Star.
London, England, 1809-01-28 00:00:00

Si; A. Welleslet having appeared in his place,

satisfaction that I now WINK to'
House. Ido therefore, in the t.
of the United Kingdom of Great
return you their public thanks
ries obtained by you over the
gal, on the 17th and 21st days
nourable and glorious to the British arms."
Sir ARTHUR WEDLESLEY returned Ms li
thanks to the House for the high honour now con-
ferred upon him, and in a peculiar manner to the
Right Honourable Gentleman who filled the Chair,
for the very polite and obli&ing manner in which he
was pleased to repeat to him the sense which the
House of Commons did him the honour to entertain'
of his humble exertions for the public service. NO-
man felt more gratefully, or valued more highly
than he did, the approbation of Parliament and of
his country f the officers and soldiers of the British
Army looked up to that approbation, as the highest
honour that could be held, out as an excitement to
their valour. Conscious as he was of his want of
powers to express the sense he now felt of the distin-
guished honour this day conferred upon him, he
hoped the House would be pleased to accept his most
grateful acknowledgements for their favour.
Ordered, that the Address of Mr. Speaktr, and the
Answer of Sir Arthur Wellesley, be entered upon the
Journals.

GPNEILAL ANSTAUTHER.
Sir JOHN ANSTRUTHER. rose to exptess his
extreme regret that the name of a gallant relation of
his, who .had fallen a sacrifice in the cause of his
country, on the late march of the British army to
Corunna, had been honoured with no place in the
Votes of Thanks which had passed that House to the
Officers who had been employed on that service.—
This was a circumstance which bore heavily on the
feelings of that gallant Officer's friends and family.
That he did nOt in his death share the honours so
justly paid to Sir John Moore, for the victory at Co-
runna, was not to be imputed to him, as it was upon his
march thither that he fell a victim to excessive fatigue
only 43 hours before the battle, in which, but for this
premature fate, he would have borne a distinguished
part. He took the opportunity of mentioning this
subject to the Noble Lord, with a view to ask, it such
a gratification could be conceded to the washes of e-
tieral•Anstruther's family ?
Lord CASTLEREAGH answered, that he had
every wish to acknowledge the eminent services of
the gallant General, and that he felt every disposi-
tion to do honour to his memory ; but on the present
occasion, he feared it was not compatible with the
usage of Parliament, to name any Officers but those
who were actually present.
Sir ARTHUR WELLESLEY bore strong teal-
mony to the distinguished gallantry of General An-
struther. He was confident, had it been consistent
with Parliamentary usage, his name would have been
included in the vote of the House.
The SECRETARY at WAR concurred in the
same sentiments, and added, that the gallant Gene-
ral's name had twice before been included in the
Thanks of the House.

The SPEAKER rose and diddressed him-nearly in
the terms following:-44 Sir Arthur Wellesley, it was
ow of the first objects of this House, in directing its
attention to the brilliant services of the British-army in
Portugal, and amidst the contending opinions upon
other subjects connected therewith, to express its toub-
ipprobation of those splendid services you have
rendared to your country on that important occasion.
You have been called upon to command the armies
-of your country in that expedition ; and it was your
peculiar good fortune, by your eminent skill and gal.
lit example, to inspire your troops with that confi-
dence and intrepidity which led them to such signal
triumph in those battles, which have so justly obtain-
ed for you the thanks and admiration of your country,
and rendered your name illustrious to the extremities
the,British Empire. Your great military talents,
'thus eminently successful in your country's cause,
live justly intitled you to Royal favour and to the
gratitude of Parliament ; and it is with the utmost

