The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1809-03-14 00:00:00

rard witneinank
deny a fact,sl,,i
rwards aatract,,i
has always girth
ruth from others,
; tended to
ing nothing but
equal justice to
putting all the
nn. I say that the
If so stiong as to
isiou in conform.
a nature, that.
slight degree of
ruflicient to con.
life. But whin
is, that the legal
one all those obi.
(Hear! hear!)
)u4ll brought foe
Clarke, yet ail.
loot to be
Mrs. Clarke AL-
re, give cn-
I to be aceountul
twit., that Mr..
its and abilities,
It she is equally
ucli a defence, it
have recourse to
.r to Set the bet.
is like applying
he viper, in order
el) If, however,
there are written

mot admit of a
the DUkt.ll own
find that we hare
contrary of what
n lila own bah&
Ira. Clarke's evi_
! here is the vi ore
Highness's tak
lave the evideail e
)uke of York, is
ighnews; and can
character of the
i'litsce,that these
last require wore
I him of crimes
illy srguatestana
hat the Duke of
was coi:trary to
that the whole

—,C0113 ',lady 30.
a very able evi-
! riseanitg of this
witnesses except
shiebood. They
'co..trarlicted by
tuition in respect
be concludes :li-
stless. as is done
nerally conclude
his wanner a ith
judge which of
edited. Colonel
the grand stalks
it is argued from
place. as official
e Hon. Nlernot.r
we of Destovau
(Samuel Carter,
Id nut distinct-
set the case of
O favour of the
t t• any thing.
construed us NIA
It was singular
Bar with every
inn yet (id lie)
wore )tri have
you entertained
weft that awe said
irs. Clarke ; but
what all extent
weighed heavily
ure of hypocrisy
ear ! bear ! It
decency. lem
Lleteut e that has
esti, and wish h:s
de wl ich was
h: ought forward
eter ot the Duke
soon exposed.--
this shape,
Ito-
meet it, and the
lea, y a stature as
tn. Baronet then
w, whose letters,
general feelings
or Turner too, it
erland had also
of the Duke. al.
,I..cr: tarry at %Vat.
Turner's resign:-
account of Mot.
hitordon, that lie
knew net what
, but he begged
et of his Roy ul
e:f. It was in i-
shaking her off.
infamy. Stiels
inali's blood
arke is u melee-
f a Print e. She
v her debts, but
is refused by the
J. And on what
F. he "totes, that
ed, yet no bond
dour of a Prince
e adduced may
'duce is not at all
lignite's 's desire
r from soy gears
irs. The traps-
lion even alone
if the house, as
was overbite of
rter to • place
of obt• the
it.—Lha you not
and inoricy are
tetsio.e ths Duke
the Chancel..

I

for of the 'Exchequer argued, that therefore t
was no corruption, and that there never

