> y ^ JRL^p & "*** + • + fe Fo^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^lll LIBRARY OF CONGRKS& | UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. J 4?to t e Clarke. Cottage, Putney, May 29t!), 1810. THE RIVAL PRINCES, SyC. SfC. SfC. XT is said that great events often result from tiifling causes — so considerable public good, frequently pro- ceeds from individual inconvenience. Whatever injury an illustrious personage may have sustained by the loss of his office, great good will result to the nation, on its being able at last to estimate the true friends of the country, from those, whose assu- med patriotism for a short time, obtained the affec- tions of the people, and grewHipon its creduHty. It may appear a little strange that I, who but a few months ago, was the great medium by which Co- lonel Wardle sprang from insignificant obscurity to the apex of popular admiration, should now be the medium to wither those laurels which were obtained by ambition, and supported by dishonor : but such is the mutability of all human affairs, that those who raise the temple to another's glory, may, by fortuitous causes, be the means to level it with the imag- ination as good and political. His foolish address to the people of England, as well as many other acts of absurdity might be cited^ to show how incautious he is in the management of his political plans. This preliminary remark is per- haps necessary for me to make, in order to obtain credit of my readers for slating the possibility of a rational creature being such a fool, as on his first * In the progressive stages of this work I shall shew col. War- ble's connexion and partnership with mr. Scot, the army clothier, of Cannon row, Westminster, which will account for his discussuaj this question in parliament; and the inter ett he had in it. ( 13 ) visit to a stranger, to enter fully into the nature and particulars of his views — Cataline understood his bu- siness better. The delusions of hope, however, had so inflamed his poor head, that he could not conceal any thing that was connected with his meditated plan of des- troying the reputation of his royal highness the duke of York ; and accordingly proceeded with the narra- tive of his intended parliamentary labors, by obser- ving, that he was sure I must know, from having been so long in intimacy with the duke of York, that he had a dislike to his brother the duke of Kent, and that illustrious personage (as a much injured man) had a determined hatred to the duke ot York, for not having allowed him a court martial on his recall from his command at Gibraltar, in order to clear his character; — I replied, that to this circumstance! was not a stranger, but that 1 had been informed, that if the duke of York had complied with the re- quest of his royal brother, he would have been found guilty of the charges preferred against him, and con- sequently would have been deprived of the govern- ment of that fortress, by which he would have lost several thousands a year, and therefore, that which. the duke of Kent had felt as & great hardship, the duke of York had done from the pure sentiments of brotherly affection. The colonel then said, he should feel greatly cbliged to me for the heads of ail the conversations I ever had with the duke of York upon this subject, or the observations which that illustrious personage had made at any time on his brother's con- duct, as he had much interest in a pamphlet that was coming out from the pen of his friend, M'Cullum, whom he had sent to me. The reader may naturally suppose that such an appli- cation was ot too ^eriousa nature for any playfulness of remark on my part ; or even, for a time, the interruption of the monosyllable of yes or no, to his progressive observations, as my mind was then bubilv engaged B ( «4 ) upon the consequence of that which I might do by an incautious observation, I therefore heard with pa- tience the developement of his plan. Now for the grand object of his visit, which was, (as he stated) that as he was going to serve the duke of Kent by endeavoring to turn the duke of York out of office, and as he knew that I was acquainted with all the secrets of that illustrious personage, he was desirous of knowing the terms upon which his royal highness and myself then stood. I told him the terms v. ere certainly favorable to his wishes, as the duke had deserted me, and neglected his promises ; — I should, however, decline entering into any narrative of my misfortunes, or the disclosure of the duke's affairs, until I had consulted my friends on so seri- ous a subject; and was also better acquainted with the character of my visitor. The colonel assured me of the sincerity of his intentions, and said, that the duke of Kent knew, and was interested in all the cir- cumstances attending the nature of his visit to me, and would sanction all the proceedings resulting from our acquaintance; with respect to which, if I had any doubt he would bring such a letter from the duke's private and confidential secretary , major Dodd, as would immediately remove all doubts from my mind with respect to the protection he would afford to me, as a requital for my important services. The apparent candor of his professions began to lessen my reserve, which led me into a greater free- dom of communication, and induced me to make him acquainted with the nature of the duke's promises, and the way they had been neglected with respect te myself, and my relation, captain Thompson. He took out his pocket-book, and made minutes of all that I had said, under a promise to communicate my exact situation to major Dodd, in order that they might prepare themselves to exceed in liberality all that I expected from the duke of York. My cir- cumstances, as I have just observed, were not in a { 15 ) state to treat col. Wardle's offer of protection to me and my children with neglect, and as my feelings were at that time greatly irritated at the treatment I had experienced, I was actuated by my necessities, and that treatment, to give my assent to a political ac- quaintance with this party, upon the proposed terms. Before the colonel took his leave, he requested me in future, to receive him under the name of Brazil?) as the publicity of his real name among my servants might tend to defeat the great work in which he was ardently engaged. I have since understood that the name of Brown is very familiar to colonel Wardle, and has proved as convenient a travelling name, as that of captair,, which is so common to London adventurers. Among the variety of his pursuits, 1 have been informed, that he once lived under this name, at the Cadogan Coffee House, Sloan-street, with his favorite lady!!! — Believe me reader, I do not mean Mrs. Wardle. Perhaps those who read this passage, will with the mingled passion of anger and astonishment, throw down the book, and exclaim — good heavens! is it possible, that colonel Wardle, the god of the people and the reformer of nations, should keep a lady ?—■ He who exposed and censured domestic infidel it}' in a prince, be himself a sinner? — No, no, it cannot be; colonel Wardle could not act in such direct opposi- tion to the purity of his professions, and leave an a- miable wife, by whom he has acquired all his pecunia- ry consequence, for the society of another. — But stop, reader, and hear facts before you give too much jeredit to this herd's virtues. Believe me the patriot is like other men, subject to human frailties, but which, he can disguise with more art than other men, when it answers his politi- cal purposes. He can in scornful and severe language reprobate the follies and vices of others, when it is his business ( tf ) to raise himself on the ashes of his victims, although every stripe of his satirical lash might with greater justice be applied to his own back. But now to the fact, as I received it, from un- questionable authority. A short time after colonel Wardle's election at Oakhampton, he made a jour- ney into Wales, with his Chere amie and her young family ;* and on their return to Lond >n, resided at the above Coffee-House at Chelsea, under the name of Brown. During their stay at this place, a gentleman, who had given his vote in favor of colonel Wardle at Oak- hampton, said to the tavern keeper — " I find, sir, you have got colonel Wardle and family here as your guests:" — " Colonel Wardle," replied the host with surprise, " Oh no, sir! the gentleman you just now saw pass, is a mr. Brown" — Observed the gentle- man, " I know better^ — his name is Wardle — and what is more, I gave him my vote for Oakhampton, and have since dined with him." This information produced an inquiry, which in a few hours reached -the ears of the correct family man, colonel Wardle, who immediately ordering his carriage, left the house, and I am informed, the draft which he gave the tavern keeper for the amount of his bill, was not paid in the most regular way. When colonel Wardle was in the habit of visit- ing Westborne Place, I used to indulge in a little railery on his fair mistress, which naturally enough produced observations from him with respect to her. On one of these occasions of mirth, he burst into a paroxysm of amatory passion, and exclaimed — "that his mistress was so fair and young, that he did not suffer the air of heaven to blow on her ! ! !" — If she be the same lady who now calls herself miss Davis, of Gloucester-street, Queen Square, colonel Wardle * Colonel Wardle has also children by his wife, which obliges, him, to keep up two establishments* ( 17 ) is* not so particular as to the purity of the air that has lately bloxvn upm her. This delicate creature has, upon a late occasion, been running into every dirty place, with Ellis the attorney, in order to purchase whatever kind of evidence could be picked up, to support colonel Wardle's late prosecution. Major Dodd did not surfer colonel Wardle's an- gelic creature to live undisturbed by the gentle air of heaven, without participating with me in a desire to see her, and accordingly urged me to press the co- lonel to introduce us to his favorite lady, which I did ; but colonel Wardle would not comply with my 7 request, from (I believe) motives of jealousy, and a conviction of the superiority of major Dodd's person ; which might have produced a strange alteration in the lady's mind as to the personal beauty of her happy colonel. Colonel Wardle told me, that the father of this fair lady had applied to him to make a regular provision for his daughter, who had been the victim of his impro- per passion ; but he desired her to acquaint her father of his real character and situation in fife, and that his whole dependence rested on his wife's fortune which would not -admit of any burthens being affixed to it, by way ot an annuity to this young lady. As, therefore, nothing but secrecy could benefit the old man's daughter, he of course has remained quiet for the sake of all the parties concerned. Mark, reader ! what a return for a fortune to an amiable and affectionate wife, and a mother of seven children ! ! ! Pause,and ask yourself, whether colonel Wardle be quite that immaculate character which he has labored so much to make the public believe him entitled. Ah ! deluded woman, was it for this you loved and married & beggar? — Was it for this you have virtuously cherished and reared a numerous offspring £ — Was it for this you have encountered many sleep- less nights to further your husband's political views ? B 2 ( 18 ) —Was it for this you risked your character and per- sonal safely, by going in a barouche* to a certain tavern, and leaving that celebrated letter which as- tonished the whole kingdom ? — Was it for this you attended the court ol king's Bench, in anxious expec- tation that your supposed faithful husband would triumph in his black deeds, and that perjury upon perjury would obtain him the laurelf with which his friend sir Richard Phillips and his other associates had prepared to entwine his brow on that memorable day, when a British jury shewed that it was not to be duped by a jocobinical faction. Was it for all this I say, mrs. Wardle, that your * Major Hogan's pamphlet shows the proceedings of a suppo- sed ferule friend of the duke of York's who went to Frank's Ho- tel, lower Brook-Street, in a barouche, and !eft a letter for major Hogan, in which he found a five hundred pound bank note. This barouche-lady, colonel Wardle acknowledged to me, was no other person than his dear wife.— But there was no harm in such an act, it was merely a little generalship, which sheds a lustre on modern patriotism. t It is unnecessary for me to enter into a discription of the disgraceful riot and disturbance which tock place in Westminster Hall, on the day of ray trial, as the interruption Lord Ellenbo- xo ugh met with, in the administration of justice is now pistty generally known to the public, as well as the spirited fttetnae* tious of his Lordship to the under Sheriff upon that occasion. "But I cannot avoid giving publicity to^ the private information I have since received of the grand procession which was prepared to attend col. Wardle if I had been convicted on that day. The plaintiff's respectable and numerous friends, who disturbed the public peace, and insulted the sacred tribunal of justice, were, I am informed, to have chaired the victorious colonel, and car- lied him amidst the shouts of a mob and the din of butchers' music, to the house of sir Richard Phillips, from the drawing room window of which, he was to have made a naming speech Jo the friends of freedom. This would have afforded a most de- lectable treat to sir Richard Phillips, who is considered the most vain-glorious character in the kingdom. I forbear using the words of the attorney-general on the trial of sir John Carr versus Vernor and Hood, who said the knight " was the greatest fool in the Itingdoin," but, I may be pardoned, I hope, if I join in opinion with Lord EUenboroagh, who corrected sir V. Gibbs on that occa- sion, and said, u No, no, rar. attorney-genera), you mean tb*e WEAKEST *AJ}." C 19 ) husband has made you such an unkind return, as to divide that love and tenderness, of which, your good qualities and fortune ought to have made you sole mistress. But, madam, be not any longer deceiv- ed ; colonel Wardle has returned to you that which he has returned to others, namely, evil for good. In the course of a few days after Colonel Wardle's first visit to me, he brought the following promised letter from major Dodd, the private and confidential secretary to the duke of Kent, and with great gravity told me to keep it, and upon the good faith of a gen- tleman, all the promises made to me, he would see performed, even at the risk of his life ; and repeated- ly pledged his honor, that he would not suffer any thing he had promised, to be infringed on by those with whom he was concerned : — " Sloan street, Nov. 21, 1808. " My dear Wardle, " The more I reflect on the conversation we had this morning, and which, had for its object the pure honor and interest of our country, the more' I feel convinced that every individual who is assist- ing in the great cause, is entitled, not only to out private but to public protection, — These, 1 am fully convinced, are your sentiments as well as mine; they must indeed, be those of every honest well thinking man. If this assurance from me can be of any ser- vice, you have my authority to use it as you please, for what you mentioned of a certain female. " I have no hesitation in believing that her co-ope- ration will be more material than that of any other human being. God knows she has been infamously and most barbarously treated by an illustrious great beast ; but she may now have an opportunity of re- dressing her wrongs ; and by serving a generous pub • He, most essentially to benefit herself: " I remain, - w My dear Wardle, ever (Signed) * « Thos. Dopd." ( 20 ) Ikiring the interval between col. Wardle's first and second visit to me, I consulted mr. Stokes upon the subject, who advised me not to encounter all the unpleasant difficulties, that would necessarily attach to the kind of service required of me, without be- ing satisfied that I should receive a handsome com- pensation for my trouble. On the receipt oi this letter, the nature of my services and the remuneration I expected, again be- came the subject of discussion, in which colonel Wardle declared, that ho had laid all my expecta- tions before major Dodd, who had authority from the duke of Kent, to assure me, that I should have ¥iore than the annuity o{ four hundred a year, as promised by the duke of York. That they would make me so far independent, as to enable me, if I chose, to keep my coach and four, and an estab- lishment equal to the style and elegance of my equip- age. I now requested him to repeat the particulars of the remuneration the duke of Kent intended to make for my services^ fie said, that he and major Dodd would hold themselves responsible for the duke of Kent giving five thousand pounds; besides four hundred a year secured to me— my DEBTS ALL DISCHARGED AND A HOUSE FUR- NISHED IN ANY STYLE OF ELEGANCE I PLEAS- ED. All this did not quite satisfy me as to the sincerity of their professions. 1 therefore told colonel War- die, that I would not lend myself to the projects of any set of men, unless i had very good assurance of their honor and liberality ; proofs of which must be given to me in the most unequivocal manner, and that I also wished to see major Dodd, in order to hear what he, could urge in justification OF THE EXTRAORDINARY BUSINESS IN WHICH HE WAS ENGAGED. Colonel Wavclte agreed, to the propriety of my see- ( 21 ) ing major Dodd, and then entered upon their inten- ded visit to the M arte I fa toners; urging me to ac- company them, when he promised to introduce me to the major and mr. Glennie; — and alter presenting me with a hundred pounds for my immediate use, and receiving my assent to the journey, he left me. Impreseed with a belief that this political connex- ion would again restore me to my former state of af- influence and comfort, and at the desire of colonel Wardle, who wished me to reside more to the west- ward of the town, for the convenience of major Dodd and himself, while he was proceeding in t he- house of commons, upon my promised information; 1 took possession of my present house in Westborne place. As nothing at this time beyond the hundred pounds and promises had been bestowed on me, 1 only asked mr. Wright to send in a few necessary articles of fur- niture, till I could introduce to him a gentleman who was to furnish me a house as my taste and inclina- tion might direct. This,, mr. Wright accordingly did after { had made him acquainted with some of the circumstances relating to that gentleman's political views, and the service I was to afford to him, as an equivalent for his gif's. To have left my house in Bedford place, which was very convenient as well as complete in point of furniture, for an empty house in Westborne place, would have appeared very strange to mr. Wright, unless I had let him a little into the secret of my proceedings. This will account for my having been obliged, to place a confidence in him, with respect to the friendship I was to receive from colonel War- d!e> whose nam e 1 had not then made known to mr. Wright Previous to the morning I was to leave London for the Murtello Toners, i had got the promise of a young lady to accompany me on this journey, who not coming, after colonel Wardie and myself had ( 22 > waited for her* an hour over her appointment, we sef off from Westborne Place, leaving our address, if she came to my house in any reasonable time. When we had arrived at colonel Wardle's coach- maker's, Charles-street, Middlesex Hospital, I, for the first time in my life, saw major Dodd and mr. Giennie, who were at this place waiting for us, and after the formalities of an introduction had passed, colonel W. in compliment to me, waited some time for my companion. In consequence of having wait- ed near two hours for this lady, the day was too far advanced in this dark season of the year to admit of our going so far as was intended ; we therefore, were obliged to stay that night at Maidstone, which place we left early on the next morning for the neighbor- hood of the Martello Towers, where we soon arrived. Mr. Giennie, who appeared perfectly well ac- quainted with the topography of the neighborhood, and all the military works established on this part of the coast, wrote a note under (I believe) a false name, to solicit permission for him and his friends to see the Martello Towers, which with some difficulty was obtained. The day being frosty and fine, I accompanied thera thither, when Mr. Giennie took out his pocket-book, and after many enquiries on the part of major Dodd and himself, he took minutes of every particular re- lating to the construction of these military works, all of which he surveyed with a geometrical accuracy, and a malicious satisfaction. A number of workmen were employed in repair- ing these works, the foundation of which appeared to have given way, and of which, mr. Giennie spoke in very severe terms, as an ineffectual obstruction to the landing of the enemy, and consequently an unneces- sary expence to the country. * As ray companion did not come, I expressed a wish to take my maid, but this was opposed, as the colonel thought it would be daugerous to speak before her. ( 23 ) While we were surveying these military works, I found by the silly questions colonel W anile put to mr. Glennie and major Dodd, that he was perfectly ignorant of the art of fortification ; and indeed the difhculty was considerable, on their part, to make him understand the delects attending the construc- tion of the various military works which came under our inspection. We now proceeded to the Royal Military Canal, which begins on Romney Marsh, anci runs twenty miles along the country. The defects attending the formation of this line of defence, were also spoken of by mr. Glennie and major Dodd in very harsh terms ; and while they were privately committing to paper all the prominent imperfections of its construction, one of the officers of the engineers belonging to the works, fell into a conversation with mr. Glennie, upon the subject, and gate him some useful information. On our return to dinner, at Hythe, the reader may naturally enough conceive, that the object of the journey formed the chief topic of discussion, in which colonel Wardle could not take a distinguished part, unless it was jrom his entire ignorance of that branch of mathematics which includes fortification. When the cloth was removed, and the wine in cir- culation, 1 was gradually raised into great mirth, as it became the task of mr. Glennie and major Dodd, to make colonel Wardle understand the true princi- ple of the Martello Towers-, and what ought to have been the construction of the military canal ; and in what points they were defective and useless, as a de- fence of this part of the coast. The task of teaching a dull child the first elements of a language, or science, is nothing compared witla the trouble and whimsical difficulties, that attended Glennie and Dcdd's explanation and illustration of the subject, upon which the immaculate patriot was to make a luminous speech, in the house of Commons. Heaven only knows how he at last got it into his head for oral description in parliament, for on the ( 24 ) day of which I am speaking, it appeared to require a hammer, to beat in the difference between an octagon and a triangle. Nothing of any moment occurred on our journey back to town, where we arrived safe after four days absence. Col. Wardle was set down at his own house, and after I arrived at mine, major Dodd and mr. ©lennie took leave of me for their respective dwellings. From this time till i gave up the idea of publish- ing my memoirs, colonel Wardle and his party were constantly with me, in order, as they said, to prevent any one from endeavoring to dissuade me from afford- ing them, that support, which was so important to their cause. My enemies were now putting, every kind of un- handsome and false construction upon my acquaint- ance with colonel Wardle, that malice and ingenuity could suggest; but I feel a consciousness of not having deserved the slander that was dealt out so liberally against me, and though it is now political, for colonel Wardle to forget and deny his promises, yet in this particular, I think, he will not have the hardihood even to insinuate any thing to the prejudice of my private conduct, as a woman and a mother. Our acquaintance was merely of a political nature, and only had for its object the business which came before the house of Commons. Indeed col. Wardle was too much absorbed in love of his fair mist remand the great work in which he had embarked, to think of any thing besides her, and the duke of York's destruc- tion; and, I doubt not, but the reader will think with me, that between /ore and uar, he had quite enough to engage the tanier as well as the malignant passions of his soul, without making me an object of personal admiration. Mr. Taylor, the shoe-maker of Bond-street, of whom the public heard so much in the character of Morocco Embassador, was in the habit of calling at West bone place, and as col. Wardle and major Dodd ( to ) had heard mc say that he \*as the repository of sonffc of the duke's secrets, they expressed a wish to have a conversation with him, under as much disguise as pos- sible; accordingly, I introduced Dodd to the lady's shoe-maker, as a tradesman, under a false name, and in order that they should soon become familiar with each other, I informed Dodd, that Mr. Taylor was an excellent draught player, and not a little fond of being considered a proficient in this science, which produ- ced the immediate exertion of their skill upon the draught-board. The embassador soon found that his companion could not play, which rendered the game flat and un- interesting to both of them. Dodd was therefore driv- es to another expedient, to obtain a freedom of con- versation, and accordingly asked Mr. Taylor to take a glass of brandy and water, which he made of nearly all brandy, and forced it upon him as fast as possible. This, for a time, had the desired effect, as it made the embassador very loquacious, and unreserved in hkan- stcers to major Dodd, with respect to the duke of York's affairs. Major Dodd did not manage this business with that policy that was necessary to its success. Instead of coming in a coat with plain buttons, he had on one with the buttons usually worn by the secretaries of the royal dukes, and thus he defeated the object of his interview with the moroeco embassador ; for, the moment he noticed major Dodd's buttons, he became very cautious, gave a different turn to his observations with respect to the duke of York, end stole away as soon as he conveniently could. On the following day, however, the doubtful com- panion of the embassador was no longer an object of suspicion, in consequence of his meeting major Dodd in company with a lady; and seeing a man take off his hat to them, of whom he soon made some enqui- ries, and heard that the tradesman war. no le*>s a per- sonage than major Dodd,- the faithful ^ccretaj v to his C ( 26 ) royal highness the dukeof Kent. Doubtless this cir- cumstance, as well as a variety of information, was communicated to the duke of York, through the me- dium of this convenient character, whose stories ob- tained belief without the due attention of his royal highness; otherwise, measures might have been re- sorted to, that would have nipped colonel Wardel's honors in the bud* I have thought it right to make this short digres- sion, to shew the praise-worthy expedients to which major Dodd has resorted, in order to serve the cause of his royal master. Our acquaintance had now proceeded sufficiently far to convince colonel Wardle and major Dodd, that without me, all their schemes to displace the duke of York would prove abortive, and therefore I was scarcely left an hour in the day to myself. While major Dodd was gone to the duke of Kent with in- formation respecting me, either mr. Glennie or coL Wardle, was left on guard, and during the severe weather in last January twelvemonth, major Dodd was CONSTANTLY GOING TO AND FROM THE duke of Kent, at Ealing, to me at West- borne place, on the business of displa- cing his royal brother. One evening, while col. Wardle and myself were waiting the return of major Dodd, from Ealing, their promise to me became the subject of our conference* when I recollected that I had omitted to include in my agreement with him and the major, the debt due to my attorney, mr. Comrie, of j£l012. Colonel Wardle expressed the anger of a friend at my forget- iuln^ss and neglect, but made a minute of the parti- culars* and wished to know whether there was any thing else toharrass my mind, as I might rest assured that neither the duke of Kent, major Dodd, nor him- self, would suffer the peace of my mind t® be distur* bed by the dread of a legal process* The colonel continued to assure me, that if he h*d ( 27 ) (he purse, he should feci as disposed as tl e duke of Kent had professed to be (through the medium of major Dodd and himself) to do those things (for which he and major Dodd had become responsible, as far as the honor of gentlemen could render them so) and satisfy me — but, he was sorry to observe, that he was a poor man, and had two fami'.ies to support, otherwise he would instantly advance the money. To these circumstances I was no stranger, and therefore did not look to him individually, for any thing beyond the payment of my furniture in West- borne place, for which he was the most prominent and tangible security; but I did not expect he would have pledged his honor as a gentleman, to see those promises made good, which induced me to stand up in the house of commons against a royal duke, and incur all the anxiety and calumny attaching to a wit- ness under such circumstances, without obliging his political colleagues to fulfil their engagement to the extent of its spirit and letter. I am of opinion that there is not a person in Eng- land, at all acquainted with the proceedings of the house of commons, with respect to the duke of York and my connexion with Wardle and his party, who is so credulous as to believe what colonel Wardle has lately endeavored to make the people of England credit as a divine revelation; namely, that I incur- red the exposure of myself, children, and family, togeth* er with abuse, anxiety of mind, and fatigue of person during my examination in parliament from a pure pat- riotic ZEAL TO SERVE THE PUBLIC. If there should be a person in the country that in- dulges such an opinion of my patriotism, he