HISTORY OF EUROPE. 



125 



most satisfactorily obtained by an 

 inquiry, private in its progress, 

 but to be public in the result ; 

 particularly when he reflected on 

 the description of persons likely 

 to be examined, and the import- 

 ance of the interests affected by 

 the accusation. 



Tiie Chancellor of the Exchequer 

 coincided with the unanimous 

 sentiment of the house, that to 

 the most solemn and serious ac- 

 cusation brought forward that 

 night, the most solemn and serious 

 inquiry ought to be accorded. 

 He concurred with his honourable 

 friend Mr. Adam in thinking, that 

 the house should not abandon its 

 inquisitorial functions in this in- 

 stance. He could state, on the 

 authority of the duke of York 

 himself, given him at the only op- 

 portunity he had of consulting 

 with him on the subject, that the 

 most ready course of prosecuting 

 the inquiry would be the most 

 agreeable to him, and that he de- 

 precated nothing so much as a 

 course that would impede the final 

 result. That illustrious personage 

 wished, like any other subject, to 

 be put publicly on his trial, and 

 to stand acquitted or convicted 

 upon the case that might be made 

 out ; at the same time, that he 

 had a thorough conviction that he 

 should exculpate himself from all 

 charge. He would stake his re- 

 putation upon it that it was im- 

 possible that after the result of the 

 inquiry, any suspicion could be 

 entertained of his royal highness. 

 Mr. Wardle had stated a circum- 

 stance, which particularly involved 

 the character of his majesty's go- 

 vernment; that two members of 

 the cabinet were concerned in the 

 agency for the disposal of govern- 



nient patronage. This was atopic 

 on which he must require the 

 fullest information. It was for 

 the option of Mr. W. to deter- 

 mine whether he would afford it 

 in that house, or by a private 

 communication to some of the 

 responsible servants of the crown. 

 It was not for him to tell the 

 house, that in this great capital 

 it might happen, that foolish per- 

 sons might be frequently deceived 

 by advertisements in the public 

 papers announcing the disposal of 

 official patronage ; and perhaps, it 

 had occasionally turned out, that 

 the xevy persons who, originally 

 deceived by tliese advertisements, 

 were induced to make applications, 

 did ultimately obtain the very 

 appointments for which they had 

 endeavoured to negociate. But 

 he was convinced that as there 

 was nothing so discreditable to 

 government, so there was nothing 

 more false than the idea that 

 money was paid to persons high 

 in office for such transactions. For 

 the distinct manner in which the 

 honourable gentleman had sub- 

 mitted the question to the house, 

 he conceived him entitled to its 

 thanks.— Mr. Wardle stated that 

 the office where the agency was 

 transacted, was in a court out 

 of Threadneedle Street. The 

 names of the agents in that office 

 were, Heylop and Fallen. They 

 had stated various situations pur- 

 chased in the island of Jamaica, 

 and that the two members of the 

 present cabinet, for whom they 

 acted in such situations, and to 

 whom he alluded in his speech, 

 were, the lord Chancellor and the 

 duke of Portland. It was then 

 carried, nem. con. that the conduct 

 of his royal highness, the com- 

 j- mander 



