Amongst those who paid great attention to Mrs. Mary Anne Clarke was
Colonel Wardle, at that time a remarkable member of the House of Commons,
and a bold leader of the Radical Opposition. He got intimately acquainted
with her, and was so great a personal favourite that it was believed
he wormed out all her secret history, of which he availed himself to
obtain a fleeting popularity.

Having obtained the names of some of the parties who had been fortunate
enough, as they imagined, to secure the lady's favour, he loudly demanded
an inquiry in the House of Commons as to the management of the army
by the Commander-in-Chief, the Duke of York. The nation and the army
were fond of his Royal Highness, and every attempt to screen him was
made; but in vain. The House undertook the task of investigating the
conduct of the duke, and witnesses were produced, amongst whom was the
fair lady herself, who by no means attempted to screen her imprudent
admirer. Her responses to the questions put to her were cleverly and
archly given, and the whole mystery of her various intrigues came to
light. The duke consequently resigned his place in the Horse Guards,
and at the same time repudiated the beautiful and dangerous cause of
his humiliation. The lady, incensed at the desertion of her royal swain,
announced her intention of publishing his love-letters, which were likely
to expose the whole of the royal family to ridicule, as they formed
the frequent themes of his correspondence. Sir Herbert Taylor was therefore
commissioned to enter into a negotiation for the purchase of the letters;
this he effected at an enormous price, obtaining a written document
at the same time by which Mrs. Clarke was subjected to heavy penalties
if she, by word or deed, implicated the honour of any of the branches
of the royal family. A pension was secured to her, on condition that