eyes; the country would not shut their's; but rather let them arouse themselves firmly and inanfully to the discharge of a painful, but a paramount duty. These were not times to screen corruption; meeting and overthrowing it was what they were now called upon to do; and if the house did their duty, it would be a more splendid, and at the same time a more useful victory, than the most glorious they could gain over Bonaparte. Before he sat down, he would say one word on Carter's case. He thought it a strong charge, and he thought that charge had been proved. The precedent of transferring a footboy, from behind a carriage, to the situation of an officer in his Majesty's army, went to sensibly affect that nice sense of honour, which was indispensible to such a situation, and which might be said to be the principle of the army.This was a serious charge, and he thought that the honourable gentleman (Colonel Wardle) would not have discharged his duty to the public, if, being apprized of it, he had not brought it forward. Mr. Perceval felt he should be obliged to trespass for some time upon the house, and therefore he should go at once into the matter. The house would bear in their recollection the manner in which the present charges had been brought forward. The hon. gentleman had brought forward against the Duke of York, distinct charges of corruption, express, personal, and base corruption. He did think, therefore, that on that specific charge the house should come to a distinct judgment of aye or no, guilty or not guilty. He did altogether disapprove of transferring from that house their right of deciding upon it. They had entertained the charge; they were bound to dispose of it, and not to fight shy of it. The hon. gentleman had brought forward this charge. Has he now manfully met it? Instead of calling upon the house for judgment upon that charge of corruption, he hides it in a general address, where he calls upon the house to say in a lump, that the charges are substantially true. But he (Mr. P.) on the other hand, would call for the decision of the house upon this great and most important charge of corruption, and he would ask, where was it brought home? where was the corpus delicti? or, if the illustrious person was not guilty of corruption, was that the way in which he was to be got off, after serving the public for sixteen years in a way that raised the character of the army? was he, upon such a charge as that, to be sent out upon the country in a doubtful manner? was it to be left in doubt by the house of commons, who gravely entertained the charge, whether it had been proved or not, or whether a personage so near the throne was or was not guilty of the ba sest of crimes? For there was no term of degradation he thought sufficiently strong to convey his abhorrence of the nature and consequences of corruption -not all the infamy that had lately dis graced the bar of the house of commons, amounted to the shameless and abandoned criminality of corruption! And were they to turn forth upon the public the second son of their king with a doubt upon him, in case he was innocent; or were they to be content with such half measures, if they thought him guilty? Not that he would be meant as imputing it to the hon. gentleman (Mr. Wardle) but he thought that had he been left to himself he would have made a different appeal to the judgment of the house: from what he had observed of that gentleman's manly feeling and ingenuous frankness, he would have adopted a proceeding that would have led more immediately to decision than the one now before the house can be supposed calculated to do. He certainly did think that the hon. gentleman had not been self-advised-that he had mixed with cooler heads, who mean more than he thinks they mean! He (the Chancellor of the Exchequer) was satisfied that had that gentleman been selfinfluenced, he would not have, after bringing forth charges of corruption. suffered those charges to be afterwards frittered away as they had been, in the resolutions which had been moved. But he should certainly feel it his duty to move an amendment to those resolu tions, which would go to take the scuse of the house-Aye or No-Guilty or not Guilty, on the charge of personal corruption against the Duke of York; corruption, or connivance, no matter which, they .were both the same; the man who could be capable of the one, would be guilty of the other. He confessed that he did come to the hearing of those charges with great prejudice against them: because he felt so con vinced, that in ho period of the history of this country, were the times more free from corruption than the present; still more adverse to his feelings, was it to admit the belief, that for the paltry consideration of 2,5001.; or, at the most 30001, that royal person would descend to the mean corruption charged upon him in the course of that adultefous connection. Did gentlemen imagine he would there stand up, the advocate of that royal person's immoralities? Far from it. He thought bim guiltless of corruption, and conniving at it; but should the house think otherwise, then a duty would devolve upon them that would by no means be satisfied by such a half measure as the motion now before them; it would then be their duty to impeach that royal person at the bar of the house of Lords; but not to throw upon his royal father the task e shrink from discharging ourselves. How should we ask the King to prosecute his son by his own attorney gene-' ral? The obvious way would be impeachment; there were then two questions--the one