The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1839-10-11 00:00:00

LADY FLORA HASTINGS.

SIR JAS. CLARK'S STATEMENT OF THE CASE
OF THE LATE LADY FLORA HASTINGS.

So long as the accusations brought against me, in refer-
ence to the case of the late Lady Flora Hastings, continued
to be either anonymous or unauthorized, I felt it right to
submit in silence to every species of provocation, rather than
bring before the public circumstances of a very delicate na-
ture, which came within my knowledge in the implied confi-
dence of professional intercourse. The publication, however,
of the Marquis of Hastings, the nearest relative of Lady Flora
Hastings, made me doubt seriously whether, in regard to
myself, as well as the profession, I was justified in not lay-
ing before the public an account of the case, so far as I was
concerned. The renewed attacks which have followed that
publication permit me no longer to hesitate; although, even
now, it is with the utmost reluctance I bring myself to enter
into dead)* which, I am of opinion, ought never to have
been reads the aubjeet of public discussion.
On the 10th of January last 1 was consulted by Lady Flora
Hastings, who had that day arrived from Scotland, and had
comeinto waiting on her Royal Highness the Duchess of
Kent. She had derangement of the bowels and of the gene-
ral health,,and she complained of pain low in the left side.
There was 4.40 considerable enlargement of the lower part of
the abdeirnen.
Under the use of some very simple remedies the derange-
ment of the,LoWels and the pain in the side gradually abated
and intimately ceased, and Lady Flora complained only of
weakness.
The size of the abdomen, however, continued undiminished,
and Lady Flora's appearance became the subject of remark
in the Palace. About the Ist ofeFebruary, as nearly as lam
able to the date, I was sent for by Lord Melbourne, and
on going to him, his lordship informed me that a communi-
cation had been made to him by Lady Tavistock respecting
Lady Flora'Hastings, whose appearance had given rise to a
suspicion in-the Palace that she might be privately married;
his lordship asked my opinion on the subject. I stated, in
reply, that while I thought such suspicions ought not to be
readily listened to, I was, at the same time, bound to admit
to him that the appearance of Lady Flora in some degree
countenanced them. I added, that without more ample
means of observation, I could not venture to give an opinion
on the subject ; and his-lordship agreed with me that no step
timid then be taken in the matter.
From 'this time the condition of Lady Flora Hastings caused
me considerable anxiety. The only source, besides pregnancy,
front *Mar the size and peculiar form of the abdomen could
proeehd.'*FlS disease; but the probability of disease being the
sole t6se,• in Lady Flora's case, was diminished by the eir-
cumStence that the enlargement was accompanied by very
little:general derangement of health. In fact, Lady Flora
continued, to perform her usual duties with apparently little
inconvenience to herself.
I continued to visit Lady Flora about twice a week from
the'llgh'eff)Tanuary to the 16th of February, and on several
•
occasuitif examined the state of the abdomen over her dress;
butheing unable in this way to satisfy myself as to the na-
ture of the enlargement, I at length expressed to her my un-
easiness respecting her size, and requested that at my next
visit I might be permitted to lay my hand upon her abdomen
with her stays removed. To this Lady Flora declined to
accede.
Matters remained in this state until the 16th of February.
On that day I found it had been determined that I should
acquaint Ladv Flora with the suspicions which existed in the
palace, and should suggest her calling another physician into
consultation with me. Before visiting Lady Flora, I asked
Lady Portman, the lady in waiting, if I might use her name
to Lady Flora, as one of the ladies w'io entertained the sus-
picion respecting her. To this Lady Portman at once as-
sented. Her Ladyship then described the peculiarities in.
Lady!is:Florn's form and carriage which had produced the im-
prowsiobnimregard to her state. To the question as to what
mr)cfpininn on the subject was, I replied that the appear-
ances were certainly suspicious, but that even to medical men
such appearances were often deceptive. Lady Portman con-
cluded by observing, that for the sake of Lady Flora herself, as
well as of the Court, it was necessary that the matter should
he cleared up. Immediately after this interview with Lady
Portman, .I went to Lady Flora for the purpose of making to
her this very unpleasant communication : I need hardly add
that I made it in the most delicate terms which I could em-
ploy. After a few remarks on the state of her health; I told
her that her size had attracted the attention of the ladies,
and that it was now my painful duty to acquaint her ladyship
that they had in consequence been led to suspect that she
must be privately married. This was the mode, and these
were the words, in which the painful communication was
made.
I' urged Lady Flora, for obvious reasons, if there were
grofindi for this suspicion, tq acknowledge the fact, and if
not; to see another physician at once, to put au end to the
rumour. Lady Flora denied that there were any grounds
whtiteVer for the suspicion, and named Sir Charles Clarke,
whb; the said, had known her from her childhood, as the phy-
sician she would wish to be called in : but she declined, not-
withstanding my earnest entreaties, to see him on that day.
This, refusal, after the reasons which I had given, lessened
yew considerably the effect upon my mind of her ladyship's

