The National Register.
London, England, 1809-03-26 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL REGISTER.

MARCH 26.

titre deliberation, and however ungracious it might ap-
pear, after the communication made b) the Chancellor of the
Exchequer, he must still persist in it. He had conscientiously
voted against all the Addresses yilti•.-1 went to charge his Royal
Highness with corruption or criminal connivance (Hear ! heart)
and he perfectly concurred hi thinking with his Right thin.
Friend (Mr. Perceval) that ais Royal Highness went oat with
clean hands ( Hear ! hear ! j'eNn the Ministerial bench**. )
put after that question was decided, he caw no other course for
the House to porsoe, than that branch of the inquiry which he
had taken up. The question of interference, without any degree
Of corruption attaching to it—of interference arising from an im-
proper and unworthy influence, appeared to him to be one which
the House ought to come to a decision upon. This
'was the view w lich he took of the subject, when he tirst sub-
mitted his Resolution to the llotke, and he had seen no occasion
to alter his opinion. Some (cnttemneu would have voted for
the more severe measures, had not his intention of bringing for-
ward his Resolution been known, and this he thought a very
strong reason for not withdrawing it. In describing the connection
which the Duke had himself condemned in his letter, but only in
one place, and then oul y with a reftvence to the unpleasant pt o-
Feedings which had resulted from it, he had expre,sed his sense
of the initnorldity of the transaction. It had been argued that
the House was a very improper judge upon such occasions; but
where a connection might have led to such dangerous conse-
quences to the State, he fii4 not see how the House could
withhold its opinion. The Right Honourable Gentleman
concluded with moving the following Resolution, 44 That
while this House acknowledges, with gratitude, the beneficial
'effects of the rules and regulations introduced by the Duke of
York into the office of Commander in Chief, and. the general
improvement of the army under his command, it has seen, with
sleep regret, that a connection the most immoral and unbecom-
Ow 6, was attended with impropercommunication and interference,
and gave colour and effect to transactions the most criminal and
'disgraceful.''
Sir WtI.I.IAM CuRTIs supported-the Motion,
Lord A L-rn on PE was of opinion that the Duke of York had
been guilty of corrupt connivance (Hear! Hear!) hut he
thought the country would now be *satisfied with his 'removal.
should therefore propose as an amendment to the Right Hon.
tientleman's Resolution, that his Royal Highness the Duke of
York having resigned the office of Comumader• in Chief, the
House does not feel it necessary to proceed any further into the
consideration of the minutes of the evidence before the House, as
far as they relate to the Duke of York,
The CLIANcO.I.Oft of the EXCIIEWIER said, he preferred
the Amendment of the 'Noble Lord to the :notion of ilk Right
lion. Friend, which appeared to him n: tp ported
by any evidence at the bar. ile should I;at ny time have
thought it necessary, aud still less so at the present, when his
Royal Highness had sent in his resignation.
Lord TEMPLE stated, that when he heard the Commander in
chief had resigned, he thought further proceedings unnecessary,
but that opinion was altered when he heard the communication
of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and the tone in which
that communication was made, when he said his Royal High-
pess did not resign until his innocence was declared (hear!
hear!) The Noble Lord acquitted his Royal Highness of cor-
ruption' ; but asked if it could he said that he was acquitted of
dispef;ing of places in his patronage under an unworthy and un-
becoMing influence ( hear ! hear !).
Mr, WIIITIMEAn concurred in the Amendment proposed by
the Noble Lord. He explained his roasons at length, and ad..
verted to some points of the Chancellor of the Exchequer s
speech. He did not think there was any man in existence, who
could have thought, after the result of the Joe inquiry in this
Ilituse, and the vote given on Friday last, that the Duke of
York would have remained in the situation which he occupied,
lint now that he had resigned, he thought a motion which war
intei ded to enforce his resignation, quite unnecessary. It would
annihilate that secret, felt though unseen, party, which Lord
Chatham had represented as standing behind the Throne, and
stronger than the Throne itself. He did not approve of a moral
lecture to lie delivered to Princes. The Princes belonging to
the Royal Family in this kingdom.were compelled to marry
against their will, and therefore almost forced into guilt by the
rebellious feelings of independent nature. He vindicated Mr.
Wardle's conduct it bringing forward the present Inquiry, aod
congratulated him on the 199 Members of the House of Commons,
that could not fail to thank him for his courage and patriotism.
The CLIANOCLLOR of the EICUSQUER repelled AO charge