wouldsubijeutel4:::''
-.- -
light grounds. The first fact ; honour and interests of the British army, and tie
• feelings
aofsytissteemo.ffithceerHs,ossu-esreeopfreoopemrmlyotnos be
vas the case of Major Tonyn,
rho received his Commission ! to such
'August 1802, and was pro-1 and decide. He hoped, after what had he had seat.
. the 81st regiment in August ed, the House of Commons would not refuse 1.,
reflection upon this gallant oacer, grant him a Committee to inquire into those trines,
nor in the smallest degree to depreciate his merits ; he ; teens; and if they agreed, he would pledge him .
se- •
meant merely to state facts as communicated to him. I to bring as evidence before them Mrs. Clarke hes,s;
Major Tonyn was the son of a very alistinguished and the whole of the other persons whom he L
officer, and might have purchased his promotion, if he ' named. There was another circumstance in this ca'
chose ; but this Gentleman was intrOduced to Mrs. which he could not pass unnoticed : it was the esp.-
Clarke by a Captain of the Royal Waggon Train ; ence of a Public Office in the City of London, Mice
and it was agreed, that upon his appointment to a ComMissians in the Army were offered to purchase, •
Majority, he should pay 5001. the Money to be lodg- at reduced prices, and where the clerks operas, :tee
ed at a house to be named, three days before he unequivocally stated in his own presence, and in to
was gazetted, and then paid to a Mr. Donovan, a ' hearing, that they were employed by the present fa.
Surgeon, in Charles-street, St. James's-squares As : vourite mistress •of the Commander in Chief, I.le,
he should have occasion to menticet this Gentleman 1 Carey ; and that, in addition to Ciommissions in ths
(Mr. D.) again, it was necessary to state, that in 1802, 1 Army, they were employed to dispose of place:: 1:,
he was appointed to a Lieutenancy in a Garrison every department of the Church and State ; and th, e
Battalion. -He had never enquired what was the nature . agents did not hesitate to state, in words and writini:
of the services he performed, but certainly he had per- ' that they were employed under the auspices of tv-e;
formed no military services, for he had never been near of his Majesty's principal Ministers. Having nee
his regiment, and. seemed to have a perpetual leave of , gone through the whole of his statement, the Hon.
absence. He could not account why this Gentle--; Member concluded by expressing his hope that the
man' s appointment was not in his professional line, House would grant him a Committee to inquire in!.
upon the Medical Staff, sufficiently extensive as it ' the conduct of the Duke of York, in respect to tl.._
was for the purpose. The introducer was Captain disposal of Military Commissions ; and he moved
Huxley Sanden. This money was appropriated by accordingly.
Mrs. Clarke towards the purchase of an elegant ser- I Sir FRANCIS BURDETT seconded the motion,
vice of plate from Mr. Purkis, a silversmith, the Corn-1 The SECRETARY at WAR said, he did not rise
mander in Chief paying the remainder. Thus it was to give any opposition to the Motion Hear, Hear f
evident that Mrs. Clarke had the power of disposing from the Treasury Beueb)—at least to an fair and lea.
of Commissions for purchase ; 2dly, that she received sonable extent to which the proposition might he
pecuniary considerations fer promotions ; and idly, thought necessary. The Honourable Gentleman had,
that the Commander in Chief partook of the emo- in a very candid manner, brought forward facts of
luments ; and this he could prove by the evidence of the most important kind, and in their consequence:
five witnesses, including the executors of Mr. Purkis.— , most serious and weighty. He conceived the Hots::
The next fact he would adduce, was that of Colonel ' would readily acquiesce in going into an inquiry et
Brooks, on the 25th of July, 1805, and which was ii the facts which had then been brought forward, 44
transacted through a Mr. Thynne, a medical gentle- ; any other facts which the Honourable Gentlerreie
man of high respectability. It was agreed between him might still intend to produce hereafter ; but, to a
and Mrs. Clarke, that she should receive ,13201:11on his general inquiry into the conduct of the commander
exchange being gazetted : the Lady was extremely in Chief, he would not agree. He was certain that
anxious, and said she could have an opportunity of illustrious Personage was ready to go into a full iii-
getting 4200 without calling on the Commander in vestigation of these charges. As to the half-pay list,
Chief, and on the Saturday following the promotion . he had already stated on former occcasions, that it
was gazetted. He should be able to produce Lieute- i had been most materially and • extensively benefited
nant-Colonel Brook and Lieut.. Colonel Knight ; and ' by the Commander in Chief, who had voluntarily re-
he would be the last person in that House to bring signed a very extensive patronage, in order that the
forward such charges without competent evidence. sale of the Commissions might be brought in aid of
He should now state a case by way of contrast to the 1 the Compassionate Fund, by which that Fund had
last, and for the purpose of shewing that such permis- : been greatly increased.. With respect to the Barrack
sions to exchange were not easily obtained from the Department, he thought it proper just to state, that
Duke of York. It was the case of Major M‘Donnell it was not within the patronage of his Royal high-
and Major Sinclair, of the first Regiment of Foot. j ness the Duke of York. He wished also to observe,
Major Sinclair had been a considerable time in the ! that the manner in which the Army had been fated
West Indies • the climate perfectly agreed with his ; out which was lately sent to Portugal, was a very
health, and Indies;
he was desirous of going upon striking mark of the superior military talents of the
that service, and applied to the Commander in Chief ; ' Duke of York, and a strong proof of his great ance
Major McDonnell, who was in a puny state of health, 1 tion to and regard for that army, and of course mi;.-
earnestly applied to the Commander in Chief for leave ; tated against the truth of charges, which, if founded
to decline that service, apprehensive of the danger of 1 in truth, must strike at ii. discipline, and; through
the' climate, and wishing to remain in England. But: that, at its very existence. His Right Honourable
Major Sinclair was refused permission to go, and Ma- I Friend near him, (Sir Arthur Wellesley), who had
jor M'Donnell was refused permission to remain, and so lately commanded that Army, would readily tell
I
was ordered to the West Indies ; and both Gentlemen the state in which he found it ; and, great as his Right
I
fell victims -to the arrangement, for they soon died. Honourable Friend's talents were for inspiring -hie
