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UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
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THE
RIVAL PRINCES,
&c. &c. &c.
C. H. WALES, Printer,
No. 11, Vigo Lane, London.
THE *
Rival Princes;
OR, A
FAITHFUL NARRATIVE of FACTS,
RELATING TO
Mrs. M. A. CLARKE'
POLITICAL ACQUAINTANCE
WITH
COLONEL WARDLE, MAJOR DODD,
&c. &c. &c.
WHO WERE CONCERNED IN THE CHARGES AGAINST
The DUKE of YORK;
TOGETHER WITH
A variety of Authentic and Important
LETTERS,
AND
CURIOUS AND INTERESTING ANECDOTES OF SEVERAL
PERSONS OF POLITICAL NOTORIETY.
IN TWO VOLUMES.
VOL. II.
Grace
By MARY ANNE^ CLARKE.
pucy)
ON
LONDON:
PRINTED FOR THE AUTHOR, AND PUBLISHED BY C. CHAPPLE,
No. 66, PALL-MALL.
1810.
02-4-26 #· I.
Liber
Pattison
8-3-25
12197
THE
Rival Princes,
VOL. II.
&c. &c. &c.
THERE is something so interesting in
the conduct of Colonel WARDLE, that
I cannot but continue to lead the rea-
der along the path by which he so ho-
nourably reached the Temple, where
Fame was anxiously waiting to deck
his virtuous head with the leaf of the
flattering laurel. If I could descant
with that warmth of feeling, and
A
2
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, in-
stead of that faithful portrait which I
professed to give in the commence-
ment of this work.
Having pledged myself to a veri-
table statement of facts, and fearing
my feeble pen would not be adequate
to a masterly colouring of that ex-
travagant regard which these persons
evinced for their Royal friend, the
reader must be satisfied with my
G
3
imperfect illustration of their indivi-
dual and collective movements in the*
great cause in which they were en-
gaged.
If the following documents are not
instances of the zeal of which I speak,
then Colonel WARDLE is an angel-
perhaps the reader may think him
so-but of darkness! By the follow-
ing documents, it will be seen, that he
was in the habit of dictating to me
my line of proceeding, and of give
ing me heads for a subject, which
shews the influence he had over my
evidence:
-
4
" MR. ADAM,
"The friend professed, of both
brothers, has astonished his patrons by his
liberality, at the expence of the public, towards
his poor friends in Scotland, for whom he
created as many new places and establish-
ments 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.
£
"House of Commons, 5 o'Clock,
Tuesday Evening. •
cc
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 nine o'clock to-
13
night. Send HIм a note, when you come,
to say, you are at the House in compliance with
HIS desire. I send you Doctor O'Meara's
letter, enclosed, so that you may present it.
yourself to the House, stating, that you forgot
it last night.. hope you have sent Favorey,-
&c. &c.
66
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, ass
may be seen by reference to the mi
nutes of the House of Commons, as
published by Mr. Chapple, Fall-mall..
A Bad
16
2
One morning I requested Colonel
WARDLE to accompany me to Mr.
Wright's, with respect to my furni-
ture, but he excused himself under
the plea of urgent parliamentary bu-
siness; he, however, told me, to get
Major Dodd to go, as he had nothing
to do on the following day. Accord
ingly the Major acquiesced, but wish-
ing to couple my business with en-
quiries necessary to the proceedings
before the House, we called on Dr.
1
Thynne, that I might ask him some
questions, which he dictated, and then
went on to Rathbone 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 carriage,
which, when repaired, we went on to
my Solicitor, Mr. Comrie, of South-
ampton-buildings, Holborn, who not
being in town, the Major spoke to his
nephew, and endeavoured to obtain
my papers of him, as he particularly
wanted a bill, sent to Birkett, the Sil-
versmith, in order to see the date re-
specting the £500, paid by Colonel
French to me;-a circumstance of
which I had previously informed the
Major, who insisted upon the deli-
very of my papers, which, if nọt im-
-
•
8.
mediately attended to, he assured Mr.
Comrie's nephew, that he would send
a summons from the House of Com-
mons, to enforce them. I have de-
tailed this fact, as another instance of
the zeal of this party!
D
What will the reader be pleased to
denominate that feeling which induced
Colonel WARDLE to draw me from,
my secluded habitation, under flat-
tering prospects-suborn me into his
own arranged measures of proceed-
ing in the House of Commons-in-
struct me to evade such questions ·
as might be dangerous to his cause,
9
+
while he had the face to make the
most gross declarations-and after-
wards had the impudence to stand up
and reason on his own villainy!—The
reader is asked to designate such a
feeling with an appropriate 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 sufficiently forcible.
*
7
There would be no end of citing
proofs of this declaration, from the
minutes of evidence before the House
#
10
of Commons, if I felt so disposed, but
as such information is within the pos-
sible acquisition of every one, and as
it is in fact pretty generally known,
I do not feel inclined to entertain my
reader with unnecessary long extracts
from that voluminous work. If the
reader will keep in mind, that the
whole proceeding in the House was
under his immediate knowledge and
direction, and that he took every pri-
vate and public means to blow the coal,
in order to consume the object of his
attack: that he, Major Dodd, or Mr.
Glennie, were always going to and
from me, to the House of Commons,
11
though he as a gentleman, had the
modesty to deny or acknowledge it, as
best suited the expediency of the mo-
ment:—that he argued upon the cre-
dibility of circumstances formed by him-
self, and after a long interval, and hav-
ing slept repeatedly on his proceed.
ings, he again stood up in the House
on the 8th of March, to deliver a cool,
mild, and philanthropic speech, on the
consideration of the Report of the
Committee.
If the reader will, I say, keep in
mind all these circumstances, and then
compare the following part of his ora-
12
tion, I do flatter myself that there can
be but one opinion of his HONOUR
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 important business to the present mo-
ment, has been to obtain a fair and cool in-
vestigation of the charges I thought it my
duty to bring forward against His Royal
Highness the Commander in Chief. I have
endeavoured to avoid every thing likely to cause
irritation in the progress of the inquiry,
and in that course I shall most rigidly persevere,
however I may feel hurt that motives highly in-
jurious to my character, and not more injurious
"
13
than false, have been indirectly attributed to
me,* as the ground of my proceedings; and
though I may also have thought that in the
early stage of the 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-mas-
ter, as being acquainted with a mo-
ney transaction, between me and Cap-
tain Sandon, he begged that I would
ask him to my house, and on being
apprized of his visit, he, or the Major,
* His services to the Duke of Kent-A guilty conscience, is
said, to want no accuser!
VOL. II.
B
14
would drop in, as if by accident, in
order to make him repeat his conver-
sation with Capt. Sandon. Mr. Corri
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, in Sloane-street. The
Colonel wrote* back, requesting me
to keep the jockey till he and Dodd
came. In about half an hour they
did me the honour of a visit, and re-
mained till Mr. Corri went away.
As the Colonel was the principal ob-
*Not thinking these kind of notes of any moment at that
me, the above was not preserved.
15
ject 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 Colonel
WARDLE, and that I brought on the
conversation he repeated at the bar of
the House, and which is as follows:
Mr. Dominico Corri, examined. *
"You have stated, that you have seen
Mrs. Clarke twice since the 1st of January,
on the 6th and 15th; was there any con-
* See Page 61 of the Minutes.
16
versation at either of those meetings, when
you supped each time, respecting the trans-
action 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 somet
gentlemen, and two gentlemen came in the
evening; and as soon as they came, the
conversation of this affair of Mr. Sandon,
was introduced, and I repeated every word
then, just as I 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 con-
versation of the whole night."
It may occur to the recollection of
1
17
the reader, that Mr. Corri was asked
in the House, whether he then saw
the gentleman he called Mr. Mellish,
and he replied, that he did not, but
that when Mr. Mellish stood up for
his observation, he informed the
House, that he was not the gentle-
man whom he had seen at Westborne
Place. After the examination of
Corri upon this point, Col. WARDLĘ
told me that he was much alarmed at
that time, lest the witness should have
discovered him when looking round
the House; and to avoid which, he
sat down behind several Members who
were standing!
B 2
18
When Major Dodd was first intro-
duced to me by Colonel WARDLE, I
was doubtful of his professions of since-
rity, as it may be naturally enough
supposed I should be, of the mere
word of a stranger, and therefore in-
formed him, that though he was Se-
cretary 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 per-
sons 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
19
man of honour. The Major then re-
peated the names of a number of his
friends, among whom was Mr. Do-
novan, of Charles-street, St. James's-
square, and on my saying that I was
acquainted with him, he instantly pro-
posed to accompany me to his door,
which he did, while I had an inter-
view with him. I have introduced
this circumstance to shew how Major
Dodd aftewards 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
20
name to the notice of the Parliament.
Major Dodd thought, during the ex-.
amination of Donovan, that a letter
might be written by me, to him, that
would have great weight with the
House, and the receipt of which Do-
novan could not deny if he were so
disposed, when pushed home upon the
subject by Colonel WARDLE, who
was acquainted with the trick; he,
therefore, dictated the following letter,
which I sent to Donovan, who pro-
duced it to the House:
DEAR SIR,
"I am much mortified in
seeing in this day's paper, the free use of
21
your name, and mine, in the debate of last
night; I, however, took an opportunity of
seeing Mr. WARDLE on the subject, and
I find he is by no means so ill disposed as
his speech seemed to evince, but he tells
me, that as I have committed myself and my
papers; he is determined to make every pos-
sible use of them, that to him seems proper.
I 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 am 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
22
upon the £130, you shall have it, the mo-
ment my mother comes from Bath: I fear,
if you are backward, WARDLE will expose
the whole of the letters he has to the House.
"Your's, truly,
"M. A. CLARKE.
"Saturday Evening, July 28th, 1809.
"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. Do-
novan under any other direction than
that of my own will; but as some lit-
tle circumstances arose from its exist-
ence that makes another link to that
23
long chain of facts, which shew that
Colonel WARDLE is a man in whom
there is no truth nor honour, 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 busi-
ness 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 honourable, 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
24
and do it-it cannot injure you. I under-
stand, your friend French, some months
ago, put a friend of his in possession 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 men-
tion my telling you this. I wish 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 dare say,
Clavering is hugging himself as he did not
send the remainder.
7
"Your's, &c.
"M. A. C."
The reader will perceive that Mr.
Finnerty is mentioned in this letter.
Col. WARDLE denied, in the House
25
of Commons, his having any intimacy
with him, and I believe only acknow-
ledges 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 of
the nation, in the British Senate, and
insult them by a gross falsehood! The
fact is, that Mr. Finnerty and the Co-
lonel have been inseparable ever since
the making up of Major Hogan's
pamphlet, and Mrs. Wardle's visit in
VOL. II.
C
26
the barouche to the Major, at Frank's
hotel, Lower Brook-street, as I before
observed, which Colonel WARDLE had
assured me, his wife had most ex-
cellently managed under his direc-
tions!!! but acknowledging at the
same time, that he had been guilty of
a great oversight in having sent the
servants in his own livery!-I believe
the livery described by Mr. Finnerty,
as Editor of Major Hogan's pamphlet,
corresponded exactly with the clothes
worn by the Colonel's SERVANTS—
which was white turned up with
scarlet!
1
27
But to return more immediately to
the above letter, which when deliver-
ed to the House by Mr. Donovan,
threw the Colonel into great trepida-
tion and alarm, as he had before de-
nied knowing any thing of Mr. Fin-
nerty; and when he came to me the
next morning, at nine o'clock, he ex-
pressed his anger that I was so indis-
creet as to have mentioned Mr. Fin-
nerty in a letter to Donovan, or any
other person.
He told me I had
nearly been the ruin of him, after the
broad declaration he had made to the
1
•
gigi
House, of not being acquainted with
such a person.
28
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 bu-
siness; then laughed-and turned the
conversation to something else.
It may appear a little strange that I
have not assigned some motive for
having written a letter, in which I
committed one of my patrons, but
when I develope the cause, I am in-
clined to think I shall not incur the
censure of my reader. The Colonel
had exposed Mr. Donovan, without my
knowledge or approbation, and deceived
29
me with respect to the young Officer's
letters; I therefore, thought that I
would just give him and his colleagues,
a gentle hint, that they were all at my
mercy; and if they again deceived me
as to the use of my information, I
would ruin them-which I am sorry
now I did not accomplish
As Colonel WARDLE is greatly in-
debted to his wife for her cool and
able assistance, during the investiga-
tion, it would not be fair of me to
pass her merits over in brief remark,
and as part of her services has just
come under my notice, I may not
C.2:
30
have a better opportunity to comme-
morate the abilities of a PATRIOTIC
WIFE!
History having regarded in lan-
guage
of descriptive energy, the exer-
tions and INFLUENCE of those women
who have distinguished themselves in
great political convulsions, I trust I may
feel something like a strong plea in
favour of my feeble attempt to de-
scribe Mrs. Wardle's political charac-
ter, in chastity of pencil, and sober
colouring.
It is said, that it is necessary for
31
one of a family to have brains, other-
wise they will not become distinguish-
ed for any thing but folly! This is
precisely the case with Colonel WAR-
DLE, who, without his wife's abilities,
would never have made a politician!
Previous to the investigation, she or-
ganized all the plans upon which her
husband was to act, and in order to
pick up information, kept an open
house, where all descriptions of per-
sons assembled that could be useful to
her husband. One of her schemes
was, to send to all the prisons, par-
ticularly the King's Bench and the
Fleet, where she supposed many per-
32
sons might be found, who would, for
fine promises and a LITTLE money:
communicate secrets relating to such
high persons, whom incarcerated po-
verty might at one time have
known!-Among such a variety of
individuals, whom misfortunes and in-
descretion, 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 hu-
man mind, and induce a man, once
possessed of pride and honour, to lend
himself under expectations of reward, .
to acts, at which he would in the days
"
33
of his prosperity, have shudderd-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
Mrs. Wardle, to serve the cause of
her husband.
In this way she traced people and
circumstances, which when brought
together and arranged, made a some-
thing for Colonel WARDLE's labours,
and though she most likely got every
thing in an exaggerated garment, yet
still it was a something, which when
stript of its prison dress, and assuming a
34
more gaudy apparel, the Colonel had
acquired an opportunity of making
the most of. In this way Mrs. Wardle's
dwelling became a repository for a mix-
ture of all kinds of truth and falsehood,
which misery, malice, and party furor,
could rake together for M'Cullum, the
foreman 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 state the number
of idle people who used to knock at
my door, during the investigation,
35
with what they called curious anec-
dotes of great men! and as an excuse
for doing so, said, they had done bu-
siness for Mrs. Wardle. Of these un-
pleasant visits I complained to the Co-
lonel, who was angry at my conduct,
but desired that they might in fu
ture, be sent to his house, which man-
date my servants accordingly 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 impe-
diments only appeared to increase her
energies, and whet her appetite to
་
36
forward his prosperity. I have been
informed, that his house, at that time,
appeared like the dwelling of a mem-
ber, during an election, who is oblig-
ed to feed a succession of hungry
constituents, that after many profes-
sions of independence and liberty, ge-
nerally give their votes where they
find the BEST TABLE!
Another scheme by which Colonel
WARDLE, under the direction of his
wife, endeavoured to acquire infor-
mation, was, that of finding out, and
getting acquainted with some of the
minor clerks in the different public
37
offices, and those of a higher class, if
circumstances afforded an opportu-
nity; from these individuals the Colo-
nel possessed himself of much garbled
and uncertain matter, out of which, he
at last set up a principle, 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 indi-
vidual instances of his having meanly
attempted to suborn a gentleman in
the Treasury, to afford him the secrets
of his office, for his own political
use.
VOL. II.
D
->
}
38
Colonel WARDLE became acquaint-
ed with a physician, at my house, by
the name of Metcalfe, of whom I
shall shortly have an occasion to
speak. This worthy man has a re-
spectable relative, by the name of
Wentworth Rigg, who holds a situa-
tion in the Treasury, of about £300
a year; and, as it was the business of
the Colonel to pry into the affairs of
every person with whom he came in
contact, I shall not surprise the reader
by informing him, that he soon found
out every particular, relative to the
nephew of the worthy doctor; through
whom, the Colonel tried to become
200
39
acquainted with Mr. Rigg. When
the Colonel's acquaintance grew into
a kind of confidential intimacy, by pro-
mises of friendship and esteem for
Dr. Metcalfe, he had the villainy to
ask him, to solicit Mr. Rigg, to
COPY from the BOOKS of his office,
THE WHOLE OF THE MANAGEMENT
ÓF THE HALF-PAY FUND, in return
for which act of civility, he assured the
Doctor, that Mr. R. should have a
SITUATION OF DOUBLE THE VALUE,
AS SOON AS HIS FRIEND, THE DUKE
OF KENT, CAME INTO POWER!!!