After the interview with Lady Flora, it remained for me to
comthnnicate whit had passed to her Royal Highness the
Duchtss of Kent; I therefore informed Lady Flora that I
was going to her Royal Highness for that purpose ; to the
propriety of this Lady Flora immediately assented. I ac-
cordingly went to the Duchess of Kent, and stated the nature
of the interview I had had with Lady Flora. Her Royal
Ilighness immediately expressed her entire disbelief of any-
thing injurious to Lady Flora's character, and she asked my
opinion. However reluctant I felt to express any doubts on
the subject after Lady Flora's declaration, I could not de-
cline giving a conscientious reply to her Royal Highness's
question ; and I answered to the effect that the suspicions I
previously entertained were not removed.
In the course of the day on which I made the communica-
tion to Lady Flora Hastings, I received a note from her
ladyship, of which the following is a copy :

" Saturda.
`•y
Sir,—Although I think you perfectly understood me this
morning, that I did not wish you to take any steps without
hearing from me, it is perhaps better to obviate the possibi-
lity of any mistake that I should distinctly say so. I shall
be governed entirely by her Royal Highness's wishes and
orders: " Yoare ginnerelv.
I lIASTTS'G'S?'
heard nothing more lon the subject till the afternoon of
the following day (Sunday;,February 17th), when I received
another note from Lady Mtn; of which the folloWing is a
copy •
..Sit,-By her Royal Highness's Coinmand T have written
to Ast Sir Charles Clarke to name an hour this afternoon to
conse.fcemes He haft:answered my note by corrung, and is
no.ta4kire-i'-Costld• y6n come and meet him"?' Yours, sin-
cerclucr,npii: • " F. E. HASTINGS."
On receiving this note I immediately went to Lady Flora,
andj9suad Sir. Charles Clarke with her ladyship; He stated
to jet Lady lApra's presence, as part of the conversation
be .71410 wlth„.A.er, that he urged her, if there were any
gr4tinda, er...thccenspicions entertained, to admit the fact
novsitti_ therexaminatian it would be too late.
A:fler. is. Conversation Lady Flora requested that Lady
Portman Might be called in. On her arrival Lady Flora
retired to her chamber, where her was in attendance.
After Sir Charles Clarke had made an examination, he re-
turned with me' to the sitting-room, and stated as the result,
that there could be no pregnancy ; but at the same time he
expressed a wish thht t also should make an examination.
This 1 at first declined, stating it to be unnecessary ; but, on
his earnestly urging me to do so, I felt that a further refusal
might he. construed into a desire to shrink from a share of
the responsibility, and I accordingly yielded. After finally
consulting, we gave the following certificate :
" " Buckingham Palace, February 17, 1839.
We have examined with great care the state of Lady
Flora Hastings, with a view to determine the existence or
non-sxistence of pregnancy ; and it is our opinion, although
there is an enlargement of the stomach, that there are no
grounds for suspicion that pregnancy does exist, or ever did
exist. _ " CHARLES M. CLARKE, M.D.
"JAMES CLARK, M.D.
Before, parting with Lady Flora, both Sir Charles Clarke
and myself pressed upon her ladyship the expediency of her
appearing on that day at table as usual.
Plain statement of the leading facts of this unfor-
tuitate.reaie, so far as lam concerned. That I was unable
to'iscertain the true nature of Lady Flora's state, I at once
admit, and most deeply regret : but when the difficulties
whieli frequently occur in cases of this description, even
where every facility is afforded for investigation, are consi-
dered, it can scarcely be made a matter of reproach to me
that,. atnidSt the disadvantages under which I 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 conceded
thßi no Other person could have done so without recurring
tome similar proceeding. And if anything further were
rettiiked to establish the difficulties of this very peculiar case,
an-tHltie heavy responsibility attaching to a decision on it, Sir
Clifirles Clarke knows that there are other facts connected
with-it Which prove, in the most unequivocal manner, both
the one and the other—facts which do not throw the slightest
shade of doubt on the purity of Lady Flora, nor are matter
of.lslattits 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 by the post mortem examination.
I think it right to notice, in this place, a part of my con-
duct which may at first sight appear censurable : I allude to
the admission of my suspicion of Lady Flora might be
pregnant, before I had been permitted more fully to examine
into her state,: Under almost any other circumstances it
would have been highly improper tor me to have answered an
inquiry out such a subject ; but, as T could not authoritatively
remove. suspicions founded upon appearances, which, taken
alone, would in a great majority of cases indicate what was
feared, and not the singular state of disease revealed after
the death of Lady Flora, I felt it my duty, consideriog the
very peculiar responsibility which- attaches to flatlet' confide:
the doubt which was in my own mind to tholi 'who had a
right to demand my real opinion, and who, I feWassured,
could not use it in a manner unfriendly to Lady Flora.

