The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1824-01-26 00:00:00

THE 1,41• E MRS. JORDAN.

TO THE EDITOR.
Sta,—The attention of the public has lately, as ft hat many
times before, been drawn, by notice in the daily papers, to the case
of the late Mrs. Jordan, and much pains have been taken to stig-
matize the conduct of an illustrious . as it relates to that
celebrated and much esteemed favourite of tpublic.
These censures upon the conduct of the Duke of Claretke have
been often repeated, mid ea often treated with silence on the pm
of his Royal Highness's friends. This silence has, however, beets
construed by many into an admission of the accusations; tm at
length the stories so often told of Mrs. Jordan's having been
obliged to leave her country, and fly to a neighbouring kingdom,
where, it is said, she died insolvent, for want of a trifling allow-
ance being made to her by the Duke, are assumed as fees.
It has gone on thus, until some persona have exclaimed, " Has
the Duke of Clarence no friend, who, if the accusations are ground-
less, can rescue the character of his Royal Highness from such
gross calumny P "
All who know the Duke or his connections intimately, are ac-
quainted with the truth; but none being so fully possessed of the
whole case as myself, I feel that any further forbearance would
amount to a dereliction of duty on my part, and therefore, in jus-
tice to a much-injured character, I take upon myself to submit the
following statement to the public, acquainting them in the first
place, that it was through my hands the whole traansaction upon
the separation of the Duke and Mrs. Jordan peened ; that it wee
at my suggestion Mrs. Jordan adopted the resolution of leaving
this country for France, to enable her the more readily and honour-
ably to extricate herself from troubles into which she had fallen,
through a misplaced confidence; and that I possess a enrtiortn:
dente with Mrs. Jordan, subsequent to her leaving England, which
corroborates my statement in the minutest points.
Upon the separation which took place between Mrs. Jordan and
the Duke, in the year 1811, it was agreed that she should have
t the care, until a certain age, of ber tour youngest daughters, and
a settlement was made by the Duke, for the payment, by him, of
the following sums :

Per ann.
For the maintenance of his four daughters - 11.:1011
For a house and carriage for their use fifie
Fur Mrs. Jordan's own use 1,5410
And to enable Mrs. Jordan to make a provision for three
married daughters, children ifs former connection . £OO
_ _

In all

- • . - £4,4011

This settlement was carried into effect, a trustee was up-
end the monies under such trust were paid quarterly to
and Co.
pirated,
respective accounts, at the banking•house of Messrs. Comte

It was a stipulation In the said settlement that, In the event
of Mrs. Jordan resuming her profession, the care of the Duke's
four dauters, together with the I,4l.llll.trger annum, for their
maintenance,should revert to his Royal Hi ness--and this event
actually did Ake place, in the course ci • ew months, in cones.
quence of Mrs. Jordan's desire to swept certain proposals made to
her to perform.
Mrs. Jordan did resume her profession, and not long after, re
Sections were thrown out against both the Duke and herself; where& '
upon Mrs. Jordan, indignant at such an attack upon his Royal
Highness, wrote the following letter, which was published in the
papers of the day o-..-
Sir,—Though I did not see the Morning Print that eons
tamed the paragraph alluded to in your liberal and respectable
paper of yesterday, yet I was not long left in ignorance of the
abuse it poured out against me; this I could silently have sub.
muted to; but I was by no means aware that the writer of it had
taken that opportunity of throwing out insinuations, which he
thought might be injurious to a no less honourable than illustrious
... In the love of truth, and in justice to his Royal Highness,
I think it my duty thus publicly and unequivocally to declare, that
his liberality towards me has been noble and generous in the
highest degree ; but not having it in his power to extend his
bounty beyond the term of his own existence, lie has, with his at-
, cu stonied goodness and consideration, allowed me to endeavour to
make that provision the myself ; which an event that better feel.
ings than those of interest make me hope I shall never live to see,
would entirely deprive me of.
" This then, bir, is my motive for returning to my profession.
I
am too happy in haying every reason to hope and believe that,
alder these "circumstances, I shall not offend the public at krge
by seeking their support and pea ertiors—and while I feel that I
those, I shall patiently submit to that species of unmanly
- , which a female, so peculiarly situated, must always be
subject sq. Mer ready to acknowledge my deficiencies in every
=I trust I may add, that 1 shill never be found wonting in
ehd gratitude—nor forgetful of the veneration that every
il*eitittid should feel for the good opinion of the public.
" I remain. Sir,
" Yout much obliged, humble servant,
" D. JORDAN.'
.. .. .
have been before stated, that upon settling the annual
to
Mrs. Jordan, every tiring in the shape of a money
was brought to account, and that the most trilling
lima, ems upon recollection. were admitted ; and, i=
being calculated upon the whole in her favour, to the latest
the %lams was paid over by me, on the part of the Duke, and for
which I bold life,..Jordan's receipt.
It should also be understood, that up to the day of their sepa-
ration, Mrs. Jordan bad received a large annual allowance from
his Royal Weals&
A cessation of coseuspoadosse between Mrs. Jordan and myself
ensued until September, 1814, when I most unexpectedly received
a hate litho her, requesting to see me immediately. I found her
in tears, and under much embarrassment, from a circumstance that
had burs upon her, as she said, " like a thunder-storm." She
foiled herself involved to a considerable amount, by securities,
which all at once appeared against her, in the shape of bonds and
promissory notes, vett incautiously by Mired?, to relieve, as she
thought, from trifling difficulties, a near relation 41 whom she had
placed the greatest corifiderice.
Acceptances had been given by her is blank, upon stamped
paper, which she supposed were for small amounts i but which
afterwards appeared to have been laid before her, capable of carry.
lag larger sums.
She was fearful of immediate arrest. She wished to treat all her
claimants most fairly and honourably; and to save, if possible, the
wife and children of the person who had so deceived her from utter
ruin. She could' not enter into negttetations with her creditors
unless at large, and apprehending if she remained in Englan I, that
would not be the ease, she instantly adopted the resolution before.
mentioned, of going to Franc.
A list of creditors was made out, and an arrangement was in
progress to enable her to return to this country. All she riquired,
In order to set her mind at ease on the extent of the demands that
might be out against het was, that the person who had plunged
her into all these difficulties should declare upon oath that the list
he had given to her included the whole. This the party from time
to time declined to do, and disappointed thus, in the hope she had
an fondly cherished of again returning to her country and seeing
those children, for whom she had the most tender affection, she
sunk under the weight of her afflictions, and in the month of
June, 11116, died at St. Cloud.
In support of the foregoing narrative, the writer has the most
incontesuble evidence; but he trusts nothing can be more satis-
factory or convincing to the üblic, than the following extract
from a letter, addressed by Ides. Jordan to him, dated at l'aris,
18th Jao. 1816:

