The National Register.
London, England, 1809-02-26 00:00:00

' POLITICAL DISQUISITION.

NUMBER FIFTY-NINE.

EUA.RGES AGAINST TUE DUKI OF YORK.

The investigation of the Committee closed on Wednesday last ;
and whatever pain or repugnance we feel, we arc forced, in
compliance willi the indignant and outraged feelings of the
public, and our own sense of their momentous consequence, to
resume the subject of. these charges. They have brought to
light a mbltiaide of &grant abuses, and detectisd a villainous
system of peculation, which no 'nail, who was anxious either
for the honour or the safety of his country, would credit,
though their existence was repeatedly alluded to. We will not
accuse his Royal Highness of countenancing, or conniving at,
the malversations arrverted to during the course of the Inquiry ;
and, in conformity with the humane and enlightened spirit of
our laws, will scrupulously refrain from prejudging his conduct.
There are crimes which an honest man feels a horror in attri-
buting to others, particularly to those whose station and rank
preclude, as he would willingly suppose, the possibil:tv of a
mean or iniquitous action; and his struggling faith, with con-
vulsive grasp, clings fast to the idea of human excellency, till
repeated +-hocks w rest from liiin this fascinating support.
These motives of repugnance to believe in the official delin-
quency of the Commander in Chief are confirmed by the consi-
deration how much it is his interest not to undermine, by an encou-
ragement of abuses, the veneration and attachment of the public
for an establishment, which secures to him, as Prince of the Blond,
a number of advantages and privileges over the rest of his fellow:-
citizens. If his understanding be on a level with that of the bilk
of mankind; if he he in the habit of forming the simplest combi-
nation of ideas, or povsess the pimer of discriminating between
momentary and. permanent, artificial and solid advantage, his
every thought, word, and action, would invariably tend to
maintain, in their highest purity. institutions so favourable to
him individually. To suspect him of contrary pretensions, or
to accuse him of being dissatisfied with the rank, fortune, and
influence he so pre-eminently enjoys in society, and of a desire
to augment, by illicit means, the advantages he already possesses,
:tiouttl imply a deficiency, on his part, of common feeling and
common understanding. Will any man, therefore, have the
courage to condemn us if we still entertain hopes that the Com-
mander in. Chief might haye been ignorant of the infamous traffic
which some vile miscreants carried
.on under the cover of his
W
name. e may be accused of weakness, of want pf courage
and patriotikm ; but we must confess we would feela .horror in
believinglhim • capable of associating with a Mrs. Clcke,
sa
anda.: Captain Sandon, fpr the,igripininious purpose of
converting the patronage of the Army into the means of gratify-
ing his private vices, and the extravagant _wants of his mistress.
We cannot fix on the idea butlvith -horror It is too mortifying
for human nature, human reation, and human pride. Whilst
,Europe still resounds with the crash of so many thrones, and we
ihudder_atthe misery and degradation of so many powerful em-
pires--whilst the tremendous and instructive example of de-
throned and fugitive kings, descending from the glare of great-
ness into the horrid gloom of a prison, or depending for subsist-
ence on the generosity and commiseration of strangers, strikes to
with awe, and Impresses the instnbility of Lipman grandeur;
.whilst.the conviekta.rushess at .titelatpe
.iattafttorpory.iinds,
Pol. 11.--Ife. LXI.