must be the most insane, or the most weak man that ever lived : — nay, even (if it be possible) weaker than sir Rich- ard Phillips. If I were to tell the same gross falsehood which has issued from the immaculate col. Wardle, and compli- ( 28 ) jtoent mjself on having appeared against the duke of York, without any motives of interest, beyond the gratification of serving the public, I am sure the intel- ligent reader would consider me a most impudent Jiy- pocrite, and with great justice; for if I had not been well satisfied of receiving the remuneration agreed upon, not all the Jacobinical parties in Europe should have introduced my letters and person to the notice of parliament. So anxious was colonel Wardlc to please me in ev- ery particular that he thought would operate agreea- bly upon my feelings, and induce me to be communi- cative with respect to the duke of York, that he advi- sed me to stipulate with the duke of Kent, through the medium of major Dodd, iorone of the unfinished houses in Hamilton place, Piccadilla ; — observing withhis usual sagacity, that if princes uish to be ser- ved, and at such risks ; they must pay for it, and he, was sure the duke of Kent would not refuse his little mortgage* any thing/ As far as the information I collected from colonel bardie and major Dodd will enable me to speak cor- rectly; I cannot refrain from laying before the rea- der, the expectations of the colonel, on the duke of Kent's being appointed commander in chief of the army — a station in the country he was anxious to ob- tain by every ?neans in his power, as may be seen, by ihe preceding part of this narrative. Be assured, reader, that colonel VVardle did not join in the meditated destruction of the duke of York's reputation from the love of his country, and his sensibility of the public suiTerings: — believe me, his patriotism was nourished by other motives, more endearing to the ambitious mind, than those of disin- terested zeal for the rights of man, and the rtforma* tion of abuses. *"~* As soon as colonel Wardle had got over the little ceremo- nies attendant on a first acquaintance, be called rae the Duke of Kent's Uttte mortgage, ( 29 ) Perhaps, when I name the high place of trusr, which was assigned to him in the bock of rewards, for particular acts of seivice, many of his friends may let, that the politics of the day, have not introdu- ced him to the office of secretary at war, which col, Wardle said the duke of Kent promised him, through his influence, on being made commander in chief of the army. Major Dodd affected to despise the idea of reward, and endeavored to persuade me, that he was of that school of philosophy which only does good for the love of good, and is unacquainted with the base and sordid principle of the golden lexer, which appears more effectually to move the world, than the boasted mechanical powers of Archimedes, who only wanted a place to stand upon to raise the earth ; but if the learned geometrician were living in this enlightened age, he would be soon satisfied that the present race of ingenious Britons, are greatly improved in mechan- ics, and now understand the raising of small and large bodies, better than the ancients did, and upon a more certain principle; namely, when we \var>t to raise the world ice need only raise the ui-nd ! This generous creature, the major, declared, that if the duke of Kent should be ^o fortunate, as to re- move his royal brother, from the command of the ar- my, and be able to slip into his station, he would immediately retire from office, and reside in the country, where he might enjoy the delectable gratifi- cation of having been the means of serving one of the most virtuous, but ill-treated men that ever lived, anci of seeing his royal master in a situation, in which he ought to have been, long ago, and for which his great talents were calculated to prove of the first impor- tance. I think he told me, that the salary which he recei- ved from Gibraltar was under two thousand a year; and that he had objected to take any pecuniary re- ward, for his private and confidential secretaryship, C 2 ( 30 ) in consequence of the great friendship he entertained for the duke of Kent. I must confess, that I had no reason to doubt major Dodd's word upon this point, though he has studied in the school of Phillips, and acquired much valuable instruction under that great professor of trick, and example of convenient memory. Never were letters written to any man, which breathed such affectionate regard, as those of the duke of Kent to major Dodd. It being necessary to satisfy me that major Dodd had not deceived, with respect to the authority he had from this high personage, to engage and remunerate my ser- vices in the house of commons; the major brought me many of the duke's letters to read, not only with respect to myself, but upon other matters; all of which gave positive assurance of his sincere friend- ship for his private secretary. Much curious matter is now coming under the description of my pen, which it will narrate with ev- ery respect to truth, though governed by a prudent circumspection. It may be necessary to observe, that colonel War- die gave notice of a motion in the house of commons with respect to the commander in chief, on the first day of the meeting of parliament, January 21, 1809. x The proceedings of the colonel were now bursting as it were, upon the public attention, and giving birth to a vast variety of speculative observations, upon what, might be the probable result of the investi- gation. It is very well known, that almost every reflecting, person in the kingdom, made the charges against the duke of York, a subject of interesting consideration and remark; consequently the duke of Kent must have felt extraordinary sensations in proportion as the subject increased in publicity, and gained upon pub- lic feeling. Whether it was conscience (that inward monitor of the bosom which works strange effects upon the guilty mind) that induced the duke of Kent, ( 31 ) to confess in the house of lords, on the 6th of Feb- ruary, that his friendship for his royal brother had been suspected; — or whether it was the purity, and effervescence of his affections for the duke of York, that prompted him to this measure, are questions which I shall leave to the reader to determine: — but certain it is, that he informed the public, through the medium of that august assembly, that he had a royal brother whom he loved most dearly ! — as may be seen by the following speech: — House of lords, February 6, 1809, " The duke of Kent thought it, at this time, pro- per to remark, that it had been supposed by many, that he had been at variance with his royal brother, from which an inference had been drawn, that he countenanced the charges brought forward against the commander in chief. Whatever professional dif- ferences there had been between them, he entertained the highest respect for his royal brother, and believed, that he was wholly incapable of acting in the manner imputed to him. Instead, therefore, of countenanc- ing such charges, he would do every thing in his power to repel them. On this subject there was no difference of opinion in his family, all the members of which concurred in the opinion he had expressed.' 9 To persons who move in the circle of a palace, and have an opportunity of knowing, when puss acci- dentally jumps out of the bag, this speech must have appeared extravagantly dramatic; and though it had all the stage effect of which it was capable, it went off badly, and I am inclined to believe, was thought but a sorry performance. On reading the duke's speech, I said to major Dodd — Is it possible, that the duke of Kent could have the face, to stand up in the house of lords after sdl he had done against the duke of York ?— u PohJ ( 32 ) poh ! — said Dock!, " that was political ; appearances you know, my little lady, must be kept up" — and my royal friend says, " that a man is never consider- ed guilty \\\\ he be proved so ;" — '• besides, it would not be prudent for him (of all men) to avow his real sentiments at present." The faithful secretary con- tinued to observe, that he had been requested by the duke of Kent, since his speech in the house of lords, to suspend all personal communication with him, till the investigation was over, lest his visits to Ealing, should lead to the discovery of proceedings, which might be fatal to the object of their most sanguine wishes. It is absolutely necessary, said the major, that we should be more circumspect than ever in our proceedings; and when I inform you, that his majes- ty has heard, that I accompanied you the first night, you went to the house of commons, and became ine- briated with drinking success to the great cavse, I am sure you will think with me, that there is a necessity of being very cautious, in all we do and say, and for the future I shall not visit Westborne place till the dusk of the day. It appeared, that the king had re- peated a variety of observations, that were made on that evening, all of which were true; iind which in- duced us to be more circumspect in the future ma- nagement of our political affairs. About this time a report got into circulation, and which was perfectly correct, that major Dodd had possession of some of my papers. This gave Dodd great uneasiness, lest other circumstances should come to light with respect to the duke of Kent, that might have an improper tendency; accordingly the major came to Westborne place and said he had something to submit to my consideration, which his royal master esteemed of great importance to the cause, if I would but allow him to carry the wishes of the duke into execution. I observed, that from the way, he had prefaced the object of the dukes solicitation, I was inclined to be- ( 33 ) iievc, it wai of a nature, to which I could not lend myself, as I was already satisfied, that he and his friends did not suffer trifling impediments to stop up the path to their greatness. After evading this observation by a laugh, he in- formed me, that it was the wish of his master, that he should go down to the house of commons, as a voluntary witness* and echo the friendly sentiments which his royal highness had expressed in the house of lords respecting the duke of York, in order to pre- serve appearances, and clothe their real proceedings in mystery. There appeared so much villainy in this effort to blind the public, that 1 instantly lost my temper, and declared in the strongest terms, the moment of irri- tation supplied, that if major Dodd dared to become the tool of such an iniquitous act, I would sacrifice all my expectations of reward, by a full exposure of their extraordinary proceedings, against the duke of York, the next time I should be examined in the house of commons. The major paused some time upon this unexpected reply, and then observed, that he would communicate my sentiments to the duke, who (he was afraid) would feel greatly disappointed at the result of his vis- it, that evening, to Westborne Place; he, however^ could not leave the house, without assuring mc, that he had urged every argument in his power, to dis- suade the duke, from obliging him, to echo the sen- timents of his speech in the house of commons, as a voluntary witness thinking as he did, that such a meas- ure would only create suspicion, and induce the pub- lic to give the subject an unnecessary attention. On the following evening, major Dodd repeated his visit to Westborne place, and again resumed the sub- ject, by informing me, that he had told the duke of Kent, of my opposition to his intended statement in the house of commons, and that his royal highness, had hit upon another expedient, to conceal their plan ( 34 ) of operations, and impose upon the duke of York, and the credulity of the public. On asking him what other wickedness his fertile genius had suggested, as necessary, for his good pa- tron to employ against the commander in chief, he told me that his royal friend, begged I would not op- pose his measure inspirit and principle, if I did in maimer and form ; that it now assumed a less object- ionable shape for public notice, and then observed, that he had met with a paragraph in a daily print, which is as follows :— *- " Captain B)odd, who was aid-de-camp to the duke of Kent, who was also major of brigade un- der his royal highness, has been removed from his situations, in consequence of what came out on mr. Donovan's evidence before the house of commons." And which gave him an opportunity of publicly de- nying any political acquaintance with me, in a letter to the editor of the Morning Chronicle, which as I did not seriously object to, he gave the same evening to mr. Hague, who was instructed to request his friend, mr. Finnerty, to insert it in the Morning Chronicle, as early as possible : — To the editor of the Morning Chronicle. " Mr. Editor, " In your paper of the 15th inst. it is stated, I have been removed from the situations I held under his royal highness fhe-duke of Kent ; as that state- ment is altogether unfounded, I must request you to insert this contradiction of so false and inju- rious a paragraph; I also most solemnly de- clare, THAT I NEVER DID DIRECTLY, or INDI- RECTLY, apply to mrs. Clarke for the possession of ANY PAPER OR DOCUMENT WHATEVER ! ! I am, sir, Your humble servant, Sloane Street, Thomas Dodd." March l6th, I8O9. ( 35 ) Pray reader, reflect upon this solemn declaration to the public, as coming from a gentleman in the high station of private and confidential secretary to a prince; ■ — then compare it with the following letter, and the other documents of this narrative. It would be an insult to the understanding of my reader, if I were to dwell at any length upon this part of my subject, in order to show major Dodd's character in a clearer point of light j than these documents illustrate: — " Tuesday Morning. " My dear mrs. Clarke, " I have been so ill these two days that I have sot been able to quit the house, excepting for half an hour yesterday. I have looked out every pa- per in my desk, where the letters are contained, to find those you alluded to, but I cannot meet with them, and as I always kept the whole carefully tied up in two parcels, it seems to me impossible that any could fall out. I perfectly, however, recollect a french letter, but none from princess S. — therefore, you may be sure it never was in my possession, for I have been extremely particular in returning you eve- ry paper which you entrusted to my charge. I will, however, rummage once more, and if I find any thing, I will bring it to you to-morrow forenoon, when I expect to be able to have the pleasure to see you. You r's, most truly, T. D." I have since regretted exceedingly that I did not embrace the opportunity I then had, of exposing and shaking off my acquaintance with this honorable par- ty, who have introduced me and every one connected with them, into nothing but disgrace and misfortune. ( 36 ) and who appear like the poisonous tree* of the east, which does not suffer any thing to flourish within its baneful influence. If the reader should consider my comparison, as conveying too much personal severity, he must call to his recollection, that these persons were not satis- fied, with injuring the reputation and happiness of one individual, but have endeavored to disgrace^ and if possible, destroy the only person who afforded them political consequence, and the power of gratifying an unnatural hatred towards a ******* ; — consequently they have been to me, as the fatal tree of which I speak, which lays waste the soil that gave and sup- ports its existence. Doubtless the man, who had lately the hardihood, to stand up in a court of justice, and declare upon oath, that his royal master, was not acquainted with his proceedings against the duke of York, will not feel much embarrassment — in again swearings that I have not related the truth, and that, all the preceding pages of this work, are nothing but a catalogue of gross falsehoods ; — but I do not fear to make out a clear case, and to connect my facts in such a way, as will leave no doubt upon the mind of my readers, though disposed to scepticism, that my narrative will be a faithful portrait of the respective persons that have come under the feeble powers of my pencil to delineate. Though major Dodd, acknowledged in the court * of king's bench, that he was concerned with colonel Ward.le in the proceedings against the commander in chief (on patriotic principles of course) yet it may be necessary to produce a few of his notes to me, in or* der to show how far he was interested in the investi- gation, and mixed up in every part of the conspiracy : - — The following are a specimen : — * The Bohun Upas tree, on the island of Java, of which 4?. Darwin gives a long and curious account, in the second volume? of his " Loves of the Plants." ( 37 ) " Ask Donovan where the money was lodged by Tonyn £500; and where Tucker's ?" 16 Ask when Dowler was made commissary ?" " Do write, or see Thynne, and enquire respecting the exchange between knight and Pleydell." u Bring the papers from Bedford Place — French's." < ; My dear mrs. Clarke, " I called yesterday at Glennie's for the pa- pers, but he is gone to Woolwich, and will not return till Saturday evening; I will see him on Sunday morning. Your's, alwa3 7 s, Tuesday Morning. T. D." In consequence of having written to major Dodd for some pecuniary assistance, to relieve the immedi- ate necessities of a relation, I received the following notes, which show that we were then upon terms of intimacy and friendship : " I am this moment returned from money hunting, without being able to get any ; I declare I have only six pounds, and I have enclosed you five. God bless you, Your's, &c. &c. (Signed) Darling/ * " My dear mrs. Clarke, " I intended answering your letter in per- son, not having had the pleasure of seeing you for some days, but as your servant says 3'ou are immedi- * Major Dodd subscribed this name in ridicule of the mode of address usually adopted towards me by the duke of York. D ( 38 ) fctely going out, and I have not yet began to dress 5 and not being very well, I fear I may detain you, I therefore hasten to say, that I really would most will- ingly comply with your request, had I any cash by me, but 1 have been cruelly disappointed lately in money matters, and am at this moment much incon- venienced on that account. I feel very severely for capt. Thompson's distressing situation, and would readily relieve him if 1 could. Believe to be, Your's, very faithfully, -T. D." It is not my intention in working 'up a portrait of major Dodd, to show him in false colors; — yet, in justice to myself, I am bound to throw sufficient light upon those parts of the picture that are necessary to render a faithful representation ot the man. I will take the liberty of relating a further proof of major Dodd's political acquaintance with me, and his having my letters in his possession. While under my last examination in the house of commons, mr. Whitbread asked me, to produce those letters which the duke of York had written to me, after our separation. I informed him, that I would send them down to the house by my coachman, the moment I got home. This, however, did not appear a satisfactory answer, which induced the h«use* to express it wish, that I should be accompanied by a messenger, who might return with the letters imme- diately. This proposal I eluded, from a/ knowledge that ma- jor Dodd had those very letters in hu possession, to shew to the duke of Kent. If the house had per- sisted in sending a messenger with me on that occa- sion, an exposition of all Dodd's operations must have ensued, and the whole affair been discovered. "*' See the annates of the house of Commons, page 465. C 39 ) Having, however, obtained permission of the house 10 go tor these letters alone, I was getting into my carriage, when the earl of Mont fort insisted on going with me ; and finding, nothing I could urge would excuse me, from the honor of his lordship's company, I drove home, and left him in the drawing-room while I slipt off to major Dodd, whom I fortunately found at home ; and after acquainting him with the object of mr. Whitbread's request, he brought a bun- die of my papers to my house; out of -which he se- lected such letters in my front parlor, as best suited his views. The major then dictated a letter, as necessary tc accompany the parcel to mr. Whitbread, which I wrote, and sent off immediately by my coachman ; and thus the whole business was managed so neatly, that the earl of Montfort, who came with me as a spy, went back in my carriage to the house of com- mons, as wise as he came. It may occur to the recollection of my reader, that I was asked by some member in the house, whether I had given up my papers to colonel Wardle, in aid of his prosecution of the commander in chief, and that 1 had replied in the negative, which was certainly the truth, as these letters of the duke of York to me, had nothing to do with the business of the investigation, further than to satisfy the house, of the duke's pro- fessions of regard and affection for me. Much time and entreaty were employed, by ma- jor Dodd, to obtain these letters, of which he at last got possession, under, however, a promise of return- ing them in a few days — which he did not accomplish, until after the business of the duke was terminated. As major Dodd forms a prominent figure in my picture of this patriotic groupe, he perhaps, would feel offended 'if 1 were to, leave him immediately for the penciling of either of his friends. In compli- ment, therefore, to the confidential secretary of a prince, I shall net take my brush from his portrait, i 40 ) till every lineament of his character is faithfully laid on the canvas, to the best of my pictorial powers. To show with what zeal major Dodcl pursued the duke of York, and the cause in which he had with so much ardor embarked, I will repeat his ozen relation of a fact. He informed me, in the presence of co- lonel Wardle, that he had seen M'Cullum a few days before, and after a conversation upon various circum- stances necessary te the success of their plans, he desired him to engage several persons to perambulate Pall-mall, st. James's-street, the royal exchange, and other great public streets of the metropolis, with placards, in order to annoy the duke of York, and give publicity to M'Cullum's pamphlet,* which had been written expressly for that purpose, and to serve the duke of Kent. These fellows, said Dodd, are now walking about with the placards ; and colonel Wardle and myself Iiave been this day following them up and down Pall- mall, to observe what degree of attention they produ- ced, and I assure you, we have been much gratified with their attraction of public curiosity. On my remonstrating with him for descending to such a paltry and dirty act, he told me, that " no- thing could be dirty; enough, or low enough, to be employed against the duke of York/' I believe there is scarcely a military man in the kingdom, who was at Gibraltar during the duke of Kent's command of that fortress, but is satisfied that the duke of York's refusal of a Court Martial to his Royal brother, afforded an incontestible proof of his regard for the military character, and honor of the- duke of Kent; for if a Court Martial had been grant- ed to the governor of Gibraltar, I always understood there was but one opinion, as to what would have been the result; and then, the duke of Kent would * I have given the title ot ibis work >b a note to page 1 J* * ( 41 } have lost several thousands a year, and incurred sutu public reflections, that would, most probably, have been painful to his honorable and acute feelings. It was however, this act of affection for the duke of Kent, that laid the foundation of that hatred which has followed the commander in chief up to the pre- sent moment; — and to this unnatural feelings he is solely indebted for all the misfortunes and disgrace to which he has been introduced. In one of the many conversations which I had with major Dodd and Glennie, upon the meditated ruin of the duke of York, they informed me, thatr their royal friend had made every endeavor in his power, w poison the king's ear f against the comman- der in chief; but as colonel Taylor was so much about the person of his majesty, all his efforts had proved ineffectual ; — and to have spoken his sentiments before col. Taylor, would have been very injudi- cious, as he would have immediately communicat- ed them to the commander in chief: who, though he knew at this time (said these confidential and worthy patriots) that the duke of Kent was supporting per- sons to write against him, and that some parliamen- tary proceedings were upon the eve of bursting upon the public attention ; yet deported himself towards his royal brother, as if they lived but for each other's honor and happiness;: and the duke of Kent, to keep up appearances, was more particular in his attentions to the duke of York than he had ever been before. Such were the arts to which the duke of Kent resorted (said Dodd) to lessen his brother in the love and esteem of his royal father, and the people of England. I was very curious to learn every particular rela- tive to my political connexion— .as it may be natu- rally enough supposed I should be — indeed, to find a woman without this usual attendant on her sex 7 is to see the order of female life inverted, and such- D $ ( 42 ) a phenomenon is a wonder in nature, which, though it may beget our astonishment, at being, what it ought not to be, seldom produces our admiration and esteem, and therefore, as I am in every sense of the word, a woman, the reader will not be sur- prised at my disposition to be curious ! Thus prompted to know all the secret movements of my political friends, I inquired of major Dodd, how he became acquainted with colonel Wardle ; and he informed me, that the virtuous mr. Hague was to have had the honor of introducing the patri- otic colonel to him, but owing to some accident in, the time of meeting, mr. Glennie took that honor out of mr. Hague's hands, and brought together these two great characters for strength of memory and public virtue. Major Dodd's Chere amie kept (and perhaps now keeps) a chop-house, or inferior sort of tavern, in the neighborhood of Drury-lane, where he, Hague^ Glennie, and other reformers of the state, privately assembled to discuss politics, and digest their plan of operations. Colonel Wardle also frequented" this house, and in that situation formed some idea of the public furor, which afterwards attended his political opposition to the duke of York. If I may be excused in applying Sallust's descrip- tion of the secret meetings during Catiline's con- spiracy, to this private party at the chop-house*, I can fancy bowls of wine without the sanguinanj mixture of the Roman libation, handed about in or- der to give a solemn effect to their promises of fi- delity to such acts of policy, as might be expedient to the accomplishment of a greater work than a erudent writer will describe ! ! ! * Major Dodd and colonel Wardle used to sa), of an evening — " Now Jet us go down to the blackguards— -we despise these, fellows, but they are useful 'to a conspiracy." ( <* y It may appear somewhat strange to the reader, that I should have quoted an author not generally read by my sex, but that kind of reading usually resorted to by ladies, never engaged my attention. 1 scarcely know a novel but by name, while histo- rical and political writers have long been the chief authors of my contemplation. This may be ac- counted for, from having mixed much with persons of the first rank and talents in the political world, from whose conversation I acquired a taste for books not common to a lady's library, and from whom I also derived considerable intellectual ad- vantage. It was major Dodd's interest to impress upon my mind, that the duke of Kent possessed every good quality that could dignify the human hearty and exalt the man. Amidst the great variety of perfections that en- livened the wreaths that Dodd had so liberally en- twined round the brow of his royal master, phi- lanthropy was not the least conspicuous, of which he so often spoke in terms of the highest eulogi- um, that miss Taylor began to entertain suspicions of the verity of his praise ; which induced us to hit upon an expedient, that would at once bring the duke of Kent's benevolence to the test. In a disguised hand, and under a feigned name, she wrote a most excellent letter* to the duke of Kent, in which she solicited Ten Pounds, and des- cribed the misery of herself and aged sister, in such an eloquent strain of piteous narrative, that it would have touched the chord of sensibility in the heart of a stone ; but had not (as was suspected) any effect upon major Dodd's philanthropic and benevolent patron. Though miss Taylor's letter did not produce one guinea to the supposed distressed females, it af- - — ■ufEMi j ■■jrn-1 — *■- * Miss Taylor is a rerj accomplnhed scholar, ( 44 ) lorded a great deal of private mirth to us, and ob- tained from major Dodd, colonel Wardle, and mr. Glennie, repeated assurances of the duke's atten- tion to the mendicant's application, who felt for the distresses of the unfortunate, and had sent the poor aged woman, ten pounds. I think I never shall forget the hypocritical face which Dodd put on, when he said, " You see in what estimation the duke of Kent lives among the people, and in what way he is looked up to ; — but it cannot be a matter of wonder, for the most tri- fling letter from the humblest individual in the king- dom, receives his immediate attention, and there- fore it is easy to account for his being the favorite of the people ! 