- . -
" DEAR Ste,—l have forborne writing to you, that I might
occupy as little of your time as posoible. My spirits are in so
disturbed a state that my weak hand is scarce:), able to trace the •
still more feeble efforts of my mind • ••
Ile assures you that I ant in possession of the names of my
creditors, to whom he has made me answerable, by tilling up
those blank acceptances that I so unguaidedly gave him, and
yet declines making an oath to that ',repose: this has caused
me much uneasiness, for it appears to me vague, if not equicocoi.
" I can solemnly declare that the names I sent you are the
only ones I know of, and the greater part of them utter strangers
to me. _ .

I was in hopes that, not only out of humanity and justice to
me, but for his own make, he would have done it voluntarily,
as it would have been a mains of removing, in a great degree.
the unpleasant impressions such a determination might cause on
the minds of those who still remain anxious for his future well
doing.
I do not command or enforce it, but entreat it, as the only
relief he can give to a being whom he has almost destmyed
• • • What interpretation can be put on his refusal! if
he says he will not take the oath, it is cruel ; and if he adds that he
cannot, what is to become of me ? Is it in nature possible for me
to return to an uncertain home, with all the horrors I have suf.
freed there fresh on my mind, with the constant dread of what
may be hanging over me ? I really think (under those circum-
stances), that, when my presence would be absolutely necesanry,
it would not remain iv ray awn power to be able to encounter
such misery.
" It is not, believe me, the feelings of arid'', avarice, or the ab-
sence of those rorritnrts I have all nay life been accustomed to. that
is killing me by inches; it is the loss of my only remaining
comfort, Ow hope I wird to &TIM j,om time to time, vein, lay
children. The above assertion I can convince the world of, it'
driven to it, by leaving the bond (all I have) to the creditors, and
the Duke's generous allowance, to the decision of the law.
f " It is now, and ever has been, my wish to save • • • • • ;
or even now I feel a regard tOr him I cannot conquer; but
surely I may expect some return of gratitude from a man, who, by
a single simple art, could relieve thine fears that arc nearly ;WU p.
portable. The idea is shocking.
" Excuse this long letter ; but I am sure you will see and feel
the motive's and the urgency. Once more, dear Sir, forgive and ex-
Cull! yours,
fR)IIA JORDAN."
I trust. Sir, that I have thus put in a fair point of view the
whole of this delicate question, and I shall trouble you with but
little more on the subject.
Irith the death of Mrs. Jordan ceased the allowance, which, by
his Royal Highness's means, she was enabled to make, of 2001. a.
year to each of her three ;named daughters. Surely, then, no
hlame can attach to the Duke of Clarence, whose liberality, in or-
der to enable Mrs. Jordan to make a suitable provision for them.
in the event of her death, has been acknowledged by her to have
been " most noble and generous, in the highest degree."
All sort of means were resorted to l'y one of the parties Wier no
mere), to compel a continuance of these allowances. The Duke
did nut choose to be driven in this respect ; hut when the import'.
nity„ from the ineZiacy of threats, had died away, his Royal
Highness, of his own generous accord, did give to each his kind
assistance. and I am to this day paying, arid as long as it shall be
his Royal Highness's pleasure, shall continue to pay annual gra-
tuities to the two surviving daughters.
Who, then, after this statement of facts, shall accuse the Duke