was, guilt, or innocence; and the other, what mode of proceeding was to be adopted in the alternative, either of guilt, or innocence. With regard to the evidence of Mrs. Clarke, lie admitted that she possessed great art, and was endowed with an extraordinary share of wit and prompti tude. She had that convenient sort of readiness, which when urged to answer what was not suitable to her purposes, enabled her to present new topics to the person interrogating her, to lead him from his design; but if pressed, she was involved in a total forgetfulness of all the transactions, on which a reply was to be withheld. Although the house condescended to listen to her unseasonable pleasantry, and for the more complete investigation of the subject, cast a veil over her infamy, yet when adverting to the credit she deserved, it would not be consistent with its dignity, to be regardless of either; but this conclusion might be drawn from the talent she displayed, that any individual who should be unfortunate enough to place confidente in her, would easily become the dupe of her artifices. How common must it have been with such a woman to take advantage of the ordinary topics of familiar conversation, and with the commander in chief how usual must the affairs of the army have supplied the materials of such intercourse? Had VOL. V. any mun seen the witness to whom he alluded, at the bar, who would not admit that had he been weak enough to fall into her snares, he would intrust to her the secrets of his bosom? With the present view, it was not necessary to suppose any communication on matters of state, but indifferent matters, if the gazetting of Tonyn were to be on Tuesday or Saturday, if one or fifty officers were to be promoted, or if oue of fifty batta lions were to be raised. On the pernicious effect of adulterous intercourse, there was no man in the house who would be disposed to hold stronger language than himself. There, was something so loose in the character of the times; there were so many bills from the other house indicative of that character, that he saw no reason to repent of the measure he ha! proposed to make the adulterer amenable to the crizi minal law of the country. Yet, in that attempt, his motives Were most grievously misconstrued; and it was supposed, that there was some fanatic in the Commons; some puritan; some enthusiast, who was unworthy attention, while his sole design was to prevent a crime which was cutting up by the roots all that constituted the comfort and charm of society. If the house thought fit to reject his proposition, and not to punish even as a misdemeanour such an offence, let it at least act consistently with itself, and not inflict the most terrible of all punishments upon the Duke of York for his connection with Mrs. Clarke. Having inade these general observatons, he would next consider more minutely the testimony of the principal witness, and he would venture to premise, that her evidence was destroyed totally by the manifest contradictions with which it abounded, and by the contrary depositions of the other witmesses. One obvious contradiction was, that she said she was determined to keep all the transactions secret from his royal highness. Was not this in the case of Knight directly opposed to what appeared in the testimony of Captain Sandon, Mr. and Mrs. Corri, of letters and other documentary evidence? Was it possible on such an examination to overlook the representations so supplied, shewing the secrecy preserved with respect to the Duke of York? and yet the whole ground of the charge was the privity of his royal highness as to the transactions. He would not dwell upon the circumstance of her asserting that her husband was engaged in no trade, although what she declared was palpably false. It was clear that during ber cohabitation with him, he for three or four years was in the business of a mason, and that while he was in this Occupation she had by him three children. If a witness be indifferent to truth, in matters of no importance, the house might be assured she would be regardless of it in affairs of moment, where the temptation to deceive was so powerful. Looking at this sort of illusive testimony, it would be seen that the honourable gentleman (Col. Wardle) had greatly overstated his case; and no benefit was ever derived from such exaerations; it always defeated the purpose it was intended to promote, Again, as to the evidence respecting Dowler, Mrs. Clarke said that she only saw him once, and he was much in the same story. It was clear that this was a tale trumped up between her and him at the midnight scenes in St. Martin's-lanc. All this contrivance was obviously to disguise the truth. He (Mr. Perceval), did not know to what disgrace and punishment the house might think fit to consign the Duke of York; but he, for his part, would not whip a dog upon such testi mony. How did the evidence of a man, like Dowler, deserve to be esteemed? Passing by all the transactions at the stock exchange, let him, if gentlemen so please, come to the bar of the house immaculate; yet at the bar he was discovered tripping, and intimating, notwithstanding his preconcerted plans that he was an unwilling witness. Not the least faith, ought to he reposed in his testimony; and to place reliance upon such a witness would disappoint all the ends of public justice. Yet on such incompetent proof, it was expected that the Duke of York was to be condemned. Had the schemes of these collusive witnesses not been detected, he knew the use that would have been made of this part of