1 !" After miss Taylor and myself were satisfied with the number of falsehoods our little trick on the duke had produced, we began to hoax his royal Highness's distinguished good qualities, in such pointed terms, that Dodd soon discovered that we were the authors of the joke against his patron, whom he informed of it — and who afterwards ex- pressed his anger at the liberty which we had taken with him ; — but the fact is, that these good souls were ashamed of their own deception and lies, and did not know in what way to restore themselves to my good opinion, as Gentlemen of truth and benevolence! — two qualities to which they had proved themselves perfect strangers. Mingling anecdote with narrative I beg to call my reader's attention again to my pecuniary differ- ence with colonel Wardle, and his amiable associ- ates. A few days after I returned from my visit to the Martello Towers, I understood, that mr. Wright had not seen colonel Wardle, as he was led to expect by me, in order to be satisfied of the pay- ment of his bill On seeing the immaculate patri- ot, I expressed my surprise that he had not attend- ed to his promise, and satisfied mr. Wright's mind, C 45 ) ill order that no further impediments should stand in the way of having my house furnished agreea- ble to my inclination, and with all possible despatch. He attributed his neglect to the hurry of politi- cal business, and continuing to profess his usual friendship, agreed to accompany me to Rathbone place,* which he did on the 1st of December, and after having ordered such furniture as met with our mutual approbation, he undertook for the pay- ment of mr. Wright's bill. On the following day, major Dodd accompanied me and colonel Wardle to the same warehouse, when we chose the draw- ing-room carpets, with respect to which, there has since been so much public mirth, on the colonel's selection of a scarlet and bronze. On the succeed- ing day, December 3d, the colonel went alone to Rathbone place, to enter more fully into the na- ture of the payment he was to make for my furni- ture, when he began a conversation! with mr. Da- niel Wright, with respect to a bill for £500. It may be necessary to say, mr. Daniel Wright agreed to take a bill at a short dale for the above sum, in part of payment for the furniture to be sent to Westborne place. Colonel Wardle hesi- tated for some time, and then observed upon the difficulty of giving a bill, without the danger of his name being committed with its negociation ; but before he left the house, promised to manage the business agreeably to mr. D. Wright's request. Mr. Wright still remaining in a state of inse- curity with respect to the promised bill, called at Westborne place about the 14th of December, when colonel Wardle happened to be in the house * To save proli\iiv of narrative, I avoid repeating the precise words of my evidence, in the court of king's bench — I therefore, shall omit tny account of mr. Wright's indisposition, and his con- finement to his bed, on colonel VVardle's first visit to Rathbone place. t See the evidence of Daniel Wright, on the trial of hb bro- ther's action against colonel Wardle, &Cv- < 46 ) waiting to see me. As soon as I was informed 01 mr. Wright's visit, I sent word to colonel Wardle that he wished to see him, and the colonel returned for answer, that there was no occasion to see mr. F. Wright, as he had settled every thing with his brother Daniel, but he requested to see me upon another business. This answer appeared to me, like shuffling, as the narrative of it, no doubt, in- duces the reader to believe— -he meant to shuffle / I therefore, repeated my, wish, that he would see mr. Wright, and make my mind easy ; and after several messages had passed between us, he sent me a note, (which would since have been of the ut- most conseque?ice to me, if it had not been lost) persisting in the folly of seeing mr. F. Wright, when he had adjusted every thing, to the satisfac- tion of his brother. There appeared something extraordinary in this part of the colonel's conduct, y which induced me to inform him, that unless he< saw mr. Wright, and satisfied him with respect to the bill, I should feel offended, and would not see him again ; and as there was no alternative but that of seeing my. upholsterer, or leaving my house, he accordingly acquiesced, and when I came down stairs, we immediately went to mr. Wright in the front parlor. The colonel's very cautious behavior on that morning, put me upon the alert with respect to my expectations ; I therefore thought it prudent to speak a little freely before mr. Wright, and opened a conversation, by observing, that col. Wardie had assured me that alt my debts should be paid ; when mr. Wright said, he hoped I would think of the debt of £500, due to him, while I was under the protection of the duke of York : the colonel ob- served, he would not undertake to pay that debt, but he would fiut him in the way of getting his money; which was, by bringing an action against the duke of York. Here the reader may see the Colonel, again at work. to. bring the duke ofYovfe C w ) before the public, or at least to annoy him in every possible way ! — but what will confirm this opinion is, that the colonel proceeded to assure Wright ^ that he would indemnify him for the costs, if he would but attack that illustrious personage by a le- gal process It is plain from this advice to mr. Wright, that colonel Wardle did all he could to further the ends of his great patron, who w s to return the favor, by raiting him in the state* — I do not mean to make any allusion to that elevated sta- tion which is under the immediate eye of the sheriff; notwithstanding colonel Wardle deserves to be ex- alted I — If such an honor should ever await the mock patriot, and it were possible for sir R. Phillips •o resume all the functions of his late office, what a solemn and interesting colloquy would take place between these two innocents* on the nature of pub- lic virtue, and dying popularity ! ! ! — But I will drop col. Wardle, in this line of public advance- ment, and return to my narrative. To the credit of mr. Wright, be it spoken, that he objected to lend himself to the colonel's malicious proposition, of bringing an action against the duke of York j and there -the matter ended. The principal object of Wright's visit being the bilL the conversation was naturally enough turned again to that important point, when colonel War- dle mentioned the following day, as a time that his leisure would allow him to attend to that particular business ; he then ftaustd awhile and again ob- served, that there was some little difficulty in giv- ing this bill, as the investigation which was com- ing on before the house of commons, made it a de- dicate matter for him to put his own hand to paper 1 the discovery of which might frustrate the busi- ness with which mr. Wright had been made ac- quainted. But, said the colonel, I will go down to * See page 29. ( 43 ) sir Richard Phillips,* to-morrow morning, and he and some one else will give you their bill without my name appearing ! ! ! Mr. Wright having obtained a satisfactory un- derstanding with the colonel, departed with a pro- mise to complete the order with all possible expe- dition. Some days having elapsed, and mr. Wright not hearing from colonel Wardle as he expected, I felt uneasy at the delay, and urged him to keep his promise v*ith my upholsterer, as early as possible, which produced the following letter from the colo- nel to mr. Glennie, who accordingly waited on mr. Wright : " Eight o'clock) Saturday morning. " My DEAR SIR, " You will, after seeing mr. Wright, the upholsterer, Rathbone place, meet major Dodd and myself at Fladong's hotel, about \ past 12 o'clock. " I hope you will be able to prevail upon mr. Wright to let mrs. Clarke know that he will be satisfied to wait till the end of the next month. Do urge to him the impossibility of its being ar- ranged as was firo/iosed) through the medium of the bookseller,* without committing mrs. C. and our- selves — which, assure him, would be of conse- quence,./^/ in an extreme, he cannot conjecture- The great object is, that mrs. C's mind should be rendered perfectly easy, and if mr. W. will do so I * The reader will please (o keep in mind the colonel's know- ledge of this person. * Sir Richard Phillips who after the trial in the month of July, assured the people of England, through a letter to the editor of the Morning Post, that he did not know colonel Wardle at that time, &c— but more of this anon f "( *9 ) shall feel myself much obliged, and not unmindful of his attention to such my wishes (and anxious ones they are) upon the subject Your's, my dear sir, Ever faithfully, (Signed) Gilb. L. Warble." u To James Glennie, esq." This important document (I understand) is now in the possession of mr. Corfield, the colonel's late attorney, with whom it was left by mistake with other papers. When colonel Wardle was about to lay his case before counsel, this letter providential* fy slipt out of the parcel, and now lives as a monu- ment of disgrace to the man, who stood up in a court of justice and perjured himself to redeem his character with the people of -England ; and although perjury appears an Hibernian method to support a man's reputation, yet he was kept in countenance by sir R. Phillips and several of bAs friends, on my late trial for conspiracy ! ! /—-I trust, the attentive reader will have been convinced by this time, who were the conspirators — myself and the Wrights, or colonel Wardle and his despicable associ- ates ! ! ! Several respectable public prints, employed all their sophistry, to pervert the obvious meaning of the above letter, and if possible, twist its import to the advantage of colonel Wardle. If I were dis- posed to dispute points with all the papers that have fought in colonel Wardle's cause, I might keep writing till my work increased to the size of some E ( 50 ) tive, with those necessaty illustrations which my subject may require. Obedient to the wish of the above letter, mr. Glennie endeavored to sooth Wright's impatience, and persuade him to wait for the bill of ,£500 till the investigation should be over ; when he might rest assured, that it would be given to him in a ve- ry honorable way. As an apology for this delay, mr. Glennie urged the delicate situation in which the colonel would be placed, if he suffered such an instrument to be float* ing in the commercial w r orld, which, accident might carry into the very hands of his enemies, and af- ford the means of discovering his political connec- lion with me. mr. Glennie interlarded his solici- tation with a large share of eulogium on colonel Wardle, as being a gentleman of great integrity, li- berality, and hoyior ; — qualities that time has amfily illustrated \ I I Mr- Wright then had no reason to doubt Mr. Glennie's character of Colonel Wardle, but as praise would not buy pudding, he still stuck to the bill, and assured the delicate Caledonia^, that under an impression of receiving it, he had made arrange- ments that could not be then counteracted, and therefore, could not possibly do without the pecu- niary assistance promised by colonel Wardle. Mr. Glennie finding that all his art and eloquence had no effect on mr. Wright, began to work another way to serve his friend. He commenced his lecture on his native firudence, by observing, that he thought the-house I had taken, was much larger than I had any occasion for, and as he suspected that I w r as a very extravagant woman, and would run hisfriend i fcolonel Wardle, to a very great exfience, he beg- ged mr. Wright not to tempt me with expensive furniture, as elegance appeared unnecessary. On mr. Glennie's asking mr. Wright what he thought would be the amount of brs bill for furnishing nry ( *1 house, he told him that at least, it would come to ^£1200, which the delicate Caledonian communicated to mr. Wardle, who mentioned it to me, and ex- pressed a hope that the bill would not exceed that sum ; and in order to keep it down as much as possible, Wardle, Dodd, and Glennie used to object to such things as afifieared expensive — though they first firomiscd furniture in any style of elegance my taste and inclination might lead me to desire. Mr. Glennie repeatedly spoke to miss Taylor,* upon the subject of my furniture, and urged her to per- suade me not to enlarge my upholsterer's bill, as there would be no end to mr. Wright's demand on the colonel's pocket! Until the 28th of December, nothing occurred sufficiently interesting for notice, when mr. Illingworth, wine-merchant, of Pall-mall, then a perfect stranger to me, opened the nature of his visit, by saying, that he had the honor to serve the duke of Kentf with wine ! and that he suppos- ed I had been apprized, by major Dodd, of his bu- siness with me. I told him I was perfectly ac- quainted with his intended services to them, which I hoped would remove any reserve he might feel with respect to the affair. It is here necessary to inform the reader, that the patriot and the faithful secretary had made me/z?*o- mise to accept a bill of Illingworth, in order to mask the real money transaction, that was then about to be enter ed wpotiy between the wine-merchant and my upholsterer, lest the then ensuing investigation might lead to the discovery of colonel Wardle's payment for my furniture ; accordingly mr. Illing- worth produced a bill for^500, which I accepted, as previously agreed upon by these wise heads ! * The lady who was examined in the house of commons, and for whom mr. Cobbett raised a subscription. t The reader will perceive, that I have not yet got out of the not mean to connect the duke of Kent with this, or any thing beyond the investigation. Colonel Wardle's other plans grew out of the success attendant en his first great- measure-," ( ft ) Iter, with which they had a little before, been bespat- tering others in her defence ! The reader will be soon satisfied, how misled mr. Corfield and Serjeant Best were, by the colonel, with respect to Ulingworth-'s bill, when I give the following extract from the trial. A juryman interrupted the learned Serjeant's abusive speech in this manner : — A Juryman — " Will you inform me whose name, if any, is on the bill I Mr. Park, " We cannot say. We have not the BILL ; WE NEVER SAW IT. Lord Eilenborough. — " We must do as well as we can. This deficiency of evidence we cannot account for; ail that we have to do, is to decide upon such evidence as the parties please to lay before us. Mr. Serjeant Best. — " it is very true, gentlemen, we have never seen this bill. A great deal of talk has occurredabout it; but I believe u never existed* I hope, therefore, you have been too long in that box to be imposed upon by the trick ©r tricks of flfty such witnesses as you have heard this day. The payment of Jive hundred pounds bill, alledged to have been handed by colonel Wardle to mr. Wright, we utterly deny, and with which we affirm, WE HAD NOTHING TO DO." Before 1 remark on this extract,- let us see how far it accords with an extract from the affidavit of colo- nel Wardle and major Dodd. First, the reader will perceive, that the existence of a bill is positively denied by his own counsel, Ser- jeant Best and mr. Park — and then, after a few months consideration, and legal advice,, colonel Wardle and the major, find it political to swear in the following manner: — pray, reader, attend, to the declaration of these good men ! — Deponents say — "That deponent, G. L. Wardle, related to deponent, Thomas Dodd, what is herein, before stated to have gassed between the other defend- ( 68 ) &nt G. L. Wardle, and the said James Glennie, and Mary Ann Clarke, on the substance and affidavit thereof, and that the deponent, G. L. Wardle, con- sulted with deponent, Thomas Dodd, and prevai ed upon said Thomas Dodd, contrary to his better judg- ment to assist in accommodating the said Mary Anne Clarke, with the loan ot the said £500. Say — "That they went together to mr. TUingworth, of Pall Mall> the wine-merchant ol the said Thomas Dodd, whom deponent, G. L. Wardle, had seen but once before, and was scarcely known to, and the said 1 nomas Dodd, desired mr. Illtngworth to assist the said Mary Anne Clarke, by taking her note, and by giving his acceptance for £500 to the piain- tiff, who was distressing the said Mary Anne Clarke for money; and defendant, Thomas Dodd, assured said mr. Illingworth, that he should be no los^r, for that he, the said Thomas Dodd, and the said G. L. Wardle, would give the said mr. Illingworth, secu- rity for the amount to be paid, in case the said Ma- ry Anne Clarke should not take up the note," &c. &c. On reference to page 52 the reader will see the bill and receipt, which my counsel had in their possession that very moment, but I suppose, for some legal rea- son, did not see the necessity of producing them. "When mr. Illingworth was examined before the grand jury, J am given to understand, that he told them he had lost the bill; but the fact is, that it was never given to him, in consequence of his not having been able to take it up in the regular way when due. The reader will be pleased to recollect, at first, he only paid £36'9 8 6, as may be seen by reference to his letter*, and when the remainder of the money was sent to mr. Wright, I believe, accident prevented his ' * • See page 57, ( 69 > receiving this document, which has since turned out so toriunate to my cause. I trust, that alter this clear illustration of facts, all mr. Serjeant Best's abuse of me, will have but little weight with the reader of that trial. 1 beg to be un- derstood, that I do not mean to make any unhand- some reflection upon the learned counsel, either in a private or professional point of light, as 1 know he was governed by the instructions of his brief, and under an impression that it contained nothing but truth, he stood up to discharge his duty to his client. But one thing I must be allowed to communicate to the public,, which is, that it was not many hours after the triaL before he was convinced that the colonel had grossly deceived his attorney, mr. Corrleld, and himself; and I am informed, that he made use of this very strong remark — " the man (meaning colonel Wardle) is both a fool and a rogue I" If this book should get into the hands of the gen- tlemen who were jurors upon that trial (as I have no doubt but it will) they must feel highly delighted with the verdict they gave on that occassion, as it will not only be a very flattering compliment to their un- derstanding and duty, but show, that twelve english* men have too much sense to be biased by an unmanly attack upon a woman's character and feelings — even though it is issued from the gentlemanly lips of the Best counsel in the court of common pleas. It is said that a drowning man will catch at a straw — and as colonel Wardle was driven to a variety of expedients to conceal his bill to Wright, he at one time caught at a straw-like pretence of his having giv- en it, to repay my upholsterer a sum of money, which he had been obliged to pay some time before, in con- sequence of having bailed me in an action, defended by an attorney, of Soho-square, through whose neg~ led, Wright had become answerable. It is only ne^ cessary here for me to observe, that this sumoj moneu^ ( 70 ) with other demands, which mr. Wright settled, I re- paid to him just after 1 left Gloucester place. I informed the reader a short time back, that mr. Illfngworth's miscellaneous observations should not escape notice, which I must confess, will be an act of civility he scarcely deserves; but as I would not wish to take my leave of him abruptly, I will proceed with the conversation he had with me as a reward for his Mnd services to colonel Wardle. This communicative tradesman resumed his re- marks on his friend the duke of Kent, by informing me, that he furnished the garrison of Gibraltar with wine, but his royal highness's personal consumption of the bachanalian fluid was not worth mentioning, it being less than that of almost any other man ; ma- jor Dodd, however, made up the deficiency, and re- velled in all the delights which the cellar of a prince can so amply afford. I have understood from the major that the duke of Kent is of very temperate hab- its, and instead of passing his time over the bottle, he consumes the midnight hour in reflection, and rises by day-light, to write long letters on trifles, which Dodd said no one would read, and on making out his pepper and Salt account. I wish his attention to the latter article, had put him in mind of the emblem of purity, of which Pythagoras speaks, and then 1 should riot have had the honor of giving this temperate prince a niche in my work ! Some persons are so vain, that they can scarcely seat themselves in your presence, before they infornv you that they are people of consequence, and then be- gin to expatiate upon all the great qualities of their rich relations. Of this class of men, mr. lllingwoith appears to be one ; he had not been with me ten minutes, and got my negative to the favor he asked of me, before he observed, that he was related by mar- riage, to a bishop* who was of high blood! After be- stowing much eulogium upon the virtues of this great divine, he should riot have forgotten to have told me, ( 71 ) by way of contrasting his family portraits, that his wife's brother was a hackney coachman, who perhaps may have occasionally the honor to drive the bishop to church. Mr. lllingworth informed me, that he was upon intimate terms with his venerable relative, who, no doubt, has his wines from Pall-mall, and in- vites him to dinner, that lie may send the best article for his own consumption ! If the good divine should see this book, and think as the generality of my readers, I trust, will think, that mr. lllingworth has been a back-slider, he will prepare against his next visit, a wholesome homily from the words of this great commandment — " Thou sbalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor," &c. Perhaps I am wrong in hinting a lecture to a bishop, who may never preach ; but if that should be the case, he is always encircled by those Who are looking up to him for a better living and less spiritual labor, and who would give a very animated discourse upon a subject, in which mr. lllingworth might feel tremu- lously alive, at having been the unhappy cause of giv- ing the clergy any trouble beyond drinking his wine ' — If mr. lllingworth should not be able to stand under the effect of the discourse, he must lean against the bishop, who being the pillar of the church, is very able to Bear a load of sin ! end of vol, i; THE RIVAL PRINCES, #(\ fyc. SfC. J[ HERE is something so interesting in the con- duct of colonel Wardle, that I cannot but continue to lead the reader along the'pdih by which he so honorably reached the temple, where fame, was anxiously wait- ing to deck his virtuous head with the leaf of the flat- tering laurel. If I could descant with that warmth of feeling, and energy of expression, which distin- guished the zeal of the colonel and his colleagues in the cause of their royal patron, I fear it might be con- sidered a caricature of the subject, instead of that faithful portrait which I professed to give in the com- mencement of this work. Having pledged myself to a veritable statement of facts, and fearing my feeble pen would not be ade- quate to a masterly coloring of that extravagant re- gard which these persons evinced for their royal friend, the reader must be satisfied with my imperfect illus- tration of their individual and collective movements in the great cause in which they were engaged. If the following documents are not instances of the xeal of which 1 speak, then colonel Wardle is an an- gel — perhaps the reader may think him so — but of darkness ! By the following documents, it will be seen, that he was in the habit of dictating to me my line of proceeding, and of giving me heads for a sub- ject, which shews the influence he had over my evi- dence : ( 73 ) Mr. Adam, " The friend professed, of both brothers, has astonished his patrons by his liberality, at the ex- pence of the public, towards his poor friends in Scot- land, for whom he created as many new places and establishments as would fill a red book of the size it used to be half a century ago." Five o'clock. This expressly tells me in what manner I must proceed. " Home of commons, 5 o'clock, " Tuesday evening. " My dear madam, " Mr. Perceval says, that he has a question or two to put to you, but that he will not keep you many minutes; he wishes you to come down about lime o'clock to-night. Send him a note, when you come, to say you are at the house in compliance with His desire., 1 send you doctor O'Meara's letter, en- closed, so that you may present it yourself to the house, stating, that you forgot it last night. 1 hope you have ient Favorey, &c. &c. Yours, very much, Wardle." - To the best of my recollection, this letter, which puts a falsehood into my mouth with respect to my forgetting the letter last night, was sent to me about ; the 13th or 14th of February, as may be seen by re- ference to the minutes of the house of commons, as published by mr. Chappie, Pall-mall.- One morirng I requested colonel Wardle to ac- company me to mr. Wright's, with respect to my fur- niture, but he excused himself under the plea of ur- gent parliamentary business ; he, however, told me, to get major Dodd to go, as he had nothing to do oil G ( ?+ ) the following day. Accordingly the major acqniescod, hut wishing to couple my business with enquiries ne- cessary to the proceedings before the house, we call- ed on dr. Thynne, that J might ask him some ques- tions, which he dictated, and then went on to Rath- bone place, where we were obliged to stay about half an hour, in consequence of the weight of the major's person having broken one of the springs of my car- riage, which, when repaired, we went on to my solici- tor, mr. Comrie, of Southampton-buildings, Holborn, who not being in town, the major spoke to his nephew, and endeavored to obtain my papers of him, as he particularly wanted a bill, sent to Birkett, the silver- smith, in order to see the date respecting the £500, paid by colonel French to me; — a circumstance of which I had previously informed the major, who in- sisted upon the delivery of my papers, which, if not immediately attended to, he assured mr. Comrie's nephew that he would send a summons from the house of commons, to enforce them. I have detailed this fact, as another instance of the zeal of this party ! What will the reader be pleased to denominate that feeling which induced colonel Wardle to draw me from my secluded habitation, under flattering pros- pects — suborn me into his own arranged measures of proceeding in the house of commons — instruct me to evade such questions as might be dangerous to his cause, while he had the face to make the most gross declarations — and afterwards had the impudence to stand up and reason on his own villainy ! — The read- er is asked to designate stock a feeling with an appro- priate epithet : — I must confess that i am at a loss, whether to let it stand under the term — zeal for his patron — or that horrid depravity of mind, for which, there is not in the english language, a phrase suffici- ent \y forcible. There would be no end of citing proofs of this de- clav::ti n, from the minutes of evidence before the house Qt commons, it I telt so disposed, but as such. ( 75 ) information is within the possible acquisition of ever) one, and as it is in tact pretty generally known, I do not feel inclined to entertain my reader with unneces- sary long extracts from that voluminous work. If the reader will keep in mind, that the whole proceed- ing in the house was under his immediate knowledge and direction, and that he took every private and pub- lic means to blow the coal, in order to consume the ob- ject of his attack : — that he, major Dodd, or mr. Glennie, were always going to and from me, to the house of commons, though he as a gentleman, had the modesty to deny or acknowledge it, as best suited the expediency of the moment : — that he argued up- on the credibility of circumstances formed by himself, and after a long interval, and having slept repeatedly on his proceedings, he again stood up in the house on the 8th of March, to deliver a cool, mild and philan- thropic speech, on the consideration of the report of the committee. It the reader will, I say, keep in mind all these circumstances, and then compare the following part of his oration, I do flatter myself that there can be but one opinion of his honor and veracity ; and that opinion is, that colonel Wardle is, a black sheep ! — The colonel stated to the house as follows— " My leading object from the opening of this im- portant business to the present moment, has been to obtain a fair and cool investigation of the charges I thought it my duty to bring forward against his royal highness the commander in chief. I have endeavored to avoid every thing likely to cause irritation in the progress of the inquiry, and in that course I shall most rigidly persevere, however / may feel hurt that motives highly injurious to my character, and not more inj uri- nous than false, have been indirectly attributed to me,* as the ground of my proceedings ; and though I J* His services to the dike of Kent-— A guilty conscience, b said, to want no accuser. ( 76 ) may ako have thought that in the early stage of tlVte enquiry, I was harshly treated, still, sir, on these points I shall make no comment, but at once proceed to a more pleasant task — that of offering my thanks where I feel them due." Colonel Wardle having heard me mention mr. Corri, the music-master, as being acquainted with a money transaction, between me and captain Sandon, he begged that I would ask him to my house, and on being apprized of his Visit, he, or the major, would drop in, as if by accident, in order to make him re- peat kis conversation with captain Sandon. Mr. Cor- ri came to Westborne Place on the 6th of January, when I immediately sent to apprize colonel Wardle of it, who was dining on that day with major Dodd, Hi Sloane-street. The colonel wrote* back, request- ing me to keep the jockey till he and Dodd came. In about half an hour they did me the honor of a visit, and remained till mr. Corri went away. As the colonel was the principal object of concealment, I passed him off as mr. W. Mellish, the member for Middlesex. On reference to the minutes, it may be seen, that I only made use of him under the direction of colo- nel Wardle, and that I brought on the conversation be repeated at the bar of the house, and which te as follows : Mr. Dominico Corri, examined.f " You have stated, that you have seen mrs. Clarke iwice since the 1st of January, on the 6th and 1 5 1 h ^ was there any conversation at either of those meet- " * Nut thinking these kind of notes of any moment at that time*, tfee above was not preserved. f See page 61 of the Minutes. ( 77 ) ings, when you sopped each time, respecting the tran- saction to which this related? " Yes, I was a little surprised, because soon after dinner she sent for the twelfth cake, they sent for a compliment to some gentlemen, and two gentlemen came in the evening ; and as soon as they came, the conversation of this affair of mr. Sandon, was intro- duced, and I repeated every word then, just as 1 have here; that capt. Sandon told me she had received the ^500, and Mr. Cockayne had received the <£200, and they, laughing at me, said % what a fool I had been : and this was the topic of the conversation of the whole night." It may occur to the recollection of the reader, that mr. Corri was asked in the house, whether he then saw the gentleman he called mr. iMellish, and he re* plied, that he did not, but that when mr. Mellish stood up for his observation, he informed the house, that he was not the gentleman whom he had seen at Yv'estbome Piace. After the cxami nation of Corri upon this point, col. Waidle told me that he icasjmich alarmed at that time, lest the witness shoulu have disctrered him when looking round the house; and to avoid which, he sat doivn behind sei era! members who were standing! When major Dodd was first introduced to me by colonel Wardle, 1 was doubtful of his professions of sincerity, as it may be naturally enough supposed I should be, of the mere word of a stranger, and there- fore informed him, that though he was secretary to the duke of Kent, I should like to know something more of his character from other quarters, if he would mention the names of any persons to whom he was well known; and that if I were acquainted with any of them, or their connections, I would, in a circuitous way satisfy my mind with respect to his being a man of honor. t he major then repeated the names of a number of his friends, among whom was mr. Donovan, of Charles- street, St. James's G 2 ( 78 ) square, and on my saying that I was acquainted with him, he instantly proposed to accompany me to his door, which he did, while I had an interview with him. I have introduced this circumstance to shew how major Dodd afterwards made use of my knowledge of mr. Donovan, for the accomplishment of his own views; and after he and Wardle had got what they wanted with respect to him, the colonel immediately introduced his name to the notice of the parliament. Major Dodd thought, during the examination of Do- novan, that a letter might be written by me, to him, that would have great xoeight with the house, and the receipt of which Donovan could not deny if he were so disposed, when pushed home upon the subject by colonel Wardle, who was acquainted with the triek ; he therefore, dictated the following letter, which I sent to Donovan, who produced it to the house: ;i Dear Sir, " I am much mortified in seeing in this day's paper, the free use of your name, and mine, in the debate of last night; I, however, took an opportu- nity of seeing Mr. Wardle on the subject, and I find he is by no means so ill disposed as his speech seem- ed to evince, but he tells me, that as I have com- mitted myself and my papers; he is determined to make every possible use of them, that to him seems proper. 