo-
tion was tint su necessary after the resignation as
before it, yet still It was proper for the House to
express its te•ntiments upon these other points,
which their former votes had tot included. De
had to comolain of some misrepresentations of
what he haul formerly said 'upoti the subject of this
uccestigatioti ; for he was convinced there sins no
part of the conduct of his Royal flights*, that
could deselie that degree of reprehension vehicle be
was 'dated to have expressed. This much I.e
should say, however, upon the immorality Hite fused
in this business, that although it did not fan to the
House to take engpizence of private imuicnality,
yet, when it had a public effect upon official duties,
it unquestiniothly should came hnfore them, Mud it
was their duty to express. tkeir sentiments regerdung
it., Under such circumstance's us the presetit, ir
became pectiliarly-rwinous for the lmistresitues of
Princes to interfere with'ilm army, and therefore it
was highly iseeessitry the Hume should interfere,
and express its sentiments upon such on occasion.
There was Hot one word of that 'notion which was
not perfectly verified, for surely it could Hot be
denied, that a connexion, the most indecorous, had
subsisted, and that connexiou has haul on influence
mu official ditties; an iindue interference of:: decode
having taken place in regard to army promotions,
and which has led to all those transectious which
were most injurious in their consevituces. The
only objection he bed to the. Amendment was, that
it did not disclose the degree of culpability that
had been dimple •1 by the evidence adduced at the
Bar.
Mr. CARTWRIGHT stated, that his intention was
to have voted with the Right Hon. Glistlertieo who
bad propsed this motion, as he thought the Duke
of York culpable, so far as it expressed thud cu'uoit-
bihty ; but now, since his Royal Highness hued re-
signed, the neo ssity of the Howse going tort her
was entirely done away. Resignation, 111 his opt-
Mou, was a sufficient atonement, under existing
circumstances; and his Royal Highness had eve.
dently acted the more manly and prudent part in
poltt!mming it till after their elceiswn. As to the
Amendment proposed by the Noble Lord, it nes,
no doubt, extremely cousieteett with uoinions
he (Lord Althoroc) Lad expeeseed ; bu. it ous cer-
tainly going too far when it implied that hi•. Roy el
Highness the Duke of Yolk should never iittails
any h;gli or responsiele situation. Upou this
whole. therefore, he thought it ;vas finite viineces.
*my for the lioase to adopt either the Ruoulatiou
or t.• ,umerrtiment.
Mr. 0 leas uuLueceed, that not haviug had an
oppo tun y of expres eg his seistimi ats *kr rev:4
to tl e • large opt.' t hie Royal Ibuthesem, Cow
House, lie hop d, o lilt lser•loit him for a
few words upon the subpet its geurral, Wet Wes

.