the testimony. A man of this description coming from Portugal, and corroborating the statements of Mrs. Clarke, would have been represented as an extraordinary instance of the interposition of Providence to detect the guilt of the accused. These then were some of the inconsis tencies by which the testimony of Mrs. Clarke was invalidated; but when it was also considered that she was an accomplice, what mind could hesitate a moment without rejecting all that she had said at the bar of the house, teuding to criminate his royal highness? Then clearing the case of Mrs. Clarke, was there any ground remaining to support the charge of corruption? It was a circumstance highly favourable to the Duke of York, that, considering the numerous promotions, so few could be made the subject of the present inquiry. There were about 4000 promotions annually, or 10,000 in the interval of the connection of his royal highness with this lady. Not one doubt could remain as to any of the few cases adduced, excepting perhaps as to that of Captain Tonyn; and this, although not satisfactorily explained, supplied no proof of corruption, and certainly was not correct as it was represented by the evidence. But reserving this part of the case for the present, he (Mr. Perceval) next commented at great length upon the testimony as to the bank note said to be exchanged by Lodovick, the servant of his royal highness; and upon this division of the subject he concluded with observing, that there was not an allegation of the witness with regard to this note which was not disproved. The hon. gentleman was wholly mistaken in what he said of Major Brooke, when he supposed that this officer has not been 6 years in the service. The truth, was, that Major Brooke held the same rank in the year 1794, before the introduction of his royal highness into office. What he had now principally adverted to was the first case, when Mrs. Clarke was not quite so well prepared. It would, perhaps, be discovered that in her subsequent examinations she was better informed, and knew how more successfully to accommodate herself to her new situation. The right hon. gentleman next proceeded to discuss the evidence as it affected the charge brought on Major Tonyn's promotion. The regularity of every proceeding attending that promotion was fully proved. By Colonel Gordon it was proved that at that period a great increase of the army was intended, and of course a great number of majors was wanting. As one of those intended to supply the majorities required, the name of Captain Tonyn was inserted in the minutes of the office; Much es that the house would not, on his account, suspend the discussion of the subject, as he would endeavour to proceed.-[An increased call of Adjourn! adjourn!] He would, in compliance with the feeling of the house, forego any farther. discussion of the evidence, and confine himself to the course of proceeding, which he felt it the duty of the house on this subject to adopt. The first thing, therefore that he should propose was, a measure which, except on very extraordinary emergencies, was not a very decorous one to adopt, namely, to con-, vert the address moved by the honour, able gentleman (Mr. Wardle) into the following resolution : : "it its duty to pronounce a distinct opi-, "nion upon the subject." If that should meet the concurrence, of the house, it was his intention to propose another resolution, in which, the house would express its distinct and decided opinion upon the accusation its self. by Colonel Gordon himself. stress had been laid upon the interval of time which occurred before the promotion was gazetted; but the house would feel that the delay was not greater than must be expected from the general arrangement which was in view. There were a great number of new majors to be appoiuted, and of course a much greater delay must occur in the completion than would take place in the event of an individual application. The next point was, whether the note produced by Captain Sandon purporting to be the hand-writing of the Duke of York, was a forgery or not? Upon this he was free to admit that a considerable doubt existed from the nature, of the evidence which had been given, "Resolved, That charges having been, by the persons examined, as to the "brought against his royal highness the, similarity between it and other letters, "Duke of York, imputing to him per-. which were the hand writing of his "sonal corruption and criminal conniroyal highness. The greater proportion "vance in the execution of his office; of these witnesses admitted its simi "and this house having referred the. larity, one expressed some doubts," said charges to a committee, &c, feels. grounded upon its similitude to other letters which had been subsequently produced and which were in the hand writing of Mrs Clarke. It must, how ever, be admitted, that in order to effect a forgery, there must be in the person forging, a perfect acquaintance with the hand, and that if it was not executed well, it was impossible that the forgery could have effect. That is, that in order to be successful in its ob Ject it must be executed with a strong similitude. The consideration next was, what might probably be the motive for practising the imposition. The house had ou evidence, that Captain Sandon expressed to Mrs. Clarke his apprehensions that Major Tonyn would not longer wait for his promotion, and that consequently that they would be disappointed in receiving the money which they expected from that quarter; might it not then be very naturally supposed this was an