the,
mils
a period when corruption existed less tliau nit
P '
resent. 1 should not be surprised to find
that lie thinks lie hat got the gnlilen age lii
the fall of neon, or that Paradise is now re-
gained. Yonr military establislionentt are every
where increased, and places are now (baptised of on
every quarter of the world, at a time when the
people were never so oppresoal, when every
man is looking to ruin, by the grievous tax of
10 per cent. upon his Monne. Is this the
mode by w'oicli the Chancellor of the Exche-
quer proposed to induce industry, or to reward
merit ? Although the corruption of the present
day dud tint to/actable that of former times. when
6001. would be offered to Members in the Witty
of the (louse, or when invited to dine at your
table, eaelt individual would find a large suet of
money under his plate ; I wish there were at the
present day no other species of corruption in exist-
ence, than that open way of accepting the bribe ;
but anfortnnately corruption is mow offered. se-
cretly, and so cemented, that the man who is
thought to be one that would be ashamed to re-
ceive it, is he who has it secretly offered to him,
and who secretly receives it. How could it come
to pass that this Royal Duke could feel himself in
• satiation tie have recourse to such unworthy
means, when it is well known he enjoy. more than
any one of the Royal Fleetly ? This surely gives
force to the test' y, which is complete without
it, whether you take the positive or the cirentu-
sbentivil evidence. The documents are of them-
micros conviiicing to every mind. The legal gen-
tlemen see nothime at all in all this ; but when I
look to their former eondect in Courts, I know not
what object can actuate them to urger those ; for
when the blood of male the lives, the fortunes, and
all that is dear to u family, are concerned, what is
the language we hear ? Have we not seen com-
mon spies and informers, wretches whose oaths
should not pass for a groat, brought forward in
Courts of Law to take away the lives of their fel-
low-enamels ? Juries in former times week, be
liable to be attainted if they rejected such strong
positive or circumstantial evidence as that now
offered to this Houses Since the famous exelnainia
Bill of the Duke of York, afterwards James
11. there has not been such see important case
brought before, Parliament tg be decided upon
justice -ahem. However high -tote rack of the ac-
cused is, it is but is small coosideration nn oily
mind, for the case is the justice of Etiglaiid.-s.
(Hear! hear ! hear!) The Coromandel-in-Chief
has offered the lemmr of a Prince; brit 1 Ms
leave to state, that the hosour of the Kiug, des
honour of the Crown, the fountain of justice, is at
stake, and these are not to be turned aside by that
which is now offered to your notice. Unfortese
noway. upon this subject of honour, there if
always a •contrast. I would wish you to put in
opposition to it the honour of that witness.
who has been painted in such infamous colours at
your bar, every effoot to discredit whole has always
redounded to the confusion of those who brought
it forward. Mr. Few, a witness, has proved to volt,
that having sued Mrs. Clarke for a debt, which She
enccervied in resisting, this woman, who has bees
styled so revengeful, nevertheless, thought proper
most honourably to pay him. That is an act of
bonnur, which. tu my mind. surpasses that of she
Duke of York. Thom Geutlemen who advocate
his cause, have called in the last resource, which is
the appeal in a desperate cause; they have called
witnesses to speak to the general character of the
Duke of York. lu that respect, ton, I believe, lie
will be folioed as deficient as in any other point of
view. In short, his Royal Highness's how:tor rises
out of this discussion like Bernepar ghost,
" With tweets, mortal gashes ea his bead,
" To pooh es from oar 'tootle'
It is impoesible, Sir, that, louder all the circam-
stenees of this case, the Duke of York can retain
the situation he now holds at the head of the army ;
Wear ! hear! Hear !) for 1 have nothiog to elo
with what way lie the COlllief flittlCV 01 this question
being so decided, as it is only to be determined
by the evidence before you. We must come to
such a votedet the cousequelice be what it may. with
no other consideration but timt of justice alone.—
We have been onward, upon this occasion. lint to
be warped by popular iidliteece ; but the eirciun-
stances of the case reader it oweeseary not to allow
it to be decided by popular clamour. The people
of England, whu have been all along remarkable
for being lovers of plaice, look to you for nothing
else; and be your decision oleo it may, it it be
butAtiatire, I moo enmity:ea it will satisfy the peo-
ple. —Sir Francis Burdett theta concluded an elo-
quent and impressive speech, of which the forego-
ing- is hut a very imperfet sketch, as the Honour-
able Baronet was not distinctly audible iu the Gal-
lery, with stating, that he would vote for the origi-
nal address.
The Masrea of the Itors.ssaidl, that he wished
much to hear the evidence commuted and com-
mented epee' before he expressed his opinion, and,
with that view hail delayed olftriog hitoaelfto their
attention until that moment. There were Wilily
parts of the ingenious spee.th of the Hon. Bart.
in which be agreed; it should he hit endeavour, in
what lie had to say. to discharge his duty with im-
partiality, and assist in the promotion of their coin-
tnon object, the discovery of the truth. /hear!
hear!/ He agreed with the Hun. Bart. that ulti-
mately every mats should vme according to his
couviction, and that he 'Mould do all in his power
that that cotivictiou should be right ; else it would
happen, as Doctor Johnson load said. that strong
party principles would produce wrong convictions,
and that would countenance the charge, that
though the coiovic.inio was produced, it was not
conic by honestly (a it/ugh). Fie admitted it MRS
desirable that their minds s/rmld be perfectly un-
biassed and upright, in the iiivest4mtion; that they
should be equally removed form( popular prejudice
upon the one hand, and from c ronsiderationt of rank
and station upon the other. Such were the senti-
ments with which it herein.. that House to pro-
nounce its decision. It nppeureil to him that there
were two questions before them ; first, whether
they would cove. to any opinion upon the charges
of corruption against the Doke of York, and what
step* they would pursue in cooselmaice ? And
secondly, "hat °Milieu they woald entertain of the
evidence iit support of three charges? Supposing
it to be tbe pry/idiot notion that the Duke of York