But they offered no bribe to the military patroness, soldiers with...courage, spirit, and activity, ke could
whose influence could have prevailed in their; cases.— I not speedily have instilled into them the noble ener-
The next was the case of Major Shaw, appointed De- I
t pies of which they had given such unequivocal and
puty-Barrack-Master-General at the Cape of Good brilliant proofs, it they had previously been under
Hope. It appeared that the Commander in Chief bad such inattention to and neglect of discipline as these
no faVourahle opinion of Major Shaw ; but Mrs Clarke charges held out. The spirit of promotion, wilid..
i—h I
interposes
e consents to pay her £lOOO. Of this had been infused-into the army by the Commander in
money, he immediately paid £`2oo; shortly after he `Chief, and which throve so well under his auspice.,
paid her £3OO ; when she, finding he was backward and nourishments, together with the extreme regula.
in payment, sent to demand the remainder ; but, city, order, and arrangement, which he had intro•
finding no chance of receiving it, she complains to duced into every military department, had done every
the Commander in Chief, who immediately put Ma- thing for. the army, and evinced that he had eve:
jor Shaw upon the half-pay list. The Hon. Gen- been actuated by the greatest zeal and anxiety for its
Itleman said, he had a letter from Major Shaw himself, honour and its interests—whereas the charges, if true,
stating the fact, and he never knew but one other would make him one of its most inveterate enemies
instance of an officer being thus put on the half-pay/ He thought it necessary to make these few observe-
list. Here then was further proof, to shew that Mrs. tions as to what he knew of the conduct cf the illus.
Clarke's influence extended to the army in general, trious Personage in question : and, having done se,
and that it operated to put any officer on the hallpay would not trespass further on the time of the House
list, and that the Commander in Chief was a direct than to say, he was very happy the Honourable Gen-
party in her authority. The next case to which lie tleman had brought them forward, as he was sure the
should advert of the lady's influence, was that of Co. Commander in Chief wished nothing more earnestly
lonel French, of the Horse Guards. This Gentle- than that they might be fairly and fully investigated.
man wis appointed to a commission for raising new Sir ARTHUR WELL ES LE Y said, he rejoiced
levies in. 1804., and the business was set on foot by sincerely that the HonourableGentleman had brought
Mrs. Clarke. He was introduced to her by Captain forward certain facts on which a Committee might
Huxley Sanden, and she was to have a certain sum be able to judge. His Right Honourable Friend had
out of the bounty to every recruit raised, and a cer- said that he was able to speak as to his knowledge el
fain portion of patronage in the nomination of the the army he had so lately commanded, with respect to
officers. She was waited on by Colonel French, of its discipline, and also as to the character and Coto
officers.
first troop of Horse Guards, and as the levy went duct of the Commander in Chief. He could truly
on, she received various sums of money by Colonel answer that it had fallen to his lot to know particle
French, Captain Huxley Sanden, Mr. Corry, and larly how promotions were made, and that such an
Mr. Cockayne, the Attorney of Lyon's Inn, in advancement in the army never took place without
the following rates, viz.—for a Majority, 9001. ; the names being produced, by whom recommended,
Captaincy, 7001. ; Lieutenancy, 4001. ; and Ensign- and the sums ascertained which were paid for the
cy, 2001. whereas the regular prices were respectively same. There was also a correspondence, shewing
26001. 15001. 5501. and 4.001. ; and consequently all j how the nillhey was brought in that was intended for
this money was lost to the Half-pay CompaSsionare the half-pay. Fund, and what sums went out of it.
Fund, to put money into Mrs. Clarke's pocket. The 1 He rejoiced,- therefore, at the statement of facts
next instance was one in which the Commander in alledged, and then brought forward. With respect to.
Chief himself was a direct partaker in the advantages the removal of the Deputy Barrack-Master-Genere
of this traffic, by a loan to be furnished through Co- at the Cape of Good Hope, he believed, and indeed
lonel French, the writings for which were drawn by knew, it was a case that frequently occurred, and that
a Mr. Grant, an eminent Solicitor of Barnard's-Inn, Staff-Officers, not on full pay at the time they wc-:
for the purpose of raising 30001.; but he did not re- appointed, must go on half-pay ; those who liarl'"i
ceive it, because there was 30001. due from Govern- to be on full pry at tie time appointed, remained cn
merit to Colonel French. Bence tken it was obvious I full pay ; but those only on half pay must remain se-
that Mrs. Clarke exercised an influence in raising the He did nut know that this was the cese in the instance
military force of the country, in disposing of corn- then alluded to by the Honourabre Gentleman, bet
mands in that farce, and in converting the purchase he mentioned these circumstances because it might
of Conimissions to her own private advantage. Hay- j happen to be so : and if it were, the visage of the see
ing said now enough of Mrs. Clarke, he would next i vice would account for it, and shew that it was no
proceed to the case of Captain Maling, of the Royal loin nor partiality in the Commander in Chief. Ac.
African corps. He meant no reflection upon that to the case of the two Officers in the West Ind::s.
officer. He was appointed to an Ensigncy on No- ( Major Mac Donnell and Major Sinclair) to whom ti,..!
vember 28, 1806 ; some time after, he was made I Honourable gentleman had alluded, he thought it
Lieutenant. He badenill the good fortune to remain would be putting the Commander in Chief 111t0 a
a clerk at the desk of Mr. Greenwood, Army Agent. very eNere and invidious predicament indeed, if, be.
On the 15th of April, 1808, he was employed by cause he would not consent to any particular es-
theDuke of York, and before the end of the year he change which might have suited the private conse•
was raised to a Captain in the Royal African Corps, idence or interests of those two individuals, that he
the third year after his first appointment, and with- ; should, therefore, be liable to the charge of their
out seeing service ; thus promoted over the heads of deaths. This would be carrying his responsibility
all the subalterns of the army, without any regard to for events not depending on himself a great lensill
their long services and wounds in their country's indeed, and never could be thought r asonable.
cause, though' any of them had lodged this money indeed, general charges were to be brought fore-e.,
to pay the differences on promotion. Whether the and countenanced against persons filling so high AO'