adroit trick, in-, tended for the purpose of prevailing upon Major Tonyn to continue his confidence, that the object, which was in a regular course of execution should take place, as if by such influence? The right hon. gentleman was endea vouring under evident marks of fatigue to proceed, when he usted for a pause of a few moments, from the exhausted condition in which be found himself. [Loud cries of adjourn! adjourn!] He resumed, with expressing his wish of "Resolved, That it is the opinion "this house, after the fullest and most, "attentive examination of all the evi"dence adduced, that there is no "ground for charging his royal highness. "with personal corruption or couni"vanec at such practices, disclosed in "the testimony heard at the bar." After the house bad determined upon. these resolutions, he felt it both due to their affection to the sovereign, to the character of that house, and to the high situation of commander in chief, connected with the near relationship subsisting between the illustrious personage who held that responsible situation, and the monarch of these realms, to address the throne on the subject of their inquiry, on which that house had been engaged, in order to relieve the mind of his Majesty from uncasiness. In that address, he felt that the house. should not pass by unnoticed what had,. been proved at the bar; and that as the original address proposed by the hou.. mover (Mr. Wardle) went to pray for the dismissal of his royal highness from the responsible situation which he then filled, he did conceive that the house in its declaration of his innocence, ought to make some reference to the benefits which his military administration had conferred upon the country, believing as he did in his soul, that in the kingdom there was not an individual more uble than his royal highness to execute its numerous and important duties! In thus conveying their opinion to their sovereign, he was impressed with the necessity of also embodying other sentiments, which the house niust feel from the disclosure which had been made. That an address be presented to his Majesty, humbly representing, "that in consequence of charges against his royal highness the Duke of York, "his faithful commons thought it their "indispensible duty to inquire into the same, in the most solemn and public "manner; and after the most diligent " and attentive inquiry, his most faith ful commons, considering the lively "interest his Majesty must feel in any. "inquiry into the conduct of his royal "highness the Duke of York, thought "it their duty to lay before his Majesty "the following resolutions: [Here he proposed to insert the above resolutions.] "which has endeared his Majesty to all "his subjects." The house then adjourned the further discussion until the next day. Thursday, March 9. The order of the day for resuming the adjourned debate on the conduct of the DUKE OF YORK, being read, Mr. Perceval rose, and in returning thanks to the house for their kind indulgence in relieving him out of the embarrassed situation in which he had stood last night, from ina bility to discharge the remaining part of his duty, assured them he should not unnecessarily trespass on the time of the house. He then adverted to the cases of Col. French's levy, Col. Shaw, and argued that the commander in chief was not chargeable with any of Mrs. Clarke's proceedings: as to the case of Carter, it did Mrs. Clarke honour, as it shewed she possessed a feeling heart, and his royal highness was not to be blamed for performing an act of humanity, or to be punished for his virtues. The right hon. gentleman then animadverted upon the letter from the Duke of York, which related to General Clavering, contending that this letter did not go to warrant the inference which the hon. mover of the accusation insisted upon, as it implied nothing more than a mere reply to an application upon the part of Mrs. Clarke, to know whe ther any new regiments were about to be raised, This he maintained was the fair interpretation of the passage so much dwelt upon as a influence over the Duke of York, proof that Mrs. Clarke possessed an through which she was in the habit of obtaining military promotion. The Duke of York's knowledge, indeed, of any of her corrupt transactions was not to be concluded from any of the evidence, either oral or docu "And his Majesty's faithful commons "think it their duty further to state to "his Majesty, that while the house has seen the exemplary regularity and "method in which business is conduct "ed in his royal highness's office, and "the salutary regulations introduced "by him, some of which were intended, "to prevent the very abuses complain-. "ed of, and which have been brought "under review, they cannot but feel "the greatest regret and concern that a "connection should have existed which "has thus exposed his royal highness's character to public calumny, and that frauds should have been carried on, "with which his royal highness's name has been coupled, of a most disgraceful and dangerous tendency; but it is, at "the same thine a great consolation to "the house to observe the deep concern his royal highness has expressed, that such a connection should ever have taken place; and on the expression of that regret the house is confident "that his royal highness will keep in "view the uniformly virtuous and ex-mentary, which had been laid before “emplary conduct of his Majesty, since "the commencement of his reign, and the house, although it was very obvious that for the purpose of playing her game, she wished to in |