ܝ
I am sure I need not inform the
40
reader, what was the answer and feet-
ing of Dr. Metcalfe, as a RESPECTA-
BLE and HONEST man; but the Co-
lonel knows perfectly well, that the
worthy physician despised him, for of-
fering such an insult to his honour ;
and there, as may be supposed, the
Patriot's friendship ended towards 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
making a noise in the House, that he
might increase his popularity, he dis-
covered, through Mr. Glennie, that
Colonel Shrapnel was angry with Go-
41
vernment, for not having used his shells
in preference to Congreve's rockets;
and like a disappointed author, ex-
pressed his contempt and hatred of
all those who did not happen to think.
favourably of his works. Mr. Glen-
nie was then employed to bring Co-
lonel Shrapnel and WARDLE together,.
which he accordingly did, that the
neglected genius might unbosom all his
secrets and wrongs, to the great public
accuser of the year 1809-who, as a
monopolizing tradesman in politics,
cleared the market of every article im
his line, that he might retail it out
himself to the best advantage !-a.
D. 2.
42
principle that does not accord with the
duties of a Patriot in a commercial
nation!
Whether there has lately been any
demand for the kind of articles depo-
¿
sited by Colonel Shrapnel, in the store
house of this political tradesman, I will
not presume to determine, but be as-
sured, reader, that when the market's up,
he will, like other monopolizers, expose
his old stock of tainted trash, to pall
upon the sense of his former friends
and customers, at St. Stephens!
There is scarcely a public office,
43
that was within the influence of Colo-
nel WARDLE's bribery, but what af-
forded him some kind of information
in proportion to the infidelity of its
clerks; who, like every other descrip-
tion of people, are not always above
temptation; and, like Judas, had the
same weighty reason for betraying.
their master!-Major Dodd perform--
ed his part of this kind of service, and
through the dirtiest efforts, acquired
documents, &c. &c. out of Mr.
Greenwood's office, while he was in
the habit of calling there two or three
times a week, under pretence of pro-
fessing his, and the Duke of Kent's
1
44
esteem for that gentleman! As ano-
ther instance of the zeal of this
party, I cannot forego the mention
of Mr. Glennie's anxiety to serve
the Duke of Kent. While writing
my former book, he begged me to al-
low him to introduce some improve-.
ments, as he termed them, into it;
which, on enquiry, I found to be, a
wish to mix up the Duke of Kent's
grievances, with my narrative. Ac-
*
·
1
* As I am in posssession of all the circumstances attending
the Duke of Kent's conduct, while he was Governor of Gibral-
tar, it is not improbable but I shall publish a curious History of
his courage, military and political actions, together with an en-
tertaining Account of the Discovery of St. Lawrence!-If part
of this note should appear to be enveloped in mystery, the Duke
of Kent has it in his power to give it a copious illustrution ! ! !
45
1
cordingly he began his interpolation
of matter, by the most fulsome eulo-
gium on the Duke's virtues, which on
reading, I instantly saw there would
be an impropriety in making my
book the vehicle of the Prince's
spleen towards his brother, the Duke
of YORK. I therefore, erased it, and
told Mr. Glennie, that I had made
up my mind, that my publication
should not contain any subjects but those
within my own knowledge; and thus
Mr. Glennie was deprived of the op-
portunity and pleasure of bestowing
praise on the great military talents and
virtues of his Royal friend!
46
In one of Mr. Glennie's fits of pane-
gyrising his favourite Prince, he ob-
served, that the Duke's affection for
his old French lady, whom, he la-
mented he could not marry, was a
proof of his steady disposition, and do-
mestic good qualities, added to which,
he regularly went to church, and was
never seen inebriated-a habit he al-
ways endeavoured to check in those,
over whom he had any influence-
though Major Dodd, as a particular
favourite, was allowed occasionally,
to take that enemy into his mouth
which stole away his brains. Mr.
Illingworth, as I have before obsery-
47
ed, confirmed Mr. Glennie's declara-
tion of the Duke's temperance-a
quality that was sure to engage the at-
tention of a Wine-merchant, as well
as his displeasure!
I hope Mr. Glennie will not be of
fended with my asking him, through
whose interest he got his present situa-
tion, as teacher of mathematics in the
National Academy, at Woolwich ?—
I am inclined to believe, that his pri
vate services have in the end, been
better rewarded than those of the Co-
•
lonel;-the one has five hundred a
year, as the master of a school, and
48
the other has not yet been made SE-
CRETARY AT WAR! When he is
Secretary at War, I shall expect to see
the disappointed Knight, of Bridge-
street, Chancellor of the Exchequer !—
or, Embassador at Paris; or, at least,
a BARONET!-I am sure Sir Richard
will understand me!
Amidst the variety of dirty busi-
ness which was alloted to M'Cullum,
Mrs. Wardle sent him to watch the
movements of the Duke of YORK, at
Mrs. Carey's; accordingly he formed
an acquaintance with a person who
was a sort of chandler, next door to
40
her residence, with a view to get in-
troduced to her, and from which
place he, or some other amiable cha-
racter, used to watch Mrs. Carey and
the Duke. Finding, however, that
all attempts failed to get acquainted
with her, Major Dodd went to work
to accomplish that very desirable ob-
ject; and after many enquiries to find
out the most certain means of esta-
blishing an intimacy in Mrs. Carey's
house, he got hold of an officer whọ
had painted a miniature of the Duke
of YORK, and bribed him to under-
take the agreeable task. Accordingly
this son of Mars, offered his pictorial
VOL. II.
E
50
efforts for sale, to Mrs. Carey, who
thinking, as I was informed, that he
asked too much for the portrait, ob-
jected to buy it, and there terminated
his embassy. Various other attempts
were made to get a footing in this Ia-
dy's house, but whether she was sus-
picious of the party, or they managed
their business with a bad address, I
cannot say; but it appeared that all
efforts to make her instrumental in
their designs, proved ineffectual.
When it was understood that I did
not mean to publish my book, a re-
purt got into circulation, that Mr.
51
M'Cullum was in possession of a
copy of it, which he intended to pub-
lish at a bookseller's, near the Royal
Exchange; I accordingly wrote to
Mr. Glennie upon the subject, and re-
ceived the following answer:-
" DEAR MADAM,
"Woolwich Common,
"Tuesday, April 25, 1809.
"Your friendly letter of yes-
terday, I have just had the pleasure of pe-
rusing, and you may rest assured, that I
will lose no time in getting the injurious re-
port you complain of, contradicted by Mr.
M-Cullum himself, and your wish in this
respect complied with; I can hardly bring
myself to think, that he would go to any
$2
printer, and wantonly offer to do what he
knew it was utterly out of his power to ac-
complish; I am therefore, inclined to be-
lieve, that there is some mistake in the bu-
siness. Be this, however, as it may, I will
take care to have it rectified; should it be
in
n my power, I will call on you for a few
minutes on Thursday or Friday next.
"Offer my best wishes to Miss Taylor,
and believe me to be, with much truth,
your most sincere well wisher,
"And very humble Servant,
THOMAS GLENNIE."
Mrs. M. A. Clarke.
And afterwards the following from
Mr. McCullum:-
53
"MADAM,
"On the 28th ultimo, I received
a letter from Mr.. Glennie, which I laid
aside, being determined to pay no attention
to its contents, because it imputed to me
circumstances, which are so totally destitute
of truth, and whoever informed you of my
being with a Mr. Edwards, or any other
person, offering a book to publish, must
have been aware he was deceiving you.
I have not the honour of knowing any
person of that name, and I am equally
certain I did not offer the manuscript of
a book to any bookseller or printer in
London, nor asserted that you employed
me to copy your publications; my ill
state of health, at the time, made me in-
different about either yourself, or your pro-
duction, and therefore I refused Mr. Glennie
·
E 2
54 ·
↑
~
to contradict a report which I never cir-
culated. However, on inquiry, I was in-
formed you had, in a variety of instances-
indulged your wit maliciously at my ex-
pence. That you kept me out of charity,
and gave me £.10, to keep your name out
of the newspapers, in a trial you had in
the Court of Common Pleas, together with
other circumstances equally false and dis-
gusting to my feelings; on hearing such
reports, I stated to Sir Richard Phillips,
that I thought your conduct not only extra-
ordinary, but ungrateful, and on that ac-
count, public justice would oblige me to publish
every thing that came within my knowledge, respect-
ing the late Investigation. In your letter of the
11th instant, there is a vile insinuation,
which I cannot pass over without repro-
bation. You say, if others have made you
•
:
:
55
P
promises which they have not fulfilled, or if
they have any way neglected you, it is not
my fault, &c. certainly it is not your fault,
if others have not fulfilled promises which
they never made, I have no fault to impute to
them, as they are not under any obligation
to me, I have no claim upon them, and never
considered myself neglected in any instance;
any
your case is totally different, the public are
convinced THAT YOU ARE UNDER AN OBLI-
GATION ΤΟ THE PARTIES YOU ARE NOW
RIVILING, though they never MADE YOU
PROMISES, no MORE THAN THEY DID TO
ME, FOR AT THE TIME I FOUND YOU OUT,
I WAS NOT CONNECTED WITH THEM BUT
}
VERY SLIGHTLY, and it was by your own
EXPRESS DESIRE, that I INTRODUCED YOU
TO MR. WARDLE, OF WHOSE CHARACTER,
you informed me, you had a previous know.
:
56
ledge; my original view was to serve you,
without any hope of remuneration, and how
far I have performed my duty, the public
will soon decide between us; I am sure they
will not give you much credit for the part
you have acted in abusing me.
"I am, Madam,
"Your most obedient,
"Humble Servant,
Directed)
"Mrs. CLARKE,
“P. F. M'CULLUM."
"Castle-street, Coffee-house, Strand,
“16th May, 1809”
"Westhorne Place,
"Sloane-square, Chelsea."
It is impossible to possess a more
important document to illustrate the
true character of this poor wretch, and
the description of persons with whom
57
I unfortunately formed an acquaint-
ance, than the one I have laid before
the reader. He begins his letter with
a gross falsehood, in stating that he
had not applied to a bookseller, to
publish what he was then pleased to
call a copy of my book. A publisher,
of the name of Blacklock, took orders
for this embryo work, which was
only announced, I suppose, to extort
money from me!-So much then for
the first part of this man's stuff; in
which he goes on to observe, that
justice would oblige him to publish
every thing," &c. &c.-A pretty fel-
low to talk of Justice, who, if other-
66
58
wise than blind, she would have seen
him hanged for being a spy* at Trini-
dad, where Major Dodd saved a trai-
tor to become a future spectacle of
criminal jurisprudence, had not Pro-
vidence held out the hand of mercy,†
and snatched him from the ignominious
line, that suspends a villain from being
of future mischief to his country!
As to the abuse which he ac-
cuses me of having bestowed on him,
it does not deserve any notice, fur-
ther than to observe, that I believe
* See Note to p. 10, Vol. I.
+ Colonel Wardle is said to have buried him,
59
he would have fabricated any thing as
a plea for writing the sentiments of his
employers, and getting them if possi
ble, clear out of their engagements. If
the reader will employ a moments
reflection on the lines, distinguished
in italics and capitals, and then turn his
eye to the first pages of this work, he
must be convinced that Pierre M'Cul-
lum, Esq. was in every way calculated
for the service of his worthy master,
Colonel WARDLE!
He says, I am under an obligation
to Colonel Wardle and Major Dodd,
though in a line or two further on,
60
he observes, his original view was to
serve me, and yet, according to the
excellent reasoning, of the above letter,
I am to have nothing but empty
praise, (and scarcely that) for all
my services to the Colonel, and his
party. This ridiculous epistle must
convince the reader, that they could
assign any motives for their con-
duct as would best accord with the
expediency of the moment. I am
ready to make oath, that I never
spoke to Colonel WARDLE, or had
any communication with him, before
M'Cullum found me out for the
express purpose of bringing about
61
*
an acquaintance between us, and I
also am ready to declare on oath,
that I never saw M'Cullum, till he
solicited an interview with me, as I
have explained more at length in the
beginning of this work. This inge-
nious letter, however, shews with what
great philanthropy he sought to serve
me, and after all, it appears that I
am not to be served; as he ob-
serves, "there was no promise made
to me!" What a knowledge this man
of letters must have had of logic:
Sir Richard Phillips believing that
McCullum was in possession of some
of the Duke of YORK's letters, and
VOL. II.
F
62
also a copy of my work, as he
professed to be, thought, that if he
could get this valuable manuscript
out of his hands for a few hundred
pounds, he most probably might
make something handsome of them,
either in a pecuniary point of view,
or in the flattering compensation of
an additional honour, and therefore
sinking his imaginary consequence, and
assuming his best behaviour, he courted,
(which is not very common) the au-
thor, instead of the author being
obliged to court him. Among his
temporary civilities, he invited M'Cul-
lum to his country house, at Hamp-
-
63
stead, who, thinking that
a good
dinner was no bad thing, did the
Knight the honour of a visit, on I be-
lieve the first Saturday after he sent
me the preceding letter.
I need not describe the eagerness
of Sir Richard, to come at the dar-
ling object of his ambition; and as
M'Cullum afterwards related the con-
versation, I understand that he was
offered £500 for the copy-right of his
supposed stolen property! The reader
may easily suppose, that as he had
nothing to dispose of, he could not
accede to the proposed terms, and
64
therefore Sir Richard finding nothing
was to be done with his visitor, began
to probe him upon other matters rela-
tive to his party, and his opinion of
the disposal of my work.
This threw M'Cullum into a great
rage, when he informed the Knight,
that as I had received a large sum of
money, and was also to have an an-
nuity; he expected me, to make him
a handsome reward, as he first found
me out, which if I neglected to do,
he was determined to prevent me from
having the annuity;-that he would
BLOW UP THE WHOLE SET OF US;
#
65
that it was an infamous plot, and THAT
HE WAS ACQUAINTED WITH THE
WHOLE AFFAIR!!! He then enume-
rated the parties concerned, in which he
included the name of Lord Folkstone.
Sir Richard, fearing that M'Cullum
might deny all that was said, from
his knowledge, I suppose, of his be-
ing a great rascal, requested a friend
who was in the next room, to be pre-
sent, who, I am informed, came in and
heard him repeat the latter part
of his remarks, with respect to the
plot, &c. &c.
Sir Richard knowing, no doubt, of
F 2
66
what dangerous materials the agent of
a conspirator is in general composed,
began to fear that his friend WARDLE
might be ruined by the infidelity of a
character, who would have sold his
parent, or any of the dearest ties of
nature, for a hundred pounds, imme-
diately wrote to solicit an interview
with Lord Folkstone upon the sub-
ject, who accordingly called upon Sir
Richard, when he communicated all
the latter part of his conversation,
(leaving his desire of the book out
of question) relative to the threat held
out by M'Cullum.
Lord F. very
coolly and very honestly observed,
.3
67
that he did not understand what was
meant by it, as he knew nothing of
the business until it came before the
House of Commons-a fact of which
I shall shortly be able to convince the
reader. When his Lordship called
upon me, he related his conversation
with Sir Richard, and asked me, whe-
ther there was any truth in M'Cul-
lum's account of a plot; I told him
that at some future period I might be
at liberty to say more upon the sub-
ject, but at present I was obliged to
decline going further into the busi-
ness-that if his Lordship was dis-
posed to attend to the information of
¿
68
Sir Richard, he perhaps, might learn
something more of the affair from Co-
lonel WARDLE, who (if he pleased)
could explain every thing!
If we cast our eyes over the pages
of history, and take into our conside-
ration, that man is quite the creature
of circumstances-that his fears and
courage are worked upon by the acci-
dental appearance of reward and pu-
nishment, as quicksilver rises and falls
by the versatile state of the atmos-
phere, we shall not be surprised that
conspiracies have generally failed to
the extent of their author's views.
69
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 mas-
ter 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 man's heart is re-
gulated but by two springs;-the one
that turns up the fears of the gallows—
and, the other that affords him a pro-
spect of wealth!
70
Taking a retrospect of some of the
recent exertions of those persons who
have formed plans on the Continent,
for either the restoration of monarchy,
or some other change in the govern-
ment, as in the case of Generals Piche-
gru and Moreau, or in the still more
recent case, if correctly given by the
French Papers, of an endeavour to
obtain the liberty of Ferdinand VII.
of Spain, and restore him to his legi-
timate throne, it may be clearly seen,
that the agents of those acts, defeated
the object of their embassy, through
the operation of the passions, which
ought to be so disciplined, as to sleep
71
with such persons. Indeed, the free-
dom of the British government will
not admit of carrying into effect, a
private plan of hostility on the Con-
tinent, for many reasons; one of
which is, that though it has the abi-
lity of bestowing rewards in case of
success, it cannot inflict punishment
beyond that of contempt and future ·
disregard, if its agents, either through
fear or too much anxiety, as in the
case of Ferdinand, fail in the accom-
plishment of their object. Now the
arbitrary government of France can,
not only reward as well as the Eng-
lish do, but it can go further with a
72
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
enquire of the executioner, at the
door of the TEMPLE!