II

2

P.ll

rievc
he %

Thicl
real

to yon the thy& or this turketfup this subject on ligl
name of the Patlianient whisk he should state was
eat Britain and Ireland, if the 48th regiment, whc
I for the splendid victo- as a Captain on the 2d of il
French army in Jortu= moted to -a Majority in thi
of August, 1808, so ho• 1804. He meant no reflecti

t a static* as ;tat of Commander in Chief.
i.lnenrir he feared, become very elifficult to prevail
't f the elevated rank of the illustrious per-
_ question,
o-
n% to accept an office of such extraor-
:y d extensive responsibility. It would appear
'thaen statement of the alledged facts, that with a
fion s from oin out of his own pocket,
I.,•ese to save money g
connived at, or au-
thc Commander in Chief
the sale of Comminions, the emoluments of
thehricih'e-we--; into the coffers of his favourites, to the
`" ,at detriment and injury of the Compassionate
oci. This seemed to be most contradictory of
principle of reason, or even probability. The
eery
compassionate Fund actnally originated with the
pr Chief, whosave up voluntarily, and
cemad,..
rani and generously, a very extensive patro-
/n,,,,cst,iiiben --order that the Commissions so within his
htbe sold, and.added to the Compassionate
t--rdn,'-11 order to exonerate the half-pay list. Ithe
pad wished to make use of these for corrupt ends, no-
thing could be further from his purpose than the mode
he had adopted. He coincided perfectlwith
y wi
Friend (the Secretiery
.at War), and
Right Hon.
sLc,uld deem himself greatly deficient in duty, as well
as justice, should he omit to speak of the state of the
army so lately under his command in Portugal,
.and
/doe gallant achievetnents recently received
the Thanks of the House. He really believed there
Lever had been an army in a higher state of discipline,
{tan the Staff down to the meanest soldier in the
rinks; and if the army bad not performed the feats
a
and the glory and the reward of the
.thanks
mewed, the fault would not have been impu-
itritoreceithe COmmander in Chief, but to himself (Sir
Arthur) only. He thoufht so much from him was
ice to the Commander in Chief, to whose superior
rotary talents and unremitting teal and assiduity,
the high state of discipline which our attny could now
b,ast, was certainly to be attributed. Having made
these observations, he should certainly vote for an in-
qtury.
Mr. YORKE said, he agreed with both the Right
lion. Gentlemen who had
_just spoken, as to the imp.or-
tante of the charge, and that it was highly deserving
the attention of the House. He believed there was
never a charge of treater magnitude brought before
it; nor had any Hon. Member ever before taken
opon him to bring. forward :Wedged facts, at once so
serious and so weighty in themselves, and in their
consequences. He was sorry to observe, it had lately
teen the misfortune of this country, to have been been
with the most shamelul, scandalous, and
atrocious libels against this illustrious character, and
ethers of his august family. That such should have
been the case, was, in his opinion, highly disgraceful to
the country; and he was happy to ftd, that the matter
had at length been brought into a tangible shape, and
he hoped the Hon. Gentleman would proceed with
his facts, and endeavour to prbn the very serious
and important charge: which he had thus undertaken
to do. He had for some time past viewed with the
deepest concern the continued and repeated current
of scurrility which had been poured forth against va-
rious branches of the Royal Family—and he could
sot, from the whole complexion of it, consider it in
any other light than as a vile conspiracy against the
illustrious House of Brunswick. loud cry of hear!
bear! from all (tart: of the Hansa) It had for some
time past been thought by many, and said by some,
that the Jacobinical spirit which some years ago so
unfortunately pervaded many parts of this country,
was in a great degree allayed and diminished, if not
altogether annihilated. He believed, however, that
where a spirit of Jatobinisrn had once taken root, it
would never be wholly subdued or eradicated ' • and
when he reflected on the numerous infamous libels
which had lately appeared, he could not but consider
them as the engines of a conspiracy devoted to those
purposes (hear, hear, hear ), conducted, it was true,
against his Royal Highness the Commander in Chief,
but actually intended against the whole Family and
Establishment (Hear, hear, hear ! from all sars.)—
Write down the Commander in Chief, continued the
Right Hon. Gentleman, and you eventually attack
and wound the whole. This he believed verily ro be
the aim and end in view.of these perturbed spirits.—
He was, therefore, decidedly in our of an imme-
diate inquiry, and if blame there was, there let the
punishment fall ; but when it was considered who this
illustrious Personage is against whom these facts have
bun alledged, how nearly he is related to the Crown,
how much praise he 'merited for his unremitting at-
tention to the army, and its most vital interests, to
which the Right Hon. General had just before so for-
cibly borne testimony, and thereby recorded, he
thought, that merely a commission would not be suf-
ficient to investigate a matter,of this important nature
—but that, when the honour of a branch of theßoyal
Family was so deeply concerned, and so strongly as-
sailed, the House should take up the matter on a
Ligher ground, and on a broader basis, and pass an
Act cf Parliament for a Special Commission, em-
Fowering them to examine persons who were brought
as witnesses on their oaths. This being the impres-
sion on his mind, he should not have taought he had
done his duty, if he had not thrown it out for the con-
sideration of the House, at least ; and no less grave
and solemn mode of investigation appeared to him to
in properly adapted to the ect..
Sir FRANCIS HIJRDM' said, he thought it
was impossible any Gentleman could have a differ-
mu feeling upon this subject from what bad been so
forcibly expressed by all those Honourable Members
who had delivered their sentiments on, the subject,
and particularly those of the Right Hon. Gentleman
who had just sat down. For t 2 he bad
heard so many stories in circulation, w he had
never had the smallest doubt weri•calumnies, that
without knowing any thing more of the motion than
what he had heard from the Honourable Gentleman
who brought it forward, and of his intention so to do,
he had agreed to second it. He could have no other
reason for doing this than -a sincere wish that these
stories should be fairly brought to the test of investi-
gation, before so serious, so hodourable, and so com-
petent a tribunal as the House of Commons, and there
receive that judgment and decision which he had no
doubt would be ii;aly honourable to the character of
the illustrious personage Who bad been so vehemently
assailed by them. The Right Hon. Gentleman had
have appeared against the Commander in Chief, are
501nany indications to him that a conspiracy exists at
ta` is moment against the whole establishment. Where
ltight Hon. Gentleman could obtain hisinformation
4' (Sir Francis) could not tea ; but for his own