was guilty ot£ personal corruption, tkossmostion
then was, whether they should prolionuce the judg.
tarot, that lie was unfit to be et the head of the
army ? Ile could conceive cases in which the
House no4lit refuse •to prtitioulice any opinion,
but he could not conceive soy case in which it
would be justified in pronouncing an ambiguous
lie felt it difficult to itilow what :be Howie
would beat. lie wished the Hou. Gentlemuu had
not driven • them to the necessity of coming to a
decision upon .that point. lie agreed iii tie! defi-
nition which the flonourable Barouet had given of
corroptiou, to constitute *Web the remold of money
was nut esseutial; any improper motive, any undue
was eurroptimi. The Address proposed
might have the effect of couvietiog the Duke of
York by a minority. He wished that the lion.
Gelitleinau had set out with proposing
resolution, which would bring the-fart before them
at once. Siipposing, then, that it Wal 11MCVA:ittry
fur them to prouounce a direct judgineut, hrwould
cousider what grounds they had upon which to rest
it. lie war nut aware, that in any former ease
they were similarly circumstanced as in the present.
In ascertainwg the credibility of witnemes,i
they should consider with attrotion the eiremn.
stances under which the testimony was given,
and a very prominent circiiiiistatice for their
consideration was, whether the testimony was giv.
en under the obligation of ap oath ; They hail had
persons at their liar not much akin to the Roman •
or Atheinaii virtue, and they were to decide whe-
ther they would take the uusworn testimony of
such witnesses against any or their fellow subjects ?
(/bar! Hear!) The trilliums), of such witnesses,
lie allowed, might justify them ur pottmg a luau
upon his trial, and lie imagined that the reason
why it was not thought necessary to give the House
of Commons the privilege to administer an oath
a as, that their inquiries were *opposed to he directed
to ascertaiii the grounds of accusation, preparatory
to the institution of a subsequent trial. Every one
agreed as to the necessity of ascertaining the cre-
dibility of Mrs. Clarke ; ashy were hot believed in
311„ her evidnuce ass only circumstantial--u spe-
cies of evidence inferior to that which was direct.
ir mrs. Clarkt', etideuce was admitted in all parts,
without exception, it brought 'Palle the charge
agaiiist the Duke of York in it smolt aggravated
cireumetauers; fur, by lierevideuce, it appeared
that lie not only knew., but authorised and recoin-
mended the traffic in commissions ; that lie did so
to sel\lC his own pocket, aud cast the expense
of her support, from himself, upon the nation.
lie was u little surprised to find the Address, so
worded as not to rest upon the erMence of Mrs.
Clarke; the language of it was, that it was to be
resound, not that it wee directly proved. A No-
ble Lord had said, that he believed her testimony
altogether ; nit was not hiconsistent with that belief
that he should be willing to vote for a itrotiger
measure. The Honourable Gentleman who spoke
secouti in the debate had said, that Mrs. Clarke's
evidence required corroboration, and io that opi-
nion the Houourable Baronet himself agreed. If
her testimony were suspicious, if there were a doubt
upon thuir annuls whether it was tree or false, that
was enough to prevent them from acting upon it ;
it was not iiecersury to prove that it was actually
false. There acre many circumstance' to lie taken
into considerstioa in weighing the credibility of

wrier, thasksaraeter io winch they oppea-red, the
motives by which they were influenced, whether
midi(' or otherwise ;.and by those tests war Mrs.
Clarke, evidence to be decided. He allowed that
there were minty parts of her testinsoity true—
(heat ! /tear ; that the only queeieitable part
was that respecting the private conio•rsations with
his Royal highness. (Hers' hear!) Such testi-
-11.011V•1411 that, however, was always to be ilcubted.
A judge. in charging the jury, always pointed it
oat as necessary to be relpirded with grave suspi-
cion; if it were not regarded with peculiar jenlousy,
tin man's character could he safe ; but the rule was,
tiers if, front oilier circumstances, (as there could be
'to direct refutation of it), there Mils ground to sus-
pert its falsehood, even though it was not sufficient
to
establish • contradictory proposition, that ground
was fatal to such teetimone. It was evilest that
Mrs. Clarke came forward under angry impree-
semis, and a wit ..,ss so coining forward, could not
be perfectly credible; that is. could not be mime.
petted. I o what eetent, then, was Mrs. Clarke's
testimony corroborated ? As to her influence OM
the Duke of York, it woe proved sufficieutly ; but
it. connecting himvsith her corrupt ibeilings, Mies.
Taylor was the only corroborating evidence; others
could only go to estaldish the fact of cettain ap-
pointments haviiig taken place ; she alone went to
prove the incitement of corrupt motives. He con- .
fessed that there did not appear to him ally evidence
agaiost Miss Tudor's veracity ; (Hear but her
evidence was of the weakest sort ; it was a narra-
tive of a conversation ; nor could they be quite sure
that that confirmatory aid was true ; it struck
him at first, that Miss Taylor tni4lit not have re-
collected the'conversation aistinctly ; that respect-
ing Colonel French must have had some reference
to • former tretisaction ; but Colonel French had
fulfilled every iota of his engagement ; her answer
therefore, slaying... middling, not very well," could
not apply to the trausac ion of the levy. So far
from acting otherwise than well, he was actu-
ally in considerable milvence ; instead of the 5001.
the original sum, he had paid 0501. He could
see a meson for this conduct. Colonel French
might have believed that it frriuld be necessary for
him to appeal to her iiituence again, and on that
accatiot might bo more willing to submit to her
demands; and the probability' of his being obliged
to cell upon her again, was streny.dliciied by the
circumstance of the levy turning out to be unsac-
ce,sfid. The inference winch he drew from all
this was not that the confirmatory evidence of Miss
Taylor was false, but that it was not strong enough
to prevent doubt, mid that doubt must lead to ac-
quittal. It was manifest, that joromotions were
forwarded without the regular routine, or that sort
of recommendation which was usual in such cases ;
but then there was no reason to conclude that the
Duke of York was privy to it ; there was no retook'
tittered to connect the matter with him; they
might have been appointed, not only without his
kaowledge that the influence under which they
were appointed was +most, hut even without his
suspicion. With respect to the corroborative testi-
mony in favour of Mrs. Clarke's evidence. there
were two cases before the House; the *us respect-