Hence it is, that the French can
do business of this kind better
than the English. An Englishman
on his return from an unsuccess-
ful 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
73
errors, he has only to regret, that na-
ture had not given him a cool head,
and more courage, while his em
ployers 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 na-
tural freedom of his government,
has much to fear when employed on
an embassy of a private nature;
first, because he is generally cou-
pled with associates, whose success
and lives are greatly dependant on
VOL. II.
G
1
74
1
each other, and for whose fears and
indiscretion he cannot be account-
able;
and secondly, that the dwell-
ings of our leading political men, are
too full of foreign servants, who are
the most dangerous SPIES that can
possibly infest a nation, and who very
naturally love to see that COUNTRY
FLOURISH 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 metaphisical
75
man, are almost enough to agitate his
nerves, and induce him to fear that
every time the wind shakes his
window, the French police is com
ing 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 pre-
sence, in his own convulsed nation,
might palsy the enemy's sword, and
ultimately restore it to all its wonted
greatness, ought to be possessed of
qualities a little above the ordinary
P
1
76
•
standard of men, otherwise the po
licy of his country will become ex-
posed, and his life pay for the folly
of its choice, and his own weak-
ness!
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 pas-
sions, prejudices and infirmities of
mankind, so as he may at a moment
✰
be able to turn human weakness to
the advantage of his own immediate
77
purpose; he ought to have a pretty
general knowledge of political events,
which living on the mind as a fin-
ger 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 conception, and cool in exécu-
tion, and Proteus like, change his na-
ture with every gale, without suf-
fering the little storms of his ser-
vice, to ruffle a mind which ought
to bend coolly to every difficulty, for
the attainment of its ends!
C 2
78.
Now even such a character, pur-
suing his political course with ano-
ther, must act under great appre-
hension of his associate's ability and
indiscretion, and therefore, no poli-
tical operation of this kind can be
so well affected, as when left to
one clever individual, (if circum-
stances will admit) who, conscious
of all resting upon himself, moves
without the dread of being betray-
ed by the fears, weakness, or interest
of his colleague.
If Colonel WARDLE were such a
character as I have described, what
79
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 dis-
position 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 throne
of a nation; and where that great in-
visible cause has given a head for
evil, it has also given a heart to coun-
teract its dangerous power; and
where it has given the heart of a
WARDLE, it has given a head also,
80
to counteract and defeat the effect of
its black designs.
Returning again to the proceedings
in Parliament, I must be allowed to
inform the reader, that on the eleventh
day of the investigation, being I be-
lieve, on the 20th of February, I
found myself unable to attend the
House in consequence of indisposi-
tion, and as Dr. 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 in-
ability to be then examined, which he
did, and my attendance was accord-
•*
81
ingly dispensed with on that evening.
On the forenoon after my last exami-
nation in the House, Colonel WAR-
DLE and Major Dodd called on me,
contrary to their promise of not be-
ing seen at Westborne Place till the
dusk of the day;* Lord Folkstone
happened to drop in by accident, and
on finding them MUCH AGITATED,
began to suspect there was something
between us, beyond that which had
met the public eye; and though he
had nothing of any moment to say
or communicate to me, he felt inclin-
* See page 88, Vol. I.
82
ed to stay and watch the conduct of
the Colonel and Major Dodd. At
this time, I should inform the reader,
I was confined to my bed, and after
many entreaties from Dodd and
WARDLE, to see me, I desired (in
rather angry terms) to know what it
was that occasioned them to urge an
interview, when I was so indisposed.
Before I introduce Lord Folkstone
to the notice of my reader, I must be
permitted to pay a tribute of respect
to his honour and abilities. His Lord-
ship was no way connected with the
persons who constitute the leading
83
feature of this work. He identified
himself with the investigation upon
public grounds, and only visited me
under the impression of having been
an injured woman, who was provok-
ed to measures, at which my nature
appeared to revolt. Under these ho-
nourable impressions, Lord Folkstone-
called forth the energy of a vigorous
understanding into the supposed ser-
vice of his country, and upon the
same principle of becoming my
friend, he united himself with the po-
litics of Colonel WARDLE, as it will
be shortly seen by AN IMPORTANT
LETTER from his Lordship to me.
C
84
When Lord Folkstone found they
wished to be admitted into my bed-
chamber for a private conference, he in-
sisted on being present, as he very pro-
perly thought, he had a right to know
all the circumstances attending a mea-
sure to which he had lent his public sup-.
port. Finding that nothing I could say
or do, would excuse me from receiving
their visit, I at last gave my assent, and
the Colonel and Lord Folkstone came
up. After some common-place ex-
pressions of sorrow at my confine-
ment, the Colonel told me, it was
highly necessary I SHOULD NOT BE
AGAIN CALLED before the House;
I
85
and though I might be BETTER in
health, I MUST affect to CONTINUE
INDISPOSED, as ANOTHER EXAMINA-
TION MIGHT RUIN THEM!-At these
remarks Lord Folkstone appeared
much surprised, and then observed,
that he was of a very contrary opi-
nion, and thought that if I were well,
I ought to attend the House whenever
called upon. After much altercation
upon this point, Lord Folkstone told
Colonel WARDLE, that he was sure
there was something going on, with
which he was not acquainted, and
insisted upon knowing what it was,
VOL. II.
H
86
that appeared to disturb him so much
and which had thrown him intoʻ
such an AGITATION. The Colonel
finding himself so closely pinned
down to the point, and that an evasion
would not turn the SUBJECT, he was
obliged to tell his Lordship, that it
was of a nuture he could not commu-
nicate to him. Lord Folkstone, feel-
ing 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 parlour.
87
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
Commons, though I was obliged to
assume a perfect ignorance of the
subject, while Lord Folkstone re-
mained in the room.
Where a variety of persons are
concerned in an affair, like that of
which I am now
now writing, and so
many agents at work in all direc-
tions, to detect every thing that
might tend to destroy their schemes in
the bud; it will not appear extraor-
88
*
dinary, that government acquired
some information of the real cause of
the investigation, and of those persons
who secretly organized, and gave it
their private support. By a reference
to the minutes, it may be suspected
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 exa-
mination :-Colonel WARDLE, feeling
himself alone, began to unbosom his
fears, by observing, that he and Major
Dodd were very apprehensive that
government were in possession of
89
circumstances which would prove
unfavourable to the cause, if I were
again examined, and though I had
most ably evaded their questions, yet
another examination might lead to
the discovery of the whole plot; 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 assuré
me, that Major Dodd, had also heard
from various quarters, that suspicions
were whispering about, that he, and
11 2
90
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 glorious 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 con-
versation with Major Dodd, in the
parlour, who also refused to impart
the secret to his Lordship.
+
Notwithstanding I religiously kept
my promise with the Colonel and Ma-
91
jor Dodd, that I would not inform
Lord Folkstone of the private under-
standing that existed between us,
with respect to the Duke of Kent be-
ing through his confidential Secretary,
the main spring of all the political ma-
chinery; his Lordship found that the
hounds had not opened for nothing,
and having caught the scent, on the
above morning, at Bridge-street, he
privately pursued the track till he
traced the retreat of the sly Fox, who
had been doing so much mischief
in the DARK!
Though I shall presently go more
92
at length into my motives for not
publishing my Memoirs, in conse-
quence of the extraordinary affidavit,
and afterwards personal evidence of
Sir Richard Phillips; yet I must here
inform the reader, that I did not hit
upon the expediency of becoming an
author till the latter end of February;
a circumstance which I entreat the
PUBLIC to bear in memory, 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
93
•
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
subject; their visits were less fre-
quent, and their whole conduct as-
sumed a different feature, though they
kept up a sort 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 af-
fairs of men, which taken at the flood,
leads on to fortune;" and believing
that Shakespear did not mean to
66
04
exclude females from the advantage
of this doctrine, I thought, that I
could not, as a parent, do too much
for
my children, who had commenced
a very expensive education, and who
have ever been the endearing objects
of my care and solicitude; I there-
fore wrote to Colonel 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 WARDLE's private pecu-
niary engagements, had advised me to
this measure!
93
Having so far explained my motives,
I beg to introduce to your notice, not
the same Colonel WARDLE that I
raised from obscurity, to the pinnacle
of popular admiration, and who would
have eaten the very dirt on which I
trod, at one time for my services—but a
Colonel WARDLE, who not being able
to make other political uses of me for the
destruction of ******, began to play
the jesuit, as may be seen by the
following answer to my application,
with respect to the subscription, in
the drawing up of which, his wife,
I suppose, afforded him assistance:
96
"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 what-
ever. 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 well of your coun-
try, I believe, to be a very general sentiment,
but the idea that prevails, that you are liv-
ing in splendour, militates forcibly against
any thing you suggest. I wish you would con-
sult Lord F. and I anxiously wish, that
having consulted him, you would attend to
his advice. GOD BLESS YOU."
97
It does not require much pene-
tration to see through the artifice of
this letter.-Colonel WARDLE finding
that no further use could be made of
me, had only another task to perform,
which was to avoid in the quietest
way possible, the fulfilment of all his
promises, and therefore he enters upon
a new plan of operations, 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 all his
private proceedings, he made every
endeavour to prevent.
VOL. II.
I
98
•
It is necessary to inform the reader,
that on the receipt of the above extra-
ordinary letter, I wrote back imme-
diately to inform Colonel WARDLE,
that I should be happy to take Lord
Folkstone's opinion before that of any
other person, and begged he would
give me leave to explain the whole of
the transaction to his Lordship; but
to this proposition, the good Colonel
decidedly objected, and therefore, at
that time, I did not mention it to Lord
Folkstone, believing that Colonel
WARDLE Would reconsider the matter,
and see the policy of being for once·
in his life WISE-a political oversight,
99
I know he has since regretted, and
which has given him many a painful
hour; but after advancing a falsehood
to the country, in his hasty and fool-
1
ish address to the people of England;
he has been obliged to wade through a
sea of iniquity to support it, and to
keep up that nimbus of his POPU-
LARITY!
I have already given a faithful ac-
count of all that I heard pass between
the Colonel and Lord Folkstone, on
their last meeting at my house; and
it must appear pretty clear to the rea-
der, that I have stated nothing but
100
facts, as I have mentioned the name
of a nobleman who can contradict
this declaration, if otherwise than true.
But I entertain too high an opinion of
the integrity and honour of Lord
Folkstone, to believe that he will ven-
ture to deny any part of the above
statement. Experience has certainly
taught me not to depend on the ho
nour or memory of any man, parti-
cularly when I possess the means of
doing justice to my own character,
through the medium of unanswerable
documents!
L
After this letter the Colonel was, as
101
I have before observed, less frequent
at my house, and when any of his
agents called, every artful excuse was
employed to avoid any thing that led
to the subject in which I was most
interested. I was told, however, that
I had broke every agreement, in hav-
ing withdrawn my intended book
from the public eye, and as the Co-
lonel and his friends had an important
purpose to answer through that pub-
lication, I had greatly injured and dis-
appointed them-consequently I had
no right to expect the fulfilment of
their promises. To this, I replied,
that the idea of publishing, did not
1 2
102
occur to me till long after their pro-
mises of reward, and that as I had ac-
complished an injury to the Duke of
YORK, according to agreement, I felt
myself entitled to every penny of the
Upon this
principle they endeavoured to shuffle,
and after several remonstrances, I
wrote the following letter to Colonel
WARDLE, which no person would, or
could have written to another, who
promised remuneration.
!
had not a JUST CLAIM UPON HIS
HONOUR:-
:
103
"May 14th, 1809.
" DEAR SIR,
"When I sent for you the other
day, and you were accompanied by Major
Dodd, to enquire what were your
your inten-
tions, with respect to putting your pro-
mises into execution; you seemed unwil-
ling to admit that they were made BUT
conditionally, THIS I DENY. The only con-
struction I can put. upon it, is this, that
you felt yourself under a heavy respon-
sibility to me, and of which, both yourself
and Major Dodd thought to get rid of, by
future promises, as futile and evasive, nei-
ther 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 honour,
you cannot but accede to, nor can you
104
think I require any thing, 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 of
so indiscreet a mother, they demand from
me every thing I can, or ought to com-
mand; 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 Thousand Pounds, is
not half your promises to me; yet, as I feel
aware of what you mentioned the other
day, of not having it in immediate power
to accomplish, I expect that you and Ma-
jor 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
105
the £500 a year, commencing from 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 son was then under the
protection of the Duke of York, of course
would lose that protection as soon as I
began upon the Duke's ruin. He was to
have equal protection from the Duke of
Kent. I withdrew my son, and I 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
106
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 the
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 Thou-
sand Pounds is equal to half these promises?
and for the fulfilment of each, you pledged
yourself in the most solemn manner to see
performed, and to which I paid the most
implicit confidence and belief, or why did
107
I resist, and expose, during the investiga-
tion, the overtures made me by Williams, of
whatever sum that I might ask for, being
ready for my acceptance, to make me af-
fluent for life? Think upon this. I shall add
but little more, but even were this sum to
come out of your own pocket, the cha-
racter you have acquired through my means,
would not be more than I am fully entitled to.
(Signed)
"I remain, Dear Sir,
"Your's, &c. &c.
"M. A. CLARKE."
"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, of the copy of
this letter."
108
No one, I trust, can be so credulous
as to believe that I would have made
such a demand on the purse of ano-
ther, if previous circumstances had
not warranted every sentence of this
epistle! The thing speaks so clearly
for itself, that I shall not trouble the
reader with any further illustration of
my letter, beyond that paragraph
which speaks of my having withdrew
my son from the protection of the
Duke of YORK for that of the Duke
of Kent. Was it likely, that distress-
ed as I then was, I should have re-
moved my boy from all the comforts
of life, and advantages necessarily at-
100
p
tendant on the Duke of YORK's pa-
tronage, 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 dif-
ficult to make him believe, that he is
walking about without that useless
thing, called his own head!
I suppose this letter threw 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
VOL. II.
K
110
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.
t
I must here inform the reader, that
before Lord Folkstone 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
111
observed, that he should see the Co-
lonel 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 know how I supported my
establishment, as he did not believe I
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 kind.
ness in return for my SERVICES -The
Colonel felt confused at these questions,
and after some little pause, he said he
did not know any thing about my
affairs, but it was NOT IN HIS POWER
112
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 obser-
vation, and assured me that he would cut
the dirty fellow, which I have every
reason to believe he did; for several
months, till his Lordship found it po-
litical to notice him again, in order to
keep up that SYSTEM OF POLITICS, to
which he gives his usual support!!!
Furnished as I feel myself with the
means of supporting every sentence
of this work, I should be extremely
weak to suffer either my respect or de-
licacy, for the political conduct of any
113
individual, to keep from the public
eye a LETTER of any importance to
my cause. If what I am about to in-
troduce 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 question-
able shape!--but when coming di-
rectly from a nobleman who is an op-
ponent to ministers, and who distin-
guished himself from principle only, in
Colonel WARDLE's cause, it will alone
become an UNANSWERABLE defence
and justification of my conduct; even
though I should cease to write another
line upon the subject !.
K. 2.
114
Mrs. CLARKE,
Folkstone-
Westborne Place,
-(Free.)
Farringdon, June 27, 1809.
Sloane Square, London.
"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 at your old House. Let me
know when you write me to change the di-
rection. I wish I had some news to send.
you in return for your entertaining Letter,
but from this sequestered spot you can ex-
pect none-indeed since I came here I have
done nothing but attend Bibury-wander
about the fields by myself, and eat straw-
berries, things which are very entertaining
and wholesome, but altogether uninterest-
ing to relate. Your Letter, on the con-
trary, is full of interesting matter, whereon,
115
such a Hermit as I am at this place, whe-
ther 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 AF-
FAIR MUST OUT, AND THE ROYAL
BROTHER,* DODD, AND WARDLE,
WILL BE EXPOSED. I LAMENT
THAT THEY DO NOT FORESEE
THIS; OR, THAT THEY DID NOT
FORESEE THIS, AND PREVENT THE
ECLAT. I DO NOT
I DO NOT GUESS WHAT
THE LATTER MEANS TO DO, I SUP-
POSE HE WILL TRUST TO HIS PO-
PULARITY TO BEAR HIM THROUGH,
BUT THAT WILL NOT DO-FOR AF-
* Duke of Kent.