part, he could never suppose' drat itt this country,
Where discussion was allowed, such publications as
those alluded to naturally or Fairly lei to any such
inference or deduction. It had' ever been the case
that public characters, even in the highest rahlt, had,'
from t.me to time, been liable to the attacks of false•
hood and misrepresentation. That it should have
been so, or that it was so at the presein period, he al-
lowed was much to be regretted ; but there was one
consolation, at the same time, in reflecting that such
weak efforts of envy or malignity were easily traced,
and when found out might and ought to be exempla-
rily punished. He had no doubt but that the false-
hood and malice of the libels alluded to by the Right
Honourable Gentleman would, on the present occa-
sion, meet the fate they merited. He knew no way
in which they had a chance of doing so, which ap-
peared to him so certain or so speedy, as an investiga-
tion of and inquiry into the present charges ; and he
was happy to find that the Right Hon. Gentlemen
opposite to him were of the same opinion.
Mr. ADAM said he gave way to the Honourable
Baronet, in order that he might have an opportunity
of shewing, as he had done, with so much coolness,
candour, and politeness, the motives which induced
him to second the present motion. He was extremely
glad he had done so, as the whole of the Honourable
Baronet's sentiments bad been delivered in a manner
highly honourable to him. His chief reason for of-
fering himself to the House, on the present question,
was for the purpose of suiting what he thought would
be the most desirable method of proceeding in the pre-
sent case. In forming the opinion he was about to deli-
ver to the House, he looked only to the principles of the
British Constitution, and the invariable end of its jus:
tice, vie. that from the highest subject to the lowest,
every person accused must be taken to be innocent
till proved to be guilty. With respect to all those
alledged facts which the Honourable Gentleman had
then brought forward in a very candid manner, he
had not the smallest doubt, however the Honourable
Gentleman might have been induced to give credence
to their truth or probability, it would ultimately turn
out, on a proper investigation, that they are founded.
in falsehood and misrepresentation. With respect to
money, there were some circumstances in the trans-
actions which positively forbid him from believing
them possible to attach to his Royal Highness the
Duke of York. He had been more than twenty years
not professionally, but gratuitously, in the service of
the Duke of York, and he assured the House, he did
not mention this from any vain boast of being so ho-
nonred with the confidence of that illustrious person ;
but, from motives of justice, he thought it his duty to
declare, that he had ever received the most unboun-
ded confidence from his Royal Highness as to all his
pecuniary affairs ; and there never had been one of his
embarrassments which the Duke of York had ever
concealed from him. He used the word embarrass-
ment:, because they had been made known even to
Parliament. On the accuracy of his memory in this
respect, he could positively and firmly rely, and could
truly say, that he never heard of any loan which he
wished or attempted to negociate v:ith any individual
whatever, that was not grounded on as fair and ho-
nourable terms as a loan of the Duke of Bedford, the
Duke of Northumberland, or any other Nobleman
could be, who had occasion at any time to raise money
for any particular or special purpose. He was there-
fore an advocate for the inquiry, and should be happy
that the five facts, or alledged facts, which had been
stated by the Hon. Gentleman, should be speedily
inquired' 'into. .He wotild, also wish to have this
done in as public a manner as possible ; for publicity
was what he aimed at, as much as his Right Honour-
able friend on the floor (Mr. Yorke) ; but be would
not. with with him, that an Act of Parliament should
be passed to obtain this desirable end. He would
not have the aouse to give up its inquisitorial power ;
but to obtain that publicity which was so much de-
sired, and was in fact so necessary for the due inves-
tigation of this important business, it was his advice
that it should take place in a Committee of the whole
House, where every Member would be a witness to
it, and every circumstance would be fully inquired
into. The great object was the mode of inquiry, and '
his decided opinion was in favour of a Committee of
the whole House.
Mr. WILBERFORCE thought, that situated as
the House was as to party-spirit, a Committee of the
whole House would not be that mode of investigation ,
which would best be adapted to that impartiality
which a charge of this high importance required. He
considered the judicial power of the House in this'
way as very defective, and should prefer the mode
proposed by the Kigbt Hon. Gentleman (Mr. Yorke)
as preferable, because it would enable the Committee
to be appointed to examine witnesses on oath, which
would give the evidence a weight in the eye of the
public and of the world, which the other could not do.
1 It had been done on former occasions, and he thought
thii as important a case as had ever occurred, and as
much entitled to such a mode of proceeding. His
Royal Highness's rink, the delicacy of his-honour,
and the splendour of his connections, require, that if
put on his trial, it ought to be taken upon its real
merits, and investigated in so serious a manner as to
shew the House were in earnest ; that the inquiry
should be on the most extensive scale, and that they
were determined to do justice, which would best be
done by examining witilbsses on oath. It was well
known, the eyes of all Europe were then fixed on the
deliberations of the House, and it behoved them to
act in the most grave and decisive manner. He
would, therefore, prefer a Parliamentary Commission,
with power to examine witnesses on oath.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER
coincided in the unanimous feeling of the House, that
to the most solemn and serious accusation brought
forward that night, the most solemn and serious in-
quiry ought to be afforded. The only difference that
seemed to exist in the mind of Gentlemen was, as to
the manner of conducting that investigation, whether
the ends, to which all looked with equal eagerness,
were more likely to be acquired by a private and de-
legated examination, or by a full, prompt and public
discussion, arising from the testimony, which the
Hon. Gentleman who submitted those charges to
Parliamentary consideration, may be enabled to pro-
d:
ce at the Bar of that House. When he contem-
plated the important interests which the country had,
Nether in acquitting the exalted personage, if, as he
s convinced, the event would prove such charges
could not be substantiated, or in rendering justice to
the dignity of the character of Parliament, he was
4,11
ftlrapelled by all and every consideration, to eall upon

