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full knowledge of that event, have three feveral times confirmed him in the office of Governor General of Bengal.

Mr. Burke in reply faid, he was always cool and unruffled when any thing perfonal was addretfed to him, but when he heard that the Rohillas were extirpated, and a whole people deprived of their exiftence, he was apt to be a little warm; to be fure it was wrong; it was a weaknes in him to give way to his feelings upon fuch a trifling motive, and he would endeavour to amend his fault. The Hon. Gentleman had explained the matter of the Rohillas very curioufly, and fatisfactorily to the house he had no doubt. The Rohillas were frangers, and therefore they had ho right to the country they lived in. Undoubtedly the English had a better right, and a clearer title; they were not strangers, but the Aboriginal native inhabitants, men with fwarthy complections, children of the fun, and from their infancy poffeffors of the foil! This being the cafe, faid Mr. Burke, to be fure they did wifely to extirpate the Rohilla race and extinguifh a whole peo

they took poffeffion of Rohilcund in 1742. I mention thefe facts to deftroy the effects of the right hon. gentleman's high coulouring. The fact of Corah and Allahabid, is in a finall compafs. They were formerly the dominions of Sujah Dowlah." By Lord Clive's agreement with the King they were to remain with him for the fupport of his dignity. He quitted them made them over to the Maratta's, upon which we refumed poffeffion of them, and topped the tribute, till orders fhould be fent from home. Thefe were a complete approbation; and amidst the various changes that have happened, no one has yet thought of giving Corah and Allahabad back to the King, or remitting him with his tribute. All Mr. Haftings did was to withiold it, till he had orders from home how to act, and these were conclufive. The noble Lord has faid, that he appointed Mr. Haftings in 1774-that the Directors removed him in 1776, rightly, as he thought, but the proprietors refifted it. Sir, it is true, that 12 Directors at that time, with much management, did vote for his removal, but 11 ftrongly refifted it, and the proprietors were decided-ple. Having purfued his irony for foine ly in his favour against the whole weight little time, Mr. Burke said, the hon. genof government. Then the noble Lord tleman's declaration, that he had refuted tells us that Mr. Macleane religned for all his charges, and that if he had made him, which stopped all further proceed- twice as many, he would refute them too, ings at that time: will the noble Lord reminded him of the brave Captain in the detail to that House all the curious pro- play, "twenty more! Kill 'em! Twenty ceedings that attended that refignation? more! Kill them too!" The champion If he will, Mr. Haftings will be much was invincible no doubɩ, or he would o obliged to him. How Sir, was the bu- have talked fo valiently. finefs managed? Mr. Micleane's powers was equal to a reply once published to a were fubmitted to three directors, and one fermon on the 30th of January, which of the three thought them no powers at was entitled, "A reply to all the fermoas all. If they were clear, why not fubmit that ever have been, and to all that ever them, as they ought to have been to the fhall be preached on the 30th of Januwhole court; but the noble Lord knows ary." As to his having omitted any of it was no refignation till Mr. Haftings the evidence received by the select comfanctioned it. After the death of Gen- nitree, the report in queftion had nor eral Clavering, the noble Lord three fe been drawn by him; but if it had the fact veral times confirmed Mr. Haftings, which might have been the fame, as every comis juft the fame in my mind, as if he had mittee in drawing up their reports had appointed him Governor General of Ben- a right to exercife their own judge gal; and he has given an unanfwerable ments, and infert juft as much, or omit reafon for fo doing, becaufe he thought just as much of the evidence as they he poffeffed vigour and abilities. I am thought proper. But if there was caufe aftonished to hear the noble Lord contend, for complaint, a firft opportunity would that there is any difference in the appoint- offer for urging it. As to his actments in 79, 80, and 81, in fubftance ing upon feelings of private enmity, he from that of 1774-They are the fame, felt no malice against any man: if any and the noble Lord must excufe me, if I lurked in his mind it was unknown to fay that I have too high a respect for him, him; and was a vice of difpofition that to fuppofe he will contend, that if he had nature curfed him with, and which he deemed the Rohilla war fo exceptionable a had neither yet difcovered, nor been able measure, as to difqualify Mr. Haftings to fubdue and eradicate. With regard to from fo high an office, he would after a his having fent out writers to India, as a