-
116
TER ALL, THOUGH HIS PART HAS
NOT BEEN SO BASE AS THAT OF
THE OTHER TWO, IT HAS BEEN
A DIRTY ONE, AND HE HAS SUF-
FERED HIMSELF TO BE MADE AN
INSTRUMENT OF BY THEM. The
thing, however, will do no good to the
Royal Family in general; for though the
Duke's friends and the Ministry, will ate
tempt to invalidate your testimony, in con-
SEQUENCE of the promises held out to
you, there is so much evidence in your
statements-so many corroborating circum-
stances, 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, doubt-
less, attempted, and I. should not wonder
if the Duke was to be re-instated. If that
should be, I hope you will be prepared to
-
117
give them some new instances, and proofs
of your power, and the Duke's subser-
viency. I suppose the public prints wi
endeavour to mix me up with PRE-NAMED
TRIO, but that is quite impossible. Whit-
bread, Burdett, and myself, can in no de-
gree be involved at least I have 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-Mrs. Jackson will now be 'easy!
"As for Clavering, he is acting the
part of a perfect idiot. The best thing he
could have done, would have been to have
walked quietly out of his goal and hid him-
self. The less he is heard of the better for
him. Instead of which, however, he is, I
see, publishing a book-Clavering writing
a book!!!—and as for challenging, if he
has a mind to fight every body who speaks
118
ill of him, he wILL HAVE to fire at every
man he meets. The idea of FIGHTING with
WHITBREAD, is very bad. He must take
care, or he will be running his foolish head
into some foolish scrape or another. Alt
this to do, I could contemplate with amuse-
ment, or at least I could sit by, and ob-
serve 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 dis-
tant than ever.
"I am affraid 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, FOLKSTONE."
119
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 lighted Buonaparte
along the murky path to his pre-
sent glory, forbids that policy which
allows too much indulgence to your
enemy, of whose revenge, he observes,
there should be left no reason to
fear.
篮
​Impressed with a belief, that those
persons who endeavoured to swear
me into a gaol, and perhaps a pillory,
120
and who sought the destruction of
myself and children, do not deserve
much lenity, I shall proceed to un-
mask their actions, for the contempt
and derision of the world!
As the names of Sir Francis Bur-
dett and Mr. Whitbread are ment
tioned in Lord Folkstone's letter,
(I feel myself called upon to corro-
borate his Lordship's declaration, of
their having been in no way connected
with the private proceedings of Colonel
WARDLE and Major Dodd. Like
Lord F. they only acted upon pub-
lic principles, when the Charges
121
became a subject of Parliamentary
discussion.
•
Of both these gentlemen I am
bound to speak in the most grateful
terms, and to express my admiration
of their private worth, and great abi-
lities. With the politics of Sir Fran-
cis I have nothing to do or say, far-
ther than I believe he means well,
though imprudently too violent, and not
very choice as to the character of his
political associates!
VOL. II.
1
t
When Sir Francis possesses him-
self of a more perfect knowledge
L
122
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 up his back, and seat himself
upon unpoluted shoulders, in order
that the lustre of his character might.
afford a transient ray to play round a
visage so deeply clouded with guilt!
If Mr. Gillray, the ingenious carri-
caturist, 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 labour under
123
as great a bundle of sin, as John
Bunyan, the hero of "The Pilgrim's
Progress!"
The other paragraphs of this im
portant letter are so complete a de
fence 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
124
upon the subject, I informed Mr.
Wright of his conduct to me, in or-
der that he might be upon the alert
with respect to his bill. He accord-
ingly, called on the Colonel several
times, who being always denied,
thought it prudent to leave his bill
with the following note:
-
"Francis Wright's respectful com
pliments to the Colonel, has taken the
liberty to inclose his bill, and as the
articles were to be
to be charged for ready
money, having met with a most serious dis-
appointment, will thank him to settle the ba-
lance, and for that purpose will call upon
him to-morrow morning at 11 o'clock."
"Rathbone Place, June 1, 1809."
125
་
Not hearing from the Colonel in
due 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 bu-
siness, therefore, he must have made a
mistake, and come to the wrong
house!!!-I am sure the reader will
think with me, that such an answer,
was enough to enrage Mr. 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, ad-
vised him to proceed against the
L 3
126
Colonel immediately, otherwise he
would lose the advantage of a Term..
I wonder whether the Colonel knew
Mr. Wright, when he personally:
coaxed him to do his dirty work,.
in making an enquiry with respect
to a lady in the New-road, who was
supposed to have been acquainted
with a personage of high rank.-I
wonder whether he knew Mr. Wright
when he was soliciting other favours of
him, with respect to an officer in the
Guards, and endeavouring to make
him an instrument of his conve-
nience in a variety of ways, but
127
which favours, Mr. Wright, though
obliged to promise, told me, he did
not choose to perform, as there was
such a person as M'Cullum about the
Colonel, who was better fit for that
kind of dishonourable business than
himself.
Mr. Wright had now no alterna-
tive left for the recovery 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.
128
Before the cause came on to be
tried, the Colonel very naturally had
several consultations with his Coun-
sel, whom as I before observed, he
deceived with respect to the real merits
of the case.
Mr. Cobbett having got wind of
the impending danger of his friend's
popularity, made some enquiries upon
the subject, and hearing, through Mr.
Waithman, the linen-draper, that he
had seen the Colonel's brief, which
evinced an unspotted case, he gave
him his assurance of support in his
Weekly Register, but expressed a de-
129
sire to see a fair copy of it, which
Mr. Corfield immediately prepared
with all necessary omissions, and War-
DLE sent off to Botley.-Cobbett and
Waithman being impressed with a be-
lief that this brief contained the whole
transaction, and it in no way im-
peached the character of their friend
WARDLE, as a gentleman, and a man
of honour, they predicted the most fa-
vourable result to his cause.
As the trial approached, and as Co-
lonel WARDLE's fears gradually made
him unfold circumstances that were
not at all touched upon in the briefs
which had been prepared expressly to
130
preserve his character with Cobbett
and Waithman, Mr. Corfield began
to see a little more into the real si-
tuation of his client, and advised
accordingly.
It is said, that he who deceives his
physician or 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, which he often appeared
ready to re-swallow, and twist any
way by falsehood!
One morning, after a long consul-
131
tation 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
laboured so much to rear ;-he, under
great agitation of mind, requested
Mr. Corfield to call at Rathbone Place,
and see whether Wright was disposed
to any terms of settlement, while he
waited at the corner of Percy-street.
Accordingly they walked thither,
when Mr. Corfield left him, during
his visit to the Plaintiff's house, who
not being in the way, he had a
conversation with his brother, Mr. Da-
niel Wright.
132
I understand, Mr. Daniel Wright
told Mr. Corfield that his brother had
no wish to expose the Colonel's pecu-
niary situation with me, or himself—
that all he looked to, was the pay-
ment of his bill, and that he did not
wish to inforce it in any way immedi-
ately distressing to the pocket of Co-
lonel WARDLE-but, as it was a just
demand, his brother would not be
frightened out of his money!-he then
begged to refer him to Mr. Stokes,
who, he was sure, would do every
thing that was fair and honourable.
After some few miscellaneous obser-
vations, Mr. Corfield left Mr. Daniel
133:
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 bu
siness any other way than by the ver-
dict of a Jury, unless Colonel WAR-
DLE would allow his liability to per-
form the promise he made to Mr.
Wright, leaving only the amount of
the debt to arbitration. From Gol-
den-square, he accompanied Mr. Cor-
field to the fields adjacent to West-
borne Place, where he waited an hour,
while his Solicitor was employing his
VOL. II.
M
1
134
best efforts with me, in the service of
the Colonel.
At this time, the public prints had
got hold of some of the leading cir-
cumstances attending the suit, and
Colonel WARDLE was consequently
placed in an awkward 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 at-
tendant on the trial of the action.
Under these agonizing sensations of
his then present predicament, he asked
•
135
Mr. Corfield, as they passed through
Bedford-square, to put him in the
way of obtaining the Chiltern Hun-
dreds, as he should dread to again face
the House of Commons. Mr. Corfield
told him, that the House would be
most likely up before the trial came
on, and that the succeeding Session
of Parliament, could not take cogni-
zance of the proceedings of the for-
mer; he, therefore, advised him not
to be too hasty upon resigning his
seat in the House, as accident and
time might do much in his favour.
Raised again into hope, by the a-
136
}
{
greeable consolation of his Solicitor,
he determined to brave the storm till
fresh difficulties crowded in upon
him. His Counsel asked questions
which he never expected, and was
therefore not prepared to meet; and
thus each day encircled him with em-
barrassment. 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, how-
ever, a duty to perform to his client,
and as he could not pay the money,
•
137
he had to meet the enemy with all
the generalship in his power.
A day or two before the trial, Co-
lonel WARDLE wrote a paper of in-
structions to Mr. Corfield, which he
has NOW 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 swear
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 Col. WAR
16.
燃
​•
1
M 2
138
DLE KNOW ALL THIS, if he 'did not
know that the reverse of SUCH SUP-
POSED evidence is THE TRUTH, and
the truth of course, is against him!!!”
Wise and honourable Col. WARDLE!
}
•
When Mr. Corfield was about to
draw his last brief (for I believe there
were several) he requested Colonel
WARDLE to bring Major Dodd and
all the persons concerned in the cause,
that, he might examine them upon the
nature and extent of their respective
testimony. But the Colonel objected
to it, under some frivolous excuse, and
the brief was drawn for the SOLE IN
130
STRUCTIONS of the defendant, who
did not introduce him to Major Dodd
and Mr. Glennie, till on the morning
of the trial, at the King's Arms Coffee-
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 Corfield;-he informed
him for the first time, of his having
taken me to the Martello Towers,
and having given me a sum of money, a
fact, which he had before positively de-
nied to him and his Counsel, and which
of course formed a strong feature of
I
149
the brief. Mr. Corfield, as may be
supposed, was greatly surprised at this
circumstance, and putting a few ques
tions to Dodd, he soon found that
their cause was hopeless.
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 legal, as the subpoena had.
been given to him on a Sunday.
In order to secure Dodd from the
danger of receiving another subpœna,.
till Mr. Corfield consulted Counsel.
141
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 la-
conic note-" Yes, send him!" which
accordingly was forwarded in a few
minutes. The trial had now commenc-
ed, and in order to satisfy the impati-
ence 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
142
DODD. could not CONTRADICT ME,
and after Mr. Corfield had shewn his
note to Mr. Park, he went and con-
sulted Colonel WARDLE upon the
propriety of calling his witnesses, and
the Colonel left it entirely to the
discretion of his Counsel. If I have
mistated any thing in which Mr.
Corfield was concerned, he is able to
refute it and reduce the value of my
narrative, but I am sure he is too
much a man of honour to advance a
falsehood, and therefore, I think he
cannot deny these facts.
If I were disposed to dilate upon
143
the manner in which the Colonel
•
defended this action, there is an ample¨
space to exhibit him for the sport and
derision of the public; but I shall not
trespass upon the time of my reader by
travelling over a beaten path, particu-
larly 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 ob-
tained a verdict, leaving it to Mr.
Lowten, to deduct from the bill of
144
£1919 14 2, the £500, paid by the
bill of Illingworth, the £200, for
goods sent to Westborne Place on
hire, previous to Colonel WARDLE'S
going to Mr. Wright; the coals, insu-
rance, carpenters, painters, bricklayers,
and ironmonger's bills, allowing only
for the articles of upholstery, at the
sum of £1095 8 5.
I do not mean to quarrel with the
propriety of this decision, but I can-
not 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
1
1
145
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.
VOL. II.
Amidst all those curious acts which
may have marked the Colonel's career
through life, and disturbed the tranqui-
lity of his midnight repose, either in
Ireland or England, none ever shook
his peaceful slumbers so severely as the
loss of his Cause, and its consequent ex-
posure; and as it rendered sleep that
night a stranger to his eye-lids, he rose
in a violent rage from his downy pil-
low early the next morning, to dispatch
N
146
his servant with a note to Mr. Cor-
field, requesting his immediate attend-
ance 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 his-
tory of his own folly. After his Soli-
citor thought he had exhausted his pa-
roxysm of rage, he endeavoured to
soothe his agitation, when he again
took up the paper, and casting his
eye over the awful page, he burst out,
$
147
“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 under-
standing, appeared to constitute per-
jury.-On the supposed discovery of
my having perjured myself, he, mad-
man-like, displayed all the transitions
of insanity, and now amused Mr. Cor-
field by jumping round the room
with expressions of joy! Mr. Corfield ·
again entreated him to be calm, and
taking the newspaper out of his hands,
began at his desire to minute down
what he was pleased to call perjuries,
when the Colonel again jumped up,
J
7
T48
and said "Corfield, I must do some-
thing to stop the peoples mouths ;-~~
take a sheet 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 appro-
bation, of which Mrs. Wardle made
one copy, and Mr. C. the other, for
immediate insertion in different pa-
pers; but he observed to the Colonel,
that it would be prudent not to insi-
nuate any thing to the prejudice of his
Counsel, till he had seen the slip of
149
paper he himself had sent into Court,
which Mr. Corfield assured him, for-
bad 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 Colonel had either forgot-
ten, or did not then find it convenient
to recollect. This slip of paper, I have
understood, 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.
N 2
150
the
lish the following address :-
courage, or rather madness, to pub-
To the People of the United Kingdom.
"Honoured as my Parliamentary
conduct has been by the approbation of so
many of my countrymen, I feel myself
called upon, in consequence of an event
that yesterday took place, immediately to
address 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 Mr. Wright, the bro-
ther of the Upholsterer, in a'cause in which
I was defendant, in the Court of King's
Bench. The detail of the evidence the
public prints will afford. It is with me to
state, that my Counsel, satisfied in their
1.5.1
own minds that the Jury would not, upon
such testimony as had been given by the
plaintiff's brother and Mrs. Clarke alone,
find a verdict against me, did not comply
with my 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
plaintiff and myself, might be examined, as
I knew their testimony would be founded in
truth, and be in direct contradiction to what
had been sworn against me. Under such cir-
cumstances, the verdict was obtained.-
There only remains for me now, BEFORE
MY GOD and my Country, to declare, that
it was obtained by Perjury alone; and 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
>
152
look forward to that period; and I trust
that till then, the Public will suspend their
judgment upon the case.
"With sentiments of the deepest gratitude
and respect, I remain your ever faithfully de-
voted Servant,
"G. L. WARDLE."
"James-street, July 4.”
At first I thought of treating the
above stuff with contempt, but finding
that every species of villainy was em-
ployed to poison the public mind
against me, and the integrity of Mr.
Wright, I published the following Ad.
dress in the National Register, on the
16th of the same month:
1.53.
}
MRS. CLARKE
To the People of the United Kingdom.
"Honoured as my 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 re-
cent instance, by a Jury of my Countrymen,
I feel myself called upon (after affording
time for the most deliberate reflection), to
address you, in consequence of a circum-
stance which has arisen out of the Cause, in
which Mr. Wright, an Upholsterer, 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 Wardle was
cast, to the satisfaction of every honest
tradesman, and indeed of every body in the
154
Court. The detail of evidence the public
prints will afford; as far as regards my tes-
timony, these details are somewhat inaccu-
rate, but they are sufficiently correct to have
enabled the public to strengthen this verdict,
with an almost universal approbation. Co-
lonel Wardle, inflated by a popularity, the
extent of which was as unexpected as it will be
found to have been undeserved, had vainly
flattered himself, that this same popularity
would protect him against the justice of his
country: disappointed at the verdict, he has
lost his prudence with his temper, and with-
out giving himself time for reflection, has
made an unusual Appeal to the People of the
United Kingdom, against the Verdict of a
Jury.
"As an excuse for this almost unprece-
155
dented circumstance, he has stated that his
Counsel, notwithstanding his earnest entreaty,
repeated to them in writing during the trial in
the strongest terms, did not comply with his
request to examine Major Dodd, Mr. Glennie,
and others. However he may vapour 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 documents exist which will in-
culpate more exalted persons, and shake the
very foundations of his own ephemeral POPU-
LARITY. Colonel Wardle is not ignorant of
the reasons which may 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 Wardle
156
has been too full of himself, and too impru-
dent 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 the Major must have spoken the
• 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.
157
1
whole truth, and nothing but the truth. As
the Attorney General said, his presence, or,
his absence, equally supported Mr. Wright's,
case.
"I do not pretend to know any thing
about law, but I believe I know what is com-
mon sense; which I think is more than Colo-
nel Wardle appears to know. If he had
been content to throw the blame of his fai-
lure upon his Counsel, it would have been
no business 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 of 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 understand great stress has been laid by
Colonel Wardle, and some of his partizans,
VOL. II.
O
158
upon a letter which I wrote to him in the
month of May last, upon the subject of the
engagements and promises made to me prior
to the Investigation, and this letter is said
to have occasioned his determination not to
see me any more.
"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 with him
except in writing.-Colonel WARDLE will
recollect the conversation he had with my
servant, upon 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
* See the Letter, p. 103, of this Volume.
159
conceal any thing I may have either said or
written, that if this intimation does not com-
pel Colonel WARDLE to do me the justice of
giving this letter to the public, and no longer
to shelter his unmanly insinuations, under
the cloak of delicacy, I will myself publish
it in the newspapers.
