Rowlandson the Caricaturist; a Selection from His Works. Vol. 2Grego, Joseph
History
Rowlandson the Caricaturist; a Selection from His Works. Vol. 2
Grego, Joseph
English wit and humor, Pictorial; Rowlandson, Thomas, 1756-1827
It was evident that the resignation of the Commander-in-Chief would
alone stop further proceedings. Wilberforce and his party succeeded in
forcing him to retire from the command of the army, and the inquiry was
dropped.
Sir David Dundas succeeded the Duke of York, and after holding the
appointment for two years, resigned, and the Duke was reinstated.
Mrs. Clarke was not appeased by the results of the parliamentary
investigation, which had, in fact, effected nothing for her, and
all for others. These disgraceful exposures would have been escaped
if the Duke had paid her annuity. Her motives in the matter were of
course entirely personal; the public were on her side, and she made
the notoriety serve her purpose. She announced a _Memoir of her Life_,
and of her transactions with the Duke of York, accompanied by a series
of his letters; these latter would have been eagerly read, the fervid
specimens which came out in the course of the investigation were
republished, versified, and circulated in various forms, to the delight
of the public. The consequences, and the ridicule apprehended from
this exposure, effected the purpose which a mere regard for good faith
could not accomplish: negotiations were opened for the suppression
and destruction of these memoirs, which were said to be actually in
print. An indemnity of 7,000_l._ is believed to have secured Mrs.
Clarke's silence, and the annuity of 400_l._ was guaranteed her for
life. This outline of the facts will be found substantially followed
by the caricaturist's series, although the details differ in certain
respects from over-colouring inseparable from satirical versions. Mrs.
Clarke[12] stated that she had been under the protection of the Duke of
York since the years 1802 or 1803, but her establishment in Gloucester
Place did not commence till 1804; it consisted of two carriages, eight
horses, nine men servants, &c., to defray the expenses of which the
Duke allowed her 2,000_l._ per annum, to be paid monthly. That she
had also a small establishment at Weybridge; the house belonged to
His Royal Highness. That the sums she received from the Duke were
barely adequate to pay the servants their wages and liveries; and
when she informed him of it, he replied that 'if she were clever, she
would not ask him for money.' That the applications for her interest
in military promotions were very numerous; she mentioned them to His
Royal Highness, who told her which were likely to be successful. At one
period she had a long list of applicants, procured either by Captain
Sandon or Mr. Donovan, which she gave his Royal Highness, who said
he would procure the appointments by degrees; she stated to him at
the same time the sums which she should receive for her interest in
procuring them; that the appointment of Mr. Dowler to the Commissariat
was through the influence of the Duke of York, who knew that she was to
receive 1,000_l._ for it. That two applications were made through the
medium of Mr.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account