1 must be candid and tell you, that in order to facilitate some negociation, I had given him a few of your letters. In one you speak of the Queen in answer to the two Deaneries; as to myself, I must of course speak the truth, as I shall be put upon oath. Let me persuade you, if called on, to keep truth, as I ara convinced you will, but I mean the whole truth as to what has passed formerly between yourself and ,me. I have a thousand thanks for your being so quiet upon the c€l30, you shall have it, the moment my mother comes from* Bath : If ear if you are bach ( 79 ) ward, Wardle will expose the whole of the letters he has to the house. " Your's, truly, « M. A. Clarke. " Satin dor/ evening, July 28th, I8O9. " In order to relieve your mind, I send my servant, though late." The next letter the reader is about to peruse, I did not send to mr. Donovan under any other direction than that of my own will; but as some little circum- stances arose from its existence that makes another link to that lung chain of facts, which shew that Co- lonel Wardle is a man in whom there is no truth nor hunor, I have thought right to give it a place here; " Wednesday Morning, Feb. 1, 1809. " Dear sir, " I yesterday saw mr. Wardle ; he had a letter yesterday from your friend Glass, begging him not to take any business -in hand where his name is mentioned, and he asks for you also. He was tutor to Wardle — now Wardle assures me by every thing honorable, that if you speak candidly and fairly to the fact of Tonyn's, he will ask nothing more ; and if he has been at all intemperate with your name, he will do it every justice. Take my advice and do it — it cannot injure you.* I understand, your friend French, some months ago, put a friend of his in pos- session of Tonyn's business ; and yesterday a man of the name of Finnerty, gave him a case, which he says, he had from you, of a captain Trotter, and of course, you will not mention my telling yeu this. I wish ( 80 ) from my soul, Mr. Wardle had taken it up less pas- sionately, he might have done more good. Why do not you send me a line? I daresay, Claveringis hug- ging himself as he did not send the remainder. Your's, &c. M. A. C." The reader will perceive that Mr. Finnerty is men- tioned in this letter. Col. Wardle denied, in the house of commons, his having any intimacy with him, and 1 believe only acknowledges to have spoken to him once in the lobby ! After what the reader has already heard, it will not appear extraordinary to find that the colonel could coolly face six hundred representatives oi the nation, in the British senate, and insult them by a gross false- hood ! The fact is, that Mr. Finnerty and the colonel have been inseperable ever since the making up of major Hogan's pamphlet, and mrs. Wardle's visit in the barouche to the major, at Frank's hotel, Lower Brook-street, as 1 before observed, which colonel Wardle had assured me, his wi;e had most excellent ly managed under his directions! ! ! but acknowledging at the same time, that he had oeen guilty of a great oversight in having sent the servants in his own livery ! 1 believe the livery described by Mr. Finnerty, as ed- itor of major Hogan's pamplet, corresponded exactly with the clothes worn by the colonel's servants— which was white turned up with scarlet ! But to return more immediately to the above let- ter, which when delivered to the house by Mr. Don- ovan, threw the colonel into great trepidation and a- larm, as he had before denied knowing any thing of Mr. Finnerty ; and when he came to me the next morning, at nine o'clock, he expressed his anger that 1 was so indiscreet as to have mentioned Mr. Finnerty in a let- ter to Donovan, or any other person. He told mc I ( Si ) had nearly been the ruin of him, after the broad dec- laration he had made to the house, oi not being ac~ qua in ted with such a person. I observed, if he were ashamed of Mr. Finnerty, why did he associate with him ; — to which he replied, that he was very useful in that kind of business ; then laughed — and turned the conversation to some- thing else. It may appear a little strange that I have not as- signed some motive for having written a letter, in which I committed one of my patrons, but when I de- velope the cause, I am inclined to think I shall not incur the censure of my reader. The colonel had exposed Mr. Donovan, without my knowledge or ap- probation, and deceived me with respect to the young officers letters ; I therefore, thought that I would just give him and his colleagues & gentle hint, that they were all at my mercy ; and if they again deceived me as to the uie of toy information, I would ruin them — » which I am sorry now I did not accomplish ! As Colonel Wardle is greatly indebted to his wife for her cool and able assistance, during the investiga- tion, it would not be fair of me to pass her merits o- ver in brief remark, and as part of her services has just come under my notice, I may not have a better opportunity to commemorate the abilities of a Pat- riotic Wife ! History having regarded in language of descriptive energy, the exertions and influence of those wo- men who have distinguished themselves in great politic cal convulsions, I trust I may feel something like a strong plea m favor of my feeble attempt to describe mrs. Wardle's political character, in chastity of pen- cil, and sober coloring. It is said, that it is necessary for one of a family to have brains, otherwise they will not become distin- guished for any thing but folly ! This is precisely the case with colonel Wardle, who, without his wife's a- bilities, would never have made a politician 1 Previ- ( «2 ) ous to the investigation, she organized all the plans upon which her husband was to act, and in order to pick up information kept an open house, where all des- criptions of persons assembled that could be useful to her husband. One of her schemes was, to send to all the prisons, particularly the King's Bench and the Fleet, where she supposed many persons might be found, who would, for fine promises and a little money, communicate secrets relating to such high per- sons, whom incarcerated poverty might at one time have known! — among such a variety of individuals, whom misfortunes and indescretion, daily introduce to a goal, many may be found, who. one day or other, have been in the confidence of men of rank ; and as poverty and neglect strangely revolutionize the human mind, and induce a man, once possessed of pride and honor, to lend himself under expectations of reward, to acts, at which he would in the days of his prosperi- ty, have shuddered ! — It is therefore, not difficult to account for the quantity of biographical anecdote which is occasionally to be got through the means that was resorted to by rars. Wardie, to serve the cause of her husband. In this way she traced people and circumstances, which when brought together and arranged, made a something for colonel Wardle's labors, and though she most likely got every thing m an exaggerated gar- ment, )et still it was a something, which when stript of its prison dress, and assuming a more gaudy ap- parel, the colonel had acquired an opportunity of making the most of. In thi* way mrs. Wardle's dwel- ling became a repository for a mixture of all kinds of truth and falsehood, which misery, malice, and party furnr, could rake together for M'Cullum, the fore- man of these political scavengers, who, depositing his load at the feet of his mistress, she began to sort and separate the rubbish for its different intended purposes. It is incredible to stste the number of idle people who used tokaock at my door, during the iavestiga- ( 93 ) tion, with what they called curious anecdotes of great men ! and as an excuse for doing so, said, they had done business for mrs. Wardle. Of these unpleasant visits I complained to the colonel, who was angry at my conduct, but desired that they might in future, be sent to his house, which mandate my servants accor- dingly obeyed. So enthusiastic was the lady in the cause, that she was employed night and day for her dear husband, and to her credit be it spoken, that impediments only- appeared to increase her energies, and whet her appe- tite to forward his prosperity. I have been inform- ed, that his house, at that time, appeared like the duelling of a member, during an election, who is obli- ged to feed a succession of hungry constituents, that after many professions of independence andliberty, gen- erally give their votes where they find the best ta- ble! Another scheme by which colonel Wardie, under the direction uf his wife, endeavored to acquire injur- .mat ion, was, that of finding out, and getting acquaint- td with some of the minor clerks in the different pub- lic offices, and those of a higher class, if circumstan- ces afforded an opportunity ; from these individuals the colonel possessed himself of much garbled and w#- certain matter, out of which, he at last set up a prin- ciple, of saving the nation eleven millions a year ! In case it should be said that I am speaking too generally in making such a charge, I will give one or two individual instances of his having meanly at- tempted to suborn a gentleman in the treasury, to afford iim the secrets of his office, for his own political use. Colonel Wardle became acquainted with a physi- cian, at my house, by the name of Metcalfe, of whera. I shall shortly have an occasion to speak. This worthy inan has a respectable relative, by the name oiWent- worth Rigg> who holds a situation in the treasury, of abwut «£300 a year; and, as it was the business of the colonel to pry into the affairs of every person with ( 84 ). whom he came in contact, I shall not surprise the reader by informimghim, thathe soon found out eve- ry particular, relative to the nephew of the worthy doctor; through whom, the colonel tried to become ac- quainted with mr. Higg. When the colonel's ac- quaintance grew into a kind of confidential intimacy, .by promises of friendship and esteem for dr. Met- calfe, he hud the villainy to ask him, to solicit mr. Rigg, to copy from the books of his office, the WHOLE OF THE MANAGEMENT OF THE HALF- PAY fund, in return for which act of civility, he as- sured the Doctor, that mr. R. should have a situa- tion OF DOUBLE THE VALUE, AS SOON AS HIS FRIEND, THE DUKE OF KEN T, CAME INTO POW- ER ! ! ! I am sure I need not inform the reader what was the answer and feeling of Dr. Metcalf, as a respec- table and hon t est man; but the colonel knows perfectly well, that the worthy physician despised him, for offering such an insult to his honor ; and there, as may be supposed, the patriot's friendship ended to- wards that gentleman. As the colonel and his wife were on the constant look-out for any body — or, any thing, that would afford him an opportunity of mak- ing a noise in the house > that he might increase his popularity, he discovered, through mr. Glennie, that • colonel Shrapnel, was angry with government, for not having used his shells in preference to Congreve's rock- ets; and like a disappointed author, expresbed his contempt and hatred of all those who did not happen to think favorably of his works. Mr. Glennie was then employed to bring colonel Shrapnel and Wardle together, which he accordingly did, that the neglect- ed genius might unbosom all his secrets and wrongs, to the great public accuser of the year 1 809 — who, as a monopolizing tradesman in politics, cleared the mar- het of every article in his. line, that he might retail it out himself to the best advantage !— -a principle that ( 85 ) does not accord with the duties of a patriot in a com- mercial nation ! Whether there has lately been any demand for the kind oi articles deposited by colonel Shrapnel, in the store house of this political tradesman, I will not pre- sume to determine, but be assured, reader* that zchen the mar kef s up he will, like other monopolizers, ex- pose his old stock of tainted trash, to pall upon the sense of his former friends and customers, at st. Ste- phens ! There is scarcely a public office that was within the influence of colonel Wardle's bribery, but what afforded him some kind of information in proportion to the infidelity oi its clerks ; who, like every other description of people, are not always above tempta- tion ; and like Judas, had the same ueighty reason for betraying their master ! — major Dodd performed his part of ibis hind of service, and through the dirtiest ef- forts, acquired documents, &c. &c. out of mr. Green- wood's office, while he was hi the habit of calling there two or three times a week, under pretence of professing his, and the duke of Kent's esteem for that gentleman ! As another instance of the ztal of ibis party, I cannot forego the mention of ii»r. Gjenttie's anxiety to serve the duke of Kent. While writing my former book, he begged me to allow him ; introduce some improvements, as he termed them, into It ; which on enquiry, I found to be, a wish to m\x up ihe duke of Kent's grievances* with my narrative. According- ly he began his interpolation of matter, by the most fulsome eulogium on the duke's virtues, which on rea- ding, I instantly saw there would be an impropriety * As I am in possession of ail the circumstances attending ihe duke of Keni's conduct, while he was governor of Gibraltar, it is not improbable but T shall publish a curious history of his cour- age, military and political actions, together wi'h an enicrtaaimg account oi the discovery of st. Lawrence ! — If part of this note should an; eav to be enveloped in mystery, the dnke of Kent has it in his jxrwtr to give it a copious illustrate ! ! ! H C *$ ) in making my book the vehicle of the prince's spleen towards his brother, the duke of York 1 therefore, erased it, and told mr. Glennie, that 1 had made up my mind that my publication should not contain any subjects but those within my )wn knowledge ; and thus mr. Glennie was deprived of the opportunity and pleasure of bestowing praise on the great military talents and virtues of his royal friend ! In one of mr. Glennie'sjftYs of panegyrising his fa- vorite prince, he observed, that the duke's affection for his old French lady, whom, he lamented he could not marry, was a proof of his steady disposition, and domestic good qualities, added to which, he regularly went to church, and was never seen inebriated — a habit he always endeavored to check in those, over whom he had any influence — though major Dodd, as a particular favorite, was allowed occasionally, to take that enemy into his mouth which stole away his brains. Mr. Ulingworth, as I have before observed, confirmed mr. Glennie's declaration of the duke's temperance — a quality that was sure to engage the attention ent, who, 1 am informed, came in and heard him repeat the latter part of hrs remarks, with respect to the plot, &c. &c. Sir Richard knowing, no doubt, of what dangerous materials the agent of a conspirator is in general com- posed, began to fear that his friend Wardle might be ruined by the infidelity ot a character, who would have sold his parent, or any of the dearest ties of na- ture, for a hundred pounds, immediately wrote to so- licit an interview with lord Foikstune upon the sub- ject, who accordingly called upon sir Kichard, when he communicated ail the latter part of his conversa- tion, (leaving his desire of the book out of question) relative to the threat held out by M'Cullum. Lord F. very cooly and very honestly observed, that he did not understand what was meant by it. as he knew noth- ing of the business until it came before the house of commons — a tact of which I shall shortly be able to ( 93 ) convince the reader. When his lordship called upon me, he related his conversation with sir Richard, and asked rae, whether there was any truth in M'Cullum'* account of a plot ; I told him that at some iuture pe- riod 1 might be at liberty to say more upon the sub- ject, but at present I was obliged to decline going further into the business — that if his lordship was dis- posed to attend to the information of sir Richard, he perhaps, might learn something more of the atfair from colonel Wardle, who (if he pleased) could ex- plain every thing ! Jf we cast our eyes over the pages of history, and take into our consideration, that man is quite the creature of circumstances — that his fears and cour- age are worked upon by the accidental appearance of reward and punishment, as quicksilver rises and falls by the versatile state of the atmosphere, we shall not be surprised that conspiracies have generally fail- ed to the extent of their author's views. Here we see a fellow who was living, or rather starving, on the bounty of a conspirator, about to sell him and all his glory, because he could not get a share of my property^ though his master had not in any instance, violated his professions of friendship to him ! One day he was standing up in the cause of his patron ; the next day we see him ready to stand up for his de- struction ! and thus it is, the whole machinery of such a mans heart is regulated but by two springs; — the one that turns up the fears of the gallows — and, the other that affords him a prospect of wealth ! Taking a retrospect of some of the recent exer- tions of those persons who have formed plans on the continent, for either the restoration of monarchy, or some other change in the government, as in the case of generals Pichegru and Moreau, or in the still more recent case, it correctly given by the French papers, of an endeavor to obtain the liberty of Ferdinand VII. of Spain, and restore him to his legitimate throne, it may be clearly seen, that the agents of thott- ( 94 ) acts, defeated the object of their embassy, through the operation of the passions, which ought to be so disciplined, as to sleep with such persons. Indeed, the freedom of the British government will not ad- mit of carrying into effect, a private plan of hostili- ty on the continent, for many reasons; one of which is, that though it has the ability of bestowing rewards in case of success, it cannot inflict punish- ment beyond that of contempt and future disregard, if its agents, either through/ear or too much anxi- ety, as in the case of Ferdinand, fail in the accom- plishment of their object. Now the arbitrary go- vernment of France can, not only reward as well as the english do, but it can go further with a weak- nerved and unsuccessful agent, who if not hanged when found out by his enemy, is soon lost to the world after his return to Paris ; and if you want to seek him, you must inquire of the executioner, at the door of the Temple 1 Hence it is, that the french can do business of this kind better than the english. An englishman on his return from an unsuccessful embassy, has his offence as his shield of safety, and returns to so- ciety with the confidence of a hero, and if he should ever reflect upon his errors, he has only to regret, that nature had not given him a cool head, and more courage, while his employers have to reproach themselves for having sent out a person of such a delicate contexture of nerve ! Another probable reason of our ill success in these kind of things is, that the englishman, from the natural freedom of his government, has much to fear when employed on an embassy of a private nature ; first, because he is generally coupled with associates, whose success and lives are greatly de- pendant on each other, and for whose fears and zrc- discretion he cannot be accountable ; and secondly, that the dwellings of our leading political men, are too full of foreign servants^ who are the most dan- ( 95 ) gerous spies that can possibly infest a nation, and who very naturally love to see that country flou- rish which gave them birth, consequently they eat english beef, to enable them to tell english secrets, and thus the french government soon gets at the movements of our cabinet. Such impressions operating even upon the mind of a cool meta/ihisical man % are almost enough to agitate his nerves, and induce him to fear that eve- ry time the wind shakes his window, the french po- lice is coming into his bed-chamber to take him away. The person who is employed to bring about any great events, such for instance as bringing away the incarcerated Monarch, whose presence, in his own convulsed nation, might fialsy the enemy's sword and ultimately restore it to all its wonted greatness, ought to be possessed of qualities a lit- tle above the ordinary standard of men, otherwise the fiolicy of his country will become exposed, and his life pay for the folly of its choice, and his own weakness ! In colonel Wardle, we have seen what a political agent is— I therefore, will attempt to describe what such a character ought to be: — He should possess great natural endowments, and be a perfect master of the passions, prejudices and infirmities of man- kind, so as he may at a moment be able to turn hu- man weakness to the advantage of his own imme- diate purpose ; he ought to have a pretty general knowledge of political events, which living on the mind as a finger post of direction — or a beacon of guard, he may be instantly able to steer without observance amidst the rocks and quicksands of his dangerous station. He ought to be quick in concep- tion, and cool in execution, and Proteus like, change his nature with every gale, without suffering the little storms of his service, to ruffle a mind which ( 96 ) ought to bend coolly to every difficulty, for the at- tainment of its ends ! Now even such a character, pursuing his politi- cal course with another, must act under great ap- prehension of his associate's ability and indiscre- tion, and therefore, no political operation of this kind can be so well affected, as when left to one elever individual, (if circumstances will admit) who, conscious of all resting upon himself, moves with- out the drcud of being betrayed by the/ears^ weak' nessyOV interest of his colleague. If colonel Wardle were such a character as I have described, what mischief would be within his power !— but his head was never designed for any thing beyond daring and impudent blunders, and the violence of his disposition only tended to expose them. Perhaps providence, in its wisdom, has so constructed our nature, for the security of public happiness, that but very few men possess the neces- sary qualities, for shaking the tfirone cf a nation ; and where that great invisible cause has given a head for evil^ it has also given a heart to counter- act its dangerous power ; and where it has given the heart of a Wardle, it has given a head also, to counteract and defeat the effect of its black designs. Returning again to the proceedings in parlia- ment, I must be allowed to inform tne reader, that on the eleventh day of the investigation, being I believe, on the 20th of February, I found myself unable to attend the house in consequence of in- disposition, and as doctor Metcalf was then in the habit of meeting colonel Wardle and his party at my table, I got him to attend the house, and to state- my inability to be then examined, which he dici and my attendance was a^coidingly dispensed with on that evening. On the forenoon after my last examination in the house, colonel Wardle and major Dodd called on me, contrary to their promise of not being seen at Westborne Place til) the dusk ( 97 ) of the day ,•* lord Folkstone happened to drop in by accident, and on finding them much agitated, began to suspect there was something between m % beyond that which had met the public eye; ind though he had nothing of any moment to say or communicate to me, he felt inclined to %iay and watch the conduct of the colonel and major Dodd. At this time, I should inform the reader, I was con- fined to my bed, and after many entreaties from Dodd and Wardle, to see mu. I desired (in barker angry terms) to know what it was that occasioned them to urge an interview, when I was so ii. dis- posed. Before I introduce lord Folkstone to the notice of my reader, I must be permitted to pay a tribute of respect to his honor and abilities. His lordship was no way connected with the persons who consti- tute the leading feature of this work. He identi- fied himself with the investigation upon public grounds, and only visited mmuider the impression of having been an injured woman, who was pro- voked to measure*, at which my nature appeared to revolt. Under these honorable impressions, lord Folkstone -called forth the energy of a vigorous un- derstanding into the supposed service of his coun- try, and upon the same principle of becoming my friend, he united himself with the politics of co-o- nel Wardle, as it will be shortly seen by ax n:?on- tant letter from his lordship to me. When lord Folkstone found they wished to be admitted into my bed-chamber for a private confer- ence, he insisted on being present, as he very pro- perly thought^ he had a right to know all the cir- cumstances attending a measure to which he had lent his public support. Finding that nothing I could say or do, would excuse me from receiving * See page 32. I ( 98 ) their visit I at last gave my assent, and the colonel and lord Foikstone ca.me.up. After some common- place expressions of sorrow at my confinemen , the colonel told me, it was highly necessary 1 should not be again called before the house ; and though I might be better in health, 1 must affect tO CONTINUE INDISPOSED, as ANOTHER EXAMINA- TION might ruin them ! — At these remarks lord Foikstone appeared much surprised, and then ob- served, that he was of a very contrary opinion, and thought that if I were well, I ought to attend the house whenever called upon. After much alterca- tion upon this point, Lord Foikstone told colonel Wardle, that he was sure there was something go- ing on, with which he was not acquainted, and in- sisted upon knowing what it was, that appeared to disturb him so much and which had thrown him into such an agitation. The colonel finding himself so closely pinned down to the point, and that an evasion would uot turn the subject, he was obliged to tell his Lordship, that it was of a nature he could not communicate to him. Lord Foikstone, feeling a little indignant at this answer, said, that as he had not been made acquainted with the whole business, he was sorry he had lent himself to the colonel's cause, and immediately went down stairs to major Dodd, who had been left in the parlor. The reader may naturally suppose, that I had a pretty accurate idea of the colonel's motives, for asking me not to appear again at the house of com- mons, though I was obliged to assume a perfect ig- norance of the subject, while lord Foikstone re- mained in the room. Where a variety of persons are concerned in an affair, like that of which I am now writing, and so many agents at work in all directions, to detect eve- ry thing that might tend to destroy their schemes in the bud ; it will not appear extraordinary, that government acquired some information of the real ( 99 ) cfause of the investigation, and of those persons who secretly organized, and gave it their private sup- port. By a reference to the minutes, it may be sus- pected that the duke of York's friends had been made acquainted with some facts dangerous to colonel Wardle's popularity, from the questions which they had put to me on my former examina* tion : — colonel Wardle, feeling himself alone, be- gan to unbosom his fears, by observing, that he and major Dodd were very apprehensive that go- vernment were in possession of circumstances which would prove unfavorable to the cause, if I were again examined, and though I had most abiy evaded their questions, yet another examination might lead to the discovery of the whole fxlot ; they, therefore, thought it most adviseable to prevent me (if possible) from again attending the house, as the most effectual means of their own security. The colonel continued to assure me, that major Dodd had also heard from various quarters, that suspicions were whispering about, that he, and the duke of Kent had promoted the investigation, and as I had been already so closely questioned upon that and other subjects, they must close their glori- ous parliamentary career, without the hazard of my future assistance at St. Stephen's. The colonel then took leave of me. I afterwards understood that lord Folkstone, had a very serious