The National Register.
London, England, 1809-03-12 00:00:00

MARCH 12.

they were presented to the House, and were examined by a Se-
-I.et Committee, appointed for that purpose, they 'were put into
the hands of Mrs. Clarke. Nature would at once show how
far and in what manner, She was qtrected. Ile had seen simpli-
city go through the most arduous examination clearly and cor-
rectly, but he had never known design to succeed. In the ease
of Mrs. Clarke, it was hut World for her, on procurito,
the hang-writing of General Clayecing, which she had imagined
was destroyed, to smile, when she felt that that writing was to
clear her character front the imputation of falsehood cast on it
by the testimony of that gentleman. lle watched her counte-
nance, hut saw no other expression. Could this be attri-
buted to a preconcerted conspiracy ? The next point in
which it is attempted to he proved that she had prevaricated
In her evidence, wits that in which she had denied having passed
as the wife of Mr. Fowler. This assertion was disproved
by whom? Hy Nichols, who had proved, by the baseness of
his conduct, in retaining in his possession the letter entrusted
to him to destroy, that he was himself unworthy of belief,
as it was evident his object for keeping them was to extort
money from Mrs. Clarke hereafter, by threatening to poblish
them. It was of little or no importance; for if we looked
hack to our own youthful days, we should probably recol-
lect that we had stiled the partner for the night our wife,
who was in fact no wife at afl ; and that, in the course of
Our amusement, we have gone h names foreign from our real
and actual titles. The assertion, Whether true or false, was
immaterial ; and if it was in a case of life and death, he de-
dared to God it would not in his mind invalidate the testimony
of the Witness. At the court-martial she was also described as
a widow, and %vas examined as such, ilia was not asked a ques-
tion on the subject, consequently there was no conduct of her's
on that occasion that could warrant a charge of falsehood. Of
the twenty-seven remaining cases, the Right Min. Gentleman
had not been able to prove any one. The lion. Gentleman thijh
yfTet through the several cases brought forward by Mr. Wardle,
on the respective merits of which he descanted in the most clo-
intent and able manner, asserting, that from the clearness of the
evidence adduced, and the presilmntive inferences that must he
drawn from the various details, that he should with the most per-
fect conviction of the justness and impartiality of his decision,
i•ole for the Resolutions proposed by his Honourable Friend
t 'lr. Wardle) to whom he paid the most distinguished compli-
ment for his zeal and efficiency during the whole of the long and
arduous examination.
• The ArronN rr (ir.NETt. .1 spoke at considerable length it
stlpport of the first resolution of Mir. Ilerce‘al; and against the
original motion.—Adjourned.
-

Friday, March 10..
COLONEL. ItENCIL'S LEVY.

Mr. IlcsNv.soN. moved fur certain Papers respecting the
Levy of t7olontgl French. The' Hon. Cent. then moved fur an
account of the several charged a;;;ainst 0)N-eminent on ac-
count of Colonel French's Lev v. The motion was agreed to,
:..nd the lion. tientle.nan afterwards brought op the account,
w hie!) was laid on the table.

DUKE OV YORK.
Mr. B‘vus. I am Wot.the man to throw the broad shield of
flattery and, servility over any corrupt practices in public men,
.it is my avowed opinion that such corrupt practices in such men
::.hould be branded «ith greater infamy in proportion to
their greater mischiefs. I can never, therefore, allow
that the rank of the ()Wender, be it ever so exalted, should
screen him personally from the ptmishment and infamy which
should avail his criminal acts. In this point of view, rVery
one must be sensible that his Royal nighties-. !.root his
princely rank and connection.,, could not stand he!'4lre that
tiowe as an individual_ It would, in a degr,'(' at le;11,
atrcet the public estimation, and the public re,:reet for
Vie reigning family ; and in these time:, nothing WO, !,0
he dreaded as this diminution front the respect due to sot.ereign
how- es, through all their branches. 1, for one, therefore, Sir,
heard this Inquiry proposed with reluctance, and saw it proceed
in the form and manner in w hich it has proceeded, with the most
profound regret. Circumstances, however, have now changed ;
the matter has been brought forward, and having been so pro-
duced, it now becomes a paramount duty with tin' House, to
discharge the part which belong:to it. Under these impression:,
I shall not deem it necessary to qualify my sentiments, and
,hall therefore proceed to give any opinion on the caw, as it