. pro,. - -
but a public one—and whatever inconveniences may
follow from its adoption, they were dissipated by the
superior and paramount advantages. Independent
of its general recommendation, some consideration
ought to be extended to the wishes of his Royal
Highness. That wish, he could positively state,
was, that the investigation should be most complete
and public (hear, hear, hear I). There was nothing
that his Royal Highness so particularly deprecated
as any secret or close discussion of those charges.
Standing as that illustrious personage did cn the fair,
ness of his character, and the fulness of the evidence
which he was enabled to produce in refutation of these
charges, he was most peculiarly anxious to appear
before the country ; if acquitted, acquitted by the
most accurate and severe inquiry, or if condemned,l
condemned by the most public and undeniable evi-
dence. Was the present moment suitable for the
statements, he believed he could enter into particulars
which would convince the House, that it was impose-
sible to bring those alledged charges home to his
Royal Highness. The Honourable Gentleman (Mr.
Wardle) had in the course of his speech stated a cir-
cumstance which particularly involved the character
of his Majesty's Government. He had mentioned
that two Members of the King's Cabinet were con-
cerned in this agency for the disposal of Government
patronage. This was a topic on which he telt it ue
to himself to require the fullest information, and it
was for the option of the Honourable Gentleman to
determine, whether he would afford it in a public
manner in that House, or by a private communica-
tion to some of the tesponsible servants of the Crown
(a cry of name ! name 1). When in possession of that
information, he assured the House that by him no
measure would be left undone to unravel and eluci-1
date the truth or falsehood of that allegation. It was
not for him to tell that House, that in this great Ca-
pital it might happen that foolish persons were fre-
quently deceived by advertisements in the public
papers, announcing the disposal of official patrenage.
And perhaps it has occasionally turned out, that
the very persons who were originally deceived by these
advertisements to make applications, did ultimately!
obtain the very appointments for which they had
.en-
deavoured to negocia.te ; but he was convinced that
as there was nothing so discreditable to Government,
so there was nothing more false in fact than the idea,
that money was paid to persons high in office for such
transactions. For the distinct manner in which the
Honourable Gentleman submitted the question to the
House, he conceived him entitled to its thanks. He
Lad pledged himself to bring his charges home to hi,
Royal Highness the Duke of York. Upon that pledge
the proposed inquiry was admitted ; and both for the
accuser and the accused, to guard against suppression
and insufficiency of evidence, publicity was essentially,