197

of having abandoned the Duke, who had acted from his own
free will, unbiassed by advice.
Mr. BATHURST replied at length, Isad the House divided.
The Numbers for the Chancellor's Amendment were
Against it I Is—Majority in favour of Ministers 123.
Lord FOTASTO ME also put oil his notice of Motion from Mona .
day nett, fortaltini into further consideration the Report of the
Cummtttee Appointed to enquire into the conduct of his Royal
Iligimea the 'Duke of York, until the 17th of April next.—
Adjourned

Tuesday, Mare: 21.
VICTUALLING BOARD ArroINTMENTS.
Sid C, pursuant to notice, in support of bit psi.
Bon, recurred to u long series of documents in the Reports of the
Committees of Finance and of Naval Revision, and took an his-
torical view of the state of the Navy at different periods, in or-
der as well to she w that that state was always affected either by
the possession or the want of professional experience in those
who at different times undertook its management, and directed
its operations, as to prove, that within the present reign, for
the want of such experience, ability, and industry in those who
at different periods superintended the various branches of naval
extraditure, the most gross and flagitious profusion, improvi-
dence, and pecilation had prevailed in our dock•yards at home,
and our Beets in foreign service; and. that the public accounts
in that department had been suffered to run into such arrear and
confusion, as to render the audit of them totally impracticable,
for a series of twenty years together, to the preclusion of all
etl'ectual means to c :eck the progress of peculation and fraud .
When the urgent a:7lirs of this country called for great ex.
penditure. and consequently for a heavy pressure of taxation
on the people, it was hut right and reasonable that the people
should be convinced that a scrupulous and efficient yigilatae was
exerted in every department of office, in order to secure the
fair application of every shilliug granted for the public service;
and his principal motive for now calling the attention or the
!louse to this suhje.t, was not to cast any blame on the present
Board of Adonira!ty, but in order to record on the Jour-
nak of the House a resolution which he should have the
honour to propose now, " That it is the opinion of this
" Hoose that neither the plan recommended by the Commis-
" sioncrs of Naval it evision,,,Sespecting the Victualling Board,
" nor any other plan can he effectual, if that Board be coin-
" posed of any other than men of extensive experience, know-
!
" ledge, ability, integrity, and indefatigable perseverance in
" their,ditties. • . •
• :wt r. It, WARD Said..thatOte 4001 be totally at a loss to
undermwi;.: !he real object of the lionoerable Baronet's motiort
ruin his ;:.pecelt t4is night; if he had not heard the conversations-
both w ithin slid without -those malls which had their origin in
the suggestions of the Baronet, an were calculated to throw
blame on the present Board o. :'..(l.atiralty. He must, there-
fore, he excused from imputing Bic :aotion of the Hon. Baronet
merely to the motives he avowed. lie must call things by their
right names, and freely, avow his nwh conviction, -that the true
object of the lion. Baronet's motion was to cast an indirect cell-
. sure on (he of Admiralty; and, therefore, without digs
pining from the truth the Resolution, lie would oppose it by
the previous question. The motion went to charge the Admi-
ralty with blame without a single argument in support of it.—
He was, therefore, compelted to move the previous question.
Sir C. POLE shortly replied, and the previous question was
then carried without a division.
Mr. FosTeß moved, the the Order of the Day for the com-
mittal of the Irish Malt and Spirit Duty Bill should De read.
His object was to postpone its committal to Thursday next, as he
did not think a Bill so materially affecting Ireland could be pro-
perly discussed in so thin a House.
Sir 3. NEWPORT said, he rose for the purpose of moving,
not that this Bill should be postponed to Thursday, but to this
day six months—a Bill which be thought fraught with the most
evil consequences to Ireland, and teading to endanger the peace
of the whole Eampire.
A long conversation then took place upon the subject, in which
Mr. W. Smith, Mr. Barham, Mr. Leslie rester, the chancelloo
of the Exchequer, Mr. Hutchinson, Mr. Foster,
Mr. Grants,
Mr. Alderman Combe, and Mr. Iluskisson took a part, ate
which a division took place—For the original Motion 3001.
the Amendment 49—Mejority against the UM 13.-+The
there lust for this lieuion.—AAjoitratd. •
•