"It only remains for me to declare before
God and my country, that the evidence I
gave was strictly true, and that my intimacy
with Colonel WARDLE merely related to my
evidence and his promises, most anxiously there-
fore do I look forward to the period when the
futility of Colonel WARDLE's attempts to
prove the contrary to be the fact, will recoil
upon himself and others, and only strengthen
the claims which I have to the public confi-
dence in my veracity. I trust that till then the
public will suspend their judgment upon
100
Colonel WARDLE's intemperate accusation.
Although it may not be equally proper in
me, as in Colonel WARDLE, to state the
GRATITUDE and RESPECT I feel for the PUB-
LIC APPROBATION, yet I hope it is not de-
nied even unto me, to express the anguish
of mind I should endure, if upon such an
occasion, and in such a manner I had really
DESERVED their DISAPPROBATION,
"I have the honour to be,
"With the greatest respect,
"M. A. CLARKE.”
"Westborne Place, July 15, 1809."
161
Mr. Wright finding that every en-
gine which party malice 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, wish-
ing to trespass on the patience of
the reader as little as possible with old
matter.
Fentreat my reader to bear in mind,
that my work opens with an account
of Sir R. Phillips having been the
means of exposing my plan of sup
02
162
posed concealment at Hampstead, or
at least of giving M'Cullum the clue,
where there was a probability of hear-
ing from me. I also wish it to be re-
collected that he is alluded to in Colo-
nel WARDLE's letter to Mr. Glennie,
*
and mentioned also by him to Wright
at Westborne Place. In fact, there is
good grounds for suspicion, that he is
privately entangled in all WARDLE'S
political affairs.
The reader's remembrance of these
facts will be necessary to the full de-
velopement of his late infamous con-
* See p. 141, Vol. I.
163
duct to me--and though Sir Richard
denies his having a knowledge of
Colonel WARDLE, So far back as the
Investigation; there are many persons
beside the Attorney-General who are
satisfied that the Knight has a very
convenient memory!
In order to satisfy the reader that I
have good reason to believe my state-
ment 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 Co-
tonel said, there is some little difficulty
#
164
about giving this bill, Mr. Wright, because
the business which is coming on before the
House of Commons, which no doubt you
have heard of, makes it a very delicate mat-
ter for me to put my own hand to paper,
because it may frustrate our purpose:' The
Colonel continued, I will go down to Sir
Richard Phillips to-morrow morning, and he and
some one else will give you their bill, without my
name appearing, and you may depend on
hearing from me in the afternoon, or next
day morning without fail."
C
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
165
of my Upholsterer, who has since
assured me, that he scarcely knew there
was 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 Morning
Post, for reasons I shall presently
assign.
$
↓
To the Editor of the Morning Post.
•
ܝ
66 Sir, .
"I feel it due to myself to notice
the unaccountable introduction of my name
into a report published in your Paper of
166
•
yesterday, by Mr. Francis Wright, relative
to his alledged conversations with Mr. War-
dle. Never having seen Mr. Wardle at the
period alluded to, nor held any communication
with that gentleman, it must be evident
that I could be no party with him in the ne-
gociation described by Mr. Wright. Under the
existing circumstances, however, I feel it
proper to declare, that I had not the SLIGHT-
IST knowledge of any transaction between
Mr. Wardle and Mr. Wright, till I read in
the Newspapers the report of the late trial.
"As I am induced to make this statement
solely from respect to public opinion, I am ex-
ceedingly anxious not to be considered as
insinuating any thing in spirit, or in terms, to
the PREJUDICE of EITHER PARTY, with re-
ference to the questions in dispute.
"I am, Sir, your most obedient Servant,
Bridge-street, July 25.
"R. PHILLIPS."
167
Before I reflect on the sentiments
of this letter, I must be allowed to
bring a few facts under the
of my
eye
reader, which will shew that I have not
honoured the Knight with a niche in this
work undeservedly.
The reader is requested to keep in
mind that M'Cullum came from Sir
Richard Phillips to me in the month
of November, 1808, consequently it
will be difficult to make any one be-
lieve, that Sir Richard would unneces-
sarily expose my place of seclusion
without knowing something of the er-
rand upon which he was sending
1.68
M'Cullum; unless indeed the reader
should be disposed to think, he had
no feeling for the safety of an unpro-
tected woman, who was concealing
herself, as he knew, from the fangs of
the law, with three children to protect!
I a
am not disposed to attach much
credit to the tender feelings of the
Knight, but in this case I verily be-
lieve he did not wish me arrested,
and that he knew M'Cullum's motive
for endeavouring to find me out.
Though this may be considered an un-
supported opinion, I doubt not when
I couple circumstances and facts toge-
169
ther, the reader will not close. thise
work a sceptic upon the subjects
When Colonel WARDLE: mentioned :
熊
​the name of Sir R.. Phillips to Mr.
Wright, at Westborne Place; and also:
in his letter to Glennie, in the latter
·
part of December, I then had not ap
plied to Sir Richard. or any other per-
son, with respect to the publishing a
book, not having thought of becom-
ing an author till the latter end of
February, as I have before assured
the public.
་
VOL. II.
釁
​This important fact will therefore
170
shew, that Colonel WARDLE must
have had something more than a
mere knowledge of Sir Richard at
this early period of our acquaintance,
otherwise he never could have talked
in that familiar way of negociating
money matters with a perfect stranger!
In support of this position, let us see
what he says in his evidence in the
Court of King's Bench, on my trial
for Conspiracy.
On the Attorney-General asking,
or rather leading the Colonel to the
£500 which Wright pressed him for,
he gives the following evidence:-
1
1
171
Colonel WARDLE" Either on that
day or the day following (for I had one
or two applications pressed upon me), I
said, she could raise the money herself by
application to a bookseller, who I dared
say, would advance to her, on the book that
she was about to publish.
:*
Q." Then, you did not comply with the
request so made ?
A. "I did not.
Q." Had you a subsequent application
of the same kind, made by Mrs. Clarke
to you?
A. "She pressed me very frequently on
the same point.
P
Q." In consequence of these frequent
applications, what was done?
* See p. 27, of Tipper's Edition of my Trial for Conspiracy.
1172
A.I at last -spoke to Mr. Glennie,
and asked him if he could assist her, I was
aware HE KNEW Sir Richard Phillips, and -
whether he could procure a loan of £500
for Mrs. Clarke, upon her work."
Here the reader is able to see puss
half out of the bag, by Colonel War-
DLE's confession of Mr. Glennie being
acquainted with Sir Richard Phillips;
and though I may get scratched in
dragging old Tom quite before the
public, I am determined to shew all
his black spots, that he may be known
by every one. If he should squeak
before I get to the end of the tale, the
reader will see the necessity of my
173
pinching him very tightly, lest an ani-
mal of the tiger species should slip
between my fingers, and thus the fu-
ture peace and happiness of many,
again come within the reach of his
deadly talons!
Having positively denied my hav-
ing any book to sell at this time, I shall
now proceed to convince the reader,
that, if (as the Colonel says) I had want-
ed money on my book, I could have
raised immediately, FIFTEEN HUN-
DRED OF TWO THOUSAND POUNDS!
Mr. Gillet, the printer, who, though
not exactly in my interest now, from
P 2
174
not printing and publishing this work
with him, will not, I think, venture to
deny, but that he would have ad-
vanced me the above sum on the book
which he afterwards had of me to
print; and therefore, if my book had
been in existence at the period to
which Colonel WARDLE alludes, I
might have got any money I wanted,
on my own account,
Had my book then been ready to
raise money upon, it was not likely
I should have pledged it for the very
persons who had undertaken to pay for
my furniture, and for which they were
175
then distressed to raise this five hun-
dred pounds to satisfy Wright, as part of
his bill. Where would have been their
friendship to me, if after their promises
and agreement to furnish my house, I
had gone to a bookseller and raised
money to pay THEIR DEBTS? But the
fact is, the virtuous Patriot thought
the book would do as well as any
thing else to make a story about, and
so he, fortunately for me, caught at a
rotten bough to assist him over the
Rubicon, in which he has emerged
with such vices upon his head, that
all the waters of the deep can never
wash away! In order to convince
176
the reader that my book had nothing
to do with the £500 they wanted to
raise through the bookseller, and
which sum they afterwards got of a
money-lender in Poland-street, who
is much in the pecuniary secrets of Co-
lonel WARDLE:-I will go a little
into the history of that work.
About the middle or near the lat-
ter end of February, 1809, Major
Dodd, Col. WARDLE, and Mr. Glen-
nie, suggested to me the policy of do-
ing every possible injury I could to se-
veral of the first personages in the
State. Accordingly, Major Dodd be-
177
1
gan the work, in which I soon made
great progress, through the zealous
assistance of this party.
The reader will not, I am sure,
feel surprised to hear that Sir Ri-
chard was recommended as being, what
WARDLE and Gennie called a dashing
A
bookseller, accordingly I repaired to
Bridge-street, to consult with the
Knight, who expressed a great desire to
purchase of me the copy-right of the
work-a fact, which he has since had
the imprudence to deny in his AFFI-
DAVIT, which will presently engross
my attention.-Finding that he could
178
not get my book into his own entire
possession, he declined becoming the
mere vender, but said, "There is a Mr.
Gillet, who is about to become a
publisher, in consequence of his hav-
ing felt himself ill-treated by a book-
seller, I believe of the name of Maw-
man, in the Poultry, that will jump to
begin business with your book, and I
can assure you, Madam, he is an ho-
nest man, and will do you justice."-
At this time, I believe, Mr. Gillet
came in by accident, to whom I im-
mediately promised the printing and
publishing of the work. Mr. Gillet
had not long been in possession of
179
part of the manuscript, before he re-
ceived orders for several thousand
copies of the work, and I think he
will not venture to deny what he has
repeatedly told to others; namely,
that the first edition, which contained
ten or twelve thousand books, would
not have supplied the public demand
beyond a week. I have thought myself
justified in giving these facts to
shew, that if I had wanted £500 of
Mr. Gillet, I could have got that, or a
larger sum.
Having come a little closer to the
facts of the case, the reader must now
•
1801
be satisfied that I could not:wank
money of Sir Richard, who had no
thing further to do with my book,
beyond that of being officious, and
filling the papers with his love of noto.
riety!
As it was not likely I should :
attempt to raise money for persons:
who had affected to have the com
mand of thousands, to reward me for
my services, Colonel WARDLE's de-
claration about the bookseller's sup-
posed disposition and ability of afford-
ing me pecuniary assistance, must
now go for very little with those who:
¿
4
་
181
will take the trouble to reflect upon
the subject.
The reader is now in possession
of a fact of Glennie's acquaintance
with Sir Richard, which goes a great
way to corroborate my declaration,
that Col. Wardle and the dashing book-
seller, privately understood each other
before, and during the Investigation!
Before my application was made to
Sir Richard, with respect to the sup-
pression of my Memoirs, he intro-
duced to me a Mr. Sullivan, of Maid-
stone, in Kent, who, I have under-
2
VOL. II.
182
stood, is a sort of hawker of books
for him, and who, I since have
been told, was suborned as a witness
against me.
By the perusal of his first letter
to me, it may be seen that Sir Richard
was anxious to have the book out,
and quite interested in the Wardle
cause-I wish the reader to keep this
1
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 the portrait
183
and a fac-simile, with liberty to print as.
many books in Dublin.
"The Irish will not pay as high a price
as the English, except for fifty or one
hundred copies, and I conceive you will by
this arrangement with Sullivan, net more than
by any other means. If you sell two thou-
sand 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 FLOOD, and taken at this
moment, will lead to FORTUNE. At all
times, delays are dangerous, and to enhance
my string of proverbs, you should strike
while the iron is hot. Ascribe this, prompt-
ing to the ZEAL, with which I am your
friend,
"Bridge-street,
"March 24, 1809."
"R. PHILLIPS."
184
It is absolutely necessary for me to
go a little farther with respect to the
Memoirs which Mr. Gillet was print-
ing, in order to explain my slight
acquaintance with Sir Richard, and
the political use he endeavoured to
make of me!
Earl Moira, who has long been
distinguished for all the great qua-
lities, that can dignify the head and
heart of man, felt anxious that
those letters should not meet the pub-
lic eye which were written in confi-
dence, and perhaps at moments when
the mind is not armed with pru-
185
dence and philosophy.-His Lord-
ship 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 party
were endeavouring to keep open be-
tween 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
Lordship's friendly disposition; and
believing, that Sir R. Phillips (from
the private report of the moment)
had purchased my book, and for po-
litical reasons, got Mr. Gillet to become
J
S
Q 2
186
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 in-
troduction of a topic, which afforded
an opportunity to talk of himself; he
therefore joyfully entered upon a his-
tory of me and my book, and though
he did not say it was his property, he
insinuated that he had an influence over
me, and the management of the pub-
lication. His visitor was therefore in-
duced to believe, that he had come to
the proper person, with whom he might
fairly go a little further into the subject,
187
+
Sir
and he accordingly asked the Knight,
whether there was any probability of
suppressing the work, if he carried into
effect all the Duke's promises, be-
sides advancing some ready money
for my immediate exigencies.
Richard, after pausing a few minutes,
said, he did not doubt but I should
be satisfied with my annuity of four
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,
188
from the subsequent conduct of the
Knight, that in consequence of this
application, he instantly became alive to
a new interest. 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 honour, or some advantage,
which Colonel WARDLE could not be-
stow on him, and in a few hours after
his letter to me, he became impressed
with very loyal sentiments, as will be
1
presently seen by his other affectionate
epistles to the woman, whom he has
180
since endeavoured to swear into a
pillory!!!
Having shewn how soon this
patriotic bookseller could turn his
coat, I shall proceed with my nar-
rative:
After a conversation of some length
upon my affairs, the gentleman agreed
(under an impression, that the Knight
had power over my work, as he had
professed) 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,
190
he left him, in order to communi-
cate to Earl Moira the result of his
visit to Bridge-street.
Sir Richard anxious to learn from
whom his visitor came, dispatched one-
of his servants, as he afterwards told
me, for that purpose, by which means
he soon learnt that Earl Moira had
handsomely interested himself, to pre-
vent the publication of the Duke's-
letters. Sir Richard now thought
that he should carry every thing be-
fore him, and that he should be able,
by the suavity of his manners ;—the
grace and irresistible powers of his ad-
191
dress-and his method of conciliating
an angry female, from his great know-
ledge of the human character, to carry
his point with me, and thereby become
something between a Baronet and a
Chancellor of the Exchequer !-He ac-
cordingly wrote to the Noble Earl,
professing 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 suppose, not a proper
192
one for an epistolatory correspon-
dence, did not answer
When the same gentleman called in
the evening, Sir Richard was gone
to his brother-in-law, in St. Paul's
Church-yard, whither he followed
him, and as the Knight did not like to
act, without the opinion of his rela-
tion, the negociator was obliged to
submit, against his inclination, to the
introduction of a third person. Sir
Richard then took upon himself to
arrange the business, with as much
seriousness as if he had really possessed
a property in the book, or an influence
193
over me, neither of 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 had ac-
complished 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 I
VOL. II.
R
194
have been informed, the Knight did
not keep his appointment, but went to
Earl Moira, to get the business entirely
into his own hands!-The gentleman's
patience being exhausted, he left Bond-
street, and going towards St. James's-
Place, he met Phillips coming out of
Earl Moira's house, boasting that he
was allowed to enlarge the sum, and
accordingly they immediately drove
to Westborne Place, when Sir Richard
requested his companion to allow him
a few minutes private conversation
with me.-After Sir Richard had been
with me about ten minutes or a quar-
ter of an hour, I felt anxious to see the
195
ostensible negociator, and he immedi-
ately came up, and when the business
was canvassed, he found that Sir Ri-
chard had neither a property nor any
kind of influence over the management
of the Work. Thinking at this time.
that WARDLE and his party would do
all they had promised, and stimulated
by one or the other of them to publish
my book, I treated the overtures now
made to me with neglect, and ob-
served in very strong terms to my vi-
sitors, that I should derive more ad-
vantage from PUBLISHING, than they
offered for suppressing the work,
which declaration will account for a
M
!
196
7
very extraordinary letter I am about
to introduce to the notice of the
reader, which Sir Richard sent to
me on the same evening, and in
which, he calls his friend WARDLE, @
Traitor !!!
Before I come to this letter, I must
inform the reader that the gross and
indelicate language of this vain man,
so disgusted me, that I 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 for negociat-
ing, and among a variety of his silly
remarks, he said, that if he were sent to
197
3
Paris as an Ambassador, he would not
come away without making a Peace ;—
the gratification of this compliment
to himself, I immediately destroyed,.
by observing, that I was sure he would
not come away without making a
piece of work! but as for conciliating.
Nations or Parties, his present conduct
to me, proved his total want of every
necessary requisite for such an office!
