Mr Stephens, brother-in-law to Wilberforce, made a speech of four
hours on the Commission business. For three he commanded attention. It
will be published.


Although the verdict eventually given declared charitably that the Duke
was exonerated from the charge of personal corruption, it was evident that
he had been guilty of culpable neglect of his duty, that he had signed
papers presented to him without troubling to read them, and had agreed to
every arrangement made by Mrs Clarke, although knowing that she was making
a traffic of such commissions.

The Duke, in consequence, was forced to resign his Commandership, although
in 1811, he was, to the indignation of many people, reinstated in it by
his brother, the Prince Regent.

Ere that date, however, another topic of conversation had been provided
for the social world.


_February 25th, 1809._

We are very quiet. To-night, we go to the Opera, and on Wednesday,
another dance at Mrs Knox's and _voila tout_. Your father was at
the House till four, but I cannot give you any account of the
Debate, as our thoughts have been engaged by the fire at Drury Lane.
The whole fabrick burned down in a very short time. Fortunately, as
it is Lent, the Theatre was not open. It took fire during the
rehearsal, and even some of the stalls are down. Charles has been
there this morning and says there was only one life lost. It is the