The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1809-04-18

MS N. II. the Duke OF York, to tie Speaker
OF the House of Commons
EIGHT O'CLOCK p. N. LONDON,
Feb IS.
HOUSE OF COMMONS-THURSDAY.
"lhe Speaker acquainted the House. that
ne had received letter from his Royal
Highness the Duke of York, which, with
their permission, he would read.
THE House having sgnihed its assent,
the Speaker read the letter, dated Horse
Guards, Esd Feb. 1909. and addressed to
him in his official character of Speaker, TO
the following effect:
"SIR,
"Ihave waited with the utmost anxi-
ETY. till the Committee appointed to inquire
into my conduct as commander i'm chief, come
to the close of its examination. / trust, that
beng now done, it will not be considered
improper for me to address this letter 10 the
House through you. / have heard, with the
deepest concern, that in the course of this
inquiry, my name has been coupled with
transactions the most criminal and disgrace
tut; and must ever regret and lament, that
nave been connected with persons who have
exposed my character and honor to public
investigation. With respect to these calum-
MES, as connected with the discharge of my
official duties, solemnly, on my honor as
rrlnce, assert my innocenCe-not only by
denying any connivance with these transac-
tons which have appeared in evidence at
your oar-out even any knowledge, partici-
! patton, or suspicion, that they existed at ALL
My consciousness of innocence leads me to
hope. that the House of Commons will not
adopt, on the evidence they have heard, any
proceedings prejudicial to my honor and
character; but If, Oil such evidence, the
House OF Commons should think, that my in
nocence is questionable, claim justice, of
not being condemned without trial but to
De allowed that which is given to every Bri-
fish sublcct-to be heard by evidence at the
bar, as In other cases and in the ordinary
ministratien of the law
(Signed) FREDERICK"
| 1.-The motion was then put, and the letter
ordered to lie on the table.
! "On question from Mr.. Bankes, the
Speaker explained the ordinary course of
proceedings pursued by the House, and did
not wish any further motion to be made upon
the letter till it was copied for the Journals
by the Clerk.-Left sitting.
HOUSE OF COMMONS, Feb. 90.
| Mrs. CLARKE'S CHARGES.-Thep pro-
| ceedlngs of the committee i'll this extraordi-
nary affair, closed this morning at very late
| hour.
Mrs. Clarke appeared at the bar, and an
swered numerous questions put to her by Sc
Veral gentlemen. She, however, evaded
direct answer to some plain questions put
TO her by the Attorney General, respecting
her having lived with an Army Agent pre-
vlously to her connection with the Duke of
YORK and pretended to affirm that she ne
yer mad lived with any one except his Roy.
al tlighness. Here the Committee burst in
to loud laugh
Several officers of high rank and charac
ter were called as to their testimony of the
Duke OF York S conduct as Commander in
Chiet, among whom was that very able and
gallant officer, Sir Arthur Wellesley They
all bestowed the very highest encomiums
on the Duke of York, as Commander in
Chief
The House was then resumed, and the
Chairman reported progress. The proceed.
lngs are to be printed OH OF before Monday,
and the consideration of the whole is to
take place on Thursday next
LONDON, Feb 90,
The Lady Frances Packet arrived yester-
day at Harwich in five days from Hcligoland,
with mails and passengers, who state that a
strong rumosr of the renewal of hostiities
between Austria and France prevails upon
the continent, aud that Bonaparte after bis
retiIrh to Paris proceeded to Germany, where
he now is.
The king of Denmark has lately made re-
presentations to the French and Dutch courts
that he had seen with much concern, that
many vessels laden in Russian ports with
tar, hemp, &c pass the sound under English
colours, bound for England, and that the YES
sells are Chiefly Dutch, under foreign colours,