And here we have an instance of the manner, in which Colonel Gordon gave information to the House. When first called in, he was asked: “What were the merits and services that obtained Capt. Maling his rapid promotion, and the gift of his three commissions?” His answer is; “I will state them to the House.” He then goes on to show, from documents in his possession, that he was recommended thus and thus, and that he had served thus and thus; and though the promotion was very rapid indeed, and seems not to be unaccounted for upon the score of service, it does appear that the person in question had been engaged in actual military service.
Upon this being made appear, Mr. Wardle was disposed to withdraw this charge: “No, no!” said the friends of the Duke. No. It shall not be withdrawn; it shall stand for us to decide upon it.
The Colonel was then examined as to other matters; and, before he was ordered to withdraw, it occurred to some one, that a mistake, as to the office, had been made: and the Colonel was asked: “What were the services of Captain Maling’s brother, who is, I believe, a captain in the army, who is in the War-office?”
Now, mark the answer; mark this answer well. “There is a Captain Maling, an assistant of mine, in the office of the Commander-in-Chief; I take for granted that is the person referred to. What his services are as a Lieutenant I really do not know; I found him as a Lieutenant in the office of the Commander-in-Chief; and in consideration of his extraordinary good character, and more than common abilities, the promotions of the army going through his hands under mine, I did recommend him to his royal highness the Commander-in-Chief, to be placed upon the half-pay as a captain, upon which half-pay he most assuredly will be placed as soon as an opportunity offers; but the Commander-in-Chief has it not in his power.”
He is then asked: “Do you know whether, or not, that Captain Maling ever joined, or did duty with, any regiment?”—His answer is: “I do not know that he did; and I do not think that he did.”
Whence we may conclude with perfect safety, that he never did; so that the charge of Mr. Wardle is completely established, the circumstance of a mistake in the office being of no importance at all.
This is a case, which involves no direct pecuniary corruption; but it is worthy of as much attention as any one of the whole; for here, we see, that the offices of the army have been made sinecures, and, if this be tolerated, let the reader judge to what a length it may be, and, perhaps, already has been, carried, in an establishment consisting of from 12,000 to 15,000 commissioned and staff officers. I, in my last, observed upon the consequences of leaves of absence; I noticed the particular case of the younger Sheridan; but, what must we expect if the rank and pay, as military officers, are given to clerks in offices? If to clerks, why not to any who are not clerks? Why not to butlers and footmen? Why not to any body? There is no knowing where the terrible abuse will terminate.
This man never joined any regiment? Yet he must be a Captain of some company in some regiment, and, perhaps, in one of those regiments which were serving in Spain. Is not this pretty encouragement for officers who actually do serve? Is not this a shameful injury to that service, for which the people so dearly pay?
He has been thus promoted for his “extraordinary good character, and more than common abilities.” Abilities in what? In what; why, “the promotions of the army going through his hands under mine,” says the Colonel, with singular modesty. But, what have these abilities; this more than common abilities in copying letters, filling up blank commissions, and making memorandums, in pencil, in the margin of applications; what have these “more than common abilities” to do with military command, which demands not only abilities of quite a different description, but requires also the presence of the person with the army? Besides, has not Captain Maling his salary as a clerk? Aye, and a salary, too, quite adequate to his services. We pay him that salary, and he ought not to be suffered to step in and take military rank and pay from men, who venture their lives for their country. He lies snug at the Horse Guards, while the person, who is supplying his place in the regiment, the person who is doing that duty for which Captain Maling has rank and pay, has his head exposed to the sabre or the bayonet of the enemy. Can there be an instance, more complete than this, of crying injustice? Is it possible that the real officers of the army should be content under such a system of distributing the benefits of rank and pay? Is it possible, that an army, thus treated, should be what it ought to be? And, is it not impudence unparalleled, to praise the management of the army, while such a case as this stands recorded in evidence, at the bar of the House? Oh! Colonel Gordon! Colonel Gordon, you who require a man of “uncommon abilities” to manage the promotions “under you;” what do you think would be the answer of the Emperor Napoleon, if his war-minister were to say to him: “There is a man who is uncommonly clever at filling up blank-commissions and making memorandums and copying letters; and, therefore, I would recommend him to your Majesty as a mightily proper person to command a company of foot, letting him still remain a clerk in my office?” What do you think would be, in such a case, the answer of Napoleon?
It is not thus that triumphings are managed, Colonel Gordon.
But, observe, the curious account that the Colonel gives of what was intended to be done with this Captain Maling of “uncommon abilities.” He recommended him, he says, to the Commander-in-Chief, to be placed upon half-pay as a Captain. But, he is upon full-pay! The Duke, he tells us, has not the power to place him upon half-pay; but he has had the power to place him upon full-pay, where he now is! Oh! wonderously fine regulations! Oh! the “excellent regularity” of conducting things in the office of the Commander-in-Chief! I am delighted with this idea of “regularity.” It does form, as Mr. Cripps seemed to think, such a famous set-off against all the thumping charges relating to jobbing and corruption.
Case of French and Sandon.—This case opens to us a most extensive field of corruption and profligacy. In the evidence relating to this case, we have a view of the whole system; and, therefore, it is worthy of particular notice, not only in its substance, but in the whole of its detail.
It is proved by documentary evidence, that, on the 30th of April, 1804, Colonel French and Capt. Huxley Sandon obtained a Letter of Service, as it is quaintly called; or, in plain English, an authority, to raise 5,000 men for the army; and that this authority, and bargain, was granted and made through the power of the Commander-in-Chief, the transaction being one that originated in his office.
The proposition of a loan to the Duke comes out incidentally.
Capt. Huxley Sandon states, that a Mr. Cockayne, his attorney, having told him that if he wanted any thing done at the War-office, he knew a person who could do it, he was led to the transaction in question, in conjunction with Col. French; that there was an agent of Mrs. Clarke, a Mr. Corri, a music-master, who was to introduce them; that the original bargain was, that Mrs. Clarke was to receive 525l., and Mr. Corri 200l. for the introduction, the former sum to be increased, at his discretion, if they were successful in their levy, to 2,000l.
Mr. Corri states, that Sandon did apply to him, and commissioned him to offer Mrs. Clarke 2,000l. for her assistance; that he, in consequence, did apply to Mrs. Clarke; and that, in June, 1804, he received two hundred pounds for himself, from Sandon, which 200l. he gave to Mr. Cockayne, to whom he was in debt.
Mr. Dowler states, that he saw Col. French and Capt. Sandon at Mrs. Clarke’s; that, by desire of Mrs. Clarke, he spoke to them, several times, upon the subject of the levy; that Mrs. Clarke told him, that she was to receive 1,000 guineas, and a guinea a man, until the levy of 5,000 men should be completed. To this he adds: “I was also present when Colonel French or Captain Sandon, I don’t know which, gave Mrs. Clarke 500l. of it. I afterwards saw Colonel French at Mrs. Clarke’s, when he stated to her, that it was not possible to procure the number of men at the usual bounty, and begged that the number of boys should be increased in the levy, which, as I understand, was afterwards done.”—Upon being asked, what cause she assigned for doing such things? he says: “She said the Duke of York was so distressed for money that she could not bear to ask him for any, and that that was the only way by which she could support her establishment.”
Mr. Grant (agent to Colonel French and Captain Sandon’s levy) states, that French