that the extravagance of kept mistresse7.l the panderisin of mini,.
ons, the base servility of courtiers, the treacherous complacency
Of ministers, the arrtiganee and infatuation of princes, and the
«path!, of the people, were the principal, Perhelps the sole cause
of these complicated calamities;—we naturally hesitate to at-
jinow ledge the existence of similar vices at home, from the cer-
tainty we have of their leading to similar consequences.
After the tremendous and 'the recent example of the !Welt,
no N 5, and the still more impressive lesson of an obscure Corsi-
can Adventurer lording it over the prostrate Princes and Nations
of the. earth, to imply, on the part of the Duce of Yoitt,
a knowledge of the infamous transactions which have been exis
posed in the Committee, would be to accuse him in direct terms
of a turpitude of character, of a depravity of heart and head, a
stupidity of intellect, and a bold, unreflecting contempt of forms
and opinions, which would place him far beneath the level and
estimation of No language would furnish a comparison,
the records of human perversity do not afford a corresponding pre-
cedent to mark our horror and indignation. But no, no : we re-
ject the imputation with contempt; as tonyiying too mortifying
an opinion of rank, education, and every thing pre-eminent or
useful in society.
But thougb we do not hesitate, for the honour of human na-
ture, to acquit him of these charges; WeEdill bestow the most
unlimited and um/notified approbation on the man who institut•
ed them. Ilk conduct and courage have already raised him to
a level with ii A mur. , VON Lir, and Lord iiiISSEL• Eternal
gratitude to Mr. W A untE for his patriotism and intrepidity !
These virtues were long dormant iu this coutrtry and, we trito,
their resuscitation will be productive of the double advintta::e,
of securing the State from foreign subjection, and preset-% biz. it
against the undermining etrortsof dome,tic corruption. yaw-
pies of this kind were ardently looked for, and became imperi.
misty urgent ; for the impetus and irritation they give to the
popular feeling are alone capable of creating and supporting- a
degree of energy equivalent to the tiectuntilatfug anealaraing
danger of our situation. Yreedoai and national greatness cannot
.
exist long .without these violent passions; and persons, who, in
ordinary times, have been pitied, or laughed at, for their ec-
centricity, feSiieSSne...:S, ex travagauce, and Originality, have pro-
cured, to the. sacrifice of their intrividuat ease, and frequently of
their lives, for us, in common with other'fieetitates,
• - •
the ads an-
Cages we boast of and enjoy. Our cool, fOrmal, sedate', I)l4d-
ditto., regular, and tool men keep aloof on these decisive 'Ocia-
sions ; and possess,,When the enthusiasts, whose impetuosity and
rashness they condemned, are no wore, the fruits cif their.eiter.
tiOns and sublime devotion.
Bat thou r h We were willing to acquit his Royal ifighness
of conniving at the mal-praetises of' Dirs. Clarke, suiPielan,
however, attaches to his character; and he and his fr;ends,
and .the public
.must be convinced of the expediency "
of
noj having his'inya. ocence hereafter called in quest, n; that he may
not be condemned rt,ithuut atrial, or be ;deprived e benefit
pro,teclion eolitch is aturdedto every subject- by those
sanctions, under trAich akne euictenee is e;eccived in the ardbiary
administration of the law." Tne' more his Royal highness is
comcious of his innocence, the more peremptorily he should
•
challenge inquiry, the more .strenuoukly oiou'lo insist on the
necessity of his being brought to !nut, in order to chew his
.deference for the institutions of tkis country, to prove the equality
of our laws, and to avoid painful surmises of undueg influence
t.•
Laving been exerted in his behalf. No man.is more persanull,y
terested lo maintaiung,iu its utmost purity, the spirit of the GM.*

S

1.

i.

.

MI

!..

