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 whom did you live when you first knew Mrs. Clarke?—With my parents.
What was your father?—A gentleman.
Do you live with her now?—No.
Is he living?—Yes.
Is your mother living?—Yes.
Do you live with her?—No.
With whom do you live?—With my sister.
Is she married?—No; she is a single woman.
Where resident?—At Chelsea.
In a lodging or a house?—In a house.
In what line of life is she?—She keeps a boarding-school.
In what part of Bayswater did Mrs. Clarke live?—She lived in Craven-place.
Who lived with her?—Her husband.
Did he always live with her?—He did when I first knew her.
Did you know any other person to live with her?—Yes.
Whom?—His Royal Highness the Duke of York.
Do you not know that she has lived with other persons since?—Not to my knowledge.
Are you intimately acquainted with her?—Yes.
Not related to her?—My brother is married to her sister.
Did you know her at Tavistock-place?—Yes.
Did her husband live with her there?—I never saw him there. I understood that Mrs. Clarke lived in Tavistock-place with her mother.
What time elapsed between her leaving her husband and her living with the Duke of York?—I cannot recollect.
How long ago since she knew Mrs. Clarke at Bayswater?—About ten years.
Had her husband left her before she left Bayswater?—I do not know.
Are you prepared to stand by that?—Yes.
What was her husband?—I always understood him to be a man of some fortune.
Do you not know that he had only 50l. annuity, and that paid weekly?—No.
Did you ever see her husband with her during the latter part of the period she lived at Bayswater?—No.
Where did she go to reside from Bayswater?—I do not recollect.
Does the witness recollect her living in Park-lane?—Mrs.