ing the Smehtege; the other the levy ; he asked
whether these' two cases constituted the numbers
• set firth in the Address ? If they hail before 'Ed son'
mgreat otirither of instances of promotions, out of
the regular conrse, negotiated by her, and all of
them suecessfid, bleu there would be some grounds
•tedecide; upon but the less the IlUmber, the less the
pmbability of her influence, and the Duke's guilt.
If, as a Judge, he had icon iilijrf",s,l,lg a .lury, uto-
der suet' circumstances, lie would declare that'
. there wei.! not grounds suffieient to justify their
'verdict; if he hail great deteits nf Mrs. Clarke's
evidence, lie ivould say that lie war not able to
;tome to a decision, but he would say that he had
grounds for standing neuter, kw calling for • far-
ther investigation. It was a contradiction iu terms
forts nem to say that lie was Ullrl,Mllll whether he
'believed tier evi:lenee or slot, and yet act as if he
feelbelieveil it. 'file House should obeerfe her
I'genera; declarations in csintradietiom to her papeci-
lie elisrges against the Duke of York. Illere the
Hininearble .51einher reed-parts of her evidence,
in which she stated her constant applications to
the Duke of York, and his favouraele reception
of them.] In the first place she stated that she aid
not commence that species of traffic till the period
of her distresses in lf:loucester-place; but it ap-
peared thin she had been engaged in it in February,
11304. She had said that that traffic was to relieve
hii Royal Highness f. out the expenses of her esta-
blishment, bat that ead was not answered ,- they
ointht to take stung with them what she lied said,
that the Duke of York was in tie ptmost thiereve ,
all that while, that he ermid not give her even
tool. %Vas it not wonit.-rful then that he did
not auk her, .. Pray, Mrs. Clarke, what have you
done with all the money you received for the
commloaims I gave you ?" Besides, if the Dakp
of York did give his authority, and mentiuu who;
recommendations were prop's and whit not, she
eonld never have failed ;-but it was plain that She
met- wlth'delays Ned failures in the case of Colonel
French's levy ; in the case of-Major Tonyn there
was much delay, though tht? Duke of 'York. with
one dash of hi.; pen, could have dispatched them
at once,, and that too . without any danger to
himself. It Cu, also evident to every one that
Mei. ellarke was in a miserable State of igno-
railer re/seethe{ the Commander-in-Cl:ler' office ;
her letters upon 'all subjects connected with
it were tilled with perpetual blunders, though the
represented herself as in the habit of daily cunvers
sations with him on these subjects, and on the
business of that office ; she had always some excuse
to account for her failures, she knew hew likely
they Were to occur, and was provided ugai..st thesis.
With respect to the case of Major Shaw, there .
iii,
nothing delivered in the evidence, but what tend
to raise • considerable sospicion of the ber:ll7l,y .0
Mrs. Clarke's story about that affair. She Mid.,
taken upon herself to say, the Duke of York told
her ail along that Shaw wits u very bad man, mad
yet, if we can credit her,ive are to belwve the Duke
had 110 111111(1 at all of his own, but the moment
Mrs. Clarke recommended, there was instant pro-
motion. In the case now before the House, be
conceived they hail not a discre:ionary power. As
far as he errs able to form a judgment upon the
question, it did not appear the Duke of York had
ever permitted these trunspetions upon which was
instituted the present procedure. He could tit!,
• brit admit: -there was great reason to regret `the
Duke had ever antlered Mrs. Clarke to open her
lips. or say • single word nu military affairs.—
At the same time, we ought not to exclude from
our consideration, that Mrs. Clarke had appeared to
be acquainted with persons ef the greatestrespecta-
tvilit2;, and thereby the Duke of York was probably
mistaken shunt her chanieter. Dr. O'Meara 's case
had incurred much animadversion. anal, although
it did not apply to the army, or army promotious,
still lie was nut disposed to contend it ought to be,
entirely excluded front their coosideratiou. After
adverting to the observations ill:tile by different in;
diviituals in the House. during the comae of thg:
present discussion, regarding the sense of thif
people, he thought it the duty of every Member to
investigate the evidence before theta with the ut•
most coolness and deliberation; to attend to the
truth only, and examine according to the hest of
their judgment, and then there could lot exist a
doubt but their decision would be satisfactory to
the country.
Sir Samuel. Rout LTA. said, he considered it his
duty to trouble the House upon this important oc-
casion with a few observations. In dorm; so he
should consider this ease in a different point of view
from any member of the profession to which he
had the hoarser to belong, and who had preceded
Min in thy debate. However, he would not tied it
necessary to enter minutely into all the evidence
affecting the question now before the House. The
Chancellor ot the Exchequer had gone the length
of makings proposition, that the testimony adduced
did not go to prove there was either corruption, or
any connivance at that corruption, by the Continuo-
der-in-Chief ; liut such a proposition nes not in the
prevent instance calculated to produce his own as-
sent. This question, in its original state, was dif-
ferent from its present condition, fur the Honour.-
..able Mover proposed an Address to His Majesty
upon the subject, stating the eitistence•of certain
corrupt practices, and the connivance of his Royal
fligheess at the mine; this war succeeded by an
amendment, proposed by the Chancellor of the
Exchequer, and another by an Honourable Gen-
tleman on the sense side of the Hostile with himself.
(Mr. Henke+ Souse doubt was stated, how far it
was the province of the Commons to proceed con-
cerning his Royal Highness's condliet ; but could'
it be in any *ay qnestionable, when it might be ex-
pedient to remove a great man from any important
and official situation, but the house ot Coniutons
were very correct in taking the step they had done
by the present proceeding ? He would express very
shortly his opinion on the rerbjekt. In that Howie
some ;levee of mistake manifested itself dutimig the
discussion. It seemed to be understbod they had
to mime to a decimal' there upon the ghilt or M-'
nricence of the Duke of York. But thee had no
decision to make. nor was auy dt.eision. mops- '
ed on the question, whether the Duke mum rt y
or not. Charges were certainly brought before'
the House, and they were bound to come to a she-
enier' as those charges, which was consistent with
their proceedings. On this occasion it had ale. been
said, a speedy decision ought to be adopted, in
' justice to his Royal Highness, but the letter of the

