Mr. Donovan was asked whether te had been in the habit of trafteking m appointments from the East India company. Appointments that must come under the cognizance of the board of controul? He owned that he had, and particularly that he had last year obtained the promise of a writership for a young man of the name of O'Hara, for £3,500, of which he was to have £250, as the price of his agency, or commission. The money was to be paid to a Mr. Fahourdin an attorney in Argyle street, who had procured the promise of the nomiration, on the young man's passing as a writer to India. The nego cation however broke off in consequence of a difference about the banker in whose hands the moBey should be deposited. Mr. O'Hara's money was already lodged in a banker's in the city. The person who had the disposal of the appointment would not consent to its remaining there, but insisted on its being lodged at his own banker's. This matter is mentioned here not certainly as one, of the most interesting or cu rious that were brought to light, but as it led to an inquiry into the disposal of East India patronage in general.

During this inquiry which was continued without intermission for seven weeks, Mrs. Clarke, the principal evidence, and as it were the heroine of the accusing party, was examined at the bar again and again, and by the readiness and smartness of her answers to an infinitude of questions, sometimes gave a degree of relief to the long and wearisome sittings of a protracted examination. She

VOL. LI.

seemed to be very much at home, and to reckon with confidence on the complacent regards of a great part, at least, of the members of the House of Commons, and to be well pleased in the possession of so splendid a theatre for displaying the attractions of both her mind and person. She carried however her ease, gaiety, and pleasantry to a degree of pertness, in a few instances, which was very reprehensible, and contrary indeed to that sense of propriety and decorum, of which we cannot but suppose, from the quickness of her nderstanding, she was in reality possessed. Having said that she stated, or shewed something to Mr. Adam, the question was put to her what Mr. Adam thought of it, under the impression no doubt that Mr. Adam would naturally say something about it. Mrs. Clarke answered, “ I do not know what Mr. Adam thought." The question being put to her by Mr. Croker, if ever she had written an anonymous letter to his royal highness, the prince of Wales, she answered that she had, and that Colonel Macmahon had called on her in consequence. Did you sign,, said Mr. Croker, any name to this anonymous letter? Mrs. Clarke looking to the chairman, burst into a fit of loud laughter, in which, indeed, she was joined by the house. The question being put, what situations did you endeavour to procure through Mr. Maltby and for whom? she answered, I forget. Being closely interrogated and pressed on this point; she named a Mr. Lawson, but said she did not recollect any other. Do you stake the veracity of your testimony on that last answer, L

that

that you recollect but one of those persons? I think that I ought to appeal to the chairman now, whether I am obliged to answer that question. The chairman directed the witness to state the objection she had, observing, that the committee would decide upon it. "He is a very respectable man, and he has been already very ill used, and I am afraid of committing him and his family." The chairman directed the witness to name the man to whom she had alluded as a respectable person. That, said Mrs. Clarke, would be giving his name at once. Really I cannot pronounce his name rightly, though I know how to spell it, and I must be excused. The chairman observed to her, that her present conduct was very disrespectful to the committee. I mean, she replied, to behave very respectfully to the committee. I am very sorry if I do not. But I do not know but the gentleman may lose the money he has already lodged, if I mention his name. This objection was overruled, and Mrs. Clarke said, that the respectable person to whom she had alluded was Mr. Lodowick or Mr. Ludowick.-It is amusing to reflect on the change of manners in the course of a few generations. How differently would the gaiety and levity, and in some instances, the trifling conduct, of Mrs. Clarke towards the House of Commons, have been treated

by the Long Parliament, she could not possibly have escaped a severe rebuke for even the elegance of her apparel, or being told, that it would have better become her to appear in sackcloth and ashes.

The inquiry into the conduct of the duke of York, interested the

public more deeply than any ques-tion had done since that concerning the succession to the crown, and the limitations of the regal power. The attention of all ranks was more or less eagerly directed to what was going on in the House of Commons. There was no one that now seemed to think it of any consequence what was done either in the prosecution of the war, or negociation for peace, until that affair should be settled. The eyes of the whole nation were directed to its rulers in general: to the whole of the government, King, Lords, and Commons. Many persons little accustomed to take any interest in public affairs, took an interest in this.

The decision of the House of Commons, coupled with the spontaneous resignation of the duke of York, was such as became that great council;modified as it was by a regard to what was due to the duke on the one hand, and to the sentiments of the nation on the other. We say coupled as it was with the spontaneous resignation of his royal highness, because it was to be. fairly presumed that this step was not taken by the duke without the advice of the leaders of that party who did all in their power to defend him. The issue of this great and important trial did great honour to the English nation. While it shewed that the people, notwithstanding the deficiency in the just measure of their representation in parliament, could yet make their voice to be heard on any great political emergency, and even on a charge against the son of the king, it proved at the same time, that popular clamour was to be mode. rated by the justice and candour

of

legislative wisdom. The duke had certainly been guilty of great Indiscretion, arising from facility of temper, or, it may perhaps be id, weakness; but a weakness aften found in conjunction with great talents and many virtues. The motion of lord Althorpe, by which, if it had been agreed to, is royal highness would have been precluded from being ever restored to the office of commander in chief, was too severe. Most men attend only to what is present or recent. The character and general tenor of human conduct > to be judged of, not by any particular act, but the whole of the drama of life. No man is free from imperfections and faults:

Nemo sine vitiis nascitur, optimus ille
Qui minimis urgetur.

HORAT.

One reflection tending to the total exculpation of the duke from all participation and even knowledge and connivance of the corrupt practices of Mrs. Clarke, cannot but recur to the mind of the intelligent and candid observer again and again. She was extremely anxicus on every occasion, as appeared from the testimony of every witness who was called on, or had occasion to speak on that point, and as she herself acknowledged, to admonish and enjoin, in the most earnest manner, the most perfect secrecy of all negociations between herself and the applicants for her influence, from the duke of York. This admission she soon perceived, on her examination, would lead to the conclusion that she was afraid, lest the truth should come out, that she either

had no influence at all with his royal highness in affairs of military appointments or promotions, or at least, not so much as she pretended. In order to obviate this inference, she said that she was afraid lest the duke should say she had committed great imprudence. Imprudence with regard to whom? with regard to persons as well acquainted with those transactions as either she or the duke was? If it was to be concealed from the duke, that the favours obtained at his hands, were obtained by means of those negociations, how could the duke imagine (as it was alleged he did) that she could have any claim for any pecuniary remuneration for any promotions or appointments so obtained? If the duke had once granted any thing from corrupt motives, at the solicitation of Mrs. Clarke, he would not have turned a deaf ear to their farther applications, or been disposed to incur the hazard of their blabbing about what had already passed. But on the contrary, the duke repelled with indignation all the menaces of Mrs. Clarke, major O'Hogan, and major Turner, and all the demands of colonel French, from the moment that it appeared that they were both inconsistent with justice to the public, and contrary to the rules of the service, When the duke of York had resigned his office, general sir David Dundas was appointed commander in chief in his stead.

After the examination of witnesses was over, the manly and disinterested conduct of colonel Wardle, and that of those too who had been his principal supporters, was publicly

L 2

Jul. Cæs. apud Bell. Catalin. Sall.

acknowledged

acknowledged in the warmest terms of gratitude, esteem, and admiration, by the cities of Glasgow and Canterbury; and after the inquiry was brought to an issue by the decision of the House of Commons and the resignation

of the commander in chief, by the cities of London and Westminster, the county of Middlesex, and a great proportion of the other counties, cities, and boroughs throughout the kingdom.

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