If, however, the Legislature should
ever see the necessity of creating a
new officer, and appointing a person.
to enforce the removal of putrid ve-
getables out of the public markets, in
order to prevent epidemic diseases, I
R 2.
198
shall certainly recommend him as a
most excellent overseer of cabbage !
*
Sir Richard finding that no busi-
ness was to be done, and his compa-
nion surprised that he had been de-
ceived with respect to his professed
influence at Westborne 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 for the language of
Sir Richard, and commenced a nego-
• The Knight's usual food.
1
199
ciation, with which Sir Richard had
nothing further to do, and which he in
the course of ten days completed to
the satisfaction 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 in-
tervene and embarrass the negocia-
tion, we agreed, that if Sir Richard
forced himself upon me the next day,
or at any time, all that might be said
should go for nothing—so determined
was I not to commit my affairs with a
person whose vanity induced him to
200
publish every thing that had been en-
trusted to him, either in his counting-
house or the public prints!
I think the following letter will place
his character beyond doubt or suspi-
cion.-No one, after reading it, will
say why I do not know; but I
hardly think Sir Richard is so bad-
I believe he is a weak man, but surely
he is not quite so dirty as Mrs..
Clarke says!"
"f
Here the reader will see that he calls
the very man a traitor, whose princi
ples he admired, and with whom hẹ
•
201
was secretly acting, but forsook under
the hopes of becoming at least a BA-
RONET, he then abuses his friend, and
tries to carry a point with me, to fur-
ther his own private views !
"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 he will, I will give him credit;
he is otherwise a TRAITOR to your wEL-
FARE and INTEREST. It is ROMANTIC and
QUIXOTIC in the EXTREME to TALK of the
PUBLIC! I will not accept or make use of
your negative, till I have seen you in the
morning, I can make no further communi-
202
cation to the liberal and noble person's who have
honoured me with their confidence.
"Grace and repentance, till I see
you in the morning, and believe me till
then, sincerely your friend,
"Bridge-street,
"March 30, 1809."
"R. PHILLIPS."
Sir Richard says in this letter, that
it is ROMANTIC and QUIXOTIC in
the extreme to talk of the public!-
Here we see a little into the private
and real sentiments of a modern patriot,
who affects to feel for the public mis-
fortunes, but in his heart is a com-
plete CORIOLANUS, without either his
203
dignity, courage, or talents:-What!
despise that very public, by whom
he has been raised from a little En-
glish 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 admiration and
good opinion, and for whom he wrote
a book, to induce the people of Eng-
land to believe, that he was a man of
humanity, and felt keenly for those
sufferings, he had stood forward to
redress!
Am I not dreaming when I say all
264
•
this of the professed friend to the un-
fortunate debtor.-It surely cannot
be the same Sir Richard of whom I
am speaking—and if DANGEROUS HY-
POCRISY—were not the common´ pas-
sion that animates a patriot's bosom,
I would not believe my own eyes—
but, alas! his letter is my evidence, and
such evidence, that all the sophistry
of Bridge-street cannot destroy !
The other part of his letter, where
he speaks of his communication to the
liberal and noble persons who have
honoured him with their confidence,
has since made me laugh exceedingly,
205
when I understood how little he had
to do with Earl Moira upon the busi-
ness, and that no other noble person
ever saw him upon the subject; and
prettily did he requite Earl Moira's
confidence, by telling every person
who called at his shop, all he knew
of his embassy to me, in order to
shew that he was a man of great con-
sequence at the West end of the
town!-It may be necessary to ob-
serve, that neither the gentleman who
came with Sir Richard nor myself,
thought it prudent to get rid of
him abruptly, as he might
he might make
VOL. II.
S
#
206
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 appoint-
ment, and come with him as before.
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 re-
flections upon me and my children, which
so affected my feelings, that I had no
longer any patience to bear his non-
sense, but sent him away with scarcely
the semblance of civil contempt.
207
Finding that he stood no chance of
accomplishing the object of his visit
to me, he made up his mind 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 of his third letter, which
I am about to present to the notice of
my reader.
Earl Moira not being at home,
Sir Richard wrote a letter to him,
in which he gave up his part of the
negociation, with some compliments
208
to his companion; but as they were
coming out of the house they met the
Earl at the door, in the act of bestow-
ing his charity on the distresses of the
poor. They then returned with him
to his library, and Sir Richard took his
final leave of the business. Though Sir
Richard has related this affair differ.
ently, aye, and sworn to it, I am sure
the reader will credit this account, when
all the circumstances are within the
knowledge of a nobleman, who can
confirm my statement !
Now I beg to introduce to the
reader's presence, not the stern mora-
209
list and patriot of Bridge-street, but
Falstaff in love!!! whose affection was
heightened in proportion to my scorn.
"DEAR MADAM,
A day has passed without my
seeing you!! This is something novel, after
three days occupied so entirely in your so-
ciety and service!
"I hope all is for the best, and
that you are better informed than I am.-
I shall, however, never reproach myself for
the advice I have given. The only subject
that would vex me, would be any idea on
your part, that I was not promoting that which
I sincerely believe to be your interest, as well as
that of the other parties.
"Mr. Gillet will do justice to my
sentiments respecting you in the whole affair,
S 2
210
and will explain some matters which have
appeared mysterious.
"I have washed my hands of the
business, but still continue to interest
myself in your welfare, and that of your
children!"
"I am very truly, &c. &c.
"Bridge-street,
"April, 1809."
“ R. P.”
Who would suppose that after Sir
Richard had taken leave of me in such
affectionate terms, he would in a few
months have gone about and endea-
voured to suborn various persons to
swear me into a gaol and perhaps a
pillory?-He, who closes his loving
211
epistle with these words-" but shall
continue to interest myself in your
welfare, and that of your children!"
A swain so captivating as Sir Richard,
certainly might be angry at my neglect,
but neglect cannot warrant the line
of conduct which has since marked
every subsequent action of this dis-
appointed Adonis.-That he who is
considered a fond husband, and a
fond father should wantonly try to se-
parate and deprive an unprotected
mother of the means of supporting her
infant offspring, appears monstrous—
but not more monstrous than true!-
He too, who carries his domestic af-
212
fection to such a romantic length,
that I can scarcely take up a maga-
zine, but I see little children made
Gods, and Gods made little children!!
-in fact, his whole existence is no-
thing but a puff; and whether his
inflation be from vegetables or vanity,
I will not venture to determine, but
his ascension in life, like a balloon, is
owing to the lightness of its air, and
not its purity!
After this kind, loving, and friendly
letter, I now beg leave to shew Sir
Richard Phillips again in his demo-
cratic garment, which he had hung
213
up to mildew upon his peg, M'Cul-
lum, while he fancied a ray of roy-
alty was playing about his head, like
an April sun, that allures a man from
his home, to send him back cold,
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 WARDLE,
who, for about a week, he called a
Traitor; and then became as officious
to suborn evidence, and collect infor-
mation useful to his friend's cause, as
he had been before to serve the other
214
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 ge-
nerally very civil who are in want
of a favor, they did this respectable
woman the honor to ask her into
the carriage, in order to see what
could be made of any thing she
might observe, in answer to their
questions respecting the furnishing
of my house at Westborne Place.
Mrs. A. very honestly and very can-
didly told them, she knew nothing of
215
the matter; and as she in no way
served the interest of the Colonel, he
did not include her among his ninety-
four witnesses!
Sir Richard, not satisfied with the
result of this interview, frequently
waited on Mrs. Andrews, to induce
her to get me up to Hampstead, that
he might take me by surprize for
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 condescend-
ed to have done to a person in her
station in life, if he had not then had
216
the Colonel's cause sincerely at heart-
I mean the same Colonel WARDLE,
whom he called a TRAITOR!
Sir Richard, zealous, though awk-
ward in every thing he undertakes,
did not like to relax his services for
his dear Colonel, and accordingly set
every engine to work, for my de-
struction. Amidst a variety of ef-
forts to keep a little breath in the
almost defunct God of the people,
he had the impudence to write to
Lord Folkstone, entreating him to
turn his mind to the period when my
house was furnished, and see whe
ther he could recollect any of the
!
217
private conversations, which had for
their object the payment of my fur-
niture, and by whom? as his Lord-
ship's attention to this subject might
be of infinite service to the Colo-
nel's cause. On the receipt of this
letter, Lord Folkstone brought it to
me, and as the reader may suspect
from the preceding pages, only laugh-
ed at the Knight as a busy, meddling
knave!
VOL. II.
I
Hearing that Sir Richard was mov-
ing heaven and earth to crush me, I
expressed a wish to Mr. Ogilvie, late
Army Agent of Argyle Street, that
T
218
he would wait on him, and endea-
vour to learn, if possible, his reason
for becoming all at once an enemy to
the person, whom he a short time be-
fore affected to admire and respect !—
Agreeably to my desire, Mr. O. paid
the Knight a visit, when he intro-
duced my name as if by accident, and
then observed, that he had heard of
his having become a violent opponent
to me; Sir Richard immediately called
in two or three persons who happen-
ed to be in the shop, and entered into
a long narrative of the commence-
ment and termination of his acquaint-
ance with me, and then observed-
219
"it was his wish, to let Colonel WAR
DLE slip out of the disgrace as quiet as
possible, and afterwards to compromise
with me!!!" After a long and gene-
ral 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 fur-
ther upon the subject. Mr. O. hav-
ing occasion to go into the city,
and prompted by curiosity to hear
how matters were going on in the
enemy's camp, made use of Sir Ri-
chard's polite invitation, who was no
doubt, also curious to pick out of his
visitor, the little idle stories of the
day. At this time the Knight was
220
found less reserved and circumspect in
his remarks, and after Mr. O. was
seated, asked him to what political
party he was most attached-when he
informed Sir Richard, that though not
a violent politician, he mostly admir-
ed Mr. Fox and his party. This re-
ply appeared to electrify the Knight,
who instantly lost sight of all caution,
and entered as freely into various
subjects as if they had been on terms
of intimacy for twenty years. Be-
fore Sir Richard brought about my
business, he consulted Mr. Ogilvie
upon a scheme he had in contempla-
tion, of establishing an Office for re-
ceiving and paying the balance due to
✓
221
the Representatives of deceased Soldiers!
and observed, that he thought a good
deal might be done by agency and
commission, in such a concern. Mr.
Ogilvie informed Sir Richard, that
there was already something of a simi-
lar nature in the War Office, in which
a person collected and paid claimants!
After a great variety of miscellaneous
remark, Sir Richard commenced a
violent philippic against the Duke of
YORK and the government, for having
published an official Army List, which
had destroyed his established Work
and said, he believed they had done
it out of spite to his political opinions.
T 2
222
Mr. Ogilvie observed, that as far as
he was capable of speaking upon the
subject, he thought Sir Richard had
greatly deceived himself. That he had
always understood that the reason
Government had for establishing an
official Army List, arose from all for-
mer publications of that sort having
been so very incorrect; and it was
the continued complaints of the army
that had given birth to the measure of
which he so much complained!
This explanation, however, did not
appear satisfactory to Sir Richard,
who continued to observe, that he
2,23
thought otherwise, and if the MINIS-
{
TERS would give him back the publica-
tion of that work (pray reader mark
this), HE WOULD ALWAYS BE THEIR
FRIEND; and though he should regret
to come forward against Mrs. Clarke,
upon a point which Colonel WARDLE
had pounced upon in one of their con-
versations with respect to her furni-
ture, he must do so, as he had com-
mitted himself with the Colonel ;—
however, said Sir Richard to Mr.
Ogilvie, "IF MINISTERS WILL GIVE
ME BACK THE ARMY LIST, MY EVI-
DENCE MAY PERHAPS BE TURNED
ANY WAY.”—I leave Sir Richard
224
to reflect upon this fact, which a
RESPECTABLE MAN is ready to SUP-
PORT by OATH!
I shall now proceed to consider Sir
Richard's Affidavit, which, contrary
to custom, (but not the custom of the
Knight) was published in all the daily
papers. It is as complete a piece of
perjury as ever insulted a British
Court:
Affidavit of Sir R. Phillips.
"Sir Richard Phillips, of Bridge-street,
Blackfriars, in the City of London, Knight,
maketh oath and saith, that on or about the
8TH DAY of March last, this Deponent was
225
applied to by Mrs. MARY ANNE CLARKE, of
Westborne Place, Chelsea, in the County
of Middlesex, to publish her Memoirs, and
certain letters written to her by his Royal
Highness the Duke of YORK, which pub-
lication THIS DEPONENT DECLINED TO EN-
GAGE IN. And this Deponent further saith,
that in the latter end of the same month of
March, this Deponent, under the supposition
that He was the PROPRIETOR of the said
Book, was APPLIED TO BY THE EARL OF
MOIRA, AND AT HIS REQUEST COMMENCED
A NEGOCIATION WITH MRS. CLARKE FOR
THE SUPPRESSION of the said Book about
to be published by her as aforesaid. And
this Deponent further saith, that in the
COURSE OF THE TREATY for the publication
of the said Book, the said MARY ANNE
CLARKE ASSIGNED as a REASON to this De-
·
226
3
ponent for MAKING THE MOST of the said
PUBLICATION, 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 Deponent
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
227
him; and though he declined be-
coming the mere vendor, he made
himself as busy about it (as may be
seen by his first letter) as if it be-
longed to him.
Secondly, he swears that Earl Moira
applied to him, and at his request ke
commenced a negociation for the sup-
pression of my book: -which the
reader will see must be a gross per-
jury, as he forced himself upon that
nobleman under false pretences of in-
fluence over me! And when he comes
to that part which says, I wanted two
thousand pounds to pay Mr. Francis
1
228
Wright for my furniture, Sir Richard
only convinces me that he is EQUAL
TO ANY THING! and after this de-
claration, I should not be at all sur-
prised to hear him swear that he was
the GREAT MOGUL!
It is very odd that Earl Moira is not
acquainted with the latter part of this
affidavit, who knew every thing that
was said in my house during the négo-
ciation.-It is very strange that Sir
Richard should only hear me make
such a declaration, though I did not see
him alone at Westborne Place, except
for ten minutes, or a quarter of an hour!
229
It was very fortunate for Sir Richard
that Earl Moira, who, I believe, heard
his evidence with astonishment, was not
examined on my trial, or the City of
London would have been soon ashamed
of ONE of its annual honors !
When Sir Richard gave his personal
evidence in the Court of King's Bench,
he again perjured himself in these words.
In answer to the Counsel's question he
says, "In the course of the conversa-
tion, she mentioned particularly her
obligation to pay Wright for furniture,
amounting to 20007. and was therefore
anxious to sell her Memoirs at the
U
230
highest price. Some of these conversa-
tions were at his own house, some of
them at Westborne-place."
It is true that I endeavoured to get
as much as I could for my Memoirs,
but it is not true that Sir Richard con-
versed with me, upon the sale of the
work, at any other place than that of
my own dwelling, as his own letters
and the preceding remarks will shew;
consequently his declaration in the
Court, that "Some of these conver-
sations were at his own house," will
prove false !
231
It will be unnecessary to prove the
fallacy of this evidence by observing
that I never offered to sell
my Memoirs;
and, after an application was made to
me to suppress them, I never saw Sir
Richard in any other house but my own.
If the reader will turn his mind over
these facts, I am sure he will be satis-
fied that the Knight has not sat in the
Sheriff's box at the Old Bailey FOR
NOTHING! and instead of wearing a
sword by his side, he ought to have
worn a straw in his shoe!
As a recent trial in the Court of
232
Common Pleas is of much service to
my opinion of Sir Richard Phillips, I
have given it a place in this work, as
"the
published in an evening paper,
-
Globe."
"LAW INTELLIGENCE.
"COURT OF COMMON PLEAS, GUILDhall, May 25.
<i
MARTIN AND CO. v. SIR RICHARD PHILLIPS.
"This was an action brought by the holders
against the Defendant, as acceptor of several
Bills of Exchange, to the amount of 7001.
"The Plaintiffs are eminent bankers, the
Defendant is Mr. Phillips, bookseller, late of
St. Paul's Church-yard, but now of Bridge-
street. It appeared on the statement of the
case, and from the evidence, that the Bills of
Exchange in question were drawn by Mr. Sul-
233
livan, paper-maker and stationer, carrying on
business in Cork, but resident, at their date,
in London; and that the same were accepted by
the Defendant, and afterwards indorsed by Mr.
Atkyns, of Finsbury-square. The Bills were
dishonoured by Sir R. Phillips, the acceptor;
and Sullivan, the drawer, became bankrupt.
The Plaintiffs, of course, pressed the Defend-
ant for payment; but he resisted, on the ground
that the Bills were drawn upon Irish, not Eng-
lish stamps, and consequently were illegal se-
curities. This fact, evident on the face of the
Bills, was admitted by the Plaintiff'; but it was
sworn by Mr. Thompson, a clerk of Sir Richard
Phillips, that the Knight was present when the
Bills were drawn in London.
