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and descriptions; even from those who were exerting themselves to the utmost to clear him from the charges of personal corruption, or connivance at the foul crimes proved at the bar of the house?— How could Mr. PERCEVAL suggest as an answer to evidence bordering on demonstration," the honour of a prince" who has for so many years been known to live in the violation of vows the most sacred: who has broken the solemn pledge he made at the altar! We cannot but express our surprise that the right hon. gentleman should recommend so superficial and flimsy an expression of “regret "and lamentation" at the existence of one adulterous connection, and upon that expression propose an address to his Majesty from the House of Commons, expressing "its great consolation on ob"serving the deep concern of his royal highness, and its confidence "that he will for the future keep in view the uniformly virtuous and "exemplary conduct of his Majesty!" It could not escape the attention of Mr. PERCEVAL, that his royal highness has expressed regret, not at having had connections, but only a connection" (and which was dissolved some years since) "which has thus ex"posed his character and honour to public animadversion." No general expressions of regret at having formed other connections of the same vicious description; with Mrs. SINCLAIR (who declared, as Mr. GREENWOOD gave in evidence," she was with child by the "duke,") or with the last reported favourite, Mrs. CAREY! Mr.PERCEVAL could not likewise be so ignorant of human nature, and the powerful effects of habit, as not to know that it requires the strongest effort of reason and religion united, to conquer the propensities of a man of the age of forty-six, who has long lived in the habits of vice. It is difficult therefore to reconcile the professions of the minister with his conduct; his reprobation of vice, with his flatteries of the vicions. Most sincerely, however, do we hope that his royal Lighness may, in his retirement, be led by salutary reflections on the lesson taught him by the British nation, to retrace his steps, and to return to the paths of virtue. If joy is excited not only in good men, but even in "the angels of heaven", at the repentance of an ordinary sinner, how must that joy be heightened at beholding that extraordinary phenomenon—A ROYAL PENITENT,—A REFORMED PRINCE!

The CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER, varying somewhat the mode he at first adopted, moved a resolution to the following effect:-"That it is the opinion of this house, after a full and atten"tive investigation of the charges exhibited against his royal high"ness the Duke of YORK, that the evidence taken at the bar be"fore a committee of the whole house, affords no ground of charging "his royal highness the commander in chief with corruption, or

VOL. V.

" connivance at the infamous transactions which the evidence dis"closes." On which Sir THOMAS TURTON moved an amendment in substance as follows: "That the evidence repeated to the "house does afford grounds of charging his royal highness with b "knowledge of the corrupt practices that had been disclosed at the “bar.”—On which amendment the house divided-Ayes 135, Noes 334. Majority 199. The resolution of the CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER, was then put and carried on a division, Ayes 278— Noes 196. Majority for exculpating the Duke of YORK of " all corruption, or connivance at the infamous transactions which the "evidence discloses"-Eighty two!

From these majorities in favour of the duke, acquitting him of the charges of "corruption and connivance," it might naturally have been expected that the address originally proposed by the CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER to be presented to his Majesty, would have been the next measure voted by the Commons; and that the duke, thus triumphing over his opponents, would have been the more firmly established in office. The result however has proved somewhat different. On Saturday last, the day following the preceding divisions, his royal highness waited on his Majesty at WIND-SOR, and after a long audience, tendered to him a written resignation, which his Majesty was graciously pleased to accept. Sir DAVID DUNDAS has since been appointed successor to the duke. The professed motives of his royal highness, inducing him to take this step, were conveyed to the house in a letter to the CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER, and read by him on Monday last. The following is a copy.

"The House of Commons having, after a most attentive and "laborious investigation of the merits of certain allegations prefer"red against him, passed a resolution of his innocence, he might "now approach his Majesty, and might venture to tender to him "the resignation of the chief command of his Majesty's army, "as he could no longer be suspected of acting from any appre"hension of the result, nor be accused of having shrunk from the "event of an inquiry, which, painful as it had been, he trusted he "should appear, even to those who had been disposed to condemn his conduct, to have met with the patience and firmness, "which could arise only from a conscious feeling of innocence! "The motives which influenced him, arose from the truest sense of duty, and the warmest attachment to his Majesty, from which he had never departed, and which his Majesty had if possible con"firmed, by the affectionate and paternal solicitude which he had "shewn for his son's honour and welfare upon the present distress"ing occasion! To his Majesty, as a most kind and indulgent father, as a most gracious sovereign, he owed every thing; and the

feeling of this alone would have prompted him to forego all con"siderations of personal interest in the determination which he had "taken. It would not become him to say that he should not quit "with sincere regret a situation in which his Majesty's confidence "and partiality had placed him, and the duties of which it had "been his anxious study and his pride, during fourteen years, to "discharge with integrity and fidelity! Whether he might be "allowed to add with advantage to his Majesty's service, his Ma"jesty was best able to decide."

