The National Register.
London, England, 1809-07-09 00:00:00

THE NkTIONAL REGISTER.

intimacy with Mrs. CLARKE, in th.e House of Commons--
nor wilt the warmth be easily forgoiten with which he deli-
berately and ultroniously resisted the same imputation in his
speech at the Crown and Anchor. Nov.: what turns gut to be
the fact ?---that previous to the invesligatiou being brougllt
forward, he was at the expence of parties of pleasure w,,fh
this witness, whore he supported and maintained. That
the object of these parties was to remove her from town,_
and to detach her from friends who might "persuade her not
to give the evidence he tocnted against the Duke of York."
It will not be out of our recollection, that when ques-
tioned in the House as to his visits to Mrs. CLARKE during.
the period of the Investigation, he could not. remember
whether he had seen her once, twice, or three times, a
day or two preceding. We have now the evidence of
Mrs. CLARKE " thathe was there daily and hourly, without
invitation or notice, in every room of the house, from
the kitchen to the garret."

, It is now solemnly determined by a Jury, that he ex-
pended in one instance near two thousand pounds upon
this witness just bcfori this enquiry ; and we have the
evidence of Mrs. CLARKE that she was in return to assist
him all she could in this business. What is the natural
conclusion--the irresistible effect of this state of things ?
This money, so expended upon Mrs. CLARKE b.y Mr.
WARDLE was either given as a bribe for her evidenc;., or
paid for her company. For no man will credit the mon-
strous absurdity that a person whose pockets do not ap-
pear to be panning over, paid, or promised these large.
sums for nothing. It appears equally evident, from the
manner in which these transactions were managed, that
Mr. WARDLE was conscious of the impropriety of what he
was about. In the House of Commons he denies hist con-
nexion ; at the tavern he deliberately contradicts it
in these negotiations he studiously avoids appearing—
nay more, he manages them in a circuitous manner, in
order that if Mrs. CLaaar, is asked a particular question,
she may be able to evade the truth, by an answer that in
fact amounted to every thing but a palpable falsehood.
Mr. Waantu haying obtained every thing upon which
he calculated from the assistance of Mrs. CLARKE, and in-
deed a great deal, more than the fondest dreams of his.
own ambition could stu is desirous of emancipating
himself from the power or expence of her charms, and of
again becoming " a good family mun." He therefore sets.
about doing what has been often done by others who have
climbed " young ambition's ladder ;" he would now kick
down the means by which he rose. If we may judge from his
letter to the " People of the United Kingdom," Mr. Wan-
OLE is anxious to preserve the ephemeral popularity which
he had acquired—hoiv inconsistent has been his conduct !
If his popularity was worth preserving, why suffer this
atrocious business to be brought before a Jury ? We can
readily believe that a man who has ways and means
enough for his money, would be very glad to set rid of a
responsibility that was becoming serious. But what nuin
of honour would attempt it in the way Mr. I‘. ..A RULE has
done ? However he may dislike and disapprove of the
conduct of the Duke of YORK, he seems, by an unaccount-
ab!e fatality, to make him the model of imitation. Is not
this the very rock upon which the Duke was shipwrecked?
VVhat man of prudence does not join in blaming the Duke,
for mit paying even the unprincipled demaPds of Mrs.
CLARK ? and will any man capable of estimating the va-
lue of that popularity which Mr. WARDLE has acquired by
Mrs. CLARKE's assistance, say that it is not dog cheap at
the price she,set upon it, even if the damninn• proofs of Mr.
Wartimes liability had not appeared. But what unpre-
judiced man in his senses, will remain unconvinced by the
internal evidence which this case affords.
Mrs. CLARKE owed Wairovr 600/. She hires about 2001.
of furniture to carry on her business ; and- thus cir-
cumstanced, without a guinea in her pocket, she becomes
acquainted with the COLONEL. Is it to be believed that in
such a stuation a respectable tradesman would risk any
farther credit to 7ars. ( :LAII K ? Was Mr. WA RV r.r ii:•nortrit