d tof
I shall now notice such parts of the publicationle an
t/4
Marquis of Hastings as more particularly relate tome.- 'An
extract is given by his lordship from a letter written by Lady
Flora Hastings to the Dowager Marchioness of Hastings,
dated March'l3th, nearly a month after the event, in which
it 'is stated that at my visit to communicate to Lady Flora
the' swipicioUs entertained respecting her, I became " violent
and Coarse, and even attempted to browbeat" her ladyship!
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 ob-
ject oiit that Lady Flora, for her own sake, should see Sir
Charlet' Clarke on that day. In corroboration of my own
solemn disavowal of the conduct imputed to me, I refer to the
two Witta,raiready given in my narrative, which I received
froftttidy, Flora _awnings within 24 hours after the very
ocei-ifOA 'oi which I am said to have thus acted ; and, con-
serihrnitKlit the very time when all her feeling may fairly be
supposed:to have been more excited by the alleged conduct
than 'at any subsequent period : and, as still more direct
evide,Oce, I would further refer to Lady Flora's letter
to"lia uncle, Mr. Hamilton Fitzgerald, dated March
Bth,'in which—although written for the express purpose of
tatilt*ther griefs known to a relative, with whom she had
nctinoti've for reserve, and therefore, in the very circum-
t'tr,' calculated to elicit complaint—not a word escapes
ha laoifrig my conduct or language during either of my in-
xhrrikwit'iiith her. On the contrary, expressions occur which
I Milittelit* dont,' not have used had she really then felt that
etedtowards her in an unfriendly manner.
That Lady, Flora intended to misrepresent what actually
occutivd7,l do not for a moment believe. Under the cir-
coinitinces: of excitement in which she was placed, it need
notcreatastirprise that she should unconsciously have allowed
intpressionaoarising out of discussions which afterwards took
place Iti,grow -open her mind, till she at length confounded
their, with-feet*, or that she should have greatly exaggerated
what tlieltilettrally take place. It is only in this way that I
can:nceoUnt for some of the statements made by Lady Flora
Hastings;.:•if,'
Her hdrahip'e,syritten account of the circumstances which
took place-.durifsetheinterview on the 16th of February, at
which we shatfeatiere msent, differs widely from my recol-
lection of theriLmA think it necessary to notice two points in
particular-41* Art. tis the alleged diminution of Lady Flora's
size. On this -I 'shall only observe that I could discover no
such. inainution, else I should have been too happy to have
a44449' :JUMP

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