VOL. XV. No. 16.] LONDON, SATURDAY, APRIL 22, 1809.

[Price 1s.

"Lord CASTLEREAGH Supported the opinion, that such a CONSPIRACY did exist, with the determined object of running down the characters of the princes of the blood, and through them to destroy the "monarchical branch of the constitution. Having failed in the attempt to injure it by open force, they now proceeded to sap and undermine it by the diffusion of seditious libels, converting the noble attri"butes of a free press to the most dangerous and detestable purposes. H. r. h. the Commander in Chief "was the principal object of their rancorous invective. To his prejudice facts were falsified, and mo"tives attributed to him of which his very nature was incapable. As to the observation of the hon. gent. "that the crown lawyers had not done their duty in not prosecuting libellers, he had only to say, that "it was not always easy to convict upon an obvious libel, as a very small portion of legal knowledge "united with some ingenuity, would be sufficient to defeat a prosecution."Speech of 27th Jan. 1809, when Mr. Wardle made his Charges.

5771

SUMMARY OF POLITICS.

LORD CASTLEREAGH.

-[578

India Directors are sworn not to sell WriSufficient un-terships; but, to dispose of those offices to the day is the evil thereof;" and, in for the good of the service, and to such

spite of my most anxious wish to put upon record, in the Register, the remaining Cases of the York Inquiry, other matter, of the same sort, presses forward continually upon me, and, with new and irresistible claims, contends for the preference. Amongst all the cases, however, which demand immediate notice, that of this Lord Castlereagh, is certainly entitled to the first place. But, before I enter upon it I must explain some circumstances, which may not be generally known.-The case is that of a transaction of proffered barter; in which, as the dealers in live-stock term it, a swap was intended to be made of an East India Writership for a Seat in the House of Commons. Now, reader, you should be informed, that a Writership is an office under the East India Company, of which offices there are many, and which are all bestowed by the East India Directors, who are a kind of ministers, or rulers, in the affairs of the Company. The people of England pay, though in a circuitous way, all the salaries of these Writers and for all that is gained by all the persons, who go to India and get rich there. So that, when you see what is called a Nabob come and settle in this country, you see a man who has got all his means out of the taxes raised in England, the East India establishment being, like many other establishments, nothing more than a round-about channel, through which the fruits of the general labour and incomes of the people go into the pockets of individuals. This fact it will be necessary for you to bear in mind, in order to be able to form a correct judgment as to how you and your family and neighbours are affected by the abuse of which I am about to speak somewhat in detail.The East

persons, of course, as are well qualified,
from their probity, as well as their talents,
to fill places of great trust and confidence.
These Writers are clerks, sent out to In-
dia, where they have the management of
the Company's business; where they col-
lect taxes from the people; and where,
when they arrive at high situations, they
exercise great and fearful authority over
the people.- -You will allow, that it is
very fitting, that persons, who are to fill
such posts, should not be needy and gree-
dy adventurers; that they should be men
of honour as well as men of sense; and,
that they should come recommended by
these qualities, and not by a sum of money,
in the shape of a bribe.This is what
ought to be; and, the principle, indeed
the law is, that this shall be, and, to securo
the fulfilment of the law, the Directors
are even sworn not to sell any of these offi-
ces.————— -How far the practice has corres
ponded with the theory, you will soon
see; and, I beg you not to be surprized,
if you find the affairs of the East India
Company to exhibit symptoms very little
better, than those exhibited in the affairs
of the army, as connected with the esta
blishment in Gloucester Place It will
not be forgotten, that, when DONOVAN (Our
old friend, Donovan !) came to be examin-
ed at the bar of the House of Commons, it
appeared, that he had been concerned in
the Sale of Writerships, as well as of mili-
tary commissions and promotions. The
East India Directors, many of whom, to
our great misfortune, are in the House,
seemed thunderstruck at the fact; well
knowing that they were sworn not to sell
At this I, for my part,
any such offices.
was quite surprized, seeing that, for many