. . , .
Mike also deprecates their coming to any flee's, t : ;
,till he could-telt help anitaiedvertnig upon too : -
pro,eitwy of sendiag such a letter to the How- :
Commons.. It was the production of evil ~., e
juilicibui it/omelier*: for his pint hr felt extl4 I 7
burry, arid if be were to utter his real sesoilino.s i n
the Oceitisleu, tie had to lament the existelice of ,e h
soiorrioout proceeding. Ile wished it emit. • e
glitptliiged from the doornail!. and that it con,- I e
blotted out of oar rein flubrsace for ever.--(Hear !
kr!)---(The Honourable sad Learned Mem b• r
litre read that part of the Duke's letter to the
Iloio.e of Commoos, where he deprecates their de-
cisio:a.) Certaiuly the questirm fur their determi-
nation was not whether there was corruption or
connivance by the Commander-in-Chief, in the
course of these triusactions ? Their ceusideration
otielit to be drawn to whether or not there •+ as
L.round to charge him geuerelly ? lit did not, after
basing carefully untanned the whole of the ev 'dem ,
flail limiself Warrante.l it' sityitig there was no grou os
to support distinct charges tigainat the Duke of 1 40. k,
neither did he feel disixised to admit these vete no
troth in the evidence. If he referred him,. I, to t; •
testimony given by Mrs. Clarke, he wa, i:elee• a to
suppose some credit was .due to her; he did not
:neat' thereby to say that credit was doe to her in
every thing. In this discussion, argniatata had
been used, and opinions prooratitic..l, respecting
the evidence or accomplicea. Ou this stnocet be
was bound to declare it to be the law of Ear lead,
that the te-tiwony of an aceotaidice ought to be
received, stud. if corroborated by • single circum-
stance, might convict a Wall of aea pitnl crime. In
a case of a robbery by, three persons, the fact was,
the man robbed. though he saw th, re wear 'hare
robbers, yet it was so dark, he had not a . oppor-
tunity of discovering their faces, or ;:ay rework-
able circuinstaace About them, by which he could
identify their persons; yet, upon the trial. 011" of
the robbers gave evidence against the other te 0,
and histeatimouy was only corroborated so fa. that
his relation of the cocuinstances of the rubes, ,
and that of the Gentleman robbed, agreed tog.-
ther ; at the same time nothing was brought hood-
to the conviction of the two men, but by the evi-
dence or thiliactoinplice.. The case was rese.ved
fur the °pianos) of the twelve Judges, who after-
wards pronouoced the ea...lrace to be good ..ed
legal, and the toniviction riAlit. There was atiother
case at the Old Bailey, whete the evidence 0, an
aecomplice, with on equally small ;bortioa of toe.
rolro-utare testimony, convicted die prisoner, and
where also the queolua was reserved fur the twelve
Judges, upon which tbey delivered a similar opi-
nion. Malty Orientations had been apparel to
those iustunees of contradictiou which appeared in
0111% Clarke** evidence, and .lie would allow
if a.. wjtness 141 a Court of :arbor terve. to
be guilty of palpable cottrieliciam, even in a very
immaterial part of his teitiatiosy, still he wergild
not he entitled to credit is the rest of hie evidenco.
Notwithstmuliok it 'appeared to him some dimities,
Lion war due to witnesses, whether they delivered
their evidence, not noon oath. as was the case in
that House, or they were rextbatly sworn, as in
courts (f jusher. In point of s net morality, no
difference existed, but circuni-trioces would alwas•
have sufficieut weight with the gen, ~d pgtof .4,...
ciety ; the solemnity of a Come awl the fldellief an
oath must be supposed to make conaiderableamome.e.
siou. Yet he was not is. lined to coodeato or io say
the evidence ought to be iasiiiidat.4l, be aose„
when a witness is called before a large assembly,
she chooses, iu a flirt very immaterial. to tomes-
roar to cutler:Al where she live.. Mrs. Clarke's
testimony was given at the Bar under very uila-
vourable circnrsistauces: there was a looseeesa and
a levity in her behaviour, still she was rani hoe
presses! that she might suffer, it' her testimony we •e
wrong ; therefore there was cunsidertible weight
reatino,,opoit the whole 4 tier evidence. In gene-
ral, New. objections affected the case, but thee
wore out sufficient to set aside her testimony ; and
t
though it was admitted there was coniabfrrohle cote.
traduoioe, yet he formed his judomerit mien
the whole of the eviuruce taken collectively.
He was free to ackitow ledge that Mrs. Clarke came
to state a story which on its face might arena im-
probable, and this grounded merely upon her tee.
ninony and that of Miss Taylor. This, however,
she did, without the possibility of knowing what
other testiinouy there might be, either ii. corrobo-
ration or coistradiction of it ; notwithatandieg
which, two psi-eels of letters had been produced,
the one coming from lieneet. tlig,other front Ni-
cholls ; ou the production of which her testimony
had been it' • great degree continued. It had also
been asserted, that she was the less to be belleved,
niasinueli us she Caine forward to give her evidence
io the lig,lit of 0 prosecutor / but neither o as thisaseter.
tutu better founded than the others, as it had been
distinctly stated by a Noble Lord in what snootier
she had been found out and brought forward. In
this part of the case there were two points parti.
cularly to be attended to ; the one was the evi-
dence of Miss Taylor, the other the note found
at Capt. Sunden's. With respect to the former, it
had been objected to the character of one connected
as she was, *fleeting to keep a school. This ob-
jection he cousaiered as altogether trifling; an the
coutrary, the fact was rather an evidence of tht
goodness of her character, at least with the parents
, .of the children committed to her care, bouunuell
as they had all withdrawn them since the period el
her unfortituikte exiimination. But what interest
could she possibly have in coming forward for the
isurposeol giviog a false tertunuoy ? Could she b.
uttpposed, merely from the circuinstauce of her iie.
quiet/Lance with, or even obligation to, Mrs. Clarke,
to be guilts of ac l -e, which, morally apeaknagbaf
though without the saucily of ill oath, was VON
to pep jury ? rug was it therefore to he imagined 111.1
communication was to have no weight. especial',
when balanced against the obvious danger o
giving evidence agoiest so great • character a
ilia Royal Mightier% ? Would any court of ill,
tier, he would ask, wcigh for a single women
such objections ? If then, credit was to lo
vireo to her testimony, what did it amount to
It was argued, and that.gravely, that the luestim
stated by her to have been put •to the Doke by
lif,rs. Clarke. respecting Major French, *. Mu
doesi`he behave to you, tey darling?" meant emit,
whethef Tie had beep troublesome to her as his had
been to himself. Who, if that were the true inter-
potation, what had he to do, but to desire het
to &hut her doors against him ! Brit if it was take=
)4

