Russel Manners, late a member of that honourable house, was indebted to him about 10001. or 13001. and no immediate opportunity occurring whereby that claim could be discharged, unless that gentleman's accounts were passed at the war of fice, where he understood he had some heavy demands, it occurred that if some expedient were adopted to accomplish that object, the witness's debt would be paid, as Mr. R. Manners would have resources; and in an interview which he had with Mrs. Clarke, it was stipulated that she could get something done, or a place for him, from or through the medium of his royal highness the Duke of York. He waited upon her for this purpose, and saw her five or six times in the course of that year. The evidence of this witness went to prove a variety of negociations, for commissions, &c. between him, Mrs. Clarke, and two persons of the names of Lloyd and Tyndal.

Mrs. Clarke afterwards gave in a number of letters sent her by Mr. Barber and Mr. Maltby, three letters from Colonel Macmahon, and two letters which had been written to her by the Duke of York, and she desired they might all be read.

Lord Folkstone asked Mrs. Clarke whether she had any more letters, and she produced one letter, written by the Archbishop of Tuam to Dr. O'Meara, but being only recommendatory of him, and addressed to himself, it was not read. Mrs. C. said, that one of the letters from the Duke would convince the house that she had used her influence with the Duke to obtain promotion for Gen. Clavering, notwithstanding that he had denied it the last night he was there. He had applied to her to solisit the Duke of York in his behalf, and she represented him accordingly to the Dake as a man with a large family, and begged his royal highness would give him some promotion. The

Duke then, at her request, gave him a district, and afterwards made him a brigadier general. General Clavering afterwards asked her to solicit the Duke for a regiment, which she did, but unsuccessfully, as the Duke's letters would shew.

The Clerk then read four letters. which the witness proved to be the hand writing of Mr. Maltby, and which were signed with the initials R. M.

My dear Madam,-The regiment in which the paymastership is to be obtained is going to India. There is no time to be lost in taking the necessary steps, Your's, R. M.

To Mrs. Clarke.

July 28. My dear Madam,-If you can forward the settlement of Mr. M's accounts in the 26th regiment, you will render essential service. Your's, R. M.

Saturday.

My dear Madam,-You will be quite a treasure in every way to any secretary of state. I do assure you I am equally anxious as yourself to guard against disappointment, I am, therefore, goading the parties to come to a conclusion. Your's, R. M. Friday Afternoon. My dear Madam,-If I have not the money ready immediately, the opportu remember the paymastership. Do you nity will be irrecoverably lost. Pray know of any person requiring another paymastership in a battalion stationed in the East Indies? Would any one like a place in the bank? or an adjutancy to a 1st and 2d battalion?

Your's,

R. M. Dear Madam,-It is impossible tø pay in the cash either to day or to morrow, but you may rest assured that honour is the order of the day. I have of course made some difference in the receipt of Birch and Co.

Your's,

WM. BARBER.

The various copies of the receipts. of money lodged in the bands of Birch and Co. and Coutts, were then read, as was an agreement for receiving a certain sum from Mr. Lodowick, on condition of his being appointed to the situation of a depu ty commissary.

The Duke of York's letters were then read, nearly as follows.

"To George Farquhar, Esq. to be left at the Post-office, Worthing."

"Weymouth, Aug. 4. 1804. "My Beloved,-How can I sufficiently express to my sweetest darling love, the delight which your dear-dear, pretty letter gave me, or how do justice to the emotions it excited! Millions-millions of thanks for it my angel, and be assured that my heart is wholly fixed on your affection. I am quite burt, my love, that you did not go to the Lewes races. It was kind of you to think of me on the occasion. But you know me too well to suppose, that I could think of adding to the sacrifices which I am but too sensible you have made to me. News, my angel, you cannot expect from me from hence, for the life I lead here is in the family, and I am hurrying from its dull sameness, that I may the sooner return to clasp my angel in my arms. Except Lord

Chesterfield's family, there is not a person here but ourselves that I know.

Last night the play went off better than the night before. Dr. O'Meara gave me your letter. He wishes to preach before royalty, and I shall endeavour to procure the occasion. What a long time it is, my darling, since we parted. I shall

* Dr. O'Meara shortly after, actually did" preach before royalty." The fol lowing account of his sermon appeared in the públic prints.

"Weymouth, Oct. 3, 1804. "The Rev. Dr. O'Meara preached on Sunday an excellent sermon (from Rom. c. xii. v. 5.) on universal bene volence. He explained with great eloquence the relation which the public and private affections bear to each other, and their use in the moral system.