conversa- tion with major Dodd, in the parlor, who also re- fused to impart the secret to his Lordship, Notwithstanding I religiously kept my promise with the colonel and major Dodd, that I would not inform lord Folkstone of the private understanding that existed between us, with respect to the duke of Kent being through his confidential secretary, the main spring of all the political machinery ; his lordship found that the hounds had not opened for nothing, and having caught the scent, on the above mornings at Bridge-street, he privately pursued the C 100 )- track till he traced the retreat of the sly vox, who had been doing so much mischief in the dark ! Though I shall presently go more at length into my motives for not publishing my memoirs, in consequence of the extraordinary affidavit, and af- terwards personal evidence of Sir Richard Phillips ; yet I must here inform the reader, that I did not hit u/ion the expediency of becoming an author till the latter end of February ; a circumstance which I entreat the public to bear in msmory, as much important matter arises from that fact. When colonel WardLe and his colleagues found that I would not publish my book, as I have more than once had occasion to remark, and that it was become a service of danger , to offer me again to the notice of the house of commons, upon any new sub- ject ; their visits were less frequent, and their whole conduct assumed a different feature y though, they kept up a so>t of respectful politeness , under the management of a cold-hearted policy ! Keeping in mind the maxim of the poet, that ¥ There is a tide in the affairs of men, which ta- ken at the flood, leads on to fortune £* and believ- ing that Shakspear did not mean to exclude females from the advantage of this doctrine, I thought, that I could: not as a parent, do too much for my chil- dren, who had commenced a very expensive educa- tion, and who have ever been the endearing objects of my care and solicitude; I therefore wrote to co- lonel Wardle upon the subject of a subscription^ which several of my friends had suggested, who thinking me deserving of public patronage, and not being acquainted with colonel W&rdle's private pe- cuniary engagements^ had advised me to this mea- sure ! Having so far explained my motives, I beg to intro- duce to your notice, not the same colonel Wardle that I raided from obscurity, to the pinnacle of popular admiration, and who would have eaten the very dirt KM on which I trod, at one time for my services — but a colonel Wardlc, who not being able to make other po- litical uses of me for the destruction ot ******, began to play ihejesuit, as may be seen by the following an- swer to my application, with respect to the subscrip- tion, in the drawing up of which, his wife, I suppose afforded him assistance: " March 24. " Thanks for your good wishes, but my poor boy is in that state which renders me unequal to give my mind to any subject whatever. I had hoped that your arrangement about your book, would have warded off all present difficulty, and I hope, I need not assure you, that I shall ever be disposed to promote any plan for your permanent advantage ; that you deserve xcell of your country, I believe, to be a very general senti- ment, but the idea that prevails, that you are living in splendor, militates forcibly against any thing you Sug- gest, I wish you would consult Lord F. and 1 anxiously wish, that having consulted him, you would attend lo his advice. God bless you." It does not require much penetration to see through the artifice of this letter. — Colonel Warrile finding that no further use could be made of me, had only another task to perform, which was to aipid in the quietest way possible, the fulfilment of all his pro- mises, and therefore he enters upon a next plan of ope- rations, by sending the above document, in which he very artfully begs me to consult Lord Folkstone upon, the state of my affairs, whose knowledge of ail his private proceedings he made every endeavor to pre- vent. It is necessary to inform the reader, that on the receipt of the above extraordinary letter, 1 wrote . back immediately to inform colonel \\m*cile, that I should be happy to t^ke Lord Folkstone's opitmn bc~ I 2 ( 102 ) fore that of any other person,, and begged he would give 1** leave to explain the whole of the transaction to his lordship; but to this proposition, the good co- lonel decidedly objected, and therefore, at that time, I did not mention it to lord Foljkatoac, believing that colonel Waruie would reconsider the matter, and see the policy of being for once in his life wise — a polit- ical oversight, I know he has since regretted, and which has given him many & painful hour; but after advancing a falsehood to the country, in his hasty and foolish address to the people of England; he has been obliged to uade through a sea of iniquity to sup- port it, and to keep up that nimbus of his- Popu- larity ! 1 have already given a faithful account of all that 1 heard pass between the colonel and Lord Folkstone, on their, last meeting at my house; and it must ap- pear pretty clear to the reader, that I have stated nothing but facts, as I have mentioned the name of a nobleman who can contradict this declaration, if oth- erwise than true. But I entertain too high an opinion wf the integrity, and honor of lord Folkstone, to be- lieve that he will venture to deny ?n.y part of the above statement. Experience has certainly taught me not to depend on the honor or memory of any man, par- ticularly when I possess the means. oi doing justice Xq my own character through the medium of unanswer- able documents I Alter this letter the colonel was, as I have before observed, less frequent at my house,, and when any of his age?its called, every artful excuse was employ- ed to avoid any thing that led to the subject in which I was most interested. I was told, however, that 1 had broken every agreement, in having withdrawn my intended book from the public eye, and as the colonel and his friends had an important purpose to answer through that publication, 1 had greatly inju- red and disappointed them — consequently I had no right to expect the fulfilment of their promises*. Tq ( 103 ) this, 1 replied, that the idea of publishing, did not' occur to me till loner alter their promises of reward, ami that as I had accomplished an injury to the duke of York, according to agreement, 1 kit myself enti- tled to every penny ot the promised remuneration. Upon this principle they endeavored to shuffle, and after several remonstrances, I wrote the following let- ter to colonel Wardle, which no person would, or could have written to another, who had not a just clai>f iton his honor: — " May l±th, 180Q. ^Deaii SlR r " When I sent for you the other- day, and you were accompanied by major Dodd, to enquire what were your intentions, with respect to putting your promises into execution; you seemed unwilling to admit that they were made eut conditionally, this* I deny. The only construction I can put upon it, is this,, that- you- felt yourself under a heavy res- ponsibility to me, and of which, both yourself and major Dodd thought to get rid of, by future promises^ as futile and evasive, neither of which ought, or can succeed. — I will here put you once more in mind of those promises, and of my expectations, which if you value yourselves as men of honor, you cannot but accede to, nor can you think I require anything, but what I am fully entitled to. — Nothing less than five hundred a year ; and as my children have been equal? sufferers with myself, in the public opinion, as being the daughters ol so indiscreet a mother, they demand from me every thing I can, or ought to command; and therefore, as five hundred a year for my own life, which may be short, would be of no advantage to them> I think, that by letting you off for ten thou- sand pounds^ is not half your promises to me; yet,. as 1 feel aware ot what you mentioned the other day,. oi not having it in immediate power to accomplish,. ( 10* ) I expect that you and major Dodd, enter into a joint bond, as you did into joint promises, for ten thousand pounds, to be paid me within two years, and till that be accomplished, to pay me the ,£500 a year, commencing irom March last, and to pay Wright the remainder of his bill. " This is all, and surely it is not of half the value of the promises made me, which were these ! — -As my sou was then under the protection of the duke of York, of course would lose that protection as soon a* I began upon the duke's ruin. He was to have equal protection from the duke of Kent. — I with- drew mv son, and / have him now on my hands. The next was a situation for captain Thompson in some way, enough to keep him, or, in the event of the duke of Kent coming in as commander in Chief, to get him reinstated in the army. — He still remains as he was !!!— The next, the payment of the arrears of annuity, as promised me by the duke of York, and the annuity to be continued to me during my life of four hundred per annum : my debts to be paid, those contracted while I lived with th« duke of York, and those since. " The debt of twelve hundred pounds, which is owing to mr. Comrie, for which he stops my jewels and furniture. " My present house and furniture to be paid for, of which a part only is paid by you and Dodd. " Now let me ask you, if the ten thousand pounds is equal to half these promises ? and for the fulfil- ment of each, you pledged yourself in the most so- lemn manner to see performed, and to which I paid the most implicit confidence and belief, or why did I resist, and expose, during the investigation, the over- tures made me by Williams, of whatever sum that I might ask for, being ready for my acceptance, to make me affluent for hie? Think vpon this. I shall add "but little more, but even were this sum to come ( 105 ) vxut of your own pocket, the character you have ac- quired through my means, would not be more than I am fully entitled to. il I remain, Dear Sir, " Your's, &c. &c. (Signed) " M, A. Clarke. 2 ' " Take a fortnight to consider; after that time do not depend upon my secrecy, and I shall consider myself at liberty to make what use I please, oi the copy of this letter." No one, I trust, can be so credulous as to believe that I would have made such a demand on the purse of another, if previous circumstances had not warrant- ed every sentence of this epistle ! — The thing speaks so clearly for itself, that I shall not trouble the reader with any further illustration oi my letter, beyond that paragraph which speaks of my having withdrew my sen from the protection of the duke of York for that of the duke oi Kent. Was it likely, that dis- tressed as I then was, I should have removed my boy from all the comforts of life, and advantages necessarily attendant on the duke oi York** patronage, for my own maintenance, out of the hundred pounds, which major Dodd and the- Colonel have since sworn was all that they promised to me for my laborious services in the house of commons. If the reader should believe this, it will not be difficult to make him believe, that he is walking about without that useless things called his own head ! I suppose this letter threw 7 him into some slight degree of turmoil, as he came with it in his hand, soon after he received it, and begged to see me but as I had previously determined upon my future course of proceeding, my servant did not admit him, as may be seen further on, in my address to the people of the united kingdom. I must here inform the reader, that before lord ( 106 ) Foikstxne left London, he teazed me to confirm what he had discovered of the private history of my expectations, from the duke of Kent, through colonel Wardle and major Dodd, and on my full exposure of every particular, he expressed his in* dignation at the dirty proceedings, in very strong and manly language, but observed, that he should see the colonel that very evening in the house of commons, and would sound him upon his intentions towards me. On his lordship's next visit, he told me that he had asked colonel Wardle, whether he knew how I supported my establishment, as he did 72o£ believe 1 was living under the protection of any one— and whether he meant to exert himself for a subscription, or to do any other act of pecuniary kindness in return for my services — The colonel felt confused at these questions, and after some Utile fiause,he said he did not know any thing about my affairs, but it was not in his power to do any thing for me, and in fact it was not his intention to take an interest in my concerns. — His lordship then left him with some strong observation, and as- sured me that he would cut the dirty fellow, which I have every reason to believe he did ; for seveial months, till his lordship found it political to notice him again, in order to keep up that system of poli- tics, to which he gives his usual support ! ! ! Furnished as I feel myself with the means of sup- porting every sentence of this work, I should be extremely weak to suffer either my respect or deli* eacy, for the political conduct of any individual, to keep from the public eye a letter of any impor- tance to my cause. If what I am about to intro- duce to the notice of the reader, had been written by a ministerial man, or one under the influence of royalty, it might present itself in a questionable shape ! — but when coming directly from -^nobleman who is an opponent to ministers, and who distin- guished himself from principle only, in colonel ( 107 ) Wardle's cause, it will alone become an unavswek- able defence and jus ift cut ion of my conduct , even though I should cease to write another Line upon the subject J Farringdon, June 27, 1809. Mrs. CLARKE, West borne Place, anc square, London. Folhstcne (Free.) " Coleshill house, 27th June. " Dear madam, " I thank you for the letter which I have just received from you It is not dated either as to time or place ; so I address this to you t:t your old house. Let me know when yon write me to change the direction. I wish I had some news to send you in return for your entertaining letter, but from this sequestered spot you can expect none — indeed since I came here I have done nothing but attend Bibury — wander about the fields by myself, and eat strawberries, things which are very entertaining and wholesome, but altogether uninteresting to re- late. Your letter, on the contrary, is full of inte- resting matter, whereon, such a hermit as I am at this place, whether he be of a contemplative turn of mind or not, might chew the cud of reflection for many a day. I THINK FROM WHAT YOU SAY, THERE WILL BE HELL TO PAY, IF THE MATTER COMES ON FOR TRIAL. THE WHOLE AFFAIR MUST OUT, AND THE ROYAL BROTHER,* DODD, AND WARDLE, WILL BE EXPOSED. I LA- MENT THAT THEY DO NOT FORESEE THIS ; OR, THAT THEY DID NOT FORE- - t * Duke of Kent, —— < w» ) SEE THIS AND PREVENT THE ECLAT, I. DO N »f GUESS WHAi THE LATTER MEANS TO DO, I SUPPOSE HE WILL TRUST TO HIS POPULARITY TO BEAR HIM THROUGH, BUT THAT WILL NOT DO— FOR AFiER ALL, THOUGH HIS PART HAS NOT BMEjV SO BASE AS THAI OF THE OTHER TWO, IT HAS BEEN A DIRTY ONE, AND HE HAb BUFFERED HIMSELF TO BE MADE AN INSTRUMENT OF BY THEM. T e thing, however, will do no good to the royal family in general ; for though the duke's friends and the ministry, will attempt to invalidate your testimony, in consequence of the promises held out to you, there is so much evidence in your statements — so many corroborating circumstances, and so many people know so many instances of the kind, that the public will not be induced to believe your testimony false. The thing, however will be, doubtless, attempted, and I should not wonder if the duke was to be re-instated. If that should be, I hope you will be prepared te give them some new instances, and proofs of your :power, and the duke's subserviency. I suppose ^he ^public prints will en- deavor to mix me up with the named trio, but that is quite impossible. Whitbread, Burdett, and myself, can in no degree be involved — at least I Ivave no doubt but that they are as clear as I know myself to be. I saw by the papers, that the South- wark baronet had obtained for you, your letters — rnrs. Jackson will now be easy 1 <; As tor Clavering, he is acting the part of a per- fect ideot. The best thing he could have done, would have been to have walked quietly out of his goal, and hid himself. The less he is heard of the better for him. Instead of which, however, he is, 1 see, publishing a book — Clavering writing a book H! — and as for challenging, if he has a mind to right v\cvy body who speaks ill of him, he will have to iireai ( io? > every man be meets. The idea of fighting wifk NViiitbread, is very bad. He must take care, or he will be running his foolish head into some foolish scrape or another. All this to do, I could contem- plate with amusement, or at least I could sit by, and observe all these intrigues at work different ways, with philosophical indifference, were I not fearful you would be the sufferer. I tremble for the settlement of your affairs, which I should presume to be now more distant than ever. " I am afraid that you will be tired of this scrawl, which is nearly illegible. — Pray let me hear from you again when any thing occurs, and you have a moment for writing. Your letters sent to Harley-street, as usual, will meet me. Adieu ! Ever sincerely, your's, Folkstoke." I feel confident that I might here drop my pen in my defence, and rest satisfied, that I have already done all that the public expected and required of me! — But Machiavel's prince, the great star that light- ed Buonaparte along the murky path to his present glory, forbids that policy which allows too much in- dulgence to your enemy, of v\hose revenge, he ob- serves, there should be left no reason to fear. Impressed with a belief, that those persons who endeavored to sxcear me into a gaol, and perhaps a pillory, and who sought the destruction of myself and children, do not deserve much lenity, I shall pro- ceed to unmask their actions, for the contempt ani derision of the world \ As the names of sir Francis Burden and mr. Whit- bread are mentioned in lord Folkstone's letter, (I feel myself called upon to corroborate his lordship's declaration) of their having been in novay connected with the private proceedings of colonel Wardle and major Dodd. Like lord F. they only acted upoa public principles, when the charges became a subject of parliamentary discussion. K ( no ) Of both these gentlemen I am bound to speak iii the most grateful terms, and to express my admira- tion of their private worth, and great abilities. With. the politics of sir Francis I have nothing to do or sa}', farther than I believe he means well, though im* prudently too violent, and not very choice as to the character of his political associates ! When sir Francis possesses himself of a more per- fect knowledge of colonel Wardle's character, I think he will be sorry that he has recently suffered such a man, during the commotion in Piccadilly, to crawl t/p his back, and seat himself upon unpointed shoul- ders, in order that the lustre of his character might afford a transient ray to play round a visage so deep- ly clouded with guilt ! If mr. Gillray, the ingenious -carrciturist, were to . employ his pencil upon Wardle's artful method of again trying to raise himself in the public opinion, the worthy baronet would be seen to labor under as great a bundle of sin, as_John Bunyan, the hero of " " The Pilgrim's Progress V 9 The other paragraphs of this important letter are so complete a defence of my conduct, and exposure of colonel Wardle, that I shall now leave them for him to chew the cud of reflection upon, with what appetite he may ; while I conduct the other of my readers to another part of the subject. In my letter to colonel Wardle, I promised to wait a fortnight for his answer, but not hearing from him upon the subject, I informed mr. Wright of his con- duct to me, in order that he might be upon the alert with respect to his bill. He accordingly, called on the colonel several times, who being always deni- ed, thought it prudent to leave his bill with the fol- lowing note: " Francis Wright's respectful compliments to the colonel, has taken the liberty to inclose his bill, ud as the articles were to be charged for ready mo* ( 111 ) ncy, having met with a most serious disappointment* will thank him to settle the balance, and tor that pur- pose will call upon him tomorrow morning at 11 o'clock. " llathbone Place, June 1, 180<)." Not hearing from the colonel in clue time, Wright again called at his house, when his servant brought out word, that his master could not see him, and that he did not know any such person, nor any thing about his business, therefore, he must have made a mistake, and come to the urong house ! ! ! — I am sure the reader will think with me, that such an answer, was enough to enrage rar. Wright, and induce him to go instantly and consult his attorney, who, under the peculiar circumstances of the case, of which he was well acquainted, advised him to proceed against the colonel immediately, otherwise he would lose the ad* vantage of a term. I wonder whether the colonel knew mr. Wright, when he 'personally coaxed him to do his dirty work in making an inquiry with respect to a lady in the New-road, who was supposed to have been acquaint- ed with a personage of high rank. — 1 wonder whether he knew mr. Weight when he was soliciting other favors of him, with respect to an officer in the Guards^ and endeavoring to make him an instrument of his con- venience in a variety of ways, but which favors mr. Wright, though obliged to promise, told me, he did not choose to perform, as there was such a person as M'CulIum about the colonel, who was better fit for that kind of dishonorable business than himself. Mr. Wright had now no alternative left for the re- covery of his money, but by a legal proceeding against the colonel, who accordingly soon understood that he had to dispute the point with John Doe and Richard Roe. Before the cause came on to be tried, the colonel very naturally had several consultations with his ( 112 ) counsel, v?hom as I before observed, he deceived milk respect to the real merits of the case. Mr. Cobbett having got wind of the impending danger of his friend's popularity, made some err* quiries upon the subject, and hearing, through mr. Waithman the linen-draper, that he had seen the co- lonel's brief, which evinced an unspotted case, he gave kim his assurance of support in his Weekly Reghter y but expressed a desire to see a fair copy of it, which mr. Corfield immediately prepared with all necessary omissions y and Wardle sent off to Botley. — Cobbett- and Waithman being impressed with a belief that this brief contained the whole transaction, and it in no way impeached the character of their friend Wardle, as a gentleman, and a man of honor, they pre- dicted the most favorable result to his cause. As the trial approached, and as colonel Wardle's fears gradually made him unfold circumstances that were not at all touched upon in the briefb which had been prepared expressly t© preserve his character with Cobbett and Waithman, mr. Corfield began to see a little morexnto the real situation of his client, and ad- vised according! v. It is said that he who deceives his physician ov^ lawyer, deceives himself, and this was precisely the case with the colonel, who told one thing one day, and another afterwards, and only in the moments of agitation, let the facts drop out, w r hich he often ap- peared ready to ?*e-swallow, and twist any way by falsehood ! One morning, after a long "consultation with mr, Serjeant Best, who afforded him no hopes of his cause, and who predicted the destruction of that fair fabric of fame, the colonel had labored so much to rear; — he, under great agitation of mind, requested mr. Corfield to call at Rath bone Place, and see whether Wright was disposed to any terms of settlement, while he waited at the corner of Percy-street. Ac- cordingly they walked -thither, when mr. Corfield ( US ) left him, during his visit to the plaintiffs house, whtt not being in the way, he had a conversation with his brother, rnr. Daniel Wright. I understand mr. Daniel Wright told mr. Cor field that his brother had no wish to expose the colonel's pecuniary situation with me, or himself — that all he looked to, was the payment of his oil!, and that he did not wish to inforce it in any way immediately distressing to the pocket of colonel Wardle — but, as itwasajust demand, his brother would tto^ be frightened ©utof his money ! — he then begged to refer him tomr. Stokes, who, be was sure, would do every thing that was fair and honorable. After some few miscellaneous ob- servations, mr. Corfleld left mr. Daniel Wright, for his client in Percy-street, whom he of course made acquainted with the particulars of his interview. This gentleman then waited upon mr. Stokes, who refused to settle the business any other way than by the verdict of a jury, unless colonel Wardle would allow his liability to perform the promise he made to mr. Wright, leaving only the amount of the debt to arbitration. From golden-square, he accompa- nied mr. Corneld to the fields adjacent to West borne place, where he waited an hour, while his solicitor was employing his best efforts with me, in the service of the colonel- At this time y the public prints had got hold of some of the leading circumstances attending the suit, and colonel Wardle was consequently placed in an awk- ward situation. If he settled the bill, he feared it would be a tacit acknowledgment of his bribery to me, and therefore he pictured to himself all the frightful dangers attendant on the trial of the action. Under the^e agonizing sensations of his then present predica- ment, he asked mr. Corfleld, as they passed through Bedford-square, to put him in the way of obtaining the chiltcrn hundreds, as he should dread to again face the house of commons. Mr. Coifkld told him. ihvX K % ( 114 ) „ the house would be most likely up before the trial came on, and that the succeeding session of parlia- ment, could not take cognizance of the preceding* of the former; he, therefore, advised him not to be too hasty upon resigning his seat in the house, -as acci- dent and time might do much in his favor. Raised again into hope, by the agreeable consola- tion of his solicitor, he determined to brave the storm till fresh difficulties crowded in upon him. His coun- sel asked questions which he never expected, and was therefore not prepared to meet; and thus each day encircled him with embarrassment. Mr. Corfield, at last, picked out of his client, by stratagem, too much of his case ; that is to say, he acquired such of the facts which had been at first studiously concealed, that were likely to prove fatal to his defence of the action. He had, however, a duty to perform to his client, and as he could not pay the money, he had to meet the enemy with all the generalship in his power. A day or two before the trial colonel Wardle wrote a paper of instructions to mr. Corfield, which he has KOW IN HIS POSSESSION ! " If mr. Daniel Wright should swear so and so, (then explaining particulars) be prepared for him, as he will perjure himself — and if mrs. Clarke should sweare so and so, she will also perjure herself." When this paper was shewn to mr. Serjeant Best, he very properly said, " good God, how should colo- nel Wardle know all this, if he did not know that the reverse of such supposed evidence is the truth and the truth of course is against him ! ! f 9 Wise and honorable colonel Wardle f When mr. Corfield was about to draw his last brief (fori believe there were several) he requested col- onel Wardle to bring major Dodd and all the persons concerned in the cause, that he' might examine them «pou the nature and extent of their respective testi- ( 115 ) many; But the colonel objected to it, under some frivolous excuse, and the brief was drawn for the sole instructions of the defendant, who did not intro- duce him to major Dodd and mr. Glennie, till on the morning of the trial, at the king's arms coftee-house, near Westminster hall. As soon as the ceremony of the introduction was over, the colonel then ventured to tell a little more of his case to Cor field ; — he informed him for the first time, of his baring taken me to the Martello towers, and having given me a sum of money* a fact, which he had before positively denied to him and his counsel, and which of course formed a strong feature of the brief Mr. Corfield, as may be supposed, was greatly sur- prised^ this circumstance, and putting a few ques- tions to Dodd, he soon found that their cause was hope- less. The major now expressed a wish that he might not be examined, but observed that he was subpoenaed on my side, though he hoped the service was not le- gal, as the subpoena had been given to him on a Sun- day. In order to secure Dodd from the danger of recei- ving another subpoena, till mr. Corfield consulted counsel upon the Legality of the service, he by the advice of colonel Wardle, went to the Bridge-street tavern, and locked himself up. The colonel and his solicitor then agreed, that if the counsel were of opinion the service was good, mr. C. would forward to him by M'Cullum, the following laconic note " Yes, send him !" which accordingly was forwarded in a few minutes. The trial had now commenced, and in order to satisfy the impatience of his client, he communicated the heads of my evidence to him, to which he replied by note, through the medium of the above messenger, that Dodd could not contradict me, and after mr. Corfield had shewn his note to mr. Parke, he went and consulted col. Wardle upon the propriety of calling his witnesses, and the colonel left ( 116 ) it entirely to the discretion of his counsel. If I have mistated any thing in which mr. Corfield was con- cerned, he is able to refute it and reduce the value of my narrative, but I am sure he is too much a man of honor to advance a falsehood, and therefore I think, he cannot deny these facts. If I were disposed to dilate upon the manner in which the colonel defended this action, there is an ample space to exhibit him for the sport and deris- ion of the public; but I shall not trespass upon the time of my reader by travelling over a beaten path, particularly as the subject came under my notice, in my address to the people of the United Kingdom, as given in another part of this work, in answer to his appeal to the public. It therefore will be sufficient for me to state here, that mr. Wright obtained a verdict, leaving it to nrr. Lowten to deduct from the bill of £1919 14 2, the £500, paid by the bill of Illingworth, the £200, for goods sent to Westborne place