se more natural anoNinvieites meaning; vs
e had been properly Idlers's garde her, this
naturally end easily usa. iv* whole trans-
ction. Bet It vs4g.agreednhoirtialitibable she
Mould recollect a single coneitrskoanisfaid at such
a distance of tone; it should, liowefler, reme -
bered she had stated, that iluftheingearquaitited
with the name of Major French beteire tfien, and
observing an air of. mystery:, she halt)* there-
fore her attention 'drown, to ithe• einfitinstance,
—The next point was 'stlsat of the noft- fhand
at Captain shilitlenisirs siteivilly Captain TUntiii:
Of the truth of that letter he Professed not to en-
tertain the sinalle.td"ubt. If lie were uctiug under
t to solemn ohligatioc of a Juror, and that the life
of a prisoner was to he the stake, he would have
no hesitation in finding it to be origiiial ; lie could
have no doald on the evidence. He considered it as
not treating the Duke fair, to' assert his Royal
Highness hail avowed he had never written 'te—
nts Mast have been before the note itself had
been produced ; and if the note itself hud
oi en produced, he would have been as much
a ionized as any of them at its existence. He had
known instances in which proofs had been attempt-
ed, by comparison of hands, to establish that a
paper was written by a tisrson ; but never before
had he known an attempt, by such u mode of proof,.
to establish that a paper was not written ; and he
only regretted he bad not divided the House on
the admission of such testimony, us be was confi-
dent that, however he might be in u large minority,
lie would have every professional gentleman iii the
House oat his stile. The note Intel( was evidently
written in haste, and as an answer to one written
to him upon business. I have received your note.
and Tonyn's business shell remain as it is ;", that
is, it is my pleasure it shall be so, in consequence
of the note I have just received from you. He was
not called on to say this was connivance, but only he
could not say there is ins grouted to charge the Duke
with the offence ; and this the more especially as his
Royal Highness was not there in person, and upon
proper investigation he may be proved wholly in-
usseent of the charge. The ;wet question for their
consideration was, whether. iii the melit of their
not adopting the Resolutions of the Right lion.
Gentleman (llr Percevul) they should vote ao
Address to His Majesty, praying the removal of
his Royal Highness? Upon this head it had been
asked, would they proceed to adopt the measure of
praying far his removal without trial and conviction?
This lie considered as unconstitutional language.
Would they suffer even Ministers to remain in
power till they had undergone the firm-r!“ of con-
victiou ? Had not that House proceeded to call
for the removal of *Roisters, particularly of Lord
Melville, without conviction, and even that for
an offence committed in his former office? The
House had even proceeded to expel its own Mem-
bers ; and yet, forsooth, they are not to addrm,for
a rtenoval, without a previousconviction, ausk all tine
because they could not exarnine winiessesopoisoadt.
Woold they not out the Duke on the +ewe footle'g.
with any other Nobleman ? Because, if Amnions of
tie highest rank would accept of official station?.
ttiey most take them with all their responeibilitys
If. then, it aoocared that his predecessor, or any
other in that liieh station, had publicly kept a
mistress, and that she had corruptly- taken money
as a matter of pahlic ontoriety ; if he were cb.go to
-go noted his way to solicit places for the inamershy,
iu oeiggesoffmes team his own, ware they ready to
slay thatonistence of such evils was not ground
stir-
ticseut to justify thew in going up to the Throne.
and saying the army was nut safe under such a
Commander ? Shall it hr said at one moment
that they should treat his Royal Highness in
the same manner at thee would any other subject
A:id shall they be lob' the next moment, will
you run the risk of alteration in the succession to
the Throne? For his part, he was, he believed,
of all men, the loust to be governed by 'omelet*.
; still lie felt, that, osier the circumstances
in which they Were placed, they should Anispeem-
!holy careful of their proceedings. after invstnqs, us
it were, the publie to canvass their conduct, bystire
mode of proceeding they had thought lit to adopt.
Thus situated, they should be careful of the cc mar
sequeacise if they were (wind to differ in the con-
elusion to be drawn from these proceedings. He
had every cousideratiou for the feelings of the
Royal Family, but lie had more for the character
of that House with the public. Bit should nice go
forth to the world, that that House heard of cor-
ruption with indifference, if they should ever lase
the confidence of their constituents, there was No
eayiug how far-spread or how total might lie the
consequences. With respect to himself. he never
gave * vote with more sleep reluctance, and
wished he could s-tv there was no ground for accu-
sation. Ile might reasonably expect some share of
prosperity, but in perilous nine% like them there
WAS no knowing whet vicissitudes awaited us ; bait,
happea what would, lie could hope for an possible
advantage from the vote he should then give, which
was for the original Address.
Mr. H lIN RT SMITH made a few observations in
favour of his Royal .Iligliness, considerilig the
House as exceeding their judicial functions, not
only by passing sentence, but inflicting punish.
ment, and this upon a proceeding merely ex-perte.
The So ticcroint: N ERA L followed on the same
ssle. At that late hour of the ninht he should
abstain from going at any length into the °pions!),
he entertained, but trusted he should meet with
their iodulgesice, anxious as they ,oust be to re-
ceive information even from the least capable ;
als.l notwithstaiuhag the several opinions imputed
to such of his profession as lied spoken on the same
Indio of the question. he 7et hoped he shonhl meet
with the credit of sincerity in those Ise shook' of.
fee. lie proceeded to state whet he conceived to
b • the precise question they were called on to de-
ale; tied what the form and manner in which they
should decide it, ae his lion. Frieial, who spoke last
hut once did not seem to him to consider it rightly. •
The question was first, whether there existed say
proof sof guilt--secondly, whether the Duke of
York was guilty--and, thinlly, supposing the other
whether they should proceed by way of address,
ear in what other ini 1111 l eel With respect to the right
of Cm. House to address His Thijesty to remove any
Minister, without first a convict:3u of his guilt, he
certainly never doubted it ; but he submitted
whether it would not be but right to decide urn
the question of wain, before thee came to the irWb2
louse of presenting such an Address ? AVto the
. '
•

