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

THE NATIONAL REGISTER.

Colonel Gordon. He next called the attention of the Gen-
tlemen to the mysterious note which had been the subject of
such lengthened V and minute discussion. It was, however,
viewed, in whatever way considered, that kind of testimony
which, in a court of law, where life, liberty, and character of
any person were under consideration, would be treated with in-
difference. It was, in reality, no ground for guiding decision in
a court of justice. The note was then read by the Honourable
Member :--

have received your note. Tonyn's business must remain
as it is. God bless you."
He asked after the perusal of this note, whether the language
of it could be perverted by any impartial man into a charge of
undue influence against his Royal Highness? He had no doubt
that Gentlemen would recollect, as a most important fact, that
when Captain Sandon received that note, it was inclosed in an
envelope, the post:nark of which, was dated five days after the
promotion of Capt. Tonyn. The only remaining charge was that
which had its rise in the case of Samuel Carter. Ile sincerely
wished, for the honour and feelings of the House, that the charge
bad not been brought forward. The young man, whose pro-
;notion from a low situation, had been so strongly in-
sisted upon by those Gentlemen who had considered it
as the just ground of accusation against his Royal High-
ness, was not the offspring of base and unworthy parents,
but the offipring of a veteran Officer who had of course such
natural interest in his welfare, as to recommend him for ap-
pointment whenever a vacancy might present itself. It appeared
that the recommendation had been made in 1801, three years
before Mrs. Clarke was acquainted or connected with his Royal
Highness. The name of Samuel Carter was entered in the hooks
'carding to the usual routine and custom, to be noticed when-
rver a vacancy should occur. A vacancy had long afterwards
occurred, and the young man was appointed at the express re-
commendation, and in consequence of the renewed applications
of his friends. His Royal Highness would, in reality, ap-
pear more entitled to commendation than censure and rebuke.
Air. Burton here entered into a series of general observations on
the education received by the Prince of Wales and the Duke of
"York, which he conceived would he found to be a very con-
siderable extenuation of inattention and imprudence, in the ma-
nagement of their financial concerns. He nad conversed on that
subject go far back as thirty years ago, with the Gentleman who
bad been selected to instil into their minds theelements and rudi-
ments of knowledge, and was explicitly informed that they were
instructed in every useful and relined branch of knowledge, but
the mere practical art of turning money ro their profit. Of the
usual means of converting money into sources of their own bene-
fit they were kept in complete ignorance. The practical know-
ledge was neither suited to the views before them, nor the dig-
nified and proud feelings of the country to which they belonged.
There was also a circumstance of peculiar weight in favour
of his Royal Highness's innocence, Levi that circumstance was
so satisfactory, and carried %vitt, it suc:i impressive conviction, as
to defy the most minute scrutiny, and to silence ever' doubt.
alluded to the line of couditet pursued by his Roval High-
Less is emp;o)ing r. Lowten, to take every possible pains of
taminiog into the system of living adopted by Mrs. Clarke.
Exclusively of the deprivations under which he laboured (Mr.
urtGO has been long deprived of sight), he was rapidly going
down the hill of life, and looked to the other side of the grave.
In ;it lug his opinion of the charges he could conscientiously
eeci,ltc. that his judgment was solely guided by the pure princi-
ples of jugice, and was strictly conformable to the impression
which had been made upon his mind by the testitnony before the
touse.

Mr. CCIlw EN wag averse to members making a profession of
%he purity of their motives, which was a practice that had crept
in or late years, and was unknown in, the better days of the
...Howe of Commons. He would make no profession of the purity
a his motives, but 1:e would state, as a plain man, the reasons
which would induce him to give his vote contrary to the Hon.
Gentleman who spoke before him, The lion. Member then
proceeded to recapitulaie various parts of the evidence, and con-
fended, that if absolute corruption had not been proved against
puke of York, lie hail been convicted of orgligent remiss-
%msg. and therefore was unfit to ike continsted in L!ie command of
ttl'e army.
The ;:ft tycw,ort of the Excirtr.Qtirtt rose nearly at the
bouts of ;2 o'clock. He said, that although he %I:kited to deliver
aleskentiments at an early hour, he felt it due to the years, the
,txperiencv, arid the acknowledged worth of the lion. Member
sikoice last but et:e in the debate (Mr, Liurto::), to give way

MARCH 19.

and repress his desire. The speech delivered by that Gentle-
man was in every point of view as able, important, and im-
pressive as any one ever addressed in his recollection to that
House. It was his intention to propose, when the debate was
resumed, as a resolution, Ist, That charges having been exhibited
against his Royal Highness thy; Duke of York, of corruption is
the disposal of army promotions, &c. or corrupt connivance in
the disposal thereof, it is the bounden duty of the House to
pronounce a decided judgment upon those charges.
That, after an attentive examination of s itliest•es, and a rigor-
ous investigation of documents, there appeared to the House no
ground to suspect his Royal Highness to be guilty of any per-
sonal corruption, or any personal connivance in the abuses which
had been proved to exist in other quarters. If these resolutions
were carried, the Right Hon. Oentleman said, he should then
move an Address to his Majesty, carrying to the foot of the
throne the resolution of acquittal. That the House of Commoaq,
in consequence of serious charges having been made against his
Royal Highness the Commander in Chief, had gone into a mi-
nute investigation of those charges and most distinctly acquitted
his Royal Highness of all knowledge of, or participation in, any
abuses of military patronage. To express to his Majesty the
satisfaction they had derived from the many useful regulations
which had been carried into effect under the auspices of the
Duke of York in the Commander in Chief's o.:tice, and-the high
state of discipline to which he had raised the army ; but that'at •
the same time, they could not but learn with concern, that a
connection had ever been Carried on, which had exposed his
Royal Highness to so much suspicion and obloquy, and that they
learnt with the sincerest pleasure, that his Royal Highness had
dissolved it, and was resolved for the future to imitate that bright
example of virtue which his Majesty so long had set to all ranks
•of his people.
On the Motion of Mr. Whitbread, the debate was then post-
poned. and the Ilouse adjourned at half.past three o'clock.

Thursda,y, March S.
The Indemnity Bill was read a third time and passed.
On the motion of the Lord Advocate for Scotland, the Chtld
•
Murder Prevention Bill was read a third time and passed.