from the Duke of York to Mrs Clarke after their separation. This letter was as follows:

"You must recollect the occasion when, about seven months ago, I had to employ a solicitor to defend a suit upon your account. The result of the inquiries then made into your conduct were most unfavourable to you, and circumstances have since arisen to confirm these impressions. I was not rash or inconsiderate in coming to the determination to part from you, and I owe it to my own character to persevere in that resolution. An interview would be painful to us both, and of no use to you. I therefore decline it."

Mr Greenwood had taken a copy of the letter at the desire of the Duke of York, had given the copy to the Duke, and had never seen it again till that night.

Mr Whitbread stated that the letters Mrs Clarke was desired to send down had been put into his hands. They were as follow:

No. I.-"To Mrs Clarke, No. 9. Old Burlington Street.-Friday.-Without being informed to what amount you may want assistance, it is not in my power to be of use to you."

No. II.—" To Mrs Clarke, at Southampton, Oct. 21. 1806.—It is totally out of my power to give you the assistance you seem to expect."

No. III." To Mrs Clarke, 17, Gloucester Place.-No date.-I enter fully into your sentiments with respect to your children, but cannot undertake to fulfil any thing I am not sure of being able to perform. With respect to the house at Weybridge, I would advise you to remove the furniture, and direct the person who took it for you to give it up."

A letter from Gen. Clavering to Mrs Clarke, dated Feb. 8. 1809, was read. It was a request that she would not subpœna him, but keep his name concealed. Thursday, Feb. 23.

After a good deal of private business had been gone through, the Speaker addressed the House in the following

terms:

"I have to acquaint the House, that since I came to the House, I have received a letter from his Royal Highness the Duke of York, the contents of which relate to the enquiry now pending be.

fore the Committee of the whole House. With the permission of the House, I will read the letter."

The Speaker then read the letter, which was as follows:

66

Sir, "Horse Guards, Feb. 23. 1809. "I have waited with the greatest anxiety until the Committee appointed by the House of Commons to inquire into my conduct, as Commander in Chief of his Majesty's army, has closed its examinations, and I now hope that it will not be deemed improper to address this letter, through you, to the House of Commons. I observe with the deepest concern, that, in the course of this inquiry, my name has been coupled with transactions the most crimi nal and disgraceful, and I must ever regret and lament, that a connexion should ever have existed, which has exposed my name and character to public animadversion.-With respect to my alleged offences, connected with the discharge of my official duties, I do, in the most solemn manner, upon my honour as a Prince, distinctly assert my innocence, not only by denying all corrupt participation in any of the infamous transactions which have appeared in evidence at the bar of the House of Commons, or any connivance at their existence, but also the slightest knowledge or suspicion that they existed at all.My consciousness of innocence leads me confidently to hope, that the House of Commons will not, upon such evidence as they have heard, adopt any proceeding prejudicial to my honour and character; but if, on such testimony as has been adduced against me, the House of Commons can think my innocence questionable, I claim of their justice, that I shall not be condemned without trial, or be deprived the benefit and protection which is afforded to every British subject, by those sanctions under which alone evidence is received in the ordinary administration of the law. I am, Sir, yours, &c.

FREDERICK."

20001. if the business was done to their satisfaction; that the levy had been regularly applied for; but that some difficulties were encountered, which this application was intended to remove; Mr Corri had also received 2001. for introduction. Mr Dowler said, he had seen Col. French at Gloucester Place ; that he understood, from Mrs Clarke, she was to have 10001. and a guinea a man, to be paid on the completion of 500 men. He was also present when Colonel French came to request that an increased number of boys should be included in the levy. Mrs Clarke also stated that she had informed the Duke of Colonel French's application, and informed him that she was to receive a pecuniary remuneration if she obtained the letter of service; that she received one sum of 5001. or guineas, which she paid to Birkett on account of a service of plate, and his Royal Highness gave his own bills for the remainder; that she recollected Colonel French telling her, if his Royal Highness would pass the accounts which had been some time standing, he would accommodate him with 50001. upon proper security. This testimony was further corroborated by Miss Taylor, who was present at a conversation between Mrs Clarke and the Duke of York, in which the Duke said that he was continually worried by Colonel French about the levy, and, turning to Mrs Clarke, he said, "How does he behave to you, darling" to which Mrs Clarke replied, "middling, not very well."-The Duke then said," Master French must mind what he is about, or I shall cut him up and his levy too." From this evidence, it was clear that Mrs Clarke had exerted her inBuence over his Royal Highness.

His Royal Highness must have been fully convinced that Mrs Clarke received pecuniary remuneration for her influence; it is not possible to conceive that the Duke would not have asked her what could be her inducement to take so much trouble about the levy, or what motive could actuate her to such extraordinary exertions; he must have been well aware, from the immensity of her expenditure in Gloucester Place and Weybridge, that she must have had some mode of supplying those deficiencies that must accrue from the pittance which he allowed her. No evidence can be better supported, or be more incontro vertible or conclusive. According to the terms of the letter of service, it was stipulated that 2000 men were to be raised in 13 months; and in nine months 200 men only were raised, although the bounty was raised from 13 to 19 guineas. And it was not, till a considerable time afterwards, when complaints poured in from all quar

ters, that the levy was discontinued; and the officers who had disgraced their cloth, instead of being ignominiously dismissed, were allowed to continue in the service, because they were protected by the Commander in Chief's mistress.