of Clarence with WaM of generosity towards Mrs. Jordan oz he?
memory
The administration of the efeets of Mn. Jordan, by the so-
licitor of the Treasury, wet er-syfirt, and the advertisement which
appeared in the papers, and which has called forth this last at-
tack, was put in, in regular discharge of the duties of his adini-
nistration.
I must conclude with one assurance, that after having given d
'true, and 1 trust a candid recital of facts, I shall treat with con:
tempt anything further that may be said on this subject; Besting
satisfied, if—tiler an attachment of siz.andsthtrty ran service to
a good and generous master— I shall have added-anything to brir
comfort in convincing a single individual alt the layassios ha has
sustained. _ _

--------
I am, Sir, die. &e.
Bova Mint, Jam TI, Mi. JOH N BARTON.

RUSSIAN DMUS.

The following het of the increased duties is the official
one transmitted to the Governor of the Russian CdnylinT,
by bis Majesty's Consul at St. l'etersburgh. The Duties
are ealculatod in silver roubles and copes,
Old Duty. New.
10. C. 10. C.
2 0 to
1 SO 2 su
180— 110
2 • 3 0
10 0 13
1 0
16 • 21 30
3 0 !Al
9 0-10 0

Coffee, per pool, from
Sugar -
Pepper .
Pituento :
Nutmegs nod Cloves
Ginger .
Mace .
Cocrmi -

Cinnamon JIM CIVIPia

Rice, duty five before - -
- • • 0 40
lhied Fruits . . . •60 1 60
Stallions and Mares, duty free before - 0 • 60 U
Olive Oil, in casks - z 076 I 23
Ditto, in flasks and bottles - - 0 75 - 3 U
Speller, in ingots - • 045 1 511 .
Ilittn, in sheets . - •60 1 61/
Wines, of the description principally imported in
St. Petersburgh, as Port, kladcirs, Bourdessix,
enesillie, lava, Rhine Wine. &c. per Hogs-
head Si •. 16 •
...

' Champagne, per bottle - . - . I ifi i7o
Cypress Wine - - - 1 3111 IMP
Other Wines, in bottles, the same as before 9 0 0 0
Porter, in casks, her hogshead - . 26 9 36 0
.
Ditto, in bottles • 0 II 0 25
•
Kam, Brandy, and Amick, per anger - 20 0 16 0
Olves, per pood - - 176 I 0
raix lb. - - - - Obi— 111
ware, without gold or silver, per pond 1611 4 0
TrYingo, -- - . 21— 4 0

„ -- - -
,in leaves . 4 I I'o 4 0
3 73
Engliseirroh White Lead, per lb. A -A 01 3—o 73
Alabaster— Wrotiht, or Vases, Statues without
ornaments or bronze, per pood - - 2 0 4 S
Marbles and Porphyry, per pood . . 0 1111 —2 0
dams_--Cutt . 1 23 1 71
.----t 'opal . . . I ill 3 0
_--,--Sandrae - - . 1 II 180
....—....l)rafron's Blood . . . 1 0 1 IY/
...—.—Cum Elastic (India Rubber) . 2 50 3 0
----Cold and Silver Leaf, per lb. - 045 1 0
Ostrich, Bird of Paradise, and other Feathers for
Drees, dyed or undyed, with the case - 18 O—X IS
Cotton', manufactured, as per tariff of 1822, under
letue A - - - 058 070
Ditto. ditto, under letter B . - 1 80 2 20
Cotton Twist, undyed, per pood . . 4 0 3 0
Ditto, dyed . - - 6 0 6 0
Stockings and Nightcaps, per pond - II 53 0 70
Woollens—Plain, Camblets, Ribs, Shalloons, 310.
caus, Bunting, Calicoes, Red Wooden Sashes,
White Stun' for Sieves, Sashes of one colour,
with Patterns of the same, as well awatered
Camblets of one colour, per pound . - 1 811 —. 360