necessary.
• Mr. WARDLE stated, that he was anxious to
afford the fullest enquiry in his power to the Right
Honourable the Chancellor of the Exchequer. The
Office where this Agency was transacted was in
Threadneedle-street, under the firm of Pollman and
Heylock. The persons conducting the business there
did not deny the influence under which they were
able to procure appointments. They had stated va-
rious situations purchased. in the Island of Jamaica,
and that two Members of the present Cabinet, for
whom they acted in such negociations, and to whom
he alluded in his speech, were the Lord Chancellor
and the Duke of Portland.
It was then carried, nan;ne contradicente, that the
conduct of his Royal Highness the Commander in
Chief, in the Appointment of Commissions, and
filling up of Vacancies in the Army, be referred to a
Committee.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER
then moved, that it should be a Committee of the
whole House.
Lord FOLKSTONE considered the Honourable
Mover entitled to the fullest credit, for the manner in
which he brought the subject forward. He was of
opinion that the ends of justice would be best answer-
ed by referring the inquiry to a Select Committee, from
whose reports all the benefits of publicity would be
derived. It was extraordinary to see the Chancellor
of the Exchequer interfere with the made of proceed-
ing which the Honourable Mover h td adopted, when
the House recollected with what severe comment that
Gentleman (Mr. Perceval) remarked upon certain
Members at his side of the House, for the alledged in-
decorum of taking certain measures out of the hands
of the original proposers.
Mr. Secretary CANNING conceived that the sur-
prise expressed by the Noble Lord in seeing his Right
Honourable Friend propose to the consideration of
that House the most desirable mode of proceeding,
;would have been prevented if that Noble Lord had
considered the nature of the improvement which was
recommended. The interference of his Right Ho-
nourable Friend was not to restrict, but to extend in-
quiry—it was not to narrow the means, but to enlarge ,
the sphere of deliberation. It was an improvement
suited to the importance of the accusation, and to
that serious discussion which so many commanding
inducements pressed it upon that House to afford.;
The House should recollect that if such charges were
proved, the issue of its deliberation might lead toad
proceeding affecting the most valuable privileges ofi
Parliament, and the dearest interests of the elevated
and illustricus Personage affected by their decision.
It was established by various precedents in Parlia-
mentary history. It was to a Committee of the
whole House the case of the Duke of Nlarlhorotigh
was submitted, because such proceeding was con-
sidered, correspondent with the gravity of its jteli;
cial character, and because it was a species of triat
which united earliness with publicity. When, there-
fore,
the Noble Lord complained that an attempt was
made to take the subject out of the hands of the Ho-
nourable Gentleman who originally brought it for-
ward, the propriety of his reproach amounted to this,
that the Chancellor of the Exchequer had proposed a
motion calculated most effectually to promote the eh-
elect which the original Mover professed to have solely '
in his view. Indeed, the Honourable Mover himself
did not feel any unjustifiable attempt at interfeience,
nor did he evince any hostility ;o submit his charges
to the Houie of COmmons in its most extended
caacity. Vast .#9la)nraitle Qauleman
• -- • • -

'