T

years past, these offices, both Writerships and Cadetships (the latter being a military office in the East Indies) have been advertised for sale, or for purchase, in every news-paper in the kingdom, just in the same way and with as little disguise, as horses or houses are advertised.- -Nevertheless, as the thing was come out, there was no shuffling it off. Inquiry was called for in the East India department as well as in that of the army; and Mrs. Clarke having given the ministers a pretty good sample of the effects of their examinations at the bar of the House, it was resolved to form a distinct Committee, in a separate apartment of the House, for the purpose of prosecuting this Inquiry. The Committee, so appointed, made their Report on the 23rd of March, which Report, together with the Evidence, consisting of 238 folio pages, I have now before me. -From this valuable book, it appears, that, though there be no positive proof of the Directors having actually sold any of the offices, which they had taken an oath not to sell; yet, that they gave them to persons, who did sell them, and to persons, too, whom they must have known to be incapable of filling the offices themselves. For instance, the Director THELLUSSON gave three writerships to MR. WOODFORD, his cousin. Mr. Woodford sold the first for 3,500l. the second for 3,000l. and he disposed of the third to a Mr. TAHOURDIN, upon the latter undertaking to procure, for a friend of Mr. Woodford, the next presentation to a church living of the value of 300l. a year.- -The public have seen Mr. Woodford's statement, and to that I refer them, for the present, it being my object now to fix the attention of the reader to the Case of LORD, CASTLEREAGH. -By-and-by, when I come to lay other cases before the public, the Reverend DR. LOCKE of Farnham in Surrey (my native town,) and a Reverend THOMAS LLOYD, Will be seen purchasing and seiling Cadetships, and, of course, will take their proper place upon the list with the Clergymen, whom Mrs. Clarke's affair introduced to a burthened and insulted nation.-- I have said that the Directors are not, in these papers, proved to have sold the places themselves; but, that they are proved to have given them to persons who did sell them, or swap them away. We shall, in a future article upon the subject, see some other great names introduced; but, at present we must contine ourselves to LORD CASTLEREAGH; to Lord Castlereagh, who and whose family, have, within the last

thirty years, swallowed millions of the public money; to Lord Castlereagh, who is now Secretary of State for the War department, and, of course, one of the chief advisers of the King; to Lord Castlereagh, who is a colleague of that Mr. Perceval, who prosecuted the Plymouth Tinman; to Lord Castlereagh, who made the Speech, an extract of which I have taken for my motto; to Lord Castlereagh, who, upon Mr. Wardle's bringing forward his charges, was the loudest amongst those, who cried out "Jacobin Conspiracy," and who stated" the difficulties of producing con"viction in cases of libel;" to Lord Castlereagh, whom the Irish have such good rea son to remember, and with whom I hope to make every man in England acquainted: Others anon; every one in his turn; but, first of all, let us confine ourselves, let us direct our undivided attention, to the Case of Lord Castlereagh.- -This being a case of such importance; it being a case that so clearly exposes to our view the manner, in which Seats in Parliament are bargained for; it being a case that goes to the very root of all the evils we suffer; all our miseries and all our shame; it being such a case as this, I shall give the whole of the Evidence relating to it. The witnesses are only three; namely, a Mr. REDING, Lord CLANCARTY, and Lord CASTLEREAgh himself.I beg the reader to go patiently through all this Evidence. of it is not directly to the main point; but A great deal the whole of it is deeply interesting. Observe how familiarly REDING and even the two Lords talk of the truck. Observe how intimate Reding was with the MARQ. OF SLIGo, and how freely he speaks of the amount of the Writership and the Seat. You will see that REDING produces several letters from the Marquis of Sligo to him; and that he talks of the Marquis's sole property in the Seat. You see him negociating with the two Lords about the swap with as much case as any two of us negociate about the swap for a horse or a cow. From these little incidents we get the true picture, the life, of the thing; aye, the true picture of our unparalleled degradation.