"He inveighed with peculiar energy against the savage philosophy of the French deists, who propose to crect a system of universal philanthropy upon the ruins of the private affections which regard kindred, friends, benefactors, and the poor; thus inverting the eternal or der of nature, by violently transferring from our relatives and friends to distant all the lovely train of social affections and unknown myriads. Whilst under these vague terms of attachment to, and of advancing the general good, the practice of every debasing vice finds a shelter, and the perpetration of every horrid crime a subterfuge.

would arouse themselves, and shake off "We wish our young ecclesiastics that mental languor which oppresses them in the pulpit, and shew themselves in earnest.

"Sacred eloquence is certainly, in this country feeble and unimpressive; no other excellence can supply the want of animation. That sweet charm, that celestial unction which Christian oratory demands, this gentleman possesses in an eminent degree. • His lips are touched with the live coal from off the altar!'

"The King was very attentive, and stood for nearly the whole of the sermon (which we never observed before) and expressed his high approbation to the Earl of Uxbridge and others; whilst the Queen and Princesses, and the whole pu dience, were melted in tears !”?

long for Wednesday se'nnight, that I may return to my love's arms.— Adieu. Your's and your's alone." The 2d letter was dated "Sandgate, Aug. 24, 1804.

"Dearest, Dearest, Dearest Love, -How can I express my assurances to my best beloved, for her dear delightful letter. Oh! my angel, how you are beloved! Every day convinces me more and more, how much my happiness depends upon her af fection. How I long for the day after to-morrow, to return to my love and clasp her in my fond arms. General Clavering, my love, is mistaken. There are no new regiments to be raised; they are only second battalions that are to be formed; so that his business cannot be done, and tell him so. Ten thousand thanks, my dearest love, for the handkerchiefs. The knowledge of the hands by which they were made will make them much more gratifying in the wearing. Every thing has turned to my satisfaction upon my tour. I yesterday inspected the works along the coast to Folkstone. Yesterday, too, I reviewed the 14th regiment of dragoons, which is a fine body of men, and in a high state of discipline. I also reviewed the four regiments of militia, which took up 13 hours. To-day I go to Braybourne Lees, and to-morrow to Hastings. Adieu, my love, till the day after to-morTow."

Mr. Dockray, one of the late Mr. Birkitt's journeymen, recollected a service of plate being furnished to Mrs. Clarke, from Mr. Birkitt's, for which 500l. was paid on delivery, and the remainder by bills, at different dates. The 500l. was paid in two bank notes; one for 2, the other for 3001. The bills were drawn for the remainder, by Mrs. Clarke upon the Duke of York. The Duke of York afterwards paid them by his own drafts on Courts and Co. The bills were for 3211. 11s. 4d. Colonel Shaw's promotion was the

VOL. Y.

next inquiry. Mrs. Hotendon stated that she knew Mrs. Clarke and Colonel Shaw. She never saw Colonel Shaw but once. She had been negociating for him a long time, but to no purpose; he then requested to know the principal, and she told him that it was Mrs. Clarke, She had visited Mrs. C. in Gloucesterplace, whose house was magnificently furnished.

The examination of Mrs. Clarke was continued; from which it appeared that, for a douceur of 1000l. Colonel Shaw procured his promotion from the rank of Major; and subsequently obtained his present appointment of deputy barrack master at the Cape.-For the last advancement Mrs. Clarke was to have received another 1000l. but only got 500l.-She, in anger with Colonel Shaw, informed the Duke of York how she was served, who replied that he had told her alb along that she had to deal with a man who required peculiar care, and that he would take care to put the Colonel on half pay in consequence !

One of the letters delivered by Mrs. Clarke bore on this subject. It was from Colonel Shaw, who complained most bitterly of being put on half pay, observing that the usage he had met with was unprecedented, and that, independently of present mortifications, his prospects were ruined for the future.-He concluded with engaging to raise for her 3001. in addition to the 500l. provided she would procure his restoration to full pay. She took little notice of his letters, as she thought he was already very well off considering his conduct towards her.

On being questioned by Mr. Croker, she acknowledged having gone to Mr. Dowler at his hotel in St. Martin's lane, since his return to England, and slept with him there.

Being asked whether, in the period in which she cohabited with the Duke, his royal highness had paid her altogether 10,000l. Mrs Clarke

T