, spirit e., fkr-4 , .
Canning) was willing to give him- credit, and surely
that Honourable gentleman could not be dissatisfied
with those who placed him upon the most command-
ing stage, to reap the benefit of his patriotic labour s.
—(Near ! Hear !)—He surely must be aware, that
having undertaken the responsible task of submitting
ito
the British House of Commons such a serious ac-
cusation, that whatever may be the issue of its delibe-
ration ; in whatever view the House shall considerthe
1 transactions which he has disclosed, whether they I,e
refuted or substantiated, infamy must attach some-
where—either upon the accused or the accuser.—
(r Hear ! hear!)—Prom the system which has been dta
liberately pnrsued for some time past, by the enea
lilies of his Royal Highness the Commander ii
Chief, he had to congratulate that illustrious Per-
sonage, and at the same time to thank the Hob.
Mover, for the opportunity of canvassing the subject
upon chargei preferred in a tangible shape. Whatever
result may ensue from fuch accusations, it was not
`to be denied, that that Royal Personage had been
subjected to the systematic calumnies of a set of un
principled libellers; that in their vile and malignant
publications lie had been treated with a brutality
of insult which almost made good men hesitate in
deciding, whether the value of a free di:.cussion
was not considerably depreciated by the evils of its
unbridled licentiousness ? For the last six months,
scarce a day elapsed without some fresh attack upon
his honour and his feelings. There was a co-ope-
ration of cowardice with falsehood, which far ex-
ceeded the calumnious profligacy of other times.—
A cowardice too of the basest kind, participating
of the most depraved and odious qualities, deserving
of that execration which the best feelings of hu-
manity would pronounce on the base assailant of
female weakness, because, to direct unfounded at. •
tacks against those in•high authority, was nearly simi-
lar to an attack on an undefended woman. It w::s
therefore,• as sincerely interested in the honour and
reputation of his Royal Highness, that he rejoiced to
find that this question had taken a distinct shape, and
that in the due and proper place, the period for
inculpation, and he was sure of exculpation, had
arrived—(Hear, hear, hear!) It was for Parliament
to give the subject the fullest inquiry, but he trust-
ed that the Honourable Mover would in the first in-
stance, without any subsequent restriction, direct his
'roofs to the specific objects on which his charges of
that night were founded.
Mr. WHITBREAD concurred heartily in the re•
commendation of the Chancellor of the Exchequer for
the most public inquiry, It was due to the elevated
rank of the illustrious personage accused, and to the
great interests of the country, which were so impli-
cated in the issue. The Right Hon. Secretary had as-
sumed as a fact, that such a consipi racy as he described,
existed, and upon that assumption he rested all his
arguments. If such a conspiracy did exist, every man
must lament, that such a character, elevated in rank
and influence,should be exposed to unmerited calumny.
Still it was to be presumed and hoped, that a Prince of
the House of Hanover would prefer even suffering under
such attach, rather than risque the liberty of that Press
to which that Fathily and the British empire owed so
much. But why was this brutality of insult so long
suffered to continue ? Were the Attorney and Solicitor
Generals asleep, and the other Law Officers of the
Crown asleep ? How came it that they neglected their
duty ? He was ready to give them credit that the
omission was not intention al—( 4 laugh). There was
one point in the speech of the .tight Honourabla•Se-
cretary from which he must dissent. It was assumed
by him, that if the result should, as he trusted, acquit
his Royal Highness, his Hon. Friend would be in-
famous for preferring the accusation. Such doctrine
was not supported either by the spirit or usage of the
Constitution. if there were justifiable grounds for
his charge, or if information of a strong kind was laid,
before him, it was his bounden duty as an honest public
servant, to act upon it in that House. In complianc..
with that sense of duty, his Honourable Friend did
submit the subject to the House, and whatever might
be the issue, he was convinced. that not a particle o.
dishonour could attach to him (Mr. Wardle). Thee,
was one strong reason that it should go to a Com-
mittee of the House, which weighed particularly with
him—namely, that it would be impossible to select
any set of names that would satisfy this herd•of libel-
lers
and calumniators, of which such mention had
been made by the Right Hon. Secretary. .
Lord CASTLE REAGH supported the opinion, .
that such a conspiracy did exist, with the determined
object of running down the characters of thePrincet of
the Blood, and through them to destroy the Monarchi-
cal branch of the ConstitutiOn. Having failed in the at-
tempt to injure it by open force, they now proceeded to
sap and undermine it by the diffusion of seditious libels,
converting the noble attributes of a free press to the
most dangerous and detestable purposes. His Royal
Highness the Commander in Chief was the principal
object of their rancorous invective. To his prejudice,_
facts were falsified, and motives attributed to him of
which his very nature was incapable. When forbear-
ance was stretched to its utmost point, and prosecutions
were commenced, the base libellers were found to have
absconded. Scarce had the calumny of one of them
proceeded from the press, when the calumniator was
found to have withdrawn himself to America (hear !
hear !). The motion of that night put the Duke of
York and the public in a new situation. It gave the
subject a distinct turn, and he knew that that elevated
personage would deprecate any proeeeding that did
not rest upon steps taken in the face of day.
After a few observations from Mr. WARDLE, it
was resolved that the House should on Wednesday
next resolve itself into that Committee.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER
then proposed, that the Honourable Gentleman should
give in a list of the names of those witnesses ke intend-
ed to call to substantiate his charge, that such Fersotis
might be summoned to attend at the bar of the House
on Wednesday next.
Mr. WARDLE (after having gone to the table gi
i make out his list of witnesses, returned to his seat)
land said that he thought 4t would be attended Witis
no inconvenience to deft•r Mentioning the wet:tittles
till Ttimilay, whew he diouldtowie dowse° the Hahne
-141111dP furnish the *Tue. 'with v. 4. fiThgtpart4f
should proceed to prove, and a list of tie

•
*at Biirsenntio'abartiinn.ittleggriatijuditial pro, .claretf- frie House; Ask in- cal* Air iteration to
viricb, and by hit Writ step to sre- itself of that thii Very-solemn stibjectilitsivas solayaettiated by the
fieedotu of conduct and action, that might eventually sense of public duty ; that be was fret front any hostile
pottclude it from adopting the course which it might feeling to the elevated.personage, whose character his
be convinced was ultimately serviceable. There was charges went so vitally to affect. For the iznpulieof •
no course that could prove satisfactory.to the ec_un_tri! F,t,t.b..ll,....splirtiri%aurndiiiidnii,sitnnteorfs.t:dhimpactriredotiitsm.
a,
ndhesitCrlrly.