.~ _'

11717ge ropesty an Ron. Member Mr.
BAN ICES) though it professed not to convict of cur.
reption, yet it did that of participation ;and there-,
fore he considered it as even more exceptiesselde
than the original Address, as being more egoism:W.'
If it were supposed that the Duke of York
suspected Mrs. Clarke of disposinr,. of commissions
corruptly,
and for money, to officers, however
otherwise deserving, this amounted, both in mos
lility and law, to corruption, or something worse.,
is acting in breach of his own regulations; on this
out, he preferred the mode of proceeding bi
way of Resolution, to that of Address. Another ob.
jection he had to the hitter mode was on account
of its ambiguity; but by that of Resolution,
there could be no mistake whatever as to what
they specifically meant ? The Address did not
go far enough if there were guilt, and if there Wee
not, it went a great deal too far. fie contended
hot for the Prince, but the British subject. Where
.then was the crime in the Duke denying the charge
against him, and begging for trial, claiming the
right of every British subject, by Mcgee Chartes, to '
be tried per jadiciera period* el per kgesterree?—.
He had avoided intruding on them before, but he:
should consider it a dereliction of his duty, it
.be did, net call on them to pause before they
'Aporiseeed without trial. He did sot deur
bet ninisop were practised by Mrs. Clarke.—
She had ' bees an Army Broker from the year
•1804 to led. and from that to 11108. The ques-
tion for dii House to determine was. whether
the Constawader-iu•Cbief was privy to the trade,
'--- be allowed her