His threat

hon. and learned gentleman had afferted, what crime was there in that fact, or how did it difqualify him from calling the conduct of Mr. Haftings in queftion? The only misfortune was, that in truth and in fact, though he had lived fo much in the world, and had fo large a circle of acquaintance of all forts and degrees, he never once had made a Director, nor fent, or procured to be fent out a fingle writer to India. Never, no not one! The hon. and learned gentleman was out in his conjecture. Again, the hon. and learned gentleman knew him by his ftyle, and had difcovered him in the difpatches of the Board of Directors in 1783. What a miferable judge of ftyle muft the Hon. and learned Gentlemen be, when it fo happened, that he never had written a line in any one difpatch of the Board of Directors in the course of his life? The Honourable and learned Gentleman held an office, the duty of which was extremely fingular; his duty was to think what another man should say, for, as head of the Board of Controul, the Honourable and learned Gentleman dicta. ted what others figned, and thus the difpatches fent out to India, contained the Honourable and learned Gentleman's fentiments, with the Board of Directors fignatures. Now, had he been concern ed in writing the difpatches of the Direc tors in 1783, he fhould have done little more than revife them, and perhaps have corrected their fiyle; in fact, he fhould have acted as the Directors clerk, an honourable office furcly!

Mr. Dundas rofe and declared, when he had mentioned the thirty-fix writers that had been fent out in 1783, he had not intended to infinuate that the Right Hon. Gent eman had any hand in fending them out, but had mere v fiated the fact. He did not know who bad feat them out, and it was a matter of perfe& indifference to him. In regard to what he had faid of the Right Honourable Gentleman's having a hand in the Director's difpatches of 1783, if the fact were, as the Right Hon. Gentleman had ftated it, undoubt edly he had been mistaken; the reafon of ftating it was this, in reading lately upon the fubje&t of the trade of a particular part of India, where the queftior was, whether the trade fhould be carried on by a monopoly, or be made an open trade, an admirably well timed letter had come into his hand, and finding the flyle remarkably good, he had exclaimed, to a friend near him, "this is furely Burke's writing!" butin that conje&ture be meant the

Right Hon. Gentleman no difhonour however, he now found, he had robbed the Directors of a degree of credit that was due to them, and placed it to the account of the Right Hon. Gentleman.

Mr. Fox faid, if what the learned Gen tleman had faid about the thirty fix writers, was what he really thought, he should not have rafhly thrown out the fact, in the manner he did in his former fpeech, when from talking of the hop from whence they came, and the pure Board of Directors of 1983, moft undoubtedly the infinuation had all the effect of an affertion, that thofe who were in power in 1783, abused that which they had determined to reform, and were adding to the mifchiefs that were already exifting in India.

Mr. Dundas faid, he meant no fuch thing; but he adhered to the expreffion of faying, "he knew the hop they came from."

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The queftion was then put and carried. Mr. Burke then made the following

motions:

I. "That there be laid before this Houfe, an account of the time and manner of paying into the Company's Treafury, a prefent of 100,000l. made by_the Nabob of Oude to Warren Haftings, Efq, for his prefent ufe, but, by the faid Court of Directors, ordered to be paid into the treafury, and the fpecial ufes and fervices to which the fame hath been applied.”

2.

"That there be laid before this Houfe, extracts of the particulars of that part of the Company's accounts in Bengal, commonly called the Durbar expences and receipts, from the year 1770, to the year 1785 inclufive, fo far as the fame hath been received, diftinguishing each year,"

3. "That there be laid before this Houfe, a fimilar extract of the Durbar expences and receipts, from the faid period, in the prefidencies of Madras and Bombay, diftinguishing each year, and each prefidency."

4.

"That there be laid before this Houfe, an account of the times at which the feveral accounts of the annual revenues and expenditures of the prefidency of Bengal, from 1766 to 1785, were tranfmitted to the Directors; and extracts