A Circumstantial Report of the Evidence and Proceedings upon the Charges Preferred Against his Royal Highness the Duke of York In the Capacity of Commander in Chief in the Months of February and March 1809

London: James Cundee, 1809. First edition. Leather. Good. 9" by 5". Not Stated. The first edition of this important report, which instigated one of the great scandals of the Georgian era. An account of the court proceedings between G L Wardle and the Duke of York. Illustrated, with a frontispiece and twelve plates. Collated, complete. This report is an account of the proceedings upon the charges against Prince Frederick, Duke of York and Albany by Gwllym Lloyd Wardle. Wardle was an army officer serving as a soldier in Sir William Watkins Wynn's Ancient British Regiment of light dragoons. He then was elected MP of Okehampton in 1807. During his time as an MP, Wardle developed an interest in corruption in the army. He alleged that Prince Frederick's mistress, Mary Anne Clarke, was promising promotion to officers in return for money. Wardle pursued a legal case against the Duke of York and secured his resignation as commander-in-chief. Following this resignation it emerged that Wardle had negotiated with Clarke regarding Prince Frederick before his parliamentary attack and that her testimony was bought. It transpired in 1810 that the whole affair was a conspiracy organised by the duke of Kent, with Wardle in his confidence (ODNB). This work is the court proceedings from 1809, which lead to the resignation of Prince Frederick. Containing testimonies and speeches verbatim. The illustrations are portraits of those who testified in the case against the Duke of York. An important account of this noted Georgian scandal. In a contemporary calf binding. Externally, sound, with rubbing to the joints and extremities. Loss to the head and tail of spine. Crude repairs to the front and rear boards. Front hinge is tender. Important, firmly bound. Pages are generally bright. Tidemark to the plate 'Sir Francis Burdett' affecting pages 637-640 and to 'Mr Wilberforce' to pages 671-end. The tidemarks are very light and not affecting the readability of the text. Occasional scattered spots to pages. Good