The Sun.
London, England, 1839-10-09 00:00:00

EVENING EDITION.

that there are no grounds for susp'cion that pregnancy
does exist, or ever did exist.
(Signed) " CHARLES M. CLARkE,
" JAMES CLARg 111 D."
Before parting with Lady Flora, both. Sir Charles
Clarke and myself pressed upon her Ladyship tht
expediency of her appearing on that day at table as
usual.

„ each is a plain statement of the leading facts of
AiS unfortunate case, so far as I am concerned.
That I was unable to ascertain the true nature of
Lady Flora's state I at once admit, and most deeply
regret ; but when the difficulties which frequently
occur in cases of this description, even where every
facility is afforded for investigation, are considered,
h can scarcely be made a matter of reproach to me
that, amidst the disadvantages under which
laboured, I was unable to affirm that Lady-
Flora's change of appearance was the result of disease
and of disease alone. If even Sir Charles Clarke
did not venture to express a positive opinion until
after a careful examination, it will be readily con-
ceded that no other person could have done so
Without recurring to some sime similar proceeding.
And if anything further were required to establish
the difficulties of this very peculiar case, and the
heavy responsibility attaching decision on it, Sir
Charles Clarke knows that there are other facts
connected with it which prove in the most uncqui-
cal manner both the one and the other ; facts which
do not throw the slightest shade of doubt on the pu-
rity of Lady Flora, nor are matter of blame to any
one, but which it is not necessary to bring before
the public.
The post mortem examination established the
fact that the death of Lady Flora Hastings was
occasioned by extensive disease, dating its origin
” at some former and distant period of time ;" and
yet such was the obscurity of the symptoms which,
during life, accompanied the disease, that its nature
became evident a few weeks only before Lady
Flora's death, and the fact of its having involved
every organ within the abdomen was revealed only
on the post mortem examination.
.I think it right to notice, in this place, a part of
my conduct which may at first sight appear cen-
surable, I allude to the admission of my suspicion
that Lady Flora might be pregnant, before I had
been permitted more fully to examine into her state.
sender almost any other circumstances it would have
been highly improper for me to have answered an
inquiry on such a subject ; but as I could not
authoritatively remove suspicions founded on ap-
pearances, which, if taken alone, would in a great
majority of cases indicate what was feared, and not
the
the singular state of disease revealed after " 1
of Lady Flora, I felt it my duty, considering the
very peculiar responsibility which attached to me,
to confide the doubt which was in my own mind to
there who had a right to demand my real opinion,
and who, I felt assured, could not use it in a man-
ner unfriendly to Lady Flora.

