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has been proved at the bar, is sufficient to turn the joy of these gentlemen into mourning.

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It has been proved-That Mrs. CLARKE, one of the mistresses of his royal highness the Duke of YORK, the commander in chief, (we say one, because it appears his royal highness has had several ladies "under his protection,") kept a most expensive establishment at Gloucester Place; and that she farther had an establishment at Weybridge, adjoining Oatlands Park, the country residence of the duke. It has been proved-That Mrs. CLARKE was in the habit of receiving considerable sums from persons to induce her to procure, by her influence, promotions in the army, and places in different departments under government: in various instances her exertions appear to have been attended with success. It has been proved-That applications were made to her respecting church perferments (in the cases of Mr. BEAZELY, Mr. GLASSE, and Dr. O'MEARA). Writing to Mrs. CLARKE, the duke states as follows:-" Dr. O'MEARA gave me your letter. He wishes to preach before royalty, and I "shall endeavour to procure the occasion."-It has been proved on the unwilling but unimpeachable evidence of Dr. THYNNE, and Mr. KNIGHT, that application was made to Mrs. CLARKE to expedite, by her supposed influence with his royal highness", an exchange for Col. KNIGHT; that the exchange was almost immediately effected, and that Mrs. C. received 2001. for her services. It has been proved-That Mrs. C. received a considerable sum for her " sup"posed influence" in procuring a levy for Col. FRENCH. That the duke was acquainted with some of the particulars respecting this business, appears from the evidence of Miss TAYLOR, who notwithstanding the severity with which she has been treated by Mr. PERCEVAL, for a supposed mistake, which turned out to be his own, "her character and claims to credit," Mr. W. SMITH, with other members, declared, were yet unshaken."-From her evidence it appears, that in a conversation at which the witness was present, in answer to a question from Mrs. C. the duke replied—“ I am wor"ried with Col. FRENCH'S levy; but how, DARLING, does he be"have to you? Mrs. C. answered, but indifferently, very middling; "on which the duke said--Then Col. French had better take care of himself, or I shall cut up him and his levy too." It has been proved on the evidence of Gen. Clavering, (who in volunteering his services to impeach the veracity of Mrs. Clarke, has most completely displayed his own folly) that he applied to her to obtain leave "to raise "a regiment of volunteers out of the militia, and offered her 10001. "should he receive his appointment." The following is extracted from the duke's answer." General Clavering, my love, is mista"ken: there are no new regiments to be raised; they are only se"cond battalions that are to be formed, so that his business can

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"not be done; and tell him so."-It has been proved in the case of Mr. Dowler, That he paid Mrs. C. 1000l. for her supposed services in procuring him the valuable place of commissariat. It has been proved from the letters of Mr. Elderton, and several other persons, who paid Mrs. C. different sums of money, that they considered her as the instrument by which their objects were procured. It has been proved,—That Samuel Carter, Mrs. C's. footman, who had been used to wait at table, stand behind her carriage, and perform a variety of offices in common with her other servants, was at the age of 19, elevated to an ensigncy, and that he is now an officer on the staff. Carter's letters to Mrs. Clarke, shew in grateful language, that he considered himself as indebted to her for his advanceinent. We have purposely omitted noticing any case the truth of which depends merely on the evidence of Mrs. Clarke. She has, indeed, throughout all her tedious and severe examinations, and crossexaminations, persisted in the declaration with which she set out, that "the duke was acquainted with the whole of her transactions "respecting the disposal of commissions." On her last examination she confirmed the account she had before given, respecting her practice of "pinning up at the head of her bed a list of promotions, and "the Duke of York's drawing up the curtains, taking down the list, "reading it over, observing that he would do every one by degrees, "putting it in his pocket book, &c." The inconsistencies which have been noticed in Mrs. Clarke's conduct, such as having at times described herself as a widow, assumed false names, &c. are such as might naturally be expected from a person of her manner of life. With respect to the essential parts of her evidence, there certainly have not appeared greater inaccuracies than in the evidence given by some honourable gentlemen, who in the course of the inquiry have found it requisite to correct some particulars of their statements previously given. How far the evidence of Mrs. Clarke, in its most important parts, is confirmed by the evidence of others whose characters are unimpeachable, remains for the judgment of the House of Commons, and the public.

His royal highness the commander in chief, justly considering his character as deeply affected on the present occasion, has judged it requisite to take some notice of the proceedings. On Thursday last, the day after the evidence was closed, as appears by the following extracts from the proceedings of the House of Commons, he communicated his sentiments to the public.

"The Speaker, after soliciting the particular attention of the house, stated in the following terms his having received a letter from the Duke of York:

"I have to acquaint the house, that since I came down here I have received a letter from his royal highness the Duke of York ;

the contents of which relate to the inquiry respecting his conduct as commander in chief, which has taken place in this house. Is it the pleasure of the house that I should now read this letter?”. ["Aye, aye," from all sides.]

"SIR,

(Copy)

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, had 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 criminal and disgraceful; and I must ever regret and lament that a connection should ever have existed which has thus exposed my character and honour to public animadversion.