171

stands, on its own merits. The Honourable. Gentleman by my
bide (Mr. Bathurst) very property suggested to the House, in the
debate of last night, that the Address, as propieied by the Chau,
cellor of the Exchequer, iecluded (tidy two members of the ge-
neral charge, that is to say, personal corruption and criminal
connivance. My Honourable Ft ietel e cry justly added, that
there was a third point, he bay ing granted away the places aid
appointments of his °dice, under undue infhwece. My Hon.
Friend stated, at the same time, that this undue influence was
as directly pernicion: to the spirit aed character of the a; my, as
ever the alleged personal corruption and commercial connivance.
Mould not such an opittion, it. generally current in the army,
and generally current it was, most totally destroy- all that spirit
and emulation, which in the army, as iu (very thing else, was
necessary to excellence ? 1 must fully, there:sore, adopt this ad-
ditional point of in Honourable Friend. There is still another
point, a fourth point, to w hich I must call the attention of the
House, as to my mind, and to that of many of my Honourable
Friends, it has very considerable weight ; 1 mean the offence
against puhlic morals, in the scandalous and unbectening con-
nection acknowledged by his Royal Highness. Whatever ell'ect-
ed the State, either directly or censequentially, was within the
province of that 'louse, and no one w ill, 1 hope, deny, that this
open adulterous connection had been without Some detriment to
the official dischar:re of the ditties of the Commander in Chief.
ith this view of the subject, therefore, 1 intend to conclude
my Motion with an Address sti framed as may include all these
point.. and thus enable the House to Cool(' lo a decision, w
be-
ther his Royal Highness ha been guilty of such personal cor-
ruption, such criminal connivance, end of havine acted tinder
such undue influence. These will be the main points of wnat
have to propose. 1 come now to say a few v. tads on the case
itself. There appears to me to be Oa ee or fintr ponds in the es i-
dence which bring it home to his Royal II ighness ; the Ist is, ilia
Taylor. I do not mean io say, that this person's testi inoey is alto-
gether unsuspicious, though I terteinly w ill not b.') to the teneth of
saving, on the other hand, that there is enough to iityalidate
or even to weaken it. ow, let any Gentleman consider for a
moment the word which she alleteal the Deke to have spoken,
and l thiiik on the very interval evidence of these w ord3, he
will have no doubt but that his Roy at Hielmess di:l
sn
speak them. To in, mind they have all the characters of truth,
all the little circumstances wlt ich , in questions of this nature,
speak more powerfully than volumes. ll' Miss Taylor laid beets
a conspirator witii Yl Es. Clarke, she would have reinteabereti
many more cons e ut,ations, she allid 'Well piescut at many mere
unreserved communications. This circunisiauce ;done is sun:-
Omit to me that Miss Taylor's evidence is here to be received as
genuine, amid w hen I add this coosiderati on to the internal testi-
mony of the words themselves, l can really nave no doubt but
that such words were spoken by his Roy-al loteAs. The twat
circumstance which certainly brings the matter home to leas
Royal Highness, is, the in\ sterioas note, as it had been called,
but a note on w Inc It no one, I. believe call now entertain
any doubt. If the note had been a foreery, it tv mei
have been more direct, more completely to the purpose. It.
would have left nothing to doubt. The note (114:1Criei'e lo my
mind, a eeneine note; and I. Call have no doubt but
that it was seat by the Duke of l'ork to Alt... Clarke, for tha
puroose of sliewing Major Tony n. Under these circuinstames.,
theta what was the necessary inference? 1t lay, it at least
proved that there was an unrest reiecd intercourse itad conVelea •
lion between Mrs. Clarke and his EZ oyal I I igheegs
the subject of military matters, anti this couversatieo
and intercourse is what I !neon by meltee iotluence.
cal Clavering's letter is of the same general tenderer. It tau,
French's levy cad the same strong probability inherent oa the
face of it,—it was indirectly cootioned by beters, w hich were,
o:elt accidentally discovered, and seized. I inust avquit his Ito\ al
airy personal corruption, but I cannot acquit him of
sonwthiug approachiog to frit:Ho:A roolii%aufe. Under this int
pression, Sir, I shall move aim; all Address be presented to his
ajesty, humbly representing to him, that the House haying duly*
examined all the charges produced Oefore them, and the evidence
in suepurt of them, coneolered it as their duty to state to his
Majesty, that the corrupt practice: alleged had existed ; but
that this House has the satisfaction to state, that there dees not
appear any proof that his It o)al lligluness the Commateler in
Chief Leis guilty either of personal corruption, or of a direct
criminal connivance. That furthermore. in the execution of
their duty, in eNaininioe. the evidence, the House have had the
satisfaction to discover the excellent condition of the artit. under