I shall now notice such parts of the publication
of the Marquis of Hastings as more particularly
relate to me. An extract is given by his Lordship
from a letter written by Lady Flora Hastings to
the Dowager Marchioness of Hastings, dated March
13, nearly a month after the event, in which it is
stated, that at my visit to communicate to Lady
Flora the suspicions entertained respecting her, I
became " violent and course, and even attempted
fto brow-beat" her Ladyship I I hope I may refer
^ to my character alone as a sufficient reply to this
accusation ; moreover, on the occasion referred to
there could be no motive for such conduct. Any
earnestness that I may have shown in my manner
. • could have for its object only that Lady Flora, for
her own sake, should see Sir C. Clarke on that
day. In corroboration of my own solemn dis-
nvonial of the conduct imputed to me, I refer to
the two notes, already given in my narrative, which
' I received from Lady Flora Hastings within twenty- '
'four hours after the very occasion on which I
• am said to have thus acted ; and, conse-
9uently, at the very time when all her feeli-
Ings may fairly be supposed to have been
more excited by the alleged conduct than at
any subsequent period ; and, as still more direct
Z iin
evidence
i,clle, Mr. Hamiltonwouldratherre Fferittzgrad,
dated MarchoeLaldyFlorsletter
Bth, in which--although written for the express
Purpose of making her griefs known to a relative,
i with whom she had no motive for reserve, and,
therefore, in the very circumstances calculated to
elicit complaint—not a word escapes her, blaming
my conduct or language, during either of my inter-
views with her. On the contrary, expressions occur
which she surely could not have used had she really
then felt that I had acted towards her in an un-
friendly manner.
That Lady Flora intended to misrepresent what
actually occurred I do not for a moment believe.
Under the circumstances of excitement in which
she was placed, it need not create surprise that she
should unconsciously have allowed impressions,
arising out of discussions which afterwards took
Place, to grow upon her mind, till she at length
• confounded them with facts, or that she should
have greatly exaggerated what actually did take
Place. It is only in this way that I can account
for Some of the. statements made by Lady Flora
Hastings..
Her Ladyship's written account of the circum-
stances which took place during the interview on
the 16th of February, at which we alone were pre-
sent, differs widely from my recollection of them.
I think it necessary to notioe two points in particu-
ler :---The first is the alleged diminution of Lady
Flora's size. On this I shall only observe, that
I could discover no such diminution, else I should
have been too happy to have availed myself of the
circumstance to clear Lady Flora's character, and to
have relieved myself from a very embarrassing po-
sition. The second is, that I told Lady Flora
that she must submit to a "medical examination."
I not only never used such an expression, but
never heard it employed for what it has been as-
sumed to imply, till after the unfortunate affair was
over ; in fact, I then believed that a full external
examination would prove sufficient to decide the
Matter. Everything, consequently, which has been
asserted about a " medical examination" having
been suggested by the Ladies, or by me, is utterly
groundless.
The only other parts of Lord Hastings's corre-
spondence which require notice from Inc are two
Charges brought forward by his Lordship. The
first consists of a statement said to have been re-
ceived from Lady Flora's own lips, that the exami-
rion " was conducted with more than ordinary
pitregard to delicacy, and to her feelings." In cor-
cueration of this charge, his Lordship has referred
:T a deposition on oath, b Jam Lady Flora's maid,
hat the conduct of Sir James Clark and Lady
°rtnaan was unnecessarily abrupt, indelicate, and
linfee,ling"! I notice this charge, in passing,
o'Y to give it a peremptory denial. The
er charge is in the following words :—" Same
.luestkns having been put to my sister, and an-
no'
ctecli it was suggested that the inquiry ought
feel to proceed further, and that they might now
and quite satisfied. Sir James Clark objected,
not
stated that the Ladies of the Court would
c't be. satisfied without the strictest examine-
..el
on and that if Lady Flora knew her own inno-
ce"e, she could have no reason to oppose the most
tiolmplete scrutiny." The simple reply to this is,
0 azt no suck suggestion was ever made, and no
• ri:c' objection ever urged. Upon what autho-
n—Y Lord Hastings makes this statement he has
conceive,
mentioned, and I am utterly at a loss to
"onceive, unless indeed it be on that of the foreign
i:laid to Whose oath he before refers, and whose
t "'fledge of English may not have been sufficient
it° enable her fully to understand what was pass-
big', But I cannot avoid expressing m.y regret that
Lordship did not procure the testimony of the
.4)111,7 u
4, witness present during the whole consultation
eh"' Charles Clarke—before he made such grave
to arges• Had he followed this course, I venture
n, alum.' they never would have been made. Sir
rt i'ardes Clarke, although he might not have thought.
off oper to discuss with Lord Hastings the details
h hat passed at the consultation, could riot have
g
_esitated
> had he been appealed to, to refute such lidlessroa accusations.
re It remains for me now only to repeat my sincere
r•Aret that. I was unable to relieve Lady Flora
pauir,
"as felt more acutely than myself, whole
during the
Lath, ainful affair, the distress occasioned to
the 0-' Flora. and her family, whether arising from.
, riginal circumstances, or from the matter being
' afterwards forced into public notice.
aJee 1 .
4,,, P y painful as it has been to me to see my
Lives aie so .
long associated with alleged acts and mo-
at which
.ness
_f my very nature revolts, the conscious-
oio °f my own rectitude, the friendship of those
- - , rorn i
long and intimate acquaintance, know