• )
•

preclude, as he would willingly suppose, the possibility or a re, 'or tor 1101;UUL Itt ssu sss is ii sin—
, But thou“t we do not nesun
1,.
Mean or iniquitous action; and his struggling faith, with con- ture, to acquit him of these charges; WeEctill bestow the most
vulsive grasp, clings fast to the idea of human excellency, till unlimited and uniinalitied approbation on the man who institut.
F .
repeated +-hocks wrest fro
m him this fascinating support.
These 'natives of repugnance to believe in the official delta- ed them. ilk conduct and courage have already raised him to
a level with ilAmur.N, gIiDNEY; and Lord II.tISSEL• Eternal
,•• .
quency of the Commander in Chief are confirmed by the consi- II
‘Yratitude to Mr. WA IL IME for his patriotism and intrepidity ! •.,
, deration how much it is his interest not to undermine, by an encou- b
These virtues were long dormant iu this country : and, we frif:/t
ragement of abuses, the veneration and attachment of the public i
for an establishment, which secures to him, as Prince of the Blond, their resuscitation will be productive of the double adyNittae,
. •
of securing the State from foreign subjection, and preset-% itiz IL ';,
privileges over the rest of his fello es and number of advanta a g w-
against the undermining etrorts of dome,tic corruption. Evittr- .t.'
citizens. If his understanding be on a level with that of the liulk .47
pies of this kind were ardently looked for, and became imperi.
of mankind; if lie he in the habit of forming the simplest combi-
ously urgent; for the impetus and irritation they give to the 1- s:
nation of ideas, or povsess the power of discriminating between f-
popular feeling are alone capable of creating. and supporting a 1
momentary and. permanent, artificial and
"lid advantage' his 1 degree of energy equivalent to the acetinittlatfug and'alartiAnw
every thought, word, and action, would invariably tend to danger of our situation. Freedmie and. wit Intuit 4,reatitess Catint7t
maintain, in their highe,st purity. institutions so favouNthle to exit long .without these violent passions; and perions, W fin, in r
him individually. To suspect him of contrary pretensions, or ordinarY times, have been pitied, or loughtid at,' flit- their ec-
to accuse him of being dissatisfied with the rank, fortune, and
1 01.1 t
.), have pro-
:• influence he so pre-eminently enjoys in society, and of a desire _ centricity, festlessnc-ss, ex travagauctcand i►ri ' ;1'; •. •
cured, intie sacrifice of their individual ease, and frequently of o
to augment, by illicit means, the advantages healready possesses, '
, their lives,,for us, hi cemmon with other titatesz, the ti'd%'an-
:tioutiti imply a deficiency, on his part, of common feeling andi!,
t sedate, '4
‘lages`we boast of and enjoy. Our Cool, formal, phut-
common understanding. Will any man, therefore, have the ding, regular, and loyal men keep aloof on these decislie 'Ocia- • •
codrage to condemn us if we still entertain hopes that the*Cinn-
. sio'nbs,; a-riditn'Siess,.4;en the enthusiasts,' whose itnpettiosity and I
!mintier in.chkef might have been ignorant of infamous traffic '
' rashness they condemned, area no wore, the fruits ilf their.eiter.
Iteltich some vile miscreants carried on under the cover of his, ;.- • - - •
- twits and sublime devotion. .
name. We may be accused of weakness,
,f):f. want pf COUra;rf gut though .
But though we were willing to acquit his Royal ilighnets
and patriotikat ; but we must confess we would feel a horror in of • . ,1"
- •- • • - conniving at the mal-practises of Dirs. Clarke, stiiiiician,
believinglhim• capable of associating with a Nts. Clacke, a• - •• • •..
however, attache,s to his character; and he and his fr;ends, 1
113onovou, anda.: Captain Sandon, fpr theignpininious purpose of •_
_i, 1 scncy
converting the patronage of the Army into the Weans of gratify- And .the pwbiic ,must be convinced of the expe I' '•" of
not having his inyaocence hereafter called in quest, 'n; the he may
ing his private vices, and the extravagant_wants of his mistress.
nat'beeondentned ‘oithont a trial, nor be dipriveil of the benefit
We cannot fix on the idea butleith horror' It is too mortifying • , -•• . • •
for human nature, human reation, and human pride. Whilst and protecliois A/40 is afrorded to every 11•itiSh snkjirt- by those
. .. •►. . .
sanctions, under which alone evidence is received in the ardbaury i
,Europe still resounds with the crash of so many thrones, and we
adininisiration of the last." Ttie more his Royal ilighnesi is
Ohudder_atthe misery and degradation of so many powerful em-'
1 pires-7--whilst the tremendous and instructive example of de- conscious tif his innocence, the more peremptorily he should
.. .
h u
. 1
. , the
I challenge inquiry,
.the more .strenuonkly ie_s it d insist on
throned and fugitive kings, descending from the glare of great-
t? necessity of his being brought to irinl, in order to sliew .his
mess into the horrid gloom of a prison, or depending for subsist.-
to ileference for the institutions of his eounkry, to prove the equality
sacs on the generosity and commiseration of strangers, strikes .„ ,-, ~ , t‘• ,
of our laws, and to avoid painful surmises or eudge influence
with awe, and impresses the insinbility of Lipman grandeur;
having been exerted in his behalf. No man is more pirsanally" in.
.whilst.the cOnvi.ction.rushess At .tkelarae iTtittrt,ahpsarF.tinds,
timested in inaintaiung,iu its utmost purit;', the spirit of the con-
Pol. 11.---Ifs. LX I.
, :