Lord CLIVE, about the time of the depofition of Su-Rajah Dowla, did obtain and poffefs himself of feveral fums amounting to two hundred and thirty-four thousand pounds, under the denomination of private donation, to the difbonor and detriment of the State."

Lord Clive now entered with great ability into his own vindication, and fhewed the urgent political neceffity which had induced him to embrace the measures for which he was at this diftance of time fo unexpectedly and injuriously arraigned. He affirmed, that the power and fortune of the English nation in India had been entirely owing to the boldness and promptitude with which thofe measures had been conducted; that what he had acquired for himself, was inconfiderable in comparison with what he had acquired for the Company, whofe welfare had ever been his great object; that he had been placed in great and eminent ftations, furrounded with temptations; the civil and military powers were united in him, a circumftance which had never happened to any other individual ;—that, being circumscribed by no restraint but that of his own confcience, he inight have accumulated a fortune too great for a fubject; but that he had then determined to reject all future opportunities of gain, and from the day on which he entered the city of Moorfhedabad in triumph, after the victory of Plaffey, which was

a space

a fpace of fifteen years, he had not benefited himfelf a fingle fhilling directly or indirectly, the jaghire only excepted."

Many of the most refpectable and impartial Members of the Houfe could not on reflection but think it an harsh and invidious thing, "that the vengeance of Parliament fhould be directed against a man who had raised fo high the reputation of the British arms in India-who had fought the battles of his country with fuch unparalleled glory and fuccefs-and who would to the latest generations be accounted amongst the moft illuftrious of her heroes. That the fyftem of policy adopted by the Company's fervants in India was totally indefenfible must be admitted; but it did not appear from the nature of the regulations, which had received the fanction of Parliament, that any radical alteration of that fyftem was in contemplation. A great empire had been founded in the Eaft, chiefly through the exertions of the Noble Lord against whom this charge of delinquency was brought. Is it seriously meant to relinquish this empire? to reftore thofe immense fums to the native princes and inhabitants, of which they have been plundered? Far from it. The queftion is merely, whether the State or the Company fhall enjoy the advantages arifing from thefe vaft poffeffions? Of this conteft the refult is known. The Company, loaded with reproach and obloquy, are cenfüred, condemned, and punished, without VOL. I.

A a

fo

fo much as being heard in their own defence; but reftitution is made, not to the princes of India, but to the people of Great Britain: and almost at the fame inftant that we are paffing bills for the purpofe of transferring the riches of Hindoftan from the Treasury of the Company to the Royal Exchequer, we are called upon to vote impeachments against the man by whofe heroic efforts of valor and plans of policy thofe riches were acquired. Is there any trace of dignity, of confiftency, or virtue in this conduct? If we are deliberately deter mined to keep poffeffion of those dominions, which are univerfally allowed to have been unjustly acquired, we are parties in the injustice, and those who were the original actors of it are entitled from the justice of the nation (for there is a juftice even in injustice) to indemnity at least, if not to gratitude and applause; and all that can with propriety be done, fhort of reftitution and emancipation, is to fecure, by wife and equitable regulations, the future happiness and welfare of those diftant nations, who are become by an aftonishing viciffitude of fortune fubject to our dominion."

On putting the queftion, the laft clause of the refolution was rejected, although the Minifter declared in favor of the words of cenfure, and divided in the minority. An amendment was then moved, "that Lord Clive did at the fame time render great and meritorious fervices to this country;" which

was

was carried by a confiderable majority, and an END put to the ENQUIRY. A deep impreffion was nevertheless made upon the mind of this Nobleman by this public accufation, and by the odium and obloquy which from this time attached itself to his character. His faculties, no longer roused to action by the neceffity of great and vigorous exertion, languished in retirement and folitude, and gradually preyed upon themselves till existence became infupportable. Originally educated in strict principles of religion, it is probable that his early affociations now recurred with redoubled force; and though acquitted by the highest human jurifdiction, he could not acquit himself, or hope for acquittal at that far more awful tribunal at which he dreaded to appear. After a few years paffed in a state of wretchedness and defpondency, he at length put a voluntary period to his life; by this melancholy catastrophe demonftrating to mankind the vanity of human purfuits and wifhes, and the infinite fuperiority of conscious virtue to all the gifts of fame and fortune *.

* Magne Pater Divûm! fæo punire tyrannos
Haud alia ratione velis, cum dira libido
Moverit ingenium ferventi tincta veneno ;

Virtutem videant, intabefcantque relictâ.

The

The difcuffion of the different bills relative to India occupied the attention of Parliament the far greater part of the feffion; but in the course of it an investigation took place, of far inferior importance indeed, yet not devoid of intereft to those who think nothing foreign to themfelves which bears any relation to humanity. The island of St. Vincent, one of the neutral islands ceded by France to Great Britain by the laft treaty of peace, was in great part occupied by a race of yellow Caribbs, accounted the aboriginal poffeffors of the entire chain of the Great and Leffer Antilles; and it was calculated that, reduced as they were in number, they could ftill mufter, within the narrow limits of St. Vincents, more than a thousand fighting men.

The French fettlers had long lived on terms of perfect peace and amity with this remnant of a once great and powerful nation, who are reprefented as a quiet and inoffenfive people, fubfifting chiefly by hunting and fishing, and little verfed in

Great Father of the GoDs! when for our crimes
Thou fend'ft fome heavy judgment on the times;
Some tyrant wretch, the terror of his age,
The type and true vicegerent of thy rage;

Thus punish him-Set Virtue in his fight,

With all her charms adorn'd, with all her beauties bright;
But fet her diftant-make him pale to fee

His gains immenfe outweigh'd by loft felicity.

DRYDEN, Sat. 10.

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