The Right Honourable General FITZPATRICK, attending in his place, was examined by the Committee, as follows:

Do you recollect the state in which the army was, when his Royal Highness took the command of it, in regard, particularly, to the mode in which the promotions and commissions in the army were carried on? I am persuaded that there is no officer of long standing in the service, can recollect the state of the army previous to his Royal Highness's taking the command, who will not be ready to testify the very great improvement which the army has derived, in every respect from his Royal Highness's management of it: I do not presume to give this opi nion on my own experience merely, having no pretensions myself but that of long standing in the army; I consider myself as a competent judge of the question, I really believe the notoriety of this fact to every officer who has any knowledge or experience upon the subject, is such, as in my humble opinion, to have made any such reference to general officers wholly unnecessary; and all I have to say upon this subject is, that there is no officer in the army who will contradict the fact.

The Right Honourable the SECRETARY AT WAR, attending in his place, was examined as follows:

Do you recollect the state in which the army was, when his Royal Highness took the command of it, in regard, particularly, to the mode in which the promotions and commissions in the army were carried on? I can only say, that I concur entirely in every syllable, which was delivered by my right honourable friend over against me (General Fitzpatrick) with regard to the manner in which promotions were carried on, before the present Commander-in-chief assumed the command of the army; particularly in the period immediately preceding his appointment, there was certainly great abuse, and such as, if continued, must have proved highly detrimental to the service. It is notorious, that rank in commissions and rank in the army, were got entirely by money, or, what was the same thing, by raising a certain number of men, indeed more generally by paying for it; there were many instances of officers who attained their rank of major, I believe of lieute nant-colonel, in the space of one or two years. His Royal Highness, soon after he assumed the command, established a regulation, in consequence of which no officer could attain the rank of captain, before he had served two years, nor that of field officer, before he had served six, and I believe that those regulations have been rigidly adhered to, and have been of infinite service to the army.

State whether, in your opinion, upon the whole, the condition and discipline of the army have declined or improved during the time his Royal Highness has been commander-in-chief? In expressing my con currence with what had fallen from my right honourable friend, I have answered that question. I certainly conceive that the condition of the army is very considerably improved, and I am certain that its discipline particularly (meaning the discipline in the field) has improved to a very great degree. I recollect when it was a matter of difficulty to place five or six regiments upon the ground, so, I mean, as to be enabled to act against an enemy; that operation is now performed with as much

facility as that of placing a company; when those five or six regiments were so placed, it was a matter of great difficulty to make them move in an uniform line, that is now done with the utmost precision and facility; I therefore conceive, without going further, that the discipline of the army, and their power of action, have very considerably improved by the uniform system which has been produced under the auspices of the present Commander-in-chief, and that to that great part of our military glory is owing.

The Right Honourable Sir ARTHUR WELLESLEY, K. B. attend- ' ing in his place, was examined, as follows:

Do you recollect the state in which the army was, when his Royal Highness took the command of it, in regard, particularly, to the mode in which the promotions and commissions in the army were carried on? With respect to the manner of conducting promotions in the army, I cannot say that I knew much about it before the present Commanderin-chief was appointed; I rather believe, however, from all I have heard, that it was very irregularly conducted; that a regulation which existed at that time, that no officer should be made a captain till he had served two years, was frequently broken through, and that much injustice was done to many old officers in the army. I know that since his Royal Highness has had the command of the army, the regulations framed by him for managing the promotion of the army, have been strictly adhered to, and that the mode in which the promotion is conducted has given general satisfaction. I must also state that, besides my knowledge as a general officer in the army, of the mode in which the promotions of the army are conducted, I have some knowledge of it from my official situation; and having had frequently to apply to his Royal Highness for promotion for different officers, in consequence of applications which have been made to me, I have never found, in any one instance, that his Royal Highness has departed from the regulations laid down for the promotion of the army, or that he has done injustice to any individual. I must also state, that in applying to his Royal Highness, which I frequently do for ensigncies, I have found his Royal Highness invariably ready to attend to my applications; and I also know that many persons have got commissions from his Royal Highness, by applying direct to him, without coming through me. In respect of the state of the army, I can say, from my own knowledge, as having been a lieutenant-colonel in the army when his Royal Highness was appointed to command it, and having a very intimate knowledge of it since, that it is materially improved in every respect; that the discipline of the soldiers is improved; that, owing to the establishments formed under the directions of his Royal Highness, the officers are improved in knowledge; that the staff of the army is much better than it was, and much more complete than it was; that the cavalry is improved; that the officers of the cavalry are better than they were; that the army is more complete in officers; that the system of subordination among the of ficers of the army is better than it was, and that the whole system of the management of the cloathing of the army, the interior economy of the regiments, and every thing that relates to the military discipline of the soldiers, and the military efficiency of the army, has been greatly improved since his Royal Highness was appointed commander-inchief.

Do you consider the improvement you have specified, to be owing to the personal superintendance, and personal exertions, of his Royal Highness the Commander-in-chief? The improvements to which I have adverted, have been owing to the regulations of his Royal Highness, and to his personal superintendance, and personal exertions, over the general officers, and others, who were to see those regulations carried into execution.

General GROSVENOR, attending in his place, made the

following statement:

I wish to state my humble testimony, of the high sense I entertain of the advantages the army has derived from the zeal, attention, and care, of his Royal Highness the Commander-in-chief.

PROCEEDINGS AND DEBATE

ON THE FOREGOING

INQUIRY

INTO THE CONDUCT OF HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE DUKE OF YORK.

Thursday, February 23.

The House having gone through the whole of the evidence, the Speaker rose and stated, that since he had come down, he had received a letter, the contents of which related to the inquiry now pending before the House respecting the conduct of his Royal Highness the Duke of York, and he wished to know whether it was the pleasure of the House that he should read it. [A general exclamation of Read! read! read!] The right honourable gentleman then announced that the letter came from his Royal Highness the Duke of York, was signed "Frederick,' addressed to the Speaker, and 'dated Horse Guards, Feb. 23, 1809. The contents were as follow:

"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 have existed, which has thus exposed my character to 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 proceedings 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, nor be deprived of the benefit and protection which is afforded to every British subject by those sanctions under which alone evidence is received in the ordinary ad⚫ ministration of the law.

"I am, sir, your's,

"FREDERICK.

"The Speaker of the House of Commons."

The Speaker then said, that though it was usual on such occasions to order the letter to lie on the table for the perusal of the members, yet as gentlemen on each side of him were anxious for the perusal; and as it was desirable to give the individual members of the House, as speedily as possible, possession of the contents of the letter, he sug gested the idea of taking the letter from the table now, in order to have it copied as speedily as possible upon the votes and journals.

Mr. Bankes said, that as this appeared to him to be an extraordinary proceeding, he must appeal to the knowledge and recollection of the Speaker, as to former precedents, in order to direct the House in what was proper to. be done.

The Speaker said, that the constant usage of the House, to the best of his recollection, had been, that all letters received by the Speaker, and which he should deem proper to be communicated to the House, in the first instance were laid on the table, in order afterwards, at a convenient opportunity, to be copied into the votes and journals. In all ordinary cases this had been done. Letters had been