on hire, previous to col- onel Wardle's going to mr. Wright ; the coals, insu- rance, carpenters, painters, bricklayers, and iron mon- ger's bills allowing only for the articles of upholstery, at the sum of £K>95 8 5. I do not mean to quarrel, with the propriety of this decision, but I cannot forego the opportunity I now have of observing, that as mr. Wright furnished the ironmongery, and paid for all the other things, at the request of colonel Wardle he ought not to have been a. loser of the extra charge, merely because they were not articles out of his own warehouse. Amidst all those curious acts which may have mar- ked the colonel's career through life, and disturbed the tranquility of his midnight repose, either in ire- land or England,, none ever shook his peaceful slum- bers so severely as the loss of his cause, and its conse- quent exposure; and as it rendered sleep that night a stranger to his eye-lids, he rose in a violent rage from kb downy pillow early the next morning, to dispatch* ( nr ) Ms servant with a note to mr. Corfield, requesting his immediate attendance and advice, who anticipating his client's dreadful state of mind, hastened to him. When mr. Corfield entered the room, he found the poor Patriot, with a newspaper in his hand, pacing his chamber backwards and forwards, like a maniac, first throwing it down, then picking it up and reading with violent emotion, a few lines of the history of his oxen folly. After his solicitor thought he had ex- hausted his paroxysm of rage, he endeavored to soothe his agitation, when he again took up the paper, aud casting his eye over the auful page, he burst out, " here the b — h has perjured herself — here we have her!" then taking his pen, he underlined the words or pas- sages, which to his inflamed understanding, appeared to constitute perjury. — On the supposed discovery of my having perjured myself] he, mad-man-like, display- ed all the transitions of insanity, and now amused rnr. Corfield by jumping round the room with expres- sions of joy ! mr. Corfield again entreated him to be calm, and taking the newspaper out of his hands, be- gan at his desire to minute down what he was pleased to call perjuries, when the colonel again jumped up, #nd said — " Corfield, I must do something to stop th% peoples mouths; — take a sleet of paper and write* The colonel then dictated several lines, read them, tore them in pieces — began again, was again dissatisfied ; dictated a third and fourth time, and was not yet pleased. At last Corfield drew up an address that met with his ap- probation, of which mrs. Wardle made one copy, and mr. C. the other, for immediate insertion in different papers ; but he observed t© the colonel, that it would be prudent not to insinuate any thing to the preju- dice of his counsel, till he had seen the slip of paper he himself had sent into court, which mr. Corrield as- sured him, forbad mr. Serjeant Best and mr. Park from calling major Dodd as a witness, and he then left the mad patriot for his own dwelling, in order to search for the slip of paper, the purport of which, the ( ns ) colonel bad either forgotten, or did not then find it convenient to recollect. This slip of paper, I have un- derstood, was never found, and I need not inform the reader, that the colonel rashly carried his determina- tion of publishing, into effect, for, on the second day after the trial, he had the courage, or rather madness, to publish the following address : — To the people of the United kingdom. " Honored as my parliamentary conduct has been by the approbation of so many of my country- men, I feel myself called upon, inconsequence of an event that yesterday took place, immediately to ad- dress you, and that in vindication of my character, rendered open to attack from the verdict of the Jury, upon the evidence of mrs; Clarke and nir. Wright, the brother of the upholsterer, in a cause in which I was defendant, in the court of king's bench. The de- tail of the evidence the public prints will afford. It is with me to state, that my counsel, satisfied in their own minds that the jury would not, upon such testi- mony as bad been given by the plain tiff's brother and mrs. Clarke, alone, find a verdict against me, did not comply xoith ray earnest entreaty (repeated to them in writing during the trial, in the strongest terms,) that major Dodd, mr. Glennie, and other respectable witnesses, subpoenaed by the plain ti^ and myself, might be examined, as I knew their testimony would he founded in truth, and be in direct contradiction to what had been twofn against me. Under such cir- cumstances, the virdict was obtained, — There only remains for me now, before my god and my coun- try, to declare, that it was obtained by Perjury alone-, ami I do pledge myself to prove that fact, the earli- est moment the forms of the law will allow me to do so. Anxiously, therefore, do I look forward to that period ; and I trust that till then, the public will sus- pend their judgment upon the case. ( HO ) 4 i With sentiments of the deepest gratitude and res-* pect } I remain your ever faithfully devoted servant, "G. L. Wardle." u James-street, July 4." At first I thought of treating the above stuff with contempt , but rinding that every species of villainy was employed to poison the public mind against me, and the integrity of mr. Wright, I published the fol- lowing address in the National Register, on the l6th of the same month; MRS. CLARKE To the people of the United Kingdom. (c Honored as m} 7 testimony before the house of commons has been with the confidence of the country at large, and sanctioned as my evidence has been in a recent instance, by a jury of my country- men, I feel myself called upon (after affording time for the most deliberate reflection,) to address you, in consequence of a circumstance, which has Arisen out of the cause, in which mr. Wright, an up- holsterer, was plaintiff; colonel Wardle defendant; and mr. Daniel Wright, brother of the plaintiff, and myself were witnesses. In this cause it is well known, that colonel Wardje was cast, to the satisfaction of every honest tradesman, and indeed of every body in the court. The detail of evidence the public prints will afford; as far as regards my testimony, these de- tails are somewhat inaccurate, but they are sufficient- ly correct to have enabled the public to strengthen this verdict, with an almost universal approbation. Colonel Wardle, inflated by a popularity, the extent of which was ?s unexpected as it will be found to have been undeserved, had vainly flattered himself, that this same popularity would protect him against the jus- ( 12* ) tice of his country: disappointed at the verdict, he has lost his prudence with his temper, and without giving himself time for reflection, has made an un- usual Appeal to the people of the United Kingdom, against the verdict of a jury. " As an excuse for this almost unprecedented cir- cumstance, he has stated that his counsel, notwith- standing his earnest entreaty, repeated to them in wri- ting during the trial in the strongest terms, did not comply with his request to examine major Dodd, mr. Glennie, and others. However he may vapor about these witnesses out of court, even colonel Wardle will hesitate, before he ventures to subject them to an examination upon oath, whilst the written docu- ments exist which will inculpate more exalted persons, and shake the very foundations of his own ephemeral popularity. Colonel Wardle is not ignorant of the reasons which ma^ have induced the suppression of the written testimony that would have undeniably corroborated my evidence; colonel Wardle knows that mr. Wright's servants, as well as others, can prove every syllable that I have sworn; colonel War- dle has been too full of himself, and too imprudent not to have made many unnecessary .confidants of his intentions and promises. I dare say the evidence of major Dodd and mr. Glennie, would have been founded in truth,* it would therefore have been mad- ness in colonel Wardle to have examined them, and he knows this ; major Dodd heard my evidence, he could have contradicted me upon the spot, if I had been wrong, and is there any reason to suppose that he would have had any scruple to have sworn to the truth, if that truth could have contradicted me ? Is any one such a fool to believe that ? But in this case * At this time I had no idea that major Dodd and mr. Glennie would ever have mustered up sufficient courage to face a court and jury in support of a falsehood; but time has proved, how deceived I have been with respect to the character of these men. x m 9 thefnajor must have spoken the whole truth, and Ber- thing but the truth. As the attorney general said, his presence, or his absence, equally supported mrv Wright's case. " I do not pretend to know any thing about law, but f believe I know what is common sense; which I think is more than colonel Wardle appears to know. If he had been content to throw the blame of his failure upon his counsel, it would have been no busi- ness of mine, they are able to defend themselves ; but to be charged with a crime so disgraceful, so low, so contemptible, and by a person, who ot all men, best knows how abhorrent my nature is from any- thing like falsehood ; to be charged, I say, with per- jury, by colonel Wardle, is really too bad. I under- stand great stress has been laid by colonel Wardle, and some of his pariizans, upon a letter which I wrote to him in the month of May last, upon the subject of the engagements and promises mane to me prior to the investigation, and iiiis letter is said to have occasioned his determination not to see itfe any more. 4 < Why! colonel Wardle called the same day after he had received the letter, and I would not see him, being determined to have no further communication tvith him except in writing. — Colonel Wardle will re- collect the conversation he had with my servant, up- on the subject of this letter, and the appointment he made with her, to meet him at seven o'clock that evening, at the chapel door, fortunately, I have a copy of that letter,* and so little am I disposed to ronceal any thing I may have either said or written, that if this intimation does not compel colonel War- dle to do me the justice of giving this letter to the public, and no longer to shelter his unmanly insinus- * Se£ the letter, p. 37, of this volume. L < 122 ) • ions, under the cloak of delicacy, I will my self pub- lish it in the newspapers. 11 It only remains for me to declare before God and my country, that the evidence 1 gave was strict- ly true, and that my intimacy with colonel Wardle merely related to my evidence and his promises, most anxiously therefore do I look torward to the period when the futility ol colonel Wardle's attempts to prove the contrary to be the fact, will recoil upon him- self and others, and only strengthen the claims which I have to the public confidence in my veracity. I trust that till then the public will suspend their judgment upon colonel Wardle's intemperate accusation. Al- though it may not be equally proper in me, as in col- onel Wardle, to state the gratitude and respect I leel for the public apphobation, yet 1 hope it is not denied even unto me, to express the anguish of mind I should endure, it upon such an occasion, and in such a manner I had really deserved their dis- approbation. I have the honor to be, With the greatest respect, M. A. Clarke." << JVestborne Place, July 15, 1809." Mr. Wright finding that every engine which party ?nalice could bring into use, was at work to drown him in the pit of public censure, thought it necessary to submit his case to the town, but as it is very long and now of no novelty to the public, I shall omit its insertion here, wishing to trespass on the patience of the reader as little as possible with old matter. I entreat my reader to bear in mind, that my work opens with an account of sir R. Phillips having been the means oi exposing ray plan of supposed conceal- ( 123 ) teentat Hampstead, or at least of giving M'Cullurn the clue, where there was a probability of hearing from me. I also wish it to be recollected that he is alluded to in colonel Warclle's letter* to mr, Glen- nic, ami mentioned aUo by him to Wright at West- borne Place. In fact, there is good grounds for sus- picion, that he is privattly entangled in all Wardle's political affairs. The reader's remembrance of these facts will be necessary to the full developement of his late infft- movs conduct to me — and though sir Richard denies his having a knowledge of colonel Wardle, so far brick as the investigation; there are many persons beside the attorney-general who are satisfied that the jjit has a very convenient memory ! In order to satisfy the reader that I have good rea- son to believe my statement is not erroneous, I will proceed a little upon this part of the subject. — Mr. Wright says,, in his address to the public — " After considering a little time,, the colonel said^ ' there is some little difficulty about giving this biil, mr. Wright, because the business which is coming on. before the hou^e of common^, which no doubt you have heard of, makes it a very delicate matter for me to put my own hand to paper, because it may frus- trate our purpose ;' The colonel continued, ' / mil. go down to sir Richard Phillips to-morrow morning* and he and some one else will give you their bill, zdtnvut my name appearing, and you may depend on bearing from me in the afternoon, or next day morning with- out 'fail." At that time sir R. Phillips was not known to mr. 'Wright in any way whatever, and it is therefore not probable, that the name of a stranger should all at once come into the head of my upholsterer, who has since assured nte, that he scarcely knew there was ~" ' " * See p. 48... : "" ~ . ( 124 ) such an amiable and patriotic creature in existence, as- the bookseller of Bridge-street. When sir Richard read mr. Wright's address, he thought it political to send the following letter to the M&rning Post, for reasons I shall presently assign. S To the editor of the Morning Post, " Sra, ty, with reference to the questions in dispute. I am, sir, your most obedient servant, E. Phillies..-' Bridge-stfeet, July 2&.. Before I reflect on the sentiments of thisr letter, I must be allowed to bring a few facts under the eye of my reader, which will shew that 1 have not honored the knight with a niche in this work undeservedly* 125 ) The reader is requested to keep in mind that M'Cullum came from sir Richard Phillips to me in .the month of November, 1 SOS, consequently it will 'be difficult to make any one believe, that sir Richard would unnecessarily expose my place of seclusion with- out knowing something of the errand upon which he- was sending M'Cullum ; unless indeed the reader should be disposed to think, he had no feeling for the safety of an unprotected woman, who was concealing herself, as he knew, from the fangs of the ta m the Poultry, that will jump to begin busi7icss with your book, and 1 can assure vou, madam, he is an honest man, and will do you jus- tice." — At this time, 1 believe, mr. Gillet came in by accident, to whom I immediately promised the printing and publishing of the work. Mr. Giilet had not long been in possession of part of the manu- script, before he received orders for several thousand copies ot the work, and l think he will not venture to deny what ht has repeatedly told to others; name- ly, that the first edition, which contained tea or twelve thousand books, would not have supplied the pubic demand beyond a week. I have thought myself justified in giving these tacts to shew, that if I had wanted £500 of mr. Giiler, I could have go f that, or , a larger sum. Having come a little closer to the facts of the ca.se r the reader must now be satisfied that L-could .not want money of sir Richard, who had nothing further to do with my book, beyond that of being officious, and filling the papers with his lore of notoriety ! As it was not likely I should attempt to raise money • for persons who had affected to have the command of thousands to reward me for my services, colonel War- die's declaration about the bookseller's supposed $ts- • 'position xind ability oi affording me pecuniary gwib't- ( 1*9 > aiice, must now go for rerj/ Utile with those who will take the trouble to reflect upon the subject. The reader is now in possession of a tact of Glen- nie's acquaintance with sir Richard, which goes a great way to corroborate my declaration, that coL Wirdle and the dashing bookseller, pt irately understood each other before, and during the investigation ! Before my application was made to sir Richard, with respect to the suppression of my memoirs, he introduced to me a m?. Sullivan, of Maidstone, ii* Kent, who, I have understood, is a sort of hawker of books for him, and who, I since have been told, was snOorned as a witness against me. By the perusal of his first letter to roe, it may be- seen that sir Richard was anxious to have the book out, and quite interested in the War die cause — I wish the reader to keep this circumstance in memory ' " Madam, "It appears to me that it will be a fair price, for mr. Sullivan to pay you four shillings and threepence per copy, for one thousand copies of_thc portrait and a facsimile, with liberty to print as ma- ny books in Dublin., " The irish will not pay as high a price as the eng^ lish, except for fifty or one hundred copies, and I conceive you will by this arrangement with Sullivan, vet more than by any other means. If you sell two thousand in this manner, the irish sale will put four hundred guineas into your pocket. " I- regret, on your account, to find that Gillet is not making a progress. The tide is now at the ?lood, and taken at this moment, will lead to for- tune. At all times, delays are dangerous, and to enhance my string of proverbs, you should strike- while the iron is hot. Ascribe this, prompting to the ;?eal, with which I am your friend, "R. PHii^irV 5 " bridge- street, March 24, ISO*)." k IM ). It is absolutely necessary for me to g© a little fav t.her with respect to the memoirs which mr Giilet was printing, in order to explain my slight acquain- tance with sir Richard, and the political use he en- deavored to make of me ! Earl Moira, who has long been distinguished for all the great qualities, that can dignity the head and heart of man, felt anxious that those letters should not meet the public eye which were written in confidence, and perhaps at moments when the min'd is not arm- ed with prudence and philosophy. — Hi* lordship therefore expressed a wish to be able to restore them to the hands of the writer — and. if possible, to heal the wound which the Wardle pai ly were endeavoring So keep open between me and my late royal friend.. Accordingly, a gentleman some time known to earl Moira, undertook to find out the. best channel by which he could bring about the object of his lord- ship's friendly disposition ; and believing, that sir 11. Phillips (trom ihe private report ot the moment) had purchased my book, and for political reasons, got mr. Giilet to become the publisher of it — -he waited on the knight, and cautiously led him to the subject of myself and the memoirs. Sir Richard felt pleased at the introduction of a to- pic, which afforded an opportunity to talk of him- self; he therefore joyfull) entered upon a history of me and my book, and though he did not say it was his property, he insinuated thjat he had an influence over me, and the managtrnent of the publication, His visitor was therefore induced to believe, that he had come to the proper person, with whom he might fairly go a little further into the subject, and he according- ly asked the knight, whether there was any probabil- ity of suppressing the work, if he carried into effect aji the duke's promises, besides advancing some rea- dy money for my immediate exigencies. Sir Richard., afoT pausing a few minutes, said, he did not doubt but I should be satisfied with my annuity, oj Jov£ \ 131 ) hundred a year, and about two or three thousand pounds to liquidate a variety of demands, that might, under such circumstances, be made on me. It may here be necessary to shew, from the subse- quent conduct of the knight, that in consequence of this application, he instantly became alive to a new in- terest. He calculated upon the probability of my withdrawing my publication, which, if done through his influence and exertions he might accomplish the possession of an additional honor, or some advantage, which colonel VVardle could not bestow on him, and in a few hours after his letter to me, he became im- pressed with very loyal sentiments, as will be present- ly seen by his other affectionate epistles to the woman, whom he has since endeavored to swear into a pil- lory ! II Having shewn how soon this patriotic bookseller could turn his coat> I shall proceed with my narra- tive : — After a conversation of some length upon my af- fairs, the gentleman agreed (under an impression, that the knight had power oxer my work, as he had pro- fe^ed) to give to me the above sum and secure the annuity, as had been before promised, when after an appointment to meet in the evening, he left him, in order to communicate to earl Moira the result of his visit to Bridge-street, Sir Richard, anxious to learn from whom his visi- tor camv, dispatched one of his servants, as he aiter- wards told me, for that purpose, by which means he soon learnt that earl Moira had handsomely interest- ed himself, to -prevent the publication of the duke's letters. Sir-Richard now thought that he should car- ry every thing before him, and that he should be able, by the suavity of his manners ; — thv grace and irresis- tib e powers ot his address— and his method ot concili- ating an angry female, from his great knowledge of the human character, to carr\ his poiriuwifh me, and thereby became something between a baronet and a < 132 ) chancellor of the exchequer ! — He accordingly wrote to the noble earl, projtssing his influence over me, and tendering his good offices in the affair. Not having received an immediate answer to his letter, I understood he followed it by one or two more upon the subject, which earl Moira thinking, I sup- p- st3, not a proper one for an epistolary correspon- dence, did not answer. When the same gentleman called in the evening, Sir Richard was gene to his brother-in-law, in st. Paul's church-yard, whither he followed him, and as the knight drd not like to act, without the opinion of his relation, the negociator was obliged to submit, against his inclination, to the introduction of a third person. Sir Richard then took upon himself to ar- range the business, with as much seriousness as if he had really possessed a property in the book, or an in- fluence over me, neither or which was the case, and objected to the sum of money settled upon in the morning, but agreed to close at the payment (I be- lieve) of four thousand pounds and the annuity, which, as the negociator could not make better terms* he agreed to give, when the knight made him commit the same to paper, in order to assure me of what he iad accomplished for my welfare. They now agreed to meet on the next forenoon, at -a bookseller's in Bond-street, in order that sir Richard should introduce him to me, but as 1 have been in- formed, the knight did not keep his appointment, but went to earl Moira, to get the business entirely into Jiis own hands ! — The gentleman's patience being ex- hausted, he left Bond-street, and going towards st. James's-place, he met Phillips coming out of earl Jkloira's house, boasting that he was allowed to en- 7 o large the sum* and accordingly they immediately drove to Westborne place, when sir Richard request- ex] his companion to allow him a few minutes private conversation with me. — After sir Richard had been wkh jae about tea nuaute9 or a quarter of an hour, ( 133 ) I felt anxious to see the ostensible negotiator, and he immediately came up, and when the business was canvassed, he found that sir Richard had neither a property nor any kind or influence over the management of the work. Thinking at this lime that Waidie and his party would do all they had promised, and stimu- lated by one or the other of them to publish my bock, I treated the overtures now made to me with neglect, and observed in very strong terms to my visitors that I should derive more advantage irom publishing, than they offered for suppressing the work, which de- claration will account for a very extraordinary letter I am about to introduce to the notice of the reader, which sir Kichard sent to me on the same evening, and in which, he calls his friend Wardle, a traitor ! ! ! Belore I come to this letter, I must intorm the reader that the gross and indelicate language of this vain man, so disgusted me, that 1 made up my mind to get rid of him as fast as I could, but before he went, he tried to convince me of his ability J or nego- cianng) and among a variety of his silly remarks, he said, that it he were sent to Paris as an ambassador, he would not come away without making a peace ; — the gratification of this compliment to himself, I im- mediately destroyed, by observing, that I was sure he would not come away without making a piece of work t bui as lor conciliating nations or parties, his present conduct to me, proved his total want of every neces- sary requisite for su ch an office I If, however, the le- gislature should ever see the necessity of creating a new officer, and appointing a person to enforce the removal ot putrid vegetables out of the public markets, in order to prevent epidemic diseases, I shall certain- ly recommend him as a most excellent overseer of cabbage !* Sir Richard finding that no business Was to be The knight's usual/cod. M ( 134 ) 'Joncj and his companion surprised that he had been deceived with respect to his professed influence at YVcstborne place, they left me, and as the knight went down stairs first, his friend asked permission to see me in the evening, which, as I gave my assent to, he came alone, when he apologized ) or the language of sir Richard, and commenced a negociation, with which sir Richard had nothing further to do, and which he ifl the course of ten days completed to the satis- faction I believe of all parties, and then turned the agreement over to the professional gentlemen, ap- pointed to carry it into legal effect. In order that nothing should intervene and embar- rass the negociation, we agreed, that if sir Ricbard forced himself upon we the next day* or at any time, all that might bfe said should go for nothing — so de- termined ^ as I not to commit my affairs with a, person whose vanity inducer* him to publish every thiny, (hat had been entrusted to him, either in his counting- house or the public prints ! I thrnk the following letter will place his character "beyond doubt or suspicion. — No one, after reading It, will say u why I do not know ; but I hardly think sir Richard is so bad — 1 believe he is a weak man, but surely he is not quite so dirty as Mrs. Clarke says!" Here the reader will sec that he calis the very man a traitor, whose principles he admired, and with whom he was secretly acting, but forsook under the hopes of becoming at least a b a rone i , he then abu- ses his friend, and tries to carry a point with me, to further his own private views! Ji Dear Madam, " You are misled and infatuated ! Let the friend you speak of, do for you that which I proposed, and then he will have a title to your confidence. I dare him to do it, and if ho will. I will give him credit;; ( 135 ) ho is otherwise a TRAITOR to your WELFARE ar/d interest. It w imMANTic and quixotic in the EXTREME tO TALK ofthe PUBLIC ! I will not (ICCept or make lue of your negative, till 1 have seen \ou in the morning, I can make no further communication to the liberal and noble person* who have honored me with their confidence. " Grace and repentance, till I see you in the morning, and believe me till then, sincerely your friend,; "11. PniLLirs." -• Budge-street, March 30, 1S0<>." Sir Richard says in this letter, that it is roman- tic and quixotic in tbe extreme to tail: of the pub" lie ! — Mere we see a little into the prkate and real sentiments of a modern patriot, who affects to feel for the public misfortunes, but in his heart is a complete coriolaxus, without either his dignity, courage, or talents: — What ! despise that very public, by vch-om lie has been raised from a little english school-master at Leicester, to the shrievalty of the first city in the world ! — What, treat with contempt that public, to which he has been so often appealing for its admira- tion and good opinion, and for whom he wrote a book, to induce the people of England to believe, that he was a man of humanity* and felt keenly for those suf- ferings, he had stood forward to redress ! Am I not dreaming when i say all this of the pro- fesscd friend to the unfortunate debtor. — It surely cannot be the same sir Richard of whom 1 am speak- ing — and if dangerous hypocrisy — were not the common passion that animates a patriot's bosom* I would not believe my own eyes — but, alas 1 his let* ter is my evidence, and such evidence, that all the so- phistry of Bridge-street cannot destroy ! The other part of his letter, where bespeaks of his communication to the Tiberal and noble persons who < 136 ) Save honored him with their confidence, has since made na faugh exceedingly, when I understood how little he had to do with earl Moira upon the business, and that no other noble person ever saw him upon the sub- ject ; and prettily did he requite earl Moira's confi* d< ftce, by felling every person who called at his shop, al/ he knew of his embassy to me, in order to show that he was a man of greal consequence at the West end of the town! — It may be necessary to observe, that neither the gentleman who came witn sir Rich- ard nor myself, thought it prudent to get rid of him abruptly, as he might make an ill-natured exposure of the affair, which could not be kept too private; therefore it was settled that he should see sir Richard according to appointment, and come with him as be- fore. Accordingly on the following day, he and the knight came again, and after much insipid remark, sir R. expressed his surprise, that I would not accept his terms ; he then made some gross reflections upon me and ?ny children, which so affected my feeiiHgs that I had no longer any patience to bear his nonsense, but sent him away with scarcely the semblance of civil contempt. Finding that he stood no chance of accomplishing his object of his visit to me, he made up his mrwd to go with his companion to earl Moira, and resign the business of his embassy, into which he had forced himself for his own private