It was now, when Mr. Grant’s examination was closed, nearly two o’clock in the morning of the 8th of February, and, upon the propriety of calling Mrs. Clarke, the following very interesting and memorable discussion took place in the House, as reported in the newspapers.
Lord Folkestone called the attention of gentlemen to the exhausted state of the hon. member who brought forward the motion, the state of the House, and the lateness of the hour, and proposed an adjournment. (A cry of “Go on! go on!”)—Mr. Perceval observed, that many members appeared to be impressed with the belief, that the purposes of justice required that Mrs. Clarke should be examined to-night, and in that sentiment he was much inclined to concur. As justice was the object of all, he hoped that Mrs. Clarke would be called in and examined. Without her evidence, the whole that had been said was nothing, as the Duke of York had not been implicated.—Mr. Wardle said, that the right hon. gentleman need not have so strongly urged upon him a regard to justice. If the Committee thought that justice required it, he was ready to proceed.—Mrs. Clarke was then ordered to be called.—Mr. Wharton (the Chairman) stated that Mrs. Clarke was so exhausted, that she begged to be indulged with a chair. [A chair was accordingly ordered.] He then said, that he found from the Sergeant at Arms, that he had misstated the message, which was a request from Mrs. Clarke that she might not be examined to-night. Mrs. Clarke, however, was called in. She stated that she had attended for eight hours, that her feelings had been excessively harassed during this examination, and that she was so excessively fatigued that she could not give her evidence to-night.—The Chairman told her, that the Committee, in consideration of her fatigue, had ordered a chair for her.—Mrs. Clarke. “A chair will not relieve the fatigue of my mind.”— The witness was then ordered to withdraw.—Mr. Yorke adverted to the necessity, with a view to the purposes of justice, that the witness should be examined, lest some undue communication with the witnesses already examined should take place. He thought, therefore, that she ought to be examined, or kept in the custody of the Sergeant at Arms, and none of these witnesses admitted to her presence till the House met again. He did not know but there might be precedents for keeping witnesses in this way.
The Speaker said that there were certainly no such precedents in modern times, and the House ought to pause before they came to a decision upon a point in which the liberty of the subject was so much concerned.
Mr. Sheridan said that after what the witness had said under circumstances that certainly added weight to her assertion, it was impossible for the Committee to proceed to the examination. The idea on the other hand, of locking her up, was contrary to every principle of propriety. The only remaining course was to do neither; and this was an inconvenience incident to their proceedings. Gentlemen ought to recollect, that justice was concerned in her giving her testimony in a state in which she could give it properly; and unless the House took care that this should be done, they would be considered rather as Parties than as Judges.
Mr. Wardle read a note from Mrs. Clarke, requesting that he would come to her, as she was extremely indisposed.
Mr. Adam said, that in the dilemma to which they were reduced, there appeared no proper mode of acting but agreeing to postpone the examination, and to allow any communication with the other witnesses to go to her credit.
Mr. Canning agreed in what had been said by the last speaker, but added that she might learn in the interval what the other witnesses had said without any direct communication, and the only way to bring this to a question of credit, was to call her now, and ask her whether any such communication had taken place. To this point she could undoubtedly answer, however much exhausted.
Mr. Whitbread conceived that the House would best consult its dignity, by allowing the hon. member to pursue the course of proceeding which he had a right to act upon. But even though it was unwilling to accede to such a principle, he begged leave to ask the House, whether a female, in attendance for eight hours, and of course suffering much suspense, had not some claim upon the generous feelings of the House, without any reference to the immediate person to whom that feeling was extended. To speak under such circumstances of committing Mrs. Clarke, he trusted would not meet the support of any man in that House. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. Canning deprecated any such severity (hear, hear), at the same time that he was alive to the necessity of putting certain questions to Mrs. Clarke, relative to any communication which she might have received from any of the witnesses examined that night. He still thought that a more preferable method might be pursued, to which on any side he could see no objection, namely, to call Mr. Dowler again to the bar, and examine him relative to any communication with that lady. (Hear, hear, from all sides.)
(Mr. Dowler was then called to the Bar) He stated that the only communication he had with Mrs. Clarke, since he had left the bar, was an acquiescence with her wish to procure for her some refreshment. He had abstained from any conversation, not from any advice communicated to him, but from a consciousness that it was the line of duty which he ought to pursue under such circumstances.
Mrs. Clarke (the proceedings being resumed) states, that French and Sandon did apply to her for the levy, but, though she has read the newspapers, she cannot perfectly call to her mind the sums she received from them; that they certainly promised her a pecuniary reward; that, in consequence of that promise, she applied, in their behalf, to the Duke; that she informed the Duke that she was to receive a pecuniary compensation; that the Duke, upon this, promised that the parties should have the levy; that she recollects one sum of 500l. that she received, which went in part payment of a service of plate for the house in Gloucester place; that the Duke told her he paid the remainder of the money for the plate; that the parties did apply to her for alterations in the conditions of the levy, and that she always gave their notes to the Duke, but did not always know what they meant; that French told her, that if the Duke would pass his accounts, which were correct, and expected to have been passed some time before, he and his agent would accommodate him with a loan of 5,000l., on proper security and at legal interest; that she spoke of this to the Commander-in-Chief; that the Duke said, that he could not demand money from the different officers, that besides, that it was a delicate business, as the thing might be known; that the loan was not made.
Miss Taylor was next called, and, as her evidence is of such very great importance, I shall give in the question and answer, as I find it reported in the Morning Chronicle.
Mr. Wardle. Were you in the habit of visiting at Gloucester-place when Mrs. Clarke was under the protection of the Duke of York?—Frequently.
Have you ever heard the Duke of York speak to Mrs. Clarke relative to Col. French’s levy?—Once.
Relate what passed at that time.—The Duke’s words were, as nearly as I can recollect, “I am continually wearied by Col. French about his levy. He is always wanting something more to be done in his favour. How does he behave to you, Darling?”
Does the witness recollect any thing further passing than what she has stated?—Mrs. Clarke replied, “Middling; not very well.”
Was that the whole of the conversation?—No.
Relate the rest.—The Duke said, “Master French must mind what he is about, else I will soon cut up him and his levy too.”
By the Attorney-General. How long have you known Mrs. Clarke?—Ten years.
Not longer?—I cannot exactly recollect.
Where did you know her first?—At her house at Bayswater, near the Gravel Pits.
Where do you live yourself?—At Chelsea.
With