I

1,

MARCH 12. THE NATIONAL REGISTER. 171 •',
. . . .
• .
they were presented to the House, and were examined by a Se- stands, on its own merits. The Honourable Gentleman by my • .;
- i e
I.ct Committee, appointed for that purpose, they 'were put into bide (Mr. Bathurst) very properly suggested to the house, in the 0.
the hands of Mrs. Clarke. Nature would at once show how debate of last night, that the Address, as proposed by the Chao- oi
what
tar and in n manner, She was affreted. lie had seen simpli- cellor of the Exchequer, included only two member; of the -e- ; 1
city go through the most arduous examination clearly and cur- neral charge, that is to say, personal corruption and climatal i, -s.
redly, hut he had never known design to succeed. In the ease connivance.- My honourable Ii leo,l 1 ery justly ended, that . .1:0
• of Mrs. Clarke, it was hut World for her, on procuring there was a third point, he ha% lug “Tamed away the places and i't
6
the haoil-writing of General Clattering, which she bad imagined . appointments of his „thee, muter undue. inonence. Ah. Hon. I.
vas destroyed, to smile, when bhe felt that that writing was to I Friend stated, at the same time, that this undue influence was -S,
il
clear her character from the Imputation of falsehood cast nn it as directly pernicious to the ,pint al.(1 eltaratter of the a; my, as
by the testimony of that gentleman. lie watched her counte- ever the alleged •••t. • d • • • •••11 ••• , - . 'l,
e personalt•to i it? ion an t oni nit it•n (Aleuts amt. •
stance, hut saw no other expression. Could this he attri- 11 ould not such an ()pillion, ji generally curator in the army,
1
bitted to a preconcerted conspiracy ? The next point in and generally current it was, most totally destroy- all that spirts ''
0 1
which it is attempted to he proved that she had prevaricated i and emulation, which in the army, as ill every thing else, was
In her evidence, wit.s that in which she had denied having passed necessary to excelleace ? 1 must fully, t here:ore, adopt this ad-
as
. ,
the wife of Mr. powler. This assertion was disproved ditional point of my honourable. Friend. There is still another i
by whom ? By Nichols, who had proved, by the baseness of i point, a fourth point, to w hich I must call the attention of the - i
his condtict, in retaining in his possession the letter entrusted i !louse, as to my mind, and to that of many of my Honourable
to him to destroy, that he was himself unworthy of belief, o Friends, it has very considerable weight ; I mean the offence il
as it was evident his object for keeping them was to extort against public morals, in the scandalous and unbecirming con- i .
money from Mrs. Clarke hereafter, by threatening to publish nection acknowledged by his Royal Highness. Whatever effect-
.i
them. It was of little or no importance; for if we looked led thn State, either directly or censequentially, Was within the
back to our own youthful days, we should probably recoi- I province of that House, and no one will, 1 hope, deny, that this
lect that we had stiled the partner for the night our wife, I open adulterous connection had
liven V idiots: Some detriment to
vlio was in fact no wife at 141 ; and that, in the course of 1 the official discharge of the duties of the Commander in Chia.
our ammement, we have gone 11 names foreign fromour real ; With this view of the subject, therefore, 1 intead to conclude
and actual titles. The asserti mon, Whether true or false, was ' my' Motion with an Addrcss tits framed as may include all these 11! i
.. '
•
irOlnaterial ; and if it was in a case of life and death, he de. point.. and thus enable the House to come to a decision, n he-
. ,
dared to God it would not in his mind invalidate the testimony titer his Royal Highness has been guilty of sorb personal car-
of the Witness. At the court-martial she was also described as ruption, such criminal connivance, awl of Inivin:; acted under
a widow, and %vas examined as such, but was not asked a tine:- such undue influence. These will he the main points of wnat I. )
flint on the subjeet, consequently there was no conduct of her's have to propose. 1 come now to say a few V. tads on the case
on that occasion that could Warrant a charge of falsehood. Of itself. There appears to me to be int oe or four polio, in thee\ i- t 1
the twenty-seven remaining cases, the Right IlOn. Gentleman (dice which bring it home to his Royal flightless : the Ist is, Miss
had not Ist en able to prove any one. The lion. Gentleman thtik Taylor. Ido not moan 10 say, that this person's testi away
euglli of is alto- 1
viTnt through the several cases brought forward by Mr. Wardle, get her unsuspicious, though I tertf:inly w ill not 1..0 to the t ,
on the respective merits of which he descanted in the most clos saying, on the other ham!, that there is enonsa to invalidate it, A.
),
intent and able nuinner, asserting, that from the clearness of the or even to weaken it. `, uw, let any Gentleman consider for a
I
evidence adduced, and the preslimptive inferences that must he moment the words which she ally ed the flake to have spoken, '
lel