views. This circumstance is confirmed by the last paragraph ot his third letter, which i am about to present to the notice of iiy reader. Earl Moira not being at home, sir Richard wrote a letter to him, in which he gave up h\s part of the negotiation, with some compliments to his companion; but as they were coming out of the house they met the earl at the door, in the act of bestowing his cha- rity on the distresses of the poor. They then return- ed with him to his library, and sir Richard took his final leave of the business. Though sir Richard has ( w ) related this affair differently, aye, and swo r n to it, I am sure the reader will credit this account, when all the circumstances are within the knowledge of a no- bleman, who can confirm my statement ! Now i beg to introduce to the reader's presence, not the stern moralist and pat iot or Budge street, but Falstqjf in love ! I i whose affection, was heighten- ed in proportion to my scorn. " Dear Madam, " A day has passed without my seeing you 1 ! This is something novel, after three days occupied so entirely in your society and service ! u I hope all is for the best, and that you are better informed than I am. 1 shall, however never re- proach myself for the advice 1 have given. The only subject that would vex me, would be any idea on your part, that I was not promoting that which I sin- cerely believe to be your interest, as well as that ot the other parties. " Mr. Gillet will do justice to my sentiments respect- ing you in the whole affair, and will explain some mat- ters which have appeared mysterious. " I have washed my hands of the business, but stiil continue co interest myself in your welfare, and that of your children !" " I am very truly, &c. &c. " ft. P." i; Bridge-street, April 5, 1809." Who would suppose that after sir Richard had ta- ken leave of me in such affect ionatt term*, he would in a few months have gone about and endeavored ta subom various persons to swear me into a gaol and perhaps a pillory ? — He, who closes his loving epistle with these words — •* but shall continue to interest myself in your welfare, and that of your chihhen!" A swain so captivating as sir Richard, certainty might M 2 ( 138 ) be angry at my neglect, but neglect cannot warrant the line©* conduct which has since marked every sub* sequent action of this disappointed Adonis. — That he who is considered a fond husband, and a fond father should wantonly try to separate and deprive an un- protected mother of the means of supporting her in- fant offspring, appears monstrous — but not more mou- nt; ous than t^ie I — He too, who carries his domestic affection to such a romantic lengthy that I can scarce- ly take up a magazine, but I see little children -made- gods, and gods made little chidden I I — in fact, his whole existence is nothing but a puff ; and whether his inflation be from vegetables or vanity, I will not venture to determine, but his ascension in life, likt & balloon, is owing to the lightness of its air, and not its purify I A iter this kind, loving, and friendly letter, I now beg leave to show sir Richard Phillips again in his de- mocratic garment, which he had hung up to mildew upon his peg, M'Cullum, while he fancied & ray of royalty was playing about his head, like an April sun, that allures a man from his home, to send him back coid, wet, and disappointed ! After the trial of Wright's action, in July last, sir Richard publicly proclaimed his acquaintance with his old private friend, colonel VVardle, who, for about a week, be called a traitor , ; and then became as offi- cious to suborn evidence, and collect information use- ful to his friend's cause, as he had been before to serve the other side of the question \ Accordingly, sir Richard accompanied the colonel to Hampstead, for the express purpose of seeing mrs. Andrews, the person mentioned in the beginning of this work ; and as those persons are generally very civil who are in want of a favor, they did this respectable woman the honor to ask her into the carnage, in order to see what could be made oi any thing she might observe, in answer to their questions respecting the furnishing. ei my house at Westborne place, Mrs. A. very ho- ( 139 ) nestly and very candidly told them, she knew nothing ot the matter; and as she in no way served the inter- est of the colonel, he did not include her among his ninety four -witnesses ! Sir Richard, not satisfied with the result of this in- terview, frequently wailed on mrs. Andrews, to in- duce her to get me up to Hampstead, that he might take me by surprize tor some political purpose ! and carried his politeness so far as to invite her to his house in London, a circumstance, that so great a man as the sheriff of London, would not have conde- scended to have done to a person in her station in life, if he had not then had the colonel* s cause sincerely at heart — J mean the same colonel Wardle, whom he called a traitor ! Sir Richard, zealous, though awkward in every thing he undertakes, did not like to reiax his services tor his dear colonel, and accordingly set every engine to work, for my destruction. Amidst a variety of ef- forts to keep a litte breath in the almost defunct god of the people, he had the impudence to write to lord Foikstone, entreating him to turn his mind to the pe- riod when my house was furnished, and *ee whether lie could recollect any of the private conversations, which had tor their object the payment of my furni- ture, and by whom f as his lordship's attention to this subject might be of infinite service to the colonel's cause. On the receipt ot this letter, lord Folkstone brought it to me, and as the reader may suspect from the oreceding pages, only laughed at the knight as a busy, meddling knave ! Hearing that sir Richard was moving heaven and earth to crush me, I expressed a wish to mr. Ogilvie, late army agent of Argy re-street, that he would wait on him, and endeavor to learn, if possible, his reason for becoming all at once an enemy to the person, whom he a short time before affected to admire and respect ! — Agreeably to iny desire, mr. O. paid the imrght a visits when he introduced my name as if b£ ( 140 ) accident, and then observed, that he had heard of hrs having become a violent opponent to me ; sir Richard immediately called in two or three persons who hap- pened to be in the shop, and entered into a long nar- rative of the commencement and termination of his acquaintance with me, and then observed — " it was his wish, to let colonel Wardie slip out of the disgrace as quiet as possible, and afterwards to compromise with vie ! ! ! After a long and general conversation, mr. Ogilvie left sir Richard, who begged he would look in upon him again in a few days, as he would then speak with him iurther upon the subject. Mr. O. having occasion to go into the city, and prompted by curi- osity to hear how matters were going on in the ene- my's camp, made use of sir Richard's polite invitation, who was no doubt, also curious to pick out ot his visitor, the little idle stories of the day. At this time the knight was found less reserved and circumspect in his remarks, and alter mr. O. was seated, asked him to what political party he was most attached — when he informed sir Richard, that though not a violent po- litician, he mostly admired mr. Fox and his party. This reply appeared to electrify the knight, who in- stantly lost sight of all caution, and entered as freely into various subjects as if they had been on terms of intimacy for twenty years. Betore sir Richard brought about my business, he consulted mr. Ogilvie upon a scheme he had in contemplation, of establishing an office for receiving and paying the balance due to the representatives of deceased soldiers f and observed, that he thought a good deal might be done by agency and commission, in such a concern. Mr. Ogilvie informed sit Richard, that there was already something ot a similar nature in the war-office, in which a person col- lected and paid claimants ! After a great variety of miscellaneous remark, sir Richard commenced a vio- lent philippic against the duke of York and the govern- ment, for having published an official army list, which, kad destroyed his established zcorlc, and said, he be* ( u» ) ijeved they had done it out of spite to his political opinions. Mr. Ogilvie observed, that as tar as be was Capable ot speaking upon the subject, he thought *ir Richard had greatly deceived hinisej. That he hud always understood that the reason government had for establishing an official army list, arose from all former publications ot that *ort having been so xenj if/correct ; and it was the continued complaints of me ai my that had given birth to the measure of which he so much complained f ThL explanation, however, did not appear satisfac- tory to sir Richard, who continued to observe, that he thought otherwise, and if the ministers would give him back the pubfication of that work (pray reader mark this J he would always be th eir friend ; — and though he should regret to come forward against mrs. Clarke, upon a point which colonel Wardie had pounced upon m one of their conversations with respect to her furniture, he must do so, as he had committed himself with the colonel ;— however, said sir Richard to mr. Ogilvie, " If ministers will give me BACK THE ARMY LIST, MY EVIDENCE MAY PER- HAPS be turned any way." — I leave sir Richard to reflect upon this fact, which a respectable man is ready to support by oath! I shall now proceed to consider sir Richard's affi- davit, which, contrary to custom, (but not the cus- tom of the knight) was published in all the daily pa- pers. —It is as complete a piece of perjury as ever in- sulted a british court : Affidavit of sir R. Phillips. u Sir Richard Phillips, of Bridge-street, Black- friars, in the city of London, knight, maketh oath and saith, that on or ab«»ut the 8th day of March last, this deponent was applied to by mrs. Mary Anne Clarke, of Westborne place, Chelsea, in the county t>f Middlesex* to publish her memoirs, and certain* ( 1*2 , letters written to her by his royal highness the duke i York, which publication this dfpqn ekt declin ed to engage in. And this deponent further saith, that in the latter end of the same month of March, this deponent, under the opposition that lie was the proprietor. of the said book, was applied to by THE EARL OF MoiRA, AND AT HIS REQUEST OOMMEKCKD A Nf.GOCIATION WITH MRS. ClAKKE tor the suppression ot the stid book about to be pu blisht d by her as aforesaid. And tiiis deponent further saith, that in the course of the treaty for the publication ot the said book, the said Mary Anne Clarke assigned as a reason to this de- ponent lor MAKING THE MOST of the Said PUBLI- CATION, that she had two thousand pounds to pay to Francis Wright, the .plaintiff above named, for the furniture sent in by him to her house in Westborne place aforesaid. And when this depo- nent afterwards negociated with the said Mary Anne Clarke for the suppression of the said book, the said Mary Anne Clarke stated, that a sum of money must be given her for the payment of her debts; amongst the debts enumerated by her, she, the said Mary Anne Clarke, mentioned the debt so due from her to the said plaintiff as aforesaid." First, he insinuates that he declined to publish my book, and so he did, but only because I would not sell it to him ; and though he declined becoming the mere vender, he made himself as busy about it (as may be seen by his first letter) as if it belonged to him. Secondly, he swears that EarlMoira applied to him, and at his request he commenced a mgociation for the suppression of my book:— which the reader will see must be a gross perjury, as he forced himself upon that no- bleman under false pretences of influence over me ! and when he comes to that part which says / wanted two thousand pounds to pay mr. Francis Wright for my ftycni.ture> sir Richard only convinces me. that he is e*» ( 1*3 ) ^v.u to any THING ! and after this declaration, I should not be at cAi surprised to hear him swear that be was tin* (Jreat Mogul! it is \ ness in Cork, but resident, at their date, in London ; and that the same were accepted by the defendant, and afterwards indorsed by mr. Atkins, of Fins bury-' square. The bills were dishonored by sir R. Phillips, the acceptor ; and Sullivan, the drawer, became bankrupt. The plaintiffs ol course, pressed the de- fendant for payment ; but he resisted, on the ground that the bills were drawn upon Irish, not ehglijsh stamps, and consequently were illegal secupties.— This fact, evident on the face of the bills, was admit- ted by *be plaintiff; but it was sworn by mr. Thomp- son, a clerk of sir Richard Phillips, that the knigtit was present when the bills were drawn in London. " The Lord Chief Justice admitted that the law was with the defendant, while he reprobated i!n de- fence as dishonest and dishonorable* The counsel lor ( «B ) {he plaintiffs acquiesced in the doctrine laid down by his lordship, and consoled themselves for their defeat] as the action had exposed the defendant, and snow 1 . ii i m in ins true co Lous. — Verdict ior the de- fendant." (he reader will be pleased to recollect, that the dates of sir Richard's letters are long after Illing- worth's bill, January 2, 1S0<), which follows the let- ter from colonel Wardle to trir. Glennie in Decem- ber ; I therefore hope I have shown Very Hearty that my book could have nothing to do wi h the £500 which the colonel was to raise for me through sir Richard, as he promised to mr. Wright at YVestborne place, and which fact sir focfrard afterwards denies in his letter to the editor or the Morning Post. That link oi circumstances which I have given will, I trust, throw a new tight upon the characters and views of those men who may be patriots with a decei- ved ami infatuated party, but are only impostors when the veil is refit from on their guilty headb ! Some short time previous to any application being made to sir Richard with respect to the suppression of my memoirs, he introduced to me mr. Waithrmm, the patriotic linen draper, who expressed a wish that I would use my influence with sir Francis Burden and Urd Folkstone to dine with a small party of the same principles in the city. Accordingly i obtained their consent, and communicated the agreeable intelligence to him in a note which colonel Wardle delivered per- sonally to mr. Waithman, with whom he then con- sulted upon the subject of the dinner ; when it was thought that too much publicity could not be given to their intended festive day. Therefore a grand city teast was agreed upon, and brought about through my exertions and influence, at which the colonel employed his eloquence in eulogising the 1; hastily of his mind and the purity of his principles 1 This work will be very serviceable to many ot sir Rachard's authors, who now will tfe called into im- N ( }0 ) mediate requisition to abuse me in his " Monthly Magazine," and in every other publication over w hich so great a patron of literature must have considera- ble nxfluence ; but as all that party malice could sug- gest has been said already to my- prejudice, and the respectable part of the public are still my friends, I shall only laugh at the crackers and squibs that may be thrown at me from Bridge-street. Sacred history somewhere says that "the L d chastiseth those whom he loveth ;" but though 1 am not interested by the same motive oi affection for sir Richard Phillips, 1 have, notwithstanding, bestowed a little wholesome correction on him, which I hope will work some good in the habits of his mind before he goes on an embassy to Paris; receives the honor of Baronet, which he told me, and others he expected ; or becomes president of a republican directory, ii the people of England should be so insane as to act upon the doctrines of men who ought to reform themselves before they rise, phcewx like, out of the ashes of Royalty ! I thought I had taken my leave of mr. lllingworth, but the lollowing note will confirm my statement in page 53 of this volume, where 1 inform the reader that this wine merchant was to send me in a few dozen of wine to disguise the money transaction be- tween Wright and vY ardje. 1 am now happy that I am enabled to support that position by the receipt of this document. " MRS. CLARKE, PUTNEY. " Mr. Illingworth's compliments to mrs. Clarke, has inclosed her bill for wine, the amount of which he will be much obliged to her for. « Pall Mall, Mai/ 4. ( w ) 85 ] Mrs. Clarke To R. S. Illingworth. 1809. Feb. ?3. 3 doz. Port wine - - 56s 8 8 3 doz. Madeira - * 5 gs. 15 15 Bottles 1 1 April 7. 1 doz. Port wine 2 16 28 I hope mr. Illingworth will firoceed against me im- mediately for the amount of his bill, and then 1 will bring major Dodd, colonel Wardle, and mr. Giennie again into court, where I may have the pleasure of seeing them ex/iosc themselves, and practise pe^jiry ! This is all the notice I mean to take of the wine, which c -donel VVariJle and his parly consumed in drinking destruction to the fluke ot York ami the ********* In a note * to the first part of this work, I promised the reader some account of his partnership with mr. Scott, the army clothier, of Cannon Row, Westmin- ster; I therefore now take the liberty of fulfilling that promise. The manufactory in which Wardle has a concern is at Tre Madock in Caernarvonshire, which is under the management of a person by the name of Barnet, and where the wool is prepared, and great coats manufactw ed for the army. My only motive for going into this subject is to show that the colonel employed his patriotic speech, in which he proposed to save the nation eleven millions a year, for the purpose of becoming army clothier to government; and, by reference to his first speech, it may be seen that he recommends his own articles, by the character he gives mr. Scott, his Partner ! ! ! " Army Clothing. ** Colonel Wardle rose to call the attention of the house to the prodigal expenditure of the public mo- * See page 18, vol, 1. ( US ) ney in the present system of clothing the army witk great coats. The war office, instead of acting < n rhe principle of open contract, as recommended and ordered by the treasury, persisted in private con- tracts; and the consequence was, that, though a great reduction had taken place in the materials of great coats, no reduction had taken place in the price. "In the year 1803, the secretary at war (mr. Yorke) consented to pay at the rate of l6s 6u for each great coat, but stipulated that, a reduction should take place if the price of kersey should fall. Kersey was then at 4s 6d a yard, and since continu- ed to fall till it came down to 3s 6d \ but no re- duction was made in the contracts till the present- year, nor would any have then been made, if it had not been for the continued offers forced on the war. office to furnish great coats at a less price than was actually paid. He made a variety of calculations on the prices at different periods, from which he as- sured there was a loss to the public of £23,000 ; he adverted particularly to a tender made by messrs, Scott, eminent army clothiers, to furnish these coats in 1806 at 14s £d, which would afford a saving of <£21,000 on every delivery. Not getting any an- swer, messrs. Scott looked for a share in the con- tract as made by the war office ; they obtained it, and paid at the rate of l6s 6d. This was an answer to any objection that could be made on the ground of supposed inferiority in Messrs. Scott's clothing."* I need not trespass on the patience of the reader by pursuing this speculator in wool with such reflec- tions as must suggest themselves to any one, from his having agitated the public mind and trifled with --the- house of commons merely to become a Government TAYLOR ! ! ! * See "The Patriot's Looking^? lass," which gives the whole; of his speech on saving the nation eleven millions a year! with mr. Haskisson's reply to it. < U9 ) If the reader will look over a mr. Farquh arson's pamphlet, he may be soon satisfied that the colonel has been dabbling in other speculations. With him, it appears, he had a concern in a gin distillery in the Island ot Jersey, and had great difficulty ot melting the colonel's thousand pound bond into cash, though the colonel was intimate with Jew King, ol whom, as 1 before observed, 1 should again speak. When Jew King felt himseli in any way neglected, he used to write some of the most extraordinary letters that one man could possibly send to another ? and, in one of his irritable moments, he wrote a let- ter to the following effect, which is now in the pos- session or mr. Cortield. "Sin, " Remember it was I who first brought you into notice; it was 1, who obliged you, by setting the people against the duke of York ; it was 1 who gave you a consequence in the city through my paper ; it was 1 that raised you to your present glory; ana re- member, if you are ungrateful, much is within my power towards your ruin, &c. "J. King." Of what consequence must that man be to the hap- piness and liberty of a country whose character de- pend! on the good word of Mr. Jew King ! is a pro- blem not difficult ot solution ! Within these few years much uneasiness and jeal- ousy existed among those gentlemen ot the duke of Kent's establishment with respect to pamphlets that contained circumstances which no one could have known but those immediately about his royal person r and in his confidence; till it was discovered that major Dodd was the intimate friend "arid companion of mr. Thos. Hague, who is the literary organ of this*- pany ! ! ! In another part of this work 1 introduced fa X % ( J50 ) Jkfefcslf to the notice of the reader, with the promise of again making him the subject of remark. The doctor is a very clever and a very worthy man ; but, uufortunately, in indigent circumstances. His abili- ties and uniform correct conduct gave him a place at my table for several years, by uhich means he mingled with the Wardle parties during the whole of our ac- quaintance. In the course of a short time the doctor became entangled in ail their secrets, and heard al- most all major Dodd and the colonel's conversation with respect to the duke of Kent's being the parent of the measure which these agents were to carry into execution. As every thing depended upon the doctor's honor as to the secrecy of their proceedings, which they made him promise most solemnly to keep inviolable, they, in return for his friendship -and fidelity, faithfully promi- sed to give tohim a lucrative situation in the govern* ment when the duke of Kent became commander in chief of the army! As soon, however, as the investigation was over, and I would not lend myself to other measures^ they cut the poor doctor, and rewarded him as they did me; which accounts for the following letter he sent to maj< r Dodd, and which no man could or would have written but under the circumstances related. " April 15th, 1809. * My dear Sir, " I believe you are perfectly aware that the whole of the circumstances which related to the duke ot Kent, and his wishes, as to the result of the late inquiry, are known to me; and I believe I am perfect- ly correct in stating that the above communication was made to me by mrs. Clarke, the day previous to that on which 1 had the honor of being introduced to you. Well knowing the consequence attaching to secrecy in an affair of this nature> I was n tie tc ( 151 ) my trust, and never divulged an atom of the whole to any one breathing, though strongly urged from a certain quarter to explain the motives which rhe honorable mover had tor his anxiety in pres- sing the inquiry. M I have, during the investigation, had it more than once intimated to me, that it was intended I should have a provision under government. Fioni the silence lately observed by all parties on that sub- ject, 1 am either to suppose that the intimation made to me was a matter in nubibus, or that mrs. Clarke's claims are so very urgent and extensive, that a figure so small as 1 am, may very safely be lodged on the shelf. How far a decision like this may be deemed liberal, supposing the latter to be the case, and all circumstances considered, I shall submit to your can- dor: I have, however, so high an opinion of major Doddy that I will hope better things, and I will still flatter myself that the commencing reformation shall not be marked by sufferinga man of a high integrity, and abilities not contemptible, to sink, for want of being properly supported. " I wish not to dictate either the quantum of the provision, or the situation where, so that it is confined to the island ; for sixty -six is a period too late in life for traversing the ocean. " With the highest respect, regard, and esteem, I have the honor to remain, your much obliged 3 sin- cerely devoted humble servant, (Signed) " Thos. Metcalf, « To major Dodd." I do not see the necessity of making any remarks upon the above, further than to observe that it strong- ly supports every part of my narrative. A few days after my trial for conspiracy, I recei- ved the following from the same worthy gentleman^ ( 152 ) which, as it appears to say so much to my purpose, \ shall leave it without illustration. " Birmingham, Dec. 14, 1809* " My dear friend, " Great god be thanked for the triumph you have obtained over messrs. Dodd, Wardle, and Glen- nie. The result of the trial proves the advice 1 gave you to be good. Had I appeared as evidence on the trial, you now see the use they would have made of the circumstances: they would have done all they could to have made me the instrument oi lugging the buke of Kent into the scrape head and shoulders. 1 am glad to find that his ro^al Highness has dismissed Dodd, and turned Glennieout of his office; and ! hope when next his royal highness ENTERS INTO CONFIDENCE AGAIN, HE WILL not ttepose it in the bos »m of knaves or fools. wakdle may now give over his appeals to the people of the united- Kingdom, for they will no longer be duped by such goi disant Patriots. I will now tell you in the -fulness of confidential friendship, that had I imprudently complied with your solicitations, and given the whole of the c nvehsation which 1 more than once overhkard, it might ONE DAY OR OTHER HAVE SO FAR HURT THE CREDIT OF THE ROYAL FAMILY WITH THE people, as to have endangered the peace of the kingdom. T knew the danger, you did not; therefore I advised you as I did, and acted ac- cordingly. " The maid servant has just brought me word that my wife has breathed her last. God almighty re- ceive her; her troubles are over; would to heaven that mine were also finished ! ( J5S ) " Remember me to the dear children, to capt. Thompson, and also to good mrs. Favery. " I am, and ever shall be, " Truly, faithfully, and devotedly, " Your unalterable Iriend, " J Metcalf, M. D* Since I have been writing this volume, I have Beard that major Dodd should say that the duke of Krnt felt his seccntym my not hating any of his/e£- te s in my possession. The duke of Kent is not the only one who has de- ceived himself upon a fancied secwity: but as this- just but bold publication may induce some individuals to court a fwther exposure of themselves, by again placing me before a British jiry, 1 feel justified in keeping some part of my case in reserve for my own safety. However, in confirmation of my statement in page 30, where I speak of reading the duke of Kent's letters to major Dodd, in which I am encouraged to- stand up against his own brother, 1 will again introduce to the notice of my readers, mr. Ogilvie, who happened to be in my back drawing room one morning at the beginning of the investigation, when major Dodd came up in great haste, with one of the •luke's letters in his hand; and as soon as he entered the front room he read, in a high and exalting tone of voice, his royal master's sentiments, with respect to my future reward for the services before related. The whole thing was instantaneously done : and as soon as he understood that mr. Ogilvie was in the back room, the folding doors of which being half open, he felt much embarrassed, and immediately put the letter in his pocket ! As mr. Waithman, the linen-draper, is a very noi- sy patriot, and always talking about something or Other he does not very well understand, and meddling in all the affairs of his neighbors, he appears fair game? for me to shoot at, particularly as ha has taken sueb ( 154 ) an active part against mc. If this chattering black* bird were to die, the council-chamber at Guildhall would be like a ropery deserted, where a senseless noise had too long disturbed the whole neighborhood, while lie and his black brethren were breeding mis- chief ! Oi mr. Waithman I know a great deal, but no- thing to claim either my admiration or respect, as he is something like Phillips and the common description of liberty boys, who in their own dwellings are per- fect tyrants; which confirms me in opinion, that mod- ern patriotism and tyranny are synonymous terms. When I was first introduced to mr. Waithman through the immaculate bookseller, he was very anx- ious for me to cssau most of the high personages about the court, and he wished me very much to attack his majesty from his information ; but I gave him tne same answer I had given to mr. Giennie, that 1 felt no in- clination to be a republican blunderbuss to fire out the party malice of any disappointed politician I — mr. Waithman will understand me, I am sure. This in- tended attack on an aged and good king, I assure the public, so much disgusted me, that I have ever since considered mr. Waithman a very dirty character ! but he is a patriot y and therefore he must be spotless as the times go! Waithman, like all these kind of violent reformers, is not very particular about one of the necessary quali- ties of an orator, as long as he can give effect to his muslin effusions in the common council. I will in- stance a circumstance where he, most likely, thought truth the least important ornament of his speech ! In one of his thunde ing speeches, he informed his auditory that I had told him, or some one else, that mr. Meilish had ajifilied to me for a baronetcy, which I here bes to assure the public is no more nor less than a gross falsehood ! mr. Mellish's interest must be ver> bad with government if he could not obtain such %Jialt.y acquisition without asking me to beg a new ( 155 ) name for him! he who is ashamed of his own way have a good reason tor any addition or alteration; which indeed is the only excuse I have for sir Rich- ara Phillips's attachment to the baronetcy ! I will do Mr. Mellish the credit to believe, that neither his family nor himself have given him cause to sink the one under the emblazonment ol the other! When I make these reflections, I do not wish it to be understood