WE ARE
"The LORD CHIEF JUSTICE admitted that the
law was with the Defendant, while he repro-
bated the defence as dishonest and dishonourable.
The Counsel for the Plaintiffs acquiesced in the
U 3
234
✓
doctrine laid down by his Lordship, and consoled
themselves for their defeat, as the action had ex-
posed the Defendant, and SHEWN HIM IN HIS
TRUE COLOURS.-Verdict for the Defendant.”
The reader will be pleased to recol-
lect, that the dates of Sir Richard's
letters are long after Illingworth's bill,
January 2, 1809, which follows the
letter from Colonel Wardle to Mr.
Glennie in December; I therefore hope
I have shewn very clearly that my book
could have nothing to do with the
5007. which the Colonel was to raise for
me through Sir Richard, as he promised
to Mr. Wright at Westbourne-place, and
which fact Sir Richard afterwards de-
235
nies in his letter to the Editor of the
"Morning Post."
That link of circumstances which I
have given will, I trust, throw a new
light upon the characters and views of
those men who may be patriots with a
deceived and infatuated party, but are
only impostors when the veil is rent
from off their guilty heads!
Some short time previous to any ap-
plication being made to Sir Richard with
respect to the suppression of my Memoirs,
he introduced to me Mr. Waithman,
the patriotic linen-draper, who expressed
236
a wish that I would use my influence
with Sir Francis Burdett and Lord
Folkstone to dine with a small party of
the same principles in the city. Ac-
cordingly I obtained their consent, and
communicated the agreeable intelli-
gence to him in a note which Colonel
Wardle delivered personally to Mr.
Waithman, with whom he then con-
sulted upon the subject of the dinner;
when it was thought that too much pub-
licity could not be given to their in-
tended festive day. Therefore a grand
city feast was agreed upon, and brought
about through my exertions and influ-
ence, at which the Colonel employed
237
his eloquence in eulogizing the chastity
of his mind and the purity of his prin-
ciples!
This work will be very serviceable to
many of Sir Richard's authors, who now
will be called into immediate requisi-
tion to abuse me in his "Monthly
Magazine,” and in every other publica-
tion over which so great a patron of lite-
rature must have considerable influence;
but as all that party malice could sug-
gest has been said already to my pre-
judice, and the respectable part of the
public are still my friends, I shall only
238
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 I am not interested
by the same motive of affection for Sir
Richard Phillips, I have, notwithstand-
ing, bestowed a little wholesome cor-
rection 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 honour of Baronet, which
he told me, and others he expected; or
becomes president of a republican direc-
tory, if the people of England should
239
be so insane as to act upon the doctrines
of men who ought to reform themselves
before they rise, Phoenix-like, out of
the ashes of ROYALTY !
I thought I had taken my leave of
Mr. Illingworth; but the following
note will confirm my statement in
page 155 of the first volume, where I
inform the reader that this wine mer-
chant was to send me in a few dozen of
wine to disguise the money transaction
Between Wright and Wardle. I am
now happy that I am enabled to sup-
port that position by the receipt of this
document.
240
66
83.]
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, May 4."
To R. S. Illingworth.
Mrs. Clarke
1809. Feb. 23. 3 duz. Port wine
3 doz. Madeira
Bottles
April 7. 1 doz. Port wine
-
-
56s 8 8 0
5 gs. 15 15
0
1 1 0
2 16 0
28 0 0
I hope Mr. Illingworth will proceed
against me immediately for the amount
of his bill, and then I will bring Ma-
jor Dodd, Colonel Wardle, and Mr.
Glennie again into Court, where I may
have the pleasure of seeing them ex-
pose themselves, and practise perjury !
241
This is all the notice I mean to take
of the WINE, which Colonel Wardle and
his party consumed in drinking destruc-
tion to the Duke of York and the
* * * * * *
In a note * to the first part of this
work, I promised the reader some ac-
count of his partnership with Mr.
Scott, the army clothier, of Cannon
Row, Westminster; I therefore now
take the liberty of fulfilling that pro-
mise. The manufactory in which
Wardle has a concern is at Tre Madock,
* See page 18, Vol. I.
i
X
242
in Caernarvonshire, which is under the
management of a person by the name
of Barnet, and where the wool is pre-
pared, and great coats manufactured
for the army.
My only motive for going into this
subject is to shew that the Colonel em-
ployed his patriotic speech, in which he
proposed to save the nation ELEVEN
MILLIONS a year, for the purpose of be-
coming 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 !!!
243
" ARMY Clothing.
"Colonel Wardle rose to call the attention
of the House to the prodigal expenditure of the
public money in the present system of clothing
the army with great coats. The War Office,
instead of acting on the principle of open con-
tract, as recommended and ordered by the
Treasury, persisted in private contracts; and the
consequence was, that, though a great reduc-
tion 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
16s 6d 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 continued to fall till it came down to
38 6d; but no reduction was made in the con-
tracts till the present year, nor would any have
244
then been made, if it had not been for the con-
tinued 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 assured there
was a loss to the public of 23,0001; he adverted
particularly to a tender made by Messrs. Scott,
eminent army clothiers, to furnish these coats in
1806 at 148 9d, which would afford a saving of
21,000 on every delivery. Not getting any
answer, Messrs. Scott looked for a share in the
contract as made by the War Office; they ob-
tained it, and paid at the rate of 16s 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
* See "The Patriot's Looking Glass," which gives the
whole of his speech on saving the nation eleven millions
a year! with Mr. Iluskisson's reply to it.
245
of the reader by pursuing this specula-
tor in wool with such reflections 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 Govern-
ment TAYLOR !!!
If the reader will look over a Mr.
Farquharson'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 of Jersey,
and had great difficulty of melting the
Colonel's thousand pound bond into
X 3
246
cash, though the Colonel was intimate
with Jew King, of whom, as I before
observed, I should again speak.
When Jew King felt himself 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 letter to the following ef-
fect, which is now in the possession of
Mr. Corfield.
"SIR,
"Remember it was I who first brought
you into notice; it was I, who obliged you,
by setting the people against the Duke of York ;
247
it was I who gave you a consequence in the city
through my paper; it was I that raised you
to your present glory and remember, if you
:
are ungrateful, much is within my power to-
wards your ruin, &c.
$
"J. KING."
Of what consequence must that man
be to the happiness and liberty of a
country whose character depends on
the good word of Mr. Jew King! is a
problem not difficult of solution!
Within these few years much uneasi-
ness and jealousy existed among those
gentlemen of the Duke of Kent's esta-
blishment with respect to pamphlets
that contained circumstances which no
248
one could have known but those imme-
diately about his royal person, and in
his confidence; till it was discovered
that Major Dodd was the intimate
friend and companion of Mr. Thos.
Hague, who is the literary organ of this
party !!!
In another part of this work I in-
troduced Dr. Metcalfe to the notice of
the reader, with a promise of again
making him the subject of remark. The
Doctor is a very clever and a very
worthy man; but, unfortunately, in
indigent circumstances. His abilities
and uniform correct conduct gave him
249
a place at my table for several years,
by which means he mingled with the
Wardle parties during the whole of
our acquaintance. In the course of a
short time the Doctor became entangled
in all their secrets, and heard almost all
Major Dodd and the Colonel's con-
versation 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 pro-
mise most solemnly to keep inviolable,
250
they, in return for his friendship and
fidelity, faithfully promised to give to
him a lucrative situation in the govern-
ment when the Duke of Kent became
Commander in Chief of the Army!
As soon, however, as the investiga-
tion 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 fol-
lowing letter he sent to Major Dodd,
and which no man could or would
have written but under the circum-
stances related.
251
"April 15th, 1809.
"My dear Sir,
"I believe you are perfectly aware that the
whole of the circumstances which related to the
Duke of Kent, and his wishes, as to the result
of the late inquiry, are known to me; a d I
believe I am perfectly correct in stating that the
above communication was made to me by Mrs.
Clarke, the day previous to that on which I had
the honour of being introduced to you. Well
knowing the consequence attaching to SECRECY
in an affair of this nature, I was true to 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 the honorable mover had for his ANXIETY
in PRESSING the inquiry.
"I have, during the investigation, had it
more than once intimated to me, that it was
252
intended I should have a provision under go-
vernment. From the silence lately observed by
all parties on that subject, I am either to sup-
pose that the intimation made to me was a mat-
ter in nubibus, or that Mrs. Clarke's claims are
so very urgent and extensive, that a figure so
small as I 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 candour: I have, however, so
high an opinion of Major Dodd, that I will hope
better things, and I will still flatter myself that
the commencing reformation shall not be marked
by suffering a 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
253
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 honour to remain, your
much obliged, sincerely devoted humble ser-
vant,
(Signed)
"To Major Dodd.”
"THOS. METCALFE.
2
I do not see the necessity of making
any remarks upon the above, further
than to observe that it strongly sup-
ports every part of my narrative.
A few days after my trial for con-
spiracy, I received the following from
the same worthy gentleman, which, as
Y
254
!
it appears to say so much to my pur-
hose, I shall leave it without illustration.
SHOULDERS.
"Birmingham, Dec. 14, 1809.
"MY DEAR FRIEND,
"Great God be thanked for the tri-
umph you have obtained over Messrs. DODD,
WARDLE, and GLENNIE. The result of the
trial proves the advice I gave you to be good.
Had I appeared as evidence on the trial, you now
see the use they would have made of the cir-
cumstances: they would have done all they could
to have made me the instrument of lugging the
DUKE OF KENT INTO THE SCRAPE HEAD AND
I am glad to find that his Royal
Highness has dismissed Dodd, and turned Glen-
nie out of his office; and I hope when next his
Royal Highness ENTERS INTO CONFIDENCE
AGAIN, HE WILL NOT REPOSE IT IN THE
BOSOM OF KNAVES OR FOOLS. WARDLE MAY
255
NOW GIVE OVER HIS APPEALS TO THE PEOPLE
OF THE UNITED KINGDOM, FOR THEY WILL
NO LONGER BE DUPED BY SUCH soi-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 CONVERSATION which I more
than once OVERHEARD, 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. I 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 receive her; her troubles are
over would to Heaven that mine were also
:
finished!
256
"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 Friend,
"J. METCALFE, M. D."
Since I have been writing this last
volume, I have heard that Major Dodd
should say that the Duke of Kent felt
his security in my not having any of
his letters in my possession.
The Duke of Kent is not the only
one who has deceived himself upon a
fancied security; but as this just but
257
bold publication may induce some indi-
viduals to court a further exposure of
themselves, by again placing me before
a British jury, I feel justified in keep-
ing some part of my case in reserve for
my own safety!
However, in confirmation of my
statement in page 81, vol. I. 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, I will again introduce to the
notice of my readers, Mr. Ogilvie,
who happened to be in my back draw-
Y 3
258
ing room one morning at the be-
ginning of the investigation, when
Major Dodd came up in great haste,
with one of the Duke's letters in his
hand; and as soon as he entered the
front room he read, in a high and exult-
ing tone of voice, his royal master's senti-
ments, with respect to my future re-
ward 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 imme-
diately put the letter in his pocket!
259
As Mr. Waithman, the linen-draper,
is a very noisy patriot, and always
talking about something or the other he
does not very well understand, and
meddling in all the affairs of his neigh-
bours, he appears fair game for me to
shoot at, particularly as he has taken
such an active part against me. If this
chattering black-bird were to die, the
Council-chamber at Guildhall would
be like a rookery deserted, where a
senseless noise had too long disturbed the
whole neighbourhood, while he and his
black brethren were breeding mischief!
Of Mr. Waithman I know a great
260
deal, but nothing to claim either my
admiration or respect, as he is something
like Phillips and the common descrip-
tion of liberty boys, who in their own
dwellings are perfect tyrants; which
confirms me in opinion, that modern
patriotism and tyranny are synonymous
terms.
When I was first introduced to Mr.
Waithman through the immaculate
bookseller, he was very anxious for me
to assail 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 the
261
same answer I had given to Mr. Glen-
nie, that I felt no inclination to be a
republican blunderbuss to fire out the
party malice of any disappointed poli-
tician!-Mr. Waithman will under-
stand me, I am sure. This intended
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, 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 qualities
262
of an orator, as long as he can give
effect to his muslin effusions in the
Common Council. I will instance a
circumstance where he, most likely,
thought truth the least important or-
nament of his speech!
In one of his thundering speeches,
he informed his auditory that I had
told him, or some one else, that Mr.
Mellish had applied to me for a ba-
ronetcy, which I here beg to assure the
public is no more nor less than a gross
FALSEHOOD! Mr. Mellish's interest must
be very bad with government if he
could not obtain such a paltry acqui-
,
263
sition without asking me to beg a new
name for him! He who is ashamed of
his own may have a good reason
for any addition or alteration; which
indeed is the only excuse I have for
Sir Richard Phillips's attachment to a
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 of
the other!
When I make these reflections, I do
not wish it to be understood that I mean
264
to cast any unbecoming reflections
on those numerous persons whose public
services have entitled them to this ho-
nourable acknowledgment of their coun-
try's approbation. It is like a Roman
reward, no expence to the government,
and very FLATTERING!
My information to Mr. Waithman
was this; that Mr. Shaw, who had
been very serviceable to Mr. Pitt, was
promised by him some little plaything
of this 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
265
with this light affair, and therefore Mr.
Waithman evidently told this falsehood,
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
rookery!
Mr. Timothy Brown constitutes a
small limb of this party; but as dinners
and money principally distinguish 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! Be-
fore my trial for conspiracy, Mr. Brown
Z
266
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 re-
commend the distressed relatives of the
poor malefactors to indict JACK KETCH
for MURDER! As soon as the wine went
into circulation, Mr. Ellis, assisted by
Mr. Brown, began to probe him upon
all the private conversations he had
with me either as to the payment of my
furniture, or any thing that they thought
would help the prosecution.
26-7
Gillet very justly said he knew no-
thing of my pecuniary transactions,
and therefore could not be of any ser-
vice to them. Mr. Ellis then boasted-
of having quite sufficient evidence to
convict the defendants, though he
thought it adviseable to obtain all he
could. Ellis now thought to play off
a little terror over Gillet, by observing
that he had instructions to bring an
action against him for publishing the
pamphlet called the "Rival Impos-
tors," unless he gave up the author,
though this person must at that time
have known that Mr. Manners was its
notorious parent!
gi
268
In consequence of Mr. Cobbett hav-
ing taken such a decided part against
me lately, I think it but fair to return
him thanks for his liberality and inde-
pendence; two qualities in a political
writer that deserve my admiration and
esteem, from the difficulty of meeting
with them at any time, and particu-
larly at the present day.
•
When I was the great key-stone that
held the arch upon which the fabric of
Colonel Wardle's fame ENTIRELY RESTED,
Mr. Cobbett said mighty pretty things
with respect to me; but now the villany
of his friend has loosened its security,
269
and I have let him into a gulph of de-
served public odium, he, to support
his favourite theme, for private rea-
(R)-
sons, has discovered, all at once, that
am a very infamous woman, in whom.
there is no truth to be found!
•
Nature has bestowed on the human
mind an amiable kind of 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 was in the west, and
when it is in the north! This change-
Z 3
270
ability in Mr. Cobbett, whose abilities
I admire, obliges me to open the secrets
of the prison-house, and shew that the
tellect of even clever men is heavily
fettered, and quite the slave to acci-
dental circumstances; which strengthens
the philosopher's position, that there is
but little difference between the en-
lightened and ignorant man, all being
alike characterised by imperfection!
During the investigation, Lord Folk-
ston brought Mr. Cobbett to Westborne-
ce, who was pleased to say a number
of civil things to me [all of which were
very opposite to his late public senti-
271
ments]; and observed, with much warmth
of feeling, that the only thing he was
angry at, was, that I should ever have
lived with such a man as the Duke of
York. As I knew the cause of this
remark, I instantly checked the ebulli-
tion of his malice, by observing that,
though I had been drawn into mea-
sures of hostility against my late friend,
yet still he was a gentleman and a
prince, who was adorned by many`ex-
cellent qualities; and therefore I beg-
ged to assure him that he would not
raise himself in my opinion by any
personal reflections on the Duke of
York, which I knew arose from his
K
272
having been once disappointed at not
dining with his Royal Highness at my
table, after the party was fixed.
That the reader may enter com-
pletely into the cause of Mr. Cobbett's
dislike to that Prince, and his motives
for having become his determined foe, I
must be allowed to relate the circum-
stance. Accident, I believe, suggested a
political party at my house: accordingly
Mr. Cobbett and Sir Francis Burdett
received cards of invitation, and were,
as they expected, to have dined in
company with the Duke of York.