The next case was that of Captain Tonyn whose promotion was attributable entirely to the interference of Mrs Clarke, and for which she received 5001. That his Royal Highness had a direct knowledge of this transaction, he inferred from the letters of Mrs Clarke to Captain Sanden. ' With respect to the case of Colonel Shaw, he contended, that the principal fact in which that charge was sustained, was the circumstance of the repeated applications of General Burrard, General Brownrig, and General Clinton, in his behalf, having failed in procuring that Gentleman' the appointment; but which, in three days after the latest application of those Generals, was gazetted, which could only have taken place in consequence of the influence of Mrs Clarke.-The next case to which he alluded was that of Mr Dowler, from whose testimony it appeared, that he had never made any application to her, but that the first overture was made from her to him, and through her only did he obtain his commission. The evidence went clearly to prove that the Duke was acquainted with her having received 10001. for procuring the appointment in question, and from hence he inferred that it was rea sonable to conclude that the direct interference of the Duke of York, not only in military matters, as in the case of General Clavering, but in clerical matters, as in the instance of Dr O'Meara, was attributable to her influence over him, and that it was impossible to say where that influence would stop. The remaining cases, namely, those of Samuel Carter, Major Tucker, and Robert Kennett, he adverted to respectively, and treated of them in the same strain as the preceding charges. He then should not trouble the House any longer, having drawing up his sentiments upon this important subject in form of an address to his Majesty, with which he must conclude. He thought it but justice to the Duke of York to state distinctly, without disguise, his real sentiments. He entertained the greatest reverence for the Majesty of the Throne, and he should be the last man in the world to hurt the feelings of any individual; but on this occasion he had no choice. He concluded by moving the address, to the following effect:

"That an humble address be presented to his Majesty, humbly stating to his Majesty, that information having been communicated

municated to this House, and evidence having been advanced to support the imputation of various corrupt practices, and other abuses in the sale and disposition of commissions in his Majesty's army; and his Majesty's faithful Commons, according to the duty they are bound to observe towards him and the country, having carefully examined into sundry charges in proof of these practices, and it is with the deepest concern and regret they inform his Majesty, that the result of their inquiry into the facts brought before them, and the documents on their table, has been such as to satisfy them, that the charges have been substantiated. His Majesty's faithful Commons are restrained, by motives of personal attachment, from entering into a detail of these transactions, being convinced that they could not be told, without exciting in his Majesty's breast feelings of grief and indignation. That the proceedings of the House have been published, and the evidence brought before them is correct, and that he will give them credit, in the exe'cution of this painful duty, for having pro ceeded with all due deliberation. That without entering into any other of the ob. vious consequences, from the belief once generally established of the prevalence of abuses in the military department, there is one great and essential consideration inseparable from the present subject, which they beg to submit to his Majesty's consideration, namely, that the opinion propogated amongst his Majesty's forces, that promotions were made by means unjust to the army, the effect of such opinions might be to wound the feelings, and abate the zeal of all ranks and descriptions of his Majesty's army. That it is the opinion of this House, that the abuses thus most amply represented, could not have prevailed to the extent they have existed, without the knowledge of the Commander in Chief; and that even abuses so various and of so long standing, could not have existed without his knowledge. Upon these grounds and principles, his Majesty's faithful Commons most humbly submit their opinion, that his Royal Highness the Duke of York ought to be deprived of the command of the army."

Mr Burton, after observing that he thought it incumbent on him to express his sentiments on so important an occasion, proceeded to point out the contradictions which appeared in the evidence of all the witnesses who had been examined relative to the Duke of York. He alluded particularly to the contradictions in Mrs Favourite's testimony, who had represented Mr Ellis as a carpenter, while it appeared on evidence that he was a respectable

clergyman. Mr Burton pointed out other contradictions in the testimony of this wit ness, after which he proceeded to remark on Mrs Clarke's evidence, who he observed had made 28 false assertions, to several of which Mr Burton referred, particularly to her having represented herself as sometimes a widow, and sometimes a married woman. He then proceeded to show, that Mr Knight's promotion was effected in the regular way, and would have taken place, even although Mrs Clarke had never interfered. With regard to the promotion of Captain Maling, he observed, that he could recognise no corruption; and at any rate, it was absurd to contend, that the prerogative of making military appointments should be taken from the Crown, and vested in the House of Commons. Miss Taylor's evidence Mr Burton considered as inadmissible, on account of her connection with Mrs Clarke. He would beg of the House to recollect what the nature of her connection with Mrs Clarke was, and the close intimacy which subsisted between them. He would ask if such a witness could be credited. For, as she participated in the communication between his Royal Highness and Mrs Clarke, (being admitted the bosom friend and companion of the latter's secrets; and, if reliance could be placed on the statement of other evidence, through a fondness of the Duke of York, being in habits of familiar intercourse with him,) he would put an obvious question, whether, instead of her paltry deposition, she would not have stated a tissue of criminal proceed. ings, if she had known that any such existed?-Hear bear!) Mr Burton then entered into an examination of all the other circumstances which Mr Wardle had adduced as proofs of the Duke of York's connivance in these criminal transactions; and altho' he admitted that Mrs Clarke had been in the practice of receiving bribes for her supposed influence, he contended, that there was no proof that the Duke of York was privy to these improper practices. In cases of such import, no exemption could be claimed by the highest member in society beyond the lowest. He was aware that there must be a considerable feeling excited in the breast of every man for the Royal Personage concerned. The country would not shut its eyes. It may be said that such measures as are proposed were Jacobinical, but if he were asked his opinion, he would say they were highly necessary for the amendment of existing corruption. These were not times to screen any man; and painful as the task was, he felt it to be his duty thus publicly to declare his sentiments on this important subject.

