CONTENTS OF VOL. I. Early genealogy of the family of Hastings-Its downfall-Birth of Warren-His childhood-Goes to school at Newington Butts and Westminster-Elected a King's Scholar-Death of his uncle Howard General View of the Company's Governments in the beginning and middle of the Seventeenth Century-Summary of the Political State Hastings arrives in India-Employed in the Secretary's Office-Re- moved to Cossimbazar-Rupture with Suraj ud Dowlah-War- Clive resigns the Government-Succeeded by Mr. Holwell and Mr. Vansittart-New Revolution, and appointment of Cosseim Ali as Nabob-Mr. Vansittart an object of jealousy to his Council, and is in the minority-Mr. Hastings a Member of Council-His negocia- tions with the Nabob-Violences on all sides-Rupture-Deposition Outline of the Political and Financial Affairs of the Company, from 1765 to 1772-The Court's Instructions to Hastings-His Reply- Settlement of the Provinces-Arrangement of the Nabob's Household- 199 Minor details in Mr. Hastings's Government-Regulations concerning Native Marriages-Asylum offered to the Vizier's family-Mission Parliamentary Proceedings concerning the Affairs of India-The Re- gulating Act of 1773-Arrival of the new Councillors at Calcutta MEMOIRS, &c. &c. CHAPTER I. Early genealogy of the family of Hastings-Its downfall-Birth of Warren-His childhood-Goes to school at Newington Butts and Westminster— Elected a King's Scholar-Death of his uncle Howard-Appointment to India as a writer. THOUGH the family from which Warren Hastings derived his descent possessed in ancient times a large share both of wealth and of influence, the state of decay into which it had latterly fallen was so complete, that the very birthplace of the subject of the following memoir cannot now with perfect accuracy be pointed out. Two parishes, one in Worcestershire the other in Oxfordshire, distant about five miles from each other, equally lay claim to the honour of having produced him. Of the former, Daylesford, his grandfather was undoubtedly the incumbent; and the traditions of the hamlet assert that in his grandfather's parsonage the future governor of British India was born. On the other hand, I found, upon visiting the spot, that not only is his baptism recorded in the parish VOL. I. B register of Churchill, but that a particular house in the village is pointed out to which he first saw the light. strangers as that in Moreover the occu pants of the house in question—a brother and sister well stricken in years-assured me that their parents had frequently conversed with them about the event; and that their mother in particular, who died at an advanced age, perfectly recollected having been, when a child, disturbed from her sleep by the arrival of the accoucheur who attended Mrs. Hastings in her illness. Under these circumstances I am inclined to give the preference to Churchill over Daylesford as the place of Warren Hastings' nativity; more especially as there were peculiarities in his father's state and circumstances which go far to assure me that my judgment is correct. I have spoken of the branch of the Hastings' family from which Warren drew his descent, as having been at one period in the possession of considerable power and very extensive estates. His grandfather, an antiquary of no mean reputation, traces back his own pedigree to Hastings the Dane. This may or may not be a dotage, but at least it is certain that the manor of Daylesford was held so early as the reign of Henry II. by one of the name, and that the records of the Tower of London make mention of Milo de Hastings as lord of the same place, in the thirtythird year of Edward I. From the same stock sprang likewise the Barons of Abergavenny, who, by the marriage of John Hastings with the heiress of Aimer de Valentia, became Earls of Pembroke, and mixed their blood with the Plantagenets; and though the earldom died out through the failure of heirs, and the barony passed by marriage to Reginald de Grey, not yet were the Hastingses deprived of their nobility. The Earls of Huntingdon, once among the most powerful of the English aristocracy, took their rise from a younger branch of the house of Daylesford. Time passed, and this old and illustrious race declined by degrees from their original splendour. The manor-house of Daylesford, where their hospitality had for ages been dispensed, fell into decay; and they transferred their residence to Yelford, called, in the ancient writings, Yelford Hastings, near Bampton, in Oxfordshire. Here, at the commencement of the great civil war, dwelt John Hastings, a worthy scion from a noble stock, whose devoted loyalty not only carried him personally into the field, but caused him to sacrifice lands, and plate, and money with a free hand, in order to raise funds for the supply of the king's necessities. Having expended the value of four large manors in the service of Charles I., John Hastings considered himself fortunate on the termination of the struggle, because he was permitted to redeem from confiscation the wreck of a princely |