she eardmil oaf As as neoeMpilhalk
to be a competent odium. lot. *wan.. her eri.
dente required to be oareaborated, which had not
been in a single instance; from the character she had
given of herself, she ought not to be believed.—
f A cry of hear ! hear!)—He meant as an army
broker, whore trade was lying; how rent a prorci-
rimy she must have made in the profession, when .
she imposed upon Donovan and other agents, who
were adepts in deception, and made them believe
she bad influence over the Duke of Portland, from
the year ien6 to 1808 ? And would it be atterbeed
to be contended she had the influence ?
e harm t have acted in the seine way, while milt
the protection of his Royal Highness. had she
not the effrontery to tell you, at your' Bar, that
Mr. blalby was her Dube of Portland, and might
not Donovan or Sanden have been her C 6111.•
minder-in-Chief ? Mid was not this made more
probable by the evidence of Corti. who statea
that she always entreated him to act in such a
incnier, that not any of the tmnsactiot3 should
come to the ear of his Royal Highness ? It is not
by oral testimony that Mrs. Clarke is confirmed.
but by documental evidence ; even in that there
was not a particle of proof ; that the Duke of
&"ark had connived at the abuses committed.—
Then it was said there had been alert incidents
secideetally fused, which brought it home ; if it
was so, he acknowledgeil lie hail not the wisdom
or ability to find then' out. lie then alluded to
)11s. C.'s letters to Mr. Adam, and the threats they
held out. Ile submitted, it was impossible that
it could be argued she was all unwilling witness.
would subwit to the House what she had stated
passed-sie mouths after the commencement of the
establishment in Gloucester-place;his [loyal

. -
!Ugliness suggested to her a plan of raising 26,(x0)1
a. year, by selbus; commissions in the army
which were at his disposal, by setting up a
shop. and carrying on a regular trade. Could
any Member 10•111.1.1bly think that this was true; a
person of his high rank, a Prioce holding the ele-
vated station he did, would commit himself to
Semler', and the rest of the whorl sluts who
made so despicable an appearance before that
Hulse? He was of opinion, if he had 1:1 the
smallest degree connived, that he would not have
appointed each a man as Colon Gordon fur
his official agent ; or would it he policy of him,
if be was engaged in the business of the shop, to
write a circular letter to the Officers of the army,
warming them spinet such practices? It could
not be said that was inviting theni. lie also &lig-
Prated a clause in the Mutiny Bill, inflicting a
Grfeiturc of three times the amount given for a
commission, gained by illicit means. Was not
this sufficient to ainviuce the douse and the coma-
try that lie 1111111inunoceut? To soy reflecting mind
it must he, when it was considered the impossibility
of her rat gso large a sum, whea watched by Os.
lonel Gordon and Mr. Greenwood. lie hail oat
yet heard it asserted that they were charged with
corruption, and he felt assured he never would
they ware men who stood too high in publist
estimation for the lash of calumny to reach them.
Would his Royal flightless, if implicated in any
improper transaction with Mrs. Clarke. knowing
the talents of the woman, and knowing she hail
the power of damning him for ever, have solicited
the Right Honourable and Learned Gentleman
(Mr. Adam,) to here inquired into her conduct
as to money matters ? and when Mr. Adam called on
her, would the not have told him of the corrupt trans-
actions they had been eonjoiotly earning on ? But
she never did. His K. Highness heard her character
was bad, and be throw/tar off. Could it be believed
he would not hare given her au annuity if it was only
to hay op the objectionable letter, if he conceived
he had any thing to fear? But knowing his inno-
cence he diecarded her; and still conscious of it, he
'liked for a trial; and could they, or would they,
deny it ? Thu Constitution of the country gua-
ranteed a trial to the poorest individual before he
was condemned ; certainly his high birth ought
net to pot Inm in a worse plight than the meanest
of his Boyish Father's subjects. lie then took a
comprelieueire view of the whole of the evidence ;
and concluded. by observing, that the House ought
to tote him either guilty or innocent,. before they
came to a resolution of sending an Address up to
I the Thrtii,e.

Lord Fougnoist spoke a few words io explaoa.
tion.

I

Lord Cave'.sasansi moved an adjournment, and
gave notice that he would oe Wednevilay ask leave
to bring in a for increvuung the Militia force
of England and Ireland.
Adjournedd at HALF-rArr Tmatz o'CLocs, to
this ay.
The Gleamore, GOWLDING, from Sueisaah is
ri'rived at Liv,erpool with the low of her omen.
mast, and having thrown most of her guns ever.
board.

•