that I mean to ca*t any unbecoming reflections on those numerous persons whose public service* have entitled them to this honorable acknov 1- ed^ement oi their countiy's approbation. It is like a roman re • aid, no expense to the government, and very FLATTERING ! My information to mr. Waithman was this; that mr. Shaw, who had been ven serviceable to mr. Pitt, w r as promised by him some little plaything ot thi> kind, which he has since got in the title of sir James Shaw : but I think it my duty to declare, in justice to sir James, that I had nothing to do with this / ght ajj 'air, and therefore mr. Waithman evidently told \h\ajal e- hood, with an intention of being personal, for which mr. Mellish will be justified when opportunity serves, in taking a shot at the black game of the city i oakery f Mr. Timothy Brown constitutes a small iirnb of this party; but as dinners and money principally dis- tinguish this banker in the political hemisphere in which he moves, I can only view him as a useful agent in the cause on which his gold sheds the greatest lustre ! Before my trial (or conspiracy, mr. Brown invited mr. Gillet, my former printer, to dine with him, in company with that great legal luminary mr. Ellis, who, after the decision of the court upon his action against the speaker of the house of commons, will no doubt recommend the distressed relatives of the poor malefactors to indict Jack Ketch for mur- der ! As soon as the wine went into circulation, mr. hllis, assisted b\ mr. Brown, began to probe him txpon all the private conversations he had with mc t 156 ) xither as to the payment of my furniture, or any thing that they thought would help the prosecution. Giilet very justly said he knew nothing oi" my /?e- cvniary transact ions, and therefore could not be of any service t<> them. Mr. Ellis then boasted of hav- ing quite sufficient evidence to convict the defendants, though he thought it ad vise able to obtain all he could. Elhs now thought to play oft* a tittle terror over Gii- let, by observing tb a t he had instructions to bring an action against him for publishing the pamphlet called the " Kival Impostors," unless he gave up the author, though this person must at that time have knoxcn that mr. Manners was its notorious parent ! Jn consequence of mr. Cobbett having taken such a decided part against me lately, I think it but fair to return him thanks far his liberality and independence ; two qualities m a political writer that deserve my ad- miration and esteem, from the difficulty of meeting with them at any time, and particularly at the pre- sent day. When 1 was the great key-stone that held the arch upon which the fabric oi colonel Wardie's tame entirely rested, mr. ( obbett said mighty pret- ty things with respect to me; but now the villany of his friend has loosened its security, and have let him into a gulph of deserved public odium, he, to support his favorite theme, for private reasons, has -discovered, ail at once, that I am a very infamous woman, in whom there is no truth to be found ! Nature has bestowed on the human mind an ami- able kind af weakness, which frequently induces an author to believe that his sentiments, though as changeable as the weathercock, are never observed ■; and that his reader has a happy stupidity of not finding out when the vane xvas in the west, and when it is in the north ! This changeability in mr. Cobbett, whose abilities I admire, obliges me to open the secrets of the prison- house, and show that the intellect of even etever men \s h&tvity fettered, and Quite thesmieto - tives for having become his determined joe, I must be allowed to relate the circumstance. Accident, I be- lieve, suggested a political paYty at my house : ac- cordingly mr. Cobbett and sir Francis Burden re- ceived cards of invitation, and were, as they efx^ec ;ed, to have dined in company with the duke ot York. AVithJa a few days of the dinner, the duke informed me in the most delicate manner, that he had not the least objection to dine with these gentlemen as private individuals ; yet, as their hostiiuy was so obvuuis to the government, it would not be prudent for hnrrto be present. I felt the propriety oi the duke's ex* uee, which arose from no pesfynal dislike, anci consequent ly put the party oft'. A gentleman who was Co ha$Q been of the party afterwards*© Id me of Gobbeti's an- ger at bemg disappointed, and assured me that he O I 158 ) would not forget the insult ; which time has proved Ik* hat not, from the unmcrcful manner with which he has followed the object of his malice. An ex- planation of this fact took place before lord Folk- stone, who, 1 think, is too much the man o( honor to deny it now, from motives 6i policy, though mr, Cobbett may not like to acknowledge the truth of this statement ! It mr. Cobbett should feel hurt at the introduction of this anecdote, he has the gratification of knowing: that an injured female is at the mercy of his pen, which has already consumed a great deal of gall upon her, whom he could once come to praise and admire when she was in the service of a certain cause ! As Mr. Croker took a great interest in my concerns when I was examined in the house of commoib, it would be unkind of me to forget him — -and to forget a friend, is a sin against the commandment, which I am not disposed to commit; I will, therefore, just convince the public of the great acquisition which the government is in possession, in the person of this dis- tinguished lawyer and politician ! Stimulated to learn something of this ludicrous irishman, who did those dirty kind of things to injure me, which no gentleman would have lent himself to ; I obtained, through a pretty good medium, the fol- lowing whimsical history of my friend Alley Croker! Perhaps the pen of the biographer cannot relate a more honorable incident of a man's life than that of his having raised, himself from an humble station in life to. a-place of public trust and honor ; but if, ascending the rugged hill of prosperity, he wantonly tarnishes that character which ought to accompany the footsteps of every man who pursues the path of honor, and descends to those little offices of becoming, like many of his countrymen, a watchman, and, in- stead oi keeping the peace, rudely attacks a person whose sex ought to diave protected her from insult, I doubt not but the reader will think with rae tftat I ( 1^9 ) am justified in showing who he was, as an excuse for my not presenting a gentleman to the notice of the reader. My friend Alloy-Croker is a native of Tolewood, in the county of Cork, and is said to be the son of an obscure person who was in some very humble station under the earl of Shannon, and employed in Collect- ing that very odious Irish tax of the hearth money ! I have considered it proper to be correct in this par- ticular, lest in, future times the same controversy may arise about the birth-place of this hero, which occu- pied the learned world respecting that of Homer; mr. Croker being a poet as well as a lauyer and statesman* It is supposed that he was educated atone of those- charity schools immediately under the patronage of the earl, which it appears he left at a very ear'y age, as he assisted his father in collecting the tax which is held in such abhorrence by the poor people ot Ire- land. With ink-horn at his buttonhole, and tax- book in his hand, his person was as alarming to the poor as a village ghost, or a hawk to a hen and chickens! Young Croker was considered a sharp lad 2 for discovering the concealed furniture of those de- fa u Iters whose miserable sticks it was his business to seize for certain arrears in the payment of the tax. As he advanced in life, his lather, through the same patronage, obtained a more lucrative situation, which enabled him to indulge better prospects of his future life, and, after a few years necessary study, he went to the irish bar; but finding that the law did not shed any lustre upon his professional pursuits, or he any lustre upon the law, he determined to have recourse to his pen, which he very properly employed with the best views to his pecuniary advantage. After passing some time in writing upon most of the floating subjects ot the day, a contested election commenced, in which lord Castlereagh became a candidate \ who binding a useful literary advocate in ( 160 > inr. Croker, encouraged his exertions, and afterwards became his best friend ; and to whom he is now in- debted for his present elevated station in life ! I believe through the influence of this nobleman, he progressively advanced from one thing to another, till he got into parliament, where he did not distin- guish himself till the investigation. My frigid Alley-Croker, thinking this was a fine opportunity to bring himself into notice by crushing a woman, I dare say said to himself, " By Jasus, here am I ! — By my soul, you shall see what Til do with that infamous woman mrs. Clarke ! ! !" .accordingly he made solemn preparation for her exposure and ruin ! When he set at me, it must be in the recollection of every one who was in the house at the time, that I fumed him round my finger, to the continued mirth but pity of the house. But when he insisted on hear- ing the name signed to the a 'nonymous letter, and the house observed my manner of treating his non- sense, it is impossible to describe Me ridiculous situa- tion in which he stood, surrounded as he then was by a general laugh, and which threw the house into such confusion, that it was nearly half an hour before order could be restored. He has a brogue which makes him scarcely intel- ligible to his countrymen, and, when he speaks in the house fenders his eloquence irresistibly powerful ;~»- I do not mean, reader, over the understanding of his hearers, but over the risible faculties; or, in plainer terms, he makes every body laugh at him ! ! ! Among the variety of little silly acts which marked this gentleman's political career, is his peeping from a garret in the nearest opposite house to me in order to watch my movements, and see who came to West- borne place, during the investigation. For all these able endeavors in the service of the state, he now enjoys the place of secretary to the Admiralty ! ! !, i- 161 ) Recently this sagacious gentleman distinguished himself as teller of the house on a division, and was 60 kind to the ministers as to leave out a whole row of his own party ! ' ! Though mr. Croker did all he could to annoy and injure me, 1 will return good tor evil, and recommend his poor but industrious and deserving cousin as a very excellent barber ! Though several personalmppUcations have been made to me to suppress this work, accompanied by good of- fc s, the following is the only document 1 have re- ceived upon the subject. But as my feelings and character are so much concerned in the exposure of colonel Wardle and his party, I have uniformly re- jected ALL OVERTURES ! "Barnard Castle, Jan. 13, IS 10. " DEAR MADAM, On perusing one of the London newspapers, I saw a paragraph with your name affixed, signifying your intention to publish an appeal to the public, wherein you intended to insert several of colonel Wardle's let- ters. Now, madam, in consideration of the great respect I bear towards the colonel (lor the great and important service he has rendered his country,) if you will suppress your intended publication, 1 will present you with rive hundred pounds. It, madam, you as- oent to my proposal, please to signify Hie same by let- ter, and 1 will immediately come to town and pay the money, " I am, dear madam, " With the greatest respect, . M Your most obedient and hum bio servant, , " T. Puudajk u P. S. Please to direct for me at Barnard Castiev County of Durham. 11 U>s, Ml A. Cterke, Kings road London-^ 2 ( 162 ) As all the circumstances attending colonel Wardle's motion in the court of King'? Bench lor a ne\\ trial have appeared before the public, and the opinions of the judges alsotresh in the memory of the intelligent readei, it precludes the necessity of my to be ashamed to acknowledge ; namely, that he did not expect the examination of mr. Stokes, or any o- ther witness, on my side, and therefore he had not taken notes : but what signified notes upon a familiar ease, on which he at first had nothing but fiction as his guide ? a good general is never off his guard, and ta- kt n by surprise! neither sir Vicary Gibbs nor mr. G arrow would have made such an excuse, or have been out -gencr ailed in a cause like that, before the Court ! But though he had only the examination of one witness to contend with, it was evidently too much tor hi -ii, and sooner than he would cut a bad cause he was ready to cut an old and serviceable friend, if the jury had been as weak as he wished them, and found me guilty! mr. Stokes ought, however, to be proud that he may again be allowed to reap all the advantages to be derived from the society of such a& elegant and finished orator J Of the jury who presided I have no personal knowl- edge, and have only to repeat what I before observed with re>pcct to the former gentlemen who tried mr. Wright's action, that, when they see this work, they will feel pleased with their verdict of that day, as com- plimentary to their good sense, discernment, and hon- or ! I know every artifice was used to oppose every person as a juror who was not thought a patriot, and accordingly aman by the name of Lemaitre, (com- monly called fioft-gun Lemaitre) a watch-case maker, who was confined some years ago for shooting at the king, was colonel Wardle's agent on that occasion. I only mention this humble individual, to show r the description of persons with whom the colonel finds it political to identify himself! there are about iitteen of these kind of men, who assume the afiftear- ance of business, that are maintained private- xy to further a certain cause! 1 regret exceedingly that mr. Wright's witnesses were not examined on my prosecution for conspiracy. ( 166 ) and the whole of the evidence not gone into, which I am sure would have given a very different feature to the result of the trial but, nut of delicacy to the duke of Kent's presence, my counsel were induced to rest our case upon other grounds : — I have also to ex- press my regrtt and disappointment that the roguery of colonel Wardle deprives me from publishing those affidavits and the evidence, ot about fifteen per- sons, in consequence of his noxv making every endt av- er, through his proceedings in chancery, to keep mr. Francis Wright out of his bill, the amount of which the public lately subscribed (under talse im- pressions of his character) to defray the expences he was sufifiosed to incur in the great public cause ! the colonel has employed that very money to other purpo- ses, and is now using ever?/ trick to deprive a respect- able and honest tradesman of a sum ot money given t& him by a jury of his country. This is, however, all of a piece with the general conduct of & patriot ; but it locks up for the pre- sent a very important part ot my case, which must be kept in reserve to meet all the legal artifice that will, no doubt, be used to injure that very man who might have ruined colonel Wardle during the inves- tigation by a full and profitable exposure of bis bribe- ry to me, and who, according to the colonel's re- quest, made such an entry \\\h\§ books as then appear- ed most satisfactory to his wishes, in order to conceal his pecuniary transaction with mr. Wright, and se- cure his honor with the house of commons and the pub- lic. Further than it was necessary, I have not made mr. Francis Wright's case the subject of local obser- vation, as every line of this work which goes to the justification of my conduct also justifies his; and either we are both guilty if imposing upon that unguarded and innocent character colonel Wardle, or we are both spotless, which is with the impartial reader to decide trpon, after perusing this w r ork, ( 167 ) Mr. Wright has been a great sufferer in conse- quence or dishonor to colonel Uardle, winch almost every man would hare savrjlctd in the heat of the in- vestigation for useful PA I RON AGE. It' such a secret had been with sir Richard Phillips, he would have sold it ten times over, and afterwards have laughed at the colonels folly tor having reposed a marketable article with him ! But with rar Wright the thing was different ; and he has been almost ru- ined in peace of mind and public opinion from having been truly honorable to an ill-principled impostor, who would sacrifice his parent for a little POPULA- RliY !!! 1 d mr. Cobbctt, and was supported with such public enthusiasm. u The reader will perceive, from the perusal of this letter, that lord Folkstone had greatly interested him- self in my affairs, and was .my principal private advisee with resgect to the suppression ot my last book, " Barley- street, April 3, 1809, haffc past twelve^ morning. c *Dear mad Air, " I had n*>t left my claret, but my tea, and a plea- sant company, and was putting on my great coat at the foot of IVard/e's stairs, when ( received your com- mands, in obedience to Which alone I reluctantly made up my mind not to call on you this evening I hope that neither illness nor anger (for which I can guess no cause), was the cause of the peremptory or- der I received, and which, so much against my will, I obeyed. I am glad you have sent the letters ; I hope they were written fair, and that you attended to yours. — I have been perusing the paper which your legal adviser, Comrie, wanted you to sjgn. 1 see more reason each time I read it why you should not sign a paper drawn up in that form; but especially a paper like that, so incorrectly written and full of abbrevia- tions, &c. — Beware of this man— I think he is no frie*nd of yours.— L will, if I can, keep awake to- night, or at all events in the morning, put to papeif ^oine ideas on the subject. In the mean time let me exhort you not to agree to verbally, and especially not to sign, any proposal hastily, and without con- sideration. My head is not a cool one; but I think it cooler than yours; and, at all events, the delay occa- sioned by your resolution to consult me, at least in- sures time for reflection. I wilt caii on you at the ( 173 ) tfme which you will name, I have an engagement in Blaekfriars'-road, at three, which will detain me some time; and either before or after that, I must go into the city; but I will call on you either at one or at five, or at your dinner hour, or early or late in the evening, as will best suit you — fix the time, and I will- make my arrangements in consequence. — Adieu, I shall now go to bed. The scratches in this letter prove how unfit I am for business now. Let me hear from you, and believe me, dear madam, 11 Ever truly yours, (Signed) "Folkstone-." " The following letter will show that Dodd was not •he only person who had & finger in the book which was then about to be published. " Lord Folkstone acknowledges his anxiety with resrfect to the manner my efforts were to go into the world, and in this epistle gives another proof of his friendship for the woman whose word he now endea- vors to lessen in the. good opinion of the public ! ! March <2j y 1 800. " Dear madam, u I am nearly knocked up as ever rip of a race- horse was at the end of the fourth four mile heat lor a king's plate ; but I am not inclined to give in yet — - I want to talk about Lawson. I also want to talk to you about your book : if the preface is not finally de- termined on and printed, I should like to look it over. It is of great importance to you that you should be PROPERLY AND TRULY REPRESENTED IN IT TO the public ; I am, therefore, desirous to see it, be- fore it is too late ; get it home for this purpose if you can, and I will call this evening, after dinner, about ten o'clock. ** Let mo know if such arrangements will suit you, and believe me ever truly, Yours (in haste), (Signed) " Fo/.-kstone."" P 2 C m ) Ji With what face can mr. Cobbett abuse me in hit weekly Register, alter the reader is made acquainted with this letter, and discovers that he, and lord Folk- stone, endeavored to make me an instrument of poli- iieal convenience, for the purpose of attacking any object that best suited the policy of the moment. "Dear madam, u \ received the inclosed to-day, from mr. Cob- bett. I wish you would, without loss of time, m- quire into the facts, and let me know the result. I will call, if possible, for your answer to-morrow, about four ; if I cannot call, I will send in the even- ing. Take care of the-letters, and return them* I J*ope you are better.™ Ever yours, (in haste;, 4 - FoLK'STOXEv ** JprilZQ, 1809/' •* The husband of the lady who is named in the following letter, I essentially served, and in return tor my fondness, mrs. Elderton was afterwards pleased to say that she did not recollect me. Lord Folkstone, who was always upon the look-out for a. political job, herrd me mention my friendship to mrs. Elderton, and mace some endeavors to turn her husband's c ise to account; he therefore commenced a correspon- dence with her, in the course of which she tried to coax some money out of his pocket, but in that at^- tempt she failed, as lord F. will do any thing but give or lend his money. The reader will perceive, how- ever, by this letter, that his lordship was onfy-a;w//tf~ cal visitor, and frequented my house, in order to obtain something that might bring Mm into' public fa- to-r* ** Dear madam, " April 12. ' ' -tiuynot to- see irtftu Elderton till this evening ( 175 y at nine — will you give me some dinner in my way there at seven ? 1 do not think 1 shall be kept at the house beyond this time. " Truly yours, (in haste) 11 Folkstonk/* " The whole of my next letter also confirms my declaration, that I was made the instrument o\ serv- ing political men with the means of obtaining popu* larity, by bespattering any one they felt a disposition to degrade or lessen in the estimation-- of the country. " Dear madam, " I called upon you to inquire, whether you had pursued the inquiry about the bribes offered to the baker in Church-lane — and to beg you (if you ha- not) to do so without loss of lime. If you can give me any information about that matter, send it me — my servant shall call about six tor your answer, he will bring it to me at the house. If you have not yet done any thing, pray set about it immediately, as in cese of an adjourned debate (which 1 think mighty probable), it will be sufficiently early to have this in- formation to-morrow, and I will call in the course of the morning, to hear if you have any to give.^ — Last ni^ht was the darkest 1 was ever out in — 1 fell inter the ditch by the chapel, and luckily did not break my neck. "Truly yours, " Foi/KSTONR." " ft may be necessary forme here to inform the reader, that I repeatedly inireated lord Folkstone ta take those letters back which he bad written to me. I made this offer to him from an impression, that he was a man of high honor, and that he was incapable of a falsehood; but, alas ! I have been deceived ex en in him ! "-This letter will show the reader, however; that £< ( 176 ) had no intention to make use of his letters in any im» proper way ; but when my character and feelings were concerned, from the villanous prosecution that was instituted against me, I trust ihe reader will think me justified in having called in every aid and assistance within my ability, to repel the effects of Wardle's malice, and as lord Folkstone's letter was a very im- portant document, in support of my narrative, i was* painfully obliged to give it a niche in the work. Had his lordship continued the gentleman I once believed him. to be, I should not have inserted these other let- ters, out of about forty, which, if published, must lessen him, and raise me in the estimation of the eople ! " July*\7> 1809* t( Dear MAixAM r " As I have no reason to think that you wilk make use of my letters, and as I have no reason to be- ashamed of any thing in them if you do, I have no wish to have them returned — you are- welcome to keep or destroy them as you please. " With respect to sir Richard Phillips', 1 have de- stroyed it, and I wish you not to sptak of it to any one. My reason 1 will tell you when we meet . "I too have seen a paragraph in The Press about Cobbett. — The whole is quite false, except the fact of the visit ; I am sure, if any thing of the sort had pass- ed, I should have recollected it, and I have no recol- lection at all of the kind; I am sure it is false. — in great haste, yours truly, N Signed/ " Folkstone." " I must here inform the reader, tiiat col. Pigot's name having been introduced to the notice of the house through the investigation, I felt exceedingly anxious to convince him of my not having been the . intentional cause of it; and that I wished him to b6 < 177 ) convinced, that he ranked amongst those friends- whom I m >st esteem. " Accordingly, I asked lord Folkstone to wrrte to the Cape of Good Hope, to express my sorrow at the public use of his name, and that my good intentions towards him were in no way abated ! " This request will account tor the following letter, which \% another proof of his lordship's good opinion of me: — " August 30, 1809. " Deak madam, M I found your letter on my arrival in town yes* terday. iMy acquaintance with Pigot is so slight, that I think there will be considerable awkwardness in my writing to him on this subject, and I shall have some difficulty in knowing what to say to him. If, however, you still wish it, send me his address, aBd I will write to say, that in every thing I have ever heard you say of him you have seemed to consider him as your friend, and that I am totally ignorant of any ia- jury you would, much more of any you meant, to do him. I apprehend this would altogether meet your ideas. " There is scarce any one in town, and I have- aeard of nothing stirring. I hope you and the girls are well. " I am yours ever truly, (Signed) " Folkstone;' 3v * Mrs. Clarke, Coves, Isle of Wight." " Having given the reader eight more letters out of forty which I have in my possession, I hope it will be clearly seen, that no longer ago than the -latter end .ef August last, which is not yet ten months, lord Folkstone held me in high and friendly esteem, and I should hke to be informed what his motives are, fQT w» thinking otherwise of me than he. did th«o? ( 178 > u I am about to introduce to my reader, a curious letr^\ <\hich I kmnd in my iron chest, fvH oi very curious letters, among which, I entertain a hope, that I shall lay my hand upon a note ot the duke of Kent's, which I am inclined to think major Dodd dropped in pulling out his handkerchief, after he had taken a large portion of mr. Illmgworth's wine, which he thinks J am weak enough to pay for ! " I shall introduce this letter from dr. OMeara, and then the reader may give the sanguinary part oi the epistle what credit he pleases; but, certainly, Robespierre never did a cooler thing than that which is said to have distinguished the patriotic M The reader will see that the letter is written to my brother, c'apt. Thompson, who most probably left it with me, when I had no idea of its ever making a public appearance. ** Dublin, 29, Frederick-street* u My dear sir, " I congratulate you on the victory mrs. Clarke has gained over the mushroom patriot; 1 think we «ould give him le coup de grace. I have collected some curious particulars of his own campaign in Ire- land ; one most horrible, and which will be proved o&» oath. One day during the rebellion, he met a poor man near Athy, with a satchel on his back, contain- ing an axe, an augur, a saw, &c. ; he immediately concluded the poor man was a rebel, having such dangerous weapons concealed in a sack. In vain the poor man declared he was a carpenter, and that these were his tools. The — could not be convinced. . and he ordered his head to be sawed off, which was jdone on the spot. I hope mrs. C, now that she has passed through this ordeal trial, will have no objec* tion to state the whole truth, for my private arid per* < m ) -ronal friends. She told me she did not intend to mention my name ; that she was forced by mr. War- die to embellish as she did with respect to me. The blow was aimed at the established church, to stab it through the sides of a clergyman. The reformers and methodists being leagued together to pull down both church and state. V My letters in defence of the duke were not men* (ion (I, which was the ground and cause of my intro- duction to him; and his royal highness having thank- ed me tor writing those letters, I ventured to ask him for the chaplaincy of the royal yacht, and for which ho promised to apply on my forwardi g to him a let- ter of recommendation from some bishop, and which I did from Bath, directed to Portman-square ; this fact ! wish to have cleared up, to show the archbishop and my friends here. *• Cobbett says I preached at Weymouth from un- der the wing of mrs. C. ; whereas it was the year be- fore I preached before the royal family, riz. 1804. In the microcosm of London, it is difficult to distin- guish ladies under protection from ladies of fashion; each ot these orders borrows the manners of the other, and they act their parts as naturally ; it was no won- der a man of so much simplicity was deceived by the illusions of ^racelul manners, and modest discourse. The goddess Hecate, who presided over magic and en- chantments, was the same with Luna and Diana. Mrs. C. could personate this divinity with ease, as- suming all her forms, attributes, and functions, and mr. O. assured me she was a widow 7 in the last month ot her grief. The masquerade was continued by the vjritsc^ lariies of fashion at her house, and the visit- ing cards ot many of high consideration, &c. &c. &c, " I intend being in London in spring, when 1 hope to see you; and 1 shall be glad to get an answer to Ibis letter. " When you see mr. O. give him my best regards* r I am, my dear sir, yours sincerely, H 22dDec. 18Q9. " T. G'M/ ? ( 180 ) u I opened tliis letter to add, that the letter of mioc which was lound by the secret committee, and which has been so much misrepresented as an indecent pro- duction, was an answer to an hoaxing letter I got from mrs. 0. in which she said she was tired of the pomps and vanities of this wicked world, &c. That Mary Magdalen was not m re penitent, and entreat- ing that 1 would comfort the weak-hearted, and find out tor her a cheap and sate asylum in Ireland. I arswered th« epistle of this witty piece of Eve's Jiesh in print, and tor which the saints and reformers have splashed me with abuse. Mrs. C. got back this \et- ter, and I hope she will preserve it and the arch- bishop's letter." T1NI?> LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 020 690 970 5 •** -w **% v>* vv ^^2 « ..v