Within a few days of the dinner, the
4
273
Duke informed me, in the most deli-
cate manner, that he had not the least
objection to dine with these gentlemen
as private individuals; yet, as their
hostility was so obvious to the govern-
ment, it would not be prudent for him
to be present. I felt the propriety of
the Duke's excuse, which arose from no
personal dislike, and consequently put
the party off.
off. A gentleman who was
to have been of the party afterwards
told me of Cobbett's anger at being
disappointed, and assured me that he
would not forget the insult; which
time has proved he has not, from the
unmerciful manner with which he has
274
followed the object of his malice. An
explanation of this fact took place be-
fore Lord Folkston, who, I think, is
too much the man of honor to deny it
now, from motives of policy, though
Mr. Cobbett may not like to acknow-
ledge the truth of this statement!
If 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!
275
As Mr. Croker took a great interest
in my concerns when I was examined
in the House of Commons, it would
be unkind of me to forget him-and to
forget a friend, is a sin against the
commandment, which I am not dis-
posed 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
276
to; I obtained, through a pretty good
medium, the following whimsical his-
tory of my friend Alley Croker!
1-
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 ho-
nor; 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,
1
277
instead of keeping the peace, rudely
attacks a person whose sex ought to
have protected her from insult, I doubt
not but the reader will think with me
that I am justified in shewing who he
was, as an excuse for my not pre-
senting a gentleman to the notice of the
reader.
My friend Alley-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 collecting that very odious
Irish tax of the hearth money! I have
A a
278
considered it proper to be correct in this
particular, lest in future times the same
controversy may arise about the birth-
place of this hero, which occupied the
learned world respecting that of Homer:
Mr. Croker being a poet as well as a
lawyer and statesman.
It is supposed that he was educated
at one of those charity schools im-
mediately under the patrronage of the
Earl, which it appears he left at a very
early age, as he assisted his father in
collecting the tax which is held in such
abhorrence by the poor people of Ire-
land. With ink-horn at his button-
279
1
hole, 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 con-
sidered a sharp lad, for discovering the
concealed furniture of those defaulters
whose miserable sticks it was his busi-
ness to seize for certain arrears in the
payment of the tax.
.
As he advanced in life, his father,
through the same patronage, obtained
a more lucrative situation, which en-
abled him to indulge better prospects
of his future life, and, after a few years
necessary study, he went to the Irish
280
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
hen, 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 of the
day, a contested election commenced,
in which Lord Castlereagh became a
candidate; who, finding a useful lite-
rary advocate in Mr. Croker, en-
couraged his exertions, and afterwards
became his best friend; and to whom he
281
is now indebted for his present elevated
station in life!
I believe, through the influence of
this nobleman, he progressively ad-
vanced from one thing to another, till
he got into Parliament, where he did
not distinguish himself till the investi-
gation.
My friend 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
I'll do with that infamous woman Mrs.
A a 3
282
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 turned
him round my finger, to the continued
mirth but hity of the House. But
when he insisted on hearing the NAME
SIGNED to the anonymous letter, and the
House observed my manner of treating
his nonsense, it is impossible to describe
the ridiculous situation in which he
stood, surrounded as he then was by a
general laugh, and which threw the
House into such confusion, that it was
283
nearly half an hour before order could
be restored.
He has a brogue which makes him
scarcely intelligible to his countrymen,
and, when he speaks in the House, ren-
ders his eloquence irresistibly powerful:
-I do not mean, reader, over the un-
derstanding 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 poli-
tical career, is his peeping from a gar-
ret in the nearest opposite house to
284
me, in order to watch my move-
ments, and see who came to Westborne-
Place, during the investigation.
For all these able endeavours in the
service of the State, he now enjoys
the place of Secretary to the Admi-
ralty!!!
Recently this sagacious gentleman
distinguished himself as Teller of the
House on a division, and was so kind
to the Ministers as to leave out a whole
row of his own party!!!
Though Mr. Croker did all he could
•
285
BOARDING SCHOOLS ATTENDED.
to annoy and injure me, I will return
good for evil, and recommend his
his poor
but industrious and deserving cousin,
as a very excellent BARBER !
J. CROKER,
PERFUMER,
LADIES & GENTLEMENS HAIR DRESSER,
Aud Ornamental Hair Manufacturer,
No. 6, LONDON ROAD, near the OBELISK.
Stimulated by gratitude (Croker) returns his sincere thanks to the
-Ladies and Gentlemen who have honored him with a preference,
and assures them that he will use every exertion to retain their par
tiality. He also informs the Public, that his Ladies Head Dresses,
Gentlemens Crops, and the other Hair Ornaments, are designed on
the highest improv'd principles. .
From a peculiar arrangement and selection of the Hair--the Work-
manship--and a lively attention to the fashions for na-
tural appearance, durability, and pleasantness in the
wear, cannot be excelled. N. B. Habituated to
the best work, he pledges himself not to
proffer any Article for sale that will
not do him credit.
Ash, Printer, Adams Place, Boro'.
Convenient Rooms for Hair Cutting.
286
Though several personal applications
have been made to me to suppress this
work, accompanied by good offers, the
following is the only document I have
received upon the subject. But as my
feelings and character are so much con-
cerned in the exposure of Colonel Wardle
and his party, I have uniformly rejected
ALL OVERTURES!
.
"Barnard Castle, Jan. 13, 1810.
DEAR MADAM,
"On perusing one of the London newspapers,
I saw a paragraph with your name affixed, signi-
fying your intention to publish an appeal to the
public, wherein you intended to insert several of
Colonel Wardle's letters. Now, Madam, in
consideration of the great respect I bear towards
287
the Colonel (for the great and important service
he has rendered his country), if you will sup-
press your intended publication, I will present
you with five hundred pounds. If, Madam, you
assent to my proposal, please to signify the same
by letter, and I will immediately come to town
and pay the money.
"I am, dear Madam,
"With the greatest respect,
"Your most obedient and humble servant,
"T. PRUDAH.
"P. S. Please to direct for me at Barnard
Castle, County of Durham.
"Mrs. M. A. Clarke, King's Road, London."
As all the circumstances attending
Colonel Wardle's motion in the Court of
King's Bench for a new trial have ap-
283
peared before the public, and the opi-
nions of the Judges also fresh in the me-
mory of the intelligent reader, it pre-
cludes the necessity of my going over a
question which rested upon the custom
of the Court in similar cases.
"
If I were disposed to canvass all the
points of evidence given at my trial for
conspiracy, I should scarcely know where
to close this work, from the abundant
contradictions which it will manifest to
the attentive reader; but, as such an
illustration would in some measure con-
stitute a repetition of that narrative al-
ready gone through, I should be mak-
289
ing an unjustifiable claim on public pa-
tience.
Impressed thus upon the subject, I
shall now proceed to a few remarks
upon the manner Mr. Alley, the prose-
cutor's counsel, conducted that cause,
which his vanity led him to believe
would almost immortalize him!
There is an old remark, that a
"C
great
thing is too much for a little mind;"
and I verily believe that Mr. Alley
evinced the force of this observation in
the management of that prosecution.
All irritable and violent men are unfit
B b
290
to take the lead in any great cause, as
its importance is apt to impress a conse-
quer ce upon him to whom its care is
assigned, and thus throw a hot-headed
general off his guard. Mr. Alley had,
no doubt, sufficient time to study and
make the most of the speech he so labo-
riously composed for my destruction,
from the evident touches of Old Bailey
eloquence with which it so amply
abounds.
I do not pretend to know any thing
of his family or breeding in Ireland
(though I expect his history every day -
from that country); but this I know,
that an Irish cobbier would have remem-
291
bered that I was a woman and a mother,
and not have designated me by such epi-
thets as graced the lips of this gentleman
from the SESSIONS! where, most likely,
he acquired the ornaments of speech and
the eloquence of the English bar!
\
What opinion does the reader suppose
twelve respectable men (most of whom,
no doubt, were husbands and fathers)
must have had of Colonel Wardle, who
could instruct his counsel to colour me
in such terms to them; when a few
months before, he, in conjunction with
Mr. Whitbread, Lord Folkston, and
many other respectable men, had de-
292
scribed me as an injured woman patiently
bearing my misfortunes, and supporting
my children in silent distress, till he
had allured me into public notice?
I ask, what any one must think of
that man's character who could in-
struct his counsel to preface his perjury
with such ungentlemanly epithets, and
falsehoods, as Mr. Alley advanced to
the Court on that day!
But to proceed. Mr. Alley thought
to astonish the Jury by throwing out in-
sinuations against the government, the
first of which was, I believe, with re-
spect to the “arch juggler." Now, this
·
293
political compound of unmeaning no-
thingness by some accident suggested
itself to the party months before, when
Mr. Corfield was drawing the briefs to
meet Wright's action, and on that trial
the "arch juggler" was to have made it
first appear in the world; but, as it was
not founded on even the shadow of truth,
it remained at rest till the papers got
into the hands of Mr. Ellis; and then,
I
suppose, HE or HIS Counsel thought, if
used in Court, it would astonish the Jury,
and involve the government in public
suspicion, perhaps odium; he therefore
resuscitated this bugbear of the brain
Bb 3
294
from its peaceful slumbers for public
animadversion!
T
The next dirty and false charge in-
sinuated against the government was,
that Major Dodd lost his situation for
having gone before the Grand Jury to
support Colonel Wardle's bill of in-
dictinent against me: but the fact is,
that Major Dodd knew very well HOW
he lost his situation, and how he ac-
quired a very large fortune at Gibraltar.
If, however, he should have forgotten it,
I will just remind him, that there are
such things as NEUTRAL VESSELS! The
reader
may perhaps recollect, that, after
295
Mr. Alley threw out this charge, the
Attorney General sent to his chambers
for the papers which were connected
with the PROCEEDINGS NOW GOING ON
against him for his conduct while at
Gibraltar. So much, then, for all this
empty stuff which was employed to
blacken every thing that did not bear
the feature of republican furor! and so
much for the honesty of the man, whom
Mr. Alley pourtrays to the world in
these fine and high SOUNDING words:
"The next witness I shall present to
1
you, gentlemen, will be Major Dodd,
who I have told you will appear
appear before
you in a high, proud, and manly state :
he is an honourable and manly man;
296
and, after the late instance of his noble
mindedness and disinterestedness, he
well deserves to have his name placed
upon SOME PILLAR, ON WHICH SHOULD BE
INSCRIBED, • TO THE MEMORY OF AN HO-
NEST MAN." Though this gingerbread
speech of Mr. Alley's was evidently the
result of much study, it displays no traits
of a great imagination, notwithstanding
it is as full of ridiculous illustrations of
the necessity of public virtue as it is full
of falsehood; unless, indeed, his nonsense
with respect to Buonaparte's rise in the
world be considered among the sublime !
who is about as virtuous a character as
the Colonel, but WITH A VERY DIFFERENT
HEAD !
297
1
A man who studied his subject as
Mr. Alley had done, and without being
obliged to follow the truth, ought, out
of so much fiction, to have been able to
have made a most brilliant reply, if he
really possessed any great gifts of abi-
lity. But what was the case?—why, a
most miserable answer, that shewed a
want of those powers of mind necessary
to eminence at that bar. His only ex-
cuse for floundering about, in his an-
swer to the Attorney General, was one
of which a counsel ought to be ashamed
to acknowledge; namely, that he did
not expect the examination of Mr.
Stokes, or any other witness, on my
side, and therefore he had not taken
•
298
notes: but what signified notes upon a
familiar case, on which he at first had
nothing but fiction as his guide? A
good general is never off his guard,
and taken by surprise! Neither Sir
Vicary Gibbs nor Mr. Garrow would
have made such an excuse, or have been
out-generalled in a cause like that, be-
fore the Court!
But though he had only the exami-
nation of one witness to contend with,
it was evidently too much for him, 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
299
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 an elegant and finished
orator!
Of the Jury who presided I have no
personal knowledge, and have only to
repeat what I before observed with re-
spect 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, discern-
ment, and honor! I know every arti-
500
t
fice was used to oppose every person as a
juror who was not thought a Patriot, and
accordingly a man by the name of
LEMAITRE, (commonly called pop-gun
Lemaitre) a watch-case maker, who
was confined some years ago for SHOOT-
ING AT THE KING, was Colonel Wardle's
agent on that occasion. I only mention
this humble individual, to shew the
description of persons with whom the
Colonel finds it political to IDENTIFY
HIMSELF! There are about fifteen of
these kind of men, who assume the ap-
pearance of business, that are MAIN-
TAINED PRIVATELY to further a CERTAIN
CAUSE !
301
I regret exceedingly that Mr.Wright's
witnesses were not examined on my pro-
secution for conspiracy, 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,
out of delicacy to the Duke of Kent's
presence, my Counsel were induced to
rest our case upon other grounds :-I
have also to express my regret and dis-
appointment that the roguery of Colonel
Wardle deprives me from publishing
those affidavits and the evidence, of
about FIFTEEN PERSONS, in consequence
of his now making every endeavour;
through his proceedings in CHANCERY,
Cc
302
to keep Mr.Francis Wright out of his bill,
the amount of which the public lately
subscribed (under false impressions of
his character) to defray the expences
he was supposed to incur in the great
Public Cause! The Colonel has em-
*
C
ployed that very money to other pur-
poses, and is now using every trick to
deprive a respectable and honest trades-
man of a sum of MONEY given to him
by a Jury of his country.
This is, however, all of a piece with
the general conduct of a patriot; but it
LOCKS up for THE PRESENT a very impor-
tant part of my case, which must be kept
303
in reserve to meet all the legal artifice that
will, no doubt, be used to injure that
very man who might have RUINED Co-
lonel Wardle DURING THE INVESTIGATION
by a full and profitable exposure of his
bribery to me, and who, according to
the Colonel's request, made such an entry
in his books as then appeared most sa-
tisfactory to his wishes, in order to con-
ceal his pecuniary transaction with Mr.
Wright, and secure his honor with the
House of Commons and the public.
Further than it was necessary, I have
not made Mr. Francis Wright's case the
subject of local observation, as every
304
line of this work which goes to the jus-
tification of my conduct also justifies his;
and either we are both guilty of impos-
ing upon that unguarded and innocent
character Colonel Wardle, or we are
both spotless, which is with the impartial
reader to decide upon, after perusing
this work.
Mr. Wright has been a great sufferer
in consequence of his honor to Colonel
Wardle, which almost every man would
have sacrificed in the heat of the inves-
tigation for USEFUL PATRONAGE. If
such a secret had been with Sir Richard
Phillips, he would have SOLD IT ten
305
times over, and afterwards have laughed
at the Colonel's folly for having re-
posed a marketable article with him!
But with Mr. Wright the thing was
different; and he has been almost ruined
in peace of mind and public opinion
from having been truly honorable to an
ill-principled impostor, who would sa-
crifice his parent for a little POPULA-
RITY!!!
I do flatter myself that this work
will restore Mr. Wright very deservedly
to public favor, whose honest friend-
ship and misapplied fidelity have for
a time suffered all that party malice and
Cc 3
306
perjury could do for his destruction!
But as circumstances have turned out,
he may console himself with this proud
reflection, that, though Colonel Wardle
is a patriot, he has the pre-eminence of
being an HONEST MAN!
In winding up my account with the
immaculate Colonel Wardle, I must be
allowed to remind him of his not having
verified any of his promises to the PEO-
ple of EnglanD. It is within the re-
collection of every one that he was to
convict me of perjury or CONSPIRACY, nei-
ther of which has taken place. In fact,
there was not a phrase sufficiently strong
307
with which he could designate my con-
duct, and AWAITING ruin, that he did
not call into the service of his cause;
AND SUCH a cause which has in the end
shewn the Colonel not to be a PATRIOT,
but a VILLAIN !!!
FINIS.
James Compton, Printer, Middle Street,
Cloth Fair, London.
•
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many of them will be found, together with several Royal and in-
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2. The WHOLE of the DEBATES in the
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The Publishers have no hesitation in stating, that in this
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Authentic copies of the following Speeches were taken
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3. The SPEECH delivered by the RIGHT
HON. SIR VICARY GIBBS, his Majesty's At-
torney General, in the House of Commons, on Thurs-
day the 9th of March, 1809, on the Debate on the In-
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4. The SPEECH delivered by FRANCIS BUR-
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5. The SPEECH delivered by the RIGHT HON.
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7. An HEROIC EPISTLE, addressed to G. L.
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Price 2s. 6d.
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That Royal Tree, beneath whose sacred shade
The lib'ral Arts and Sciences have found
Benignant shelter on this favoured ground;
Where commerce flourishes, and freedom stands
A beacon to the hopes of struggling lands.
Vide the Poem.
8. TRUTH in PURSUIT of WARDLE;
being a Letter to Colonel Gm. Ll. Wardle, M.P.
Price 3s. 6d.
"Letters oft have caus'd the Writers
"To curse the day they were inditers."
The Public are respectfully requested to peruse this Letter,
which developes Colonel Wardie's Political Scheme, of introducing
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Dodd, &c. Written by T. FARQUHARSON,
-
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*
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