possess influence over such persons. In the case of Mary Ann Clarke,
however, there was no pretension in the matter; for there can be no
question that she did possess too much influence over the mind of the
duke, and that she obtained promotion for several of whom she took
money. On the other hand it was proved that she had successfully exerted
herself on behalf of meritorious individuals who did honour to the
service, and who, being in distressed circumstances at the time,
could not have paid her for the commissions which by her influence she
procured them. Guilt, therefore, was attached to the duke in suffering
this woman to gain an unbounded influence over his mind: public men
should hold themselves free from favour or prejudice.

PARLIAMENTARY CORRUPTION.

"Examine well His milk-white hand; the palm is hardly clean--
But here and there an ugly smutch appears.
Foh! 'twas a bribe that left it: he has touched
Corruption. Whoso seeks an audit here
Propitious, pays his tribute, game or fish,
Wild fowl or venison; and his errand speeds."
--COWPER.

It had been for some time reported by opposition that government had
made, and was making, a regular traffic in East India appointments. A
select committee of the house of commons was appointed to inquire into
this matter; which committee reported that it appeared many places had
been disposed of in an illegal manner. One source of corruption brought
another to light. In the course of the examinations it was discovered
that Lord Castlereagh, as president of the board of control, had
placed a writership at the disposal of Lord Clancarty, which writership
Clan-carty was to give to one Mr. Reding, as the price of a seat in
parliament for himself, the said Mr. Reding meaning to sell the said
writership for 3000 guineas. Lord Archibald moved that Lord Castlereagh
had been guilty of a violation of his duty, of an abuse of his influence
and authority as president of the board of control, and also of an
attack upon the purity and constitution of parliament. The noble lord's
defence was that when this transaction took place he had no notion that
such a person existed as a trafficking-broker for places; that Reding
had represented to him that a member of the house of commons, who
intended to vacate his seat, had a nephew whom he wished to send out to
India as a writer, and would favour the election of any friend of
his. His lordship remark