MR. REDING'S EVIDENCE.

"What was the understood condition of this agreement ?-That if the one had not the Seat, the other was not to have the Writership; that was the way I understood it.

Through whose means was the Writership to be procured?-I beg to ask permission, if it is not too great a favour, te wait till I examine my accounts.

How was he known to you?-He is known to me through the interference of I Mr. Davies, of Northumberland-street.

Were you to receive the whole sum of 3,000l. or guineas from Mr. Ogg?-From his friends I was to receive it; but it was not to be put into my pocket, though for the moment I was to receive it, it was to be given in different ways.

In what ways was it to be divided, and between whom?--Some part was to go for agency to Davies.

What part was he to have?-I never mentioned to him to have more than common commission at five per-cent.; another part was to be given to a relation of Mrs. Grove.

What relation?-I do not know how nearly related this young lady was to her. What was her name?-I am not positive, without looking to documents which I did not think I should want to-day.

What was to be done with the remainder?-Part of it was commission to me. What part of the sum of 3,000 guineas or pounds had you, distinct to yourself?A commission.

Was the whole advantage you expected to derive to yourself for returning a Member to Parliament, a commission of five per-cent. upon 3000l. or guineas?—I did not even wish that, or ask that at the time; I would do that without, to oblige my friend, without a shilling, and be at any expence to serve him.

What friend are you speaking of?-Lord Sligo.

How could lord Sligo be benefited by returning a Member to Parliament who was a stranger to him?-That was within his own breast; I cannot account for that.

How could you suppose he would be obliged by making such a return to parliament?-He had given me those directions, and I complied with them.

At the rate of five per-cent. ?-Yes; if my friend chose to make a present of more, I should not say a word against it. Was a commission at five per-cent. upon 3,000l. or guineas, all that you expected in return for returning a Member to Parliament ?-That was all that I expected to have eventually for myself; if iny friend wished to do me any other service, I was very willing to obey his com-pointment of Mr. Ogg to India?-How mands.

Was Mr. Ogg, who was to receive the appointment to the East Indies, to pay any more than 3,000 guineas or pounds?--I understood, when I went to Lloyd's Coffeehouse, that he was to pay 500 pounds or guineas more, on which I turned my back on-all the parties; I would not have any thing more to do with Davies, because I found he meant to deceive me and the parties.

What other parties were concerned, besides Davies-Mr. Livie, the brother-inlaw of Mr. Ogg.

What directions did he give to you ?—
To negotiate with lord Clancarty.
Was lord Sligo interested in the ap-

far that was, I cannot answer.

Did you ever hear lord Sligo mention the name of Mr. Ogg?-Lord Sligo and I at various times talked of Mr. Ogg's name without reserve, when I have had the honour of being with him in his room.

Did you first mention the name of Mr. Ogg to lord Sligo, or lord Sligo to you? cannot answer that, it is out of my power.

By whom was the name of Mr. Ogg first mentioned to you ?-By Mrs. Grove, I think.

Have you any reason to believe that Do you mean, in saying you turned your Mr. Ogg was acquainted with lord Sligo? back upon all the parties, that you turned-I do not know; I cannot say that Mr. your back upon Mr. Davies and Mr. Li- Ogg was acquainted with lord Sligo, nor I cannot take upon myself to say he was not.

vie? Yes.

Was there any body besides?---Mr. Ogg was in the room with us.

Did you not continue your negotiation with Mr. Ogg upon this subject ?-Mr. Ogg called at my house at different times, and his sister, Mrs. Livie; I did not ever after speak a word to Mr. Davies.

Did the negotiation go on with Mr. Ogg | after this time or not?--It died away in

Did you ever see him in company with lord Sligo ?-Never.

Did you ever hear lord Sligo talk of him as an acquaintance?-No; I do not suppose lord Sligo would be acquainted with a man, unless it was his own particular friend.