Mr Curwen, after particularly adverting

to the evidence of General Clavering, of Miss Taylor, and of Col. Gordon, whose evidence he observed was wrung from him like drops of blood, observed, that the Chancellor of the Exchequer, after stating that the resolution brought forward ought to have decided positively as to the Duke of York's guilt or innocence, proceeded to comment upon the nature of the evidence on which the charges against the Duke of York depended. He particularly adverted to the numerous circumstances which tended to throw discredit upon Mrs Clarke's testimony. During the whole of his legal experience, he had never seen a witness who, from her story, from her character, and from her conduct at the bar, was less entitled to credit than Mrs Clarke. It was not surprising that his Royal Highness should be occasionally decoyed by Mrs Clarke into conversations on military matters; that he should sometimes speak to her on subjects which might have been proclaimed at Charing-Cross without in jury to the public service; that he should tell her when Tonyn was to be gazetted, or whether French's levy would be allowed. But surely his Royal Highness might do all this without any corrupt motive?

Mr Perceval then proceeded to point out some material contradictions in Mrs Clarke's evidence. The first of these was the assertion repeated over and over again by so many witnesses, that Mrs Clarke was anxiously desirous to conceal the transactions in which she was engaged from the knowledge of the Duke of York.

Dr

Thynne, Mr Robert Knight, Captain Sanden, Mr and Mrs Corri, and Mrs Hovenden, all spoke to this fact, while Mrs Clarke declared positively that she did not remember any thing like a wish expressed on her part for secrecy Mr Knight had declared that Mrs Clarke told him, that unless the Duke of York would come to her terms, she would expose him. This Mrs Clarke as positively denied. But she had an interest in the denial; Mr Knight had no interest in the assertion; there was a complete contradiction of Mrs Clarke's testimony. He would not dwell on the minor cases in which Mrs Clarke's veracity had been impeached, but he could not allow them to pass wholly unnoticed. She had declared that her husband was in no trade or employment. The evidence of Towers proved that he was a stone-mason. This was no very important falsehood, but it was sufficient to shew, that if Mrs Clarke departed from the truth in such petty instances, for the gratification probably of a little female vanity, she would not hesitate to do so in cases of greater magnitude, where her material interests might be imJuly 1809.

plicated. The proof also of her connection with Dowler, and of their midnight scenes in St Martin's lane, after the attempt that had been made to represent Dowler as a reluctant witness, who had never seen her but once, was so decisive, that he must say upon his conscience, that the evidence of such a man and such a woman ought in no case to be relied on. They came to the bar in disguise, they professed to be wholly unconnected, and if their falsehood had not been detected, Dowler would have passed for an unbiassed witness, who, having just arrived from Portugal, gave his reluctant testimony on a subject in which he was completely disinterested! With respect to the charges preferred against his Royal Highness, he confessed, that it appeared to him a miracle, considering the number of promotions which must have taken place during the period of his Royal Highness's connection with Mrs Clarke, that so few had been brought forward, and that these few had been so satisfactorily explained. In the course of a year about 4000 military promotions of one kind or other took place. During the connection, therefore, of the Duke of York and Mrs Clarke, about 10,000 promotions must have occurred; but out of these, although Mrs Clarke declared she had been instructed to use her cleverness, only the few instances of alleged corruption before the House had been brought forward; and of those few he would venture to say, that, with the exception of Major Tonyn's case, there was not one which was not satisfactorily disproved as far as the Duke of York was impli cated.

Mr Perceval then proceeded to point out the contradictions between various parts of Mrs Clarke's evidence, and in the story of the note (he observed) there was not one circumstance which she stated which was not contradicted, Of Miss Taylor's, he observed, that she remembered every thing that happened five years ago, but remembered nothing which happened only within a few months from the time she was questioned. Of Captain Sanden's note, he observed, that it was doubtful whether it was the Duke of York's hand-writing, those who forged letters always taking care to make them as like the original as possible. Mr Perceval was proceeding in his examination of the evidence, but on his observing that he was rather exhausted, there were repeated cries of (Adjourn, adjourn, go on, go on.) It was agreed, however, to adjourn, previous to which Mr Perceval informed the House, that it was his intention to move the following resolution :

"Resolved, That charges having been brought