drawn from the various details, that he should with the most per- and l thiiik on the very internal evidence of these w ord3, he
feet conviction of the justness and impartiality of his decision, • will have no doubt but that his Loyal nielmess did so . 1.
:.ate for the ftesolutions proposed *by his Honourable Friend speak them. To in mind th.sy have all the charat•ters of truth,
t Mr. Wardle) to whom he paid the most distinguished coition- all the little circumstances whit•ii, in questions of this nature,
„ I Went forhis zeal and efficiency during the whole of the long and speak more powerfully than volumes. if Miss Taylor had been
Irdttons examination,
• The ArrOnNES." GrNrnet T. spoke at considerable length iil t
snpport °Ethel:test resolution of Mir. Berm al, an . wt. 3
...--. d •i• in t the a
iatty more conversations, she would been pi esent at many innre;
unreserved communications. This circunistaoce ;done is soil.-
cietst to me that Al iss la.\ lor's evidence is here to be received as
Ouiginal inotion.—A4journed.
genuine, and when I add this consideration to the internal testi- • fl.-
Triday, March la. ninny of the words themselves, 1 can really have no doubt but
that such words were spoken by his It oyal I 1 i;•lnfest,. The nest 11.
COLONEL FRENCH'S LEVY. circumstance which certainly brings the matter home to his ,
Mr. llesistssox moved for certain Papers respecting the Royal Highness., is, the mvsterions note, as it had beet] called,
44 Levy of Colonel French. The' Hon. Gent. then moved fur an . bast a note on u hie It no one, I. believe can tinw entertain •• ;
I,
account of the several sums charged against Government on ac- any doubt. If the note had been a foreetv, it iyiiiiii v.
count of Colonel Vrenelk's Levy. l'he motion was agreed to, I hare' been more direct, more completely to the porpow. It.
end the lion. Gentleman afterwards brought up the account, II would have left 11,1 1 hi" to doubt. The note tle.teten, to my
'.s ha" It was laid on the table. II mied, is strictly a eenaiih. note; and 1 can have no douht but •
DUKE or VORK. 11 that it was sem by the Duke of York to a 11... Clarke, for the.
Mr. B s eus. I am niit.the man to throw the broad shield of °I purpose Of spraying Major Tony le, Under these eircuinstaneos,
flattery nod, servility over any corrupt practices in public men, li Oleo, what was the necessary inference ? \\ hy, it at least
't
.it is my avowed opinion that Snell corrupt practices ill such men i I proved that there was an unrestraiard iotercourse itud eanversa
should be hranded with greater infamy in proportion tot Lion between Mrs. Clarke and his R oyal Ilighaess en
their greater mischiefs. 1 can never, therefore, allow the subject of military matters, anti this coliversati.,o
that the rank of the ()Wender, be it ever so exalted, should and intercourse is what 1 meal] by audios iotioence. l;er, -
ri,
lig screen him personally from the puoishment and infamy which rat Clavering's letter is of the stink! general Iv:Mercy. It ',toy
should avail his criminal acts. In this point of vice, every .I.' reach's ley) eat' the
same strong probability inherent a (hi-
nny must be sensible that his Rural nighties-. !.roto his face of it,—it was indirectly co:dime-a by le•ters, w hich wet.,
princely rank and connection:, could not stand hie'ere that 0:11 lied deal ail discovered, and seized. I mos; remilit bis Ito \al ii
,i•
lft
it.
IN',
llowe as an individual. It w toad, in a degr‘ at least, Highness of an:. personal corruption, but I cannot acquit him of 0:
affect the public estimation, and the public re,:peet for sotneihiug a pproacitiog to mint in.:i roanivaufe. Under this int it'
Vie reigning family ; and in these times, nothing was so .:....1 hto pression, Sir, I shall move &ha; an Aildress la, presented to his 11 .
Al ajesty, humbly representing 10 h I al, that the house having duly
be dreaded as this diminution front the respect due to sot.ereign li ,
houses, through all their branches. 1, for one, therefore, Sir, eNamined all the charges produced Oefore them, and the evidence
heard this Inquiry proposed with reluctance, and saw it proceed in suoport of them, eio-n•nlereU it as their duty to state to his 1 :...
in the form and manner in w hich it has proceeded, with the most Majesty, that the corrupt practices alleged had e N ISWit ; but
profound regret. CirealllStafirt's, however, have now chant•d ; that this II ouse has the satir.raction to state, that there does not Ili
the matter has beets brought forward, and having been so pro- apie•ar any proof that his Royal I Ugliness the Commander in itl,
dneed, it now becomes a paramount (lilt)' with the House, to Chief v;as guilty either of personal corruption, or of a direct
s.•
discharge the part which belong: to it. Under these impressions, criminal connivance. That furthermore., in the execution of 1:
i shall not deem it necessary to onalifv my sentiments, :and i their duty, in eNaminiug the evidence, tht House have had the ii
,]hall therefore proceed to g-tve any opinion on the case, as it 11 satisfaction to discover the excelleut condition of the arary under
. L 1
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