"With respect to any alledged 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, upon 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 déprived of 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,

Your's,

"FREDERICK."

"The Speaker of the House of Commons."

"The Speaker put the question, that this letter do lie on the table; which was agreed to."

Whether the professed friends of his royal highness have acted the most judicious part in advising that the above letter should be sent in the present state of the inquiry, may be a matter of doubt. His royal highness expresses his "confident hope that the House of "Commons will not upon such evidence as they have heard, adopt "any proceeding prejudicial to his honour and character." The house, however, are called upon in justice to his royal highness, and

the public to give their decision on the evidence as it stands re corded on their proceedings; and it must be recollected, that what, ever dissatisfaction may now be discovered at the mode of Inquiry adopted by the house, it was not the mode suggested by the hon. member who brought forward the charges, who proposed their examination by a select committee in which the witnesses must have given their evidence on oath: but the professed friends of his Royal Highness, insisted on the Inquiry being carried on before a com mittee of the whole house, "that the utmost publicity, might bẹ "given to the proceedings." The evidence which they have demanded is now closed, and the house is called upon for its solemn decision, uninfluenced by any party, or foreign considerations, agreeably to that evidence.

The "claim" of his Royal Highness, "not to be contlemned, "without trial," is in itself so just and reasonable, that we are firmly persuaded it has been anticipated in the minds of those who have been the most active in conducting this important inquiry. The public have likewise a most powerful "claim" which must be satisfied. There is not, we trust, a person to be found, either in or out of the House of Commons, who does not feel indignant at the scandalous scenes of profligacy which have been brought to light. The feelings of his Royal Highness, we are happy to find, accord with those of the whole nation, who with himself" must ever regret "and lament, that a connection should ever have existed, which "has thus exposed his character and honour to public animad"version." Most sincerely do we hope that the information of the Editor of the Morning Post may prove correct,-" Who expresses "his sincere joy, at the salutary effects which the severe "lesson received, has produced on the moral conduct "Royal Highness." The writer adds-" We are assured that his "connections with all improper females have been dissolved, and "that the expenditure of his establishment, has, within the last "ten days, been reduced nearly one half of its former amount ¡ " and that an additional sum of 7,5001. per annum is to be imme"diately appropriated for the liquidation of his debts." Although this statement to be fully credited, must be made on much better authority than that of the writer in question, yet, should it prove correct, it will indeed afford demonstrative evidence, of the "salu"tary effects" already produced by the present Inquiry.

But what renders information from such a quarter liable to suspicion, is, the scandalous distegard to truth and deceucy which the couductors of the print alluded to, are in the habit of displaying on most public questions. In the present instance the very writer we have quoted, after allowing that the Duke is chargeable with "great

VOLI V.

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"indiscretion," has the profligate impudence to assert, that "Mr, "Wardle is the organ of a gang of conspirators against his Royal "Highness;" and " boldly demands" of the House of Commons, "without further inquiry, to acquit his Royal Highness of the "serious part of the charges adduced against him." We should be glad to know what part of the "charges" are not serious? Even the apologies for some parts of his Royal Highness's conduct must give pain to his real friends. Mr. Perceval expressed it as the anxious wish of his Royal Highness, in answer to the insinuations of Mrs. Clarke, of his having dealt meanly by her,that it should be stated to the public that in the course of two years he paid her (whether for decorating or furnishing houses, or for the current expences of house keeping does not appear) upwards of 16,000l. Mr. Cobbett in a speech at a late county meeting stated, (which statement be has since given to the public in his Register)—" That his Royal High"ness receives in places and pensions 34,000l. a year, exclusive of "an estate given in lieu of the bishopric of Osnaburgh of 16,000l. a *** year and that in the year 1800 the sum of 54,000l. was lent "him out of the public money, without any previous consent of "parliament, which was to be repaid by instalments of 10001. each quarter of a year, but not to commence till Jan. 1805."

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ness.

Neither the income nor the money borrowed of the public seem to have been sufficient for the supply of the wants of his Royal HighLord FOLKSTONE has brought before the House of Commous, a transaction, by which it appears a very large sum of "money, between 70, and 80,000l." was attempted to be raised by means of one Kennet, a man who had stood in the pillory for defrauding his creditors, but who was to have had a valuable place as the reward of his services. The negociation failed; but when the public are thus informed of the Royal Duke's necessities, their "anxiety", whilst bending under their present weight of taxes, and deprived of many of the comforts of life to which their industry entitle them, will on receiving the information of Mr Perceval, almost equal that of his Royal Highness, in desiring it to be communicated, and of which information they will long entertain a feeling remembrance.'

The Editor of the Morning Post in his rage against Mrs. Clarke, describes her as one of the most " swindling, malignant, infamous, "Machiavelian Milwoods of the age." It is a wonder the writer did not proceed in his comparison by adding, that this Milwood had by her arts seduced an "innocent, youthful, modest, virtuous "George Barnwell!" Mrs. Clarke's "infamy" has been proclaimed aloud by many both in and out of the House of Commons, and by some gentlemen who, whilst she was under royal" protection," could address her in the style of "Dear Madam," and profess for her the utmost respect. These virtuous casuists would do well to

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