What benefit could lord Sligo derive

from Mr. Ogg's appointment to India?— | That I cannot answer.

Was he to receive any part of the 3,000l. or guineas?—I do not know that

he was.

Do you know that he was not ?--I do not know that he was not.

In your answer relating to the distribution of this money, why did you not include the name of lord Sligo, if he was to receive any part of the money?--I do rot know now that he was to receive any part of the money.

Did he know what sum was to be paid by Mr. Ogg for the Writership?-I told him. I was with lord Sligo almost every morning, three and four times in the day, and there was not a thing kept unknown from his lordship by myself.

Did you tell him into what shares that money was intended to be divided?—I do not know at this moment whether I have or have not; I would with pleasure tell if I could; perhaps I may find some memorandum by and by, that would throw light upon it. Here are lord Sligo's notes to

me.

bishop his father-in-law, or any other re-
lation, to get a similar thing; I had meet-
ings two or three times upon it, and he
told me he could not do it, and I told lord
Sligo the same.
Did you
communicate to lord Hawar-
den that you had the disposal of one of
lord Sligo's Seats in Parliament ?—I did
not make use of any such language, but
that I thought I had it in my power to do
him a service in that way.

Do you know what part of the three thousand pounds or guineas lord Sligo expected to receive for returning lord Clancarty to parliament ?-I am at a loss how to answer that question.

What benefit was he to derive from returning lord Clancarty to parliament ?—I cannot answer what benefit he was to derive.

Had lord Sligo any conversation with lord Clancarty in your presence?-Lord Clancarty came in one day, to lord Sligo's house, and said when the servant announced his name, here is Mr. Reding; and lord Clancarty asked me how I was, and asked me if I knew a Mrs. somebody, Did you at any time communicate to I do not know the name now; I told him lord Sligo that he was to derive any pecu-I did not; and on the next day, or in a niary advantage in consequence of return-day or two I received an anonymous letter ing lord Clancarty to parliament?-I al- which I suspected came from this very ways told lord Sligo what was doing: I Mr. Davies, lord Sligo was then gone to do not know that I have exactly told him Ireland; I wrote to him in Ireland, and in what way the money was to be divided, here is his lordship's answer to that. or in what shares; I do not remember that I have.

Did you ever see lord Sligo in company with Mrs. Grove?—I do not know that I have; but I was very intimate with the late lord Hawarden, and I have seen the late lord Hawarden in company with lord Sligo, and we have talked on the subject.

On what subject did you talk with lord Hawarden? On the subject of the return of lord Clancarty to parliament; at that period lord Hawarden wished to go to parliament himself, but he had not it in his power to do that that he wanted to do as a return.

Did you mention the circumstance to lord Hawarden in the presence of lord Sligo? -I was very intimate with lord Hawarden at that period, and had the honour of visiting him, and he visited me, and I told him one morning when he called upon me, that I thought it was in my power to do him that service, and that I would in preference to a gentleman that I knew nothing of; but I believe I did not know at that period, and I asked him whether he would influence his relations, the arch

Had lord Sligo any conversation with lord Clancarty in your presence?—He had, so far as that, coming in one morning to lord Sligo's house.

Did any conversation pass at that time on the subject of this transaction?-All that I recollect was, lord Clancarty asked me, Do you know a Mrs. somebody; I answered that I did not know such a name; and I took for granted that something unpleasant had occurred from his mentioning a name that I did not know any thing about.

How could his mentioning a name that you knew nothing about, give you to understand that something unpleasant had occurred?-Because I did not know the name of this person, and at that time lord Clancarty had done almost with the negotiation; we had dropped it.

Did not you say before, that you had never seen lord Clancarty so as to converse with him, after this negotiation was dropped ?-I said I did not see lord Castlereagh; I do not conceive now that it is exactly the same subject; he asked me, at lord Sligo's, whether I knew a Mrs.