The Sun.
London, England, 1827-01-19 00:00:00

I would not, however, be mistaken—l am not contending for
the strict propriety, or the correctness of my proceedings ; but, I
would ask the world, whether society is not frequently more in-
fluenced by the solicitations and claims of personal friends, and of
beloved and intimate acquaintances, than by the colder appeals of
merit, from persons unknown and unrecominended ?
I fell, then, in a few instances, into a snare of which I was un-
conscious ; and which I might the less suspect, from the apparent-
ly careless and unconcerned manner in which these requests for
my patronage and influence were made.
I can, also, in the face •of tiny country, and with a clear and
unspotted conscience, assert, upon my honour, as a Prince and a
soldier—that if for one moment, the suspicion had entered my
mind, that advantage was derived, or to be derived to the in-
fluencing party, from the success of her requests, I should have
spurned the petition, and instantly have broken off the connection.
At this point I may be permitted to remark, that long before
Mr. Wardle had raked Out his accusations, all connection had
ceased between myself and the female in question. Such con-
nection was broken off, in consequence of intimations conveyed to
me—that the person alluded to, had presumed to boast of influence
in the distribution of patronage. When, therefore, 'Mr. Wardle
enacted " patriot," if I had at first unconsciously erred, I had be-
come sensible of the error, amid had voluntarily corrected it—no
charge existed to affect me, at the moment of his accusation.
When, however, to my surprise, I found that a few trumpery
love-letters had been hoarded up for some future day of threat and
accusation, and for the purpose of extorting money ; and that
there could he found men, who under a pretence of patriotism and
the furtherance of the public good, could lend themselves to the
and had filled the public
mind use of means so obtained ; when such persons had succeeded in
creating
withtingathe h
false,
that
tr impression,
throughout every department of the
office of " Commander-in-Chief," all was favouritism, and pecula-
tion, and corruption ; I felt it my duty to acknowledge to my
country, in a letter to the' Speaker of the House of Commons
the incautiousness of my conduct (I admit no higher stigma), and
of At this and important office,
country in the important post
I dismissed myself voluntarily from my high
by surrendering its commission to my King and father.
anPederrit -ICilliaielf,sefrovre(nlomliss than fourteen years; till that
moment, sans Me& et sans reprocise. I intend not to impugn
the motives of those who distinguished themselves as my unspar-
ing accusers ; some are no more; others yet live to acknowledge
(I hope), the excess of their patriotic zeal. May I not, however,
upon occasion of thus referring to the past, caution my too hasty
countrymen against coudemning partial imperfections with as much
severity as wilful and systematic crimes? May I not at this mo-
ment ask, whether I was not too harshly pressed—too illiberally
treated ? The King, my brother, was of that opinion ; and, when
Regent, replaced ;ne at the head of British army, anti in so doing,
evidently gratified the com.try. I had no angry feelings to satiate
—no animosity to appease; I resumed the command with un-
mixed delight; and in a few years afterwards, " the House of