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER prefaced this letter by observing, that "his royal highness had of his own accord, sponta"taneously waited on his Majesty and tendered his resignation." This information we are inclined to credit, so far as it relates to any advice suggested by ministers; who surely, after the persevering ardour with which they had fought the battles of the Duke, and after their majorities which had declared his innocence, could not possibly have so deserted him, as to advise him to take the very step they had professed so much to dread, and by which the nation, to use their own language, "would sustain the misfortune of being "deprived of his invaluable services!" With respect to the Duke's letter, there is an air of mystery pervading the whole. His royal highness again asserts his innocence, professes his satisfaction at the resolutions passed by the House of Commons, and yet, instead of triumphing in his victory, terms the inquiry into his conduct " pain"ful," laments the "distressing occasion," and quits his office with "sincere regret." The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER after reading the letter, left it to his hon. friend Mr. BATHURST to determine, whether the communication of so important a fact did Hot frender any farther proceedings unnecessary. Mr. BATHURST, however, persisted in moving the resolution (of which he had given previous notice) as follows:-"That while the house acknowledged "the beneficial effects of the regulations adopted by his royal "highness in the general discharge of the duties of his office, it is "observed with the deepest regret, that in consequence of a con"nexion the most immoral and unbecoming, a communication on "official subjects; and an interference in the distribution of military "appointments and promotions has been allowed to exist, which "could not but lead to discredit the official administration of his "royal highness, and to give colour and effect, as they have "actually done, to transactions the most criminal and dis"graceful."--Although several gentlemen, who had hitherto voted in favour of the Duke declared their approbation of this resolution, it was considered as unnecessary by several who had before voted against him; and the resolution was negatived without a division. Lord ALTHORPE moved" That the house having been informed

"that his royal highness the Duke of YORK had resigned, do not now think it proper to proceed farther in the consideration of the " minutes of evidence taken before the house, so far as they relate "to his royal highness."-Mr. PERCEVAL conceiving the word now, to convey the idea that the resignation of his royal highness had been rendered necessary by what had passed in that house, moved an amendment-That the word "now" be omitted; which amendment was carried by 235, to 112.

What could induce his royal highness to resign an office of such extensive influence, and considerable emolument, after the various resolutions passed in his favour by the Commons, is a question on which there may be different opinions. Had he no fears that the motion of censure to be brought forward by Mr. BATHURST, though couched in terms somewhat less severe than the amendment of Mr. BANKES, might receive additional support, and compel him to resign? Or was his royal highness of opinion, that the 200 members who had voted him guilty of" connivance" at the corrupt practices which had taken place, although a minority in the house of Commons, spoke the unequivocal sense of a very great majority of the people? What was it that occasioned so much "distress" on the part of his royal highness; and compelled him, although with " deep regret" to resign his office? The probability is, that a consciousness on the part of his royal highness, of his having lost the public confidence, and an apprehension that the voice of the people would be united iu reprobating those " dis"graceful transactions" in which they considered him as deeply im plicated, compelled him to retire. If his royal highness, instead of holding popular opinion in that contempt which certain gentle, meu in the House of Commons are in the habit of doing, has on this occasion, notwithstanding the resolutions of the House of Com mons, been influenced by a due deference for that opinion, we should indeed say that his resignation was one of the most commendable actions of his life: that " nothing in his office became him "like the leaving it." Without however, presuming to determine this point, we cannot but remark, that the recent resolutions of a majority of the House of Commons naturally lead us to the conclusion, That such majority has acted directly contrary to the general sense of the people throughout the united kingdom.

Sir FRANCIS BURDETT concluded an animated speech in favour of Mr. WARDLE's address, with the remark-That" if the house "wished completely to convince the people of their determination "to do justice, he knew one way of doing so. If all the gentlemen "who sit on the treasury bench, all who have any emoluments under the crown, were to walk out of the house at the time when "the division took place, whatever the decision might be, he was

convinced the people would be satisfied." The majority for acquitting the duke of" connivance," was only 82. We presume no one will contend that there are not a much larger number of persons in official situations, or who are looking up to such situations; of pensioners, of persons under undue influence, in the possession, or in expectancy of place, pension, or sinecure, who voted in the divi sion on the ministerial side of the house. Can any thing, therefore, place in a more striking point of view the absolute necessity of a REFORM in the House of Commons, which may render that house the REPRESENTATIVES OF THE PEOPLE.

When we see men voting contrary to the evidence of sense and reason, when we perceive them setting the principles of justice at defiance, when we call to mind the transactions of the past fifteen years, and particularly such transactions as have taken place in Ireland, in the East Indies, and off Copenhagen; when we contemplate the evidence which has so recently flashed conviction in the face of almost every man-out of the House of Commons; and when we further reflect on the enormous, increasing, overwhelming influence of the crown, and on the fatal effects resulting from an inordinate love of place, and an eager grasping after wealth and honours, we cease to wonder at any resolutions passed by senates, where the influence of the crown is the grand primum mobile." In our last we gave an extract from the sermons of a celebrated preacher at the English court in the 17th. century, on the consequences of the vicious examples of the great. We shall now give an extract from a discourse of a celebrated French orator, who in the same century preached before LEWIS XIV. and which may serve to explain the conduct of those persons in all countries, who make the will of a court the main spring of their actions.

"The man of the world, christians, who throws off his dependence on "the Providence of the Almighty, is resolved either to follow blindly the 86 course of fortune, whose current bears away the feeble 'mind, or to govern himself according to the views of human prudence, by which the "votaries of the world are actuated. In giving up every principle of con"science, and resigning himself to the power of corruption, does not the "worldling fall into the idolatry of the heathen, who instead of adoring

*Two of the most zealous defenders and panegyrists of the Duke of York, are Mr. PERCEVAL, and Lord CASTLEREAGH. Mr. PERCEVAL receives the following salaries. 2600l. as Chancellor of the Exchequer; 45251. as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster; 1557. as Surveyor of the Meltings and Clerk of the irons: besides which he has the grant in reversion after the death of his brother Lord ARDEN of sinecure offices, executed by deputy, of the clear value, according to their own statement, of 12,5627. a year!-Lord CASTLEREAGH and his relatives, are in possession of places and sinecures to the amount of 36,6917. a year! These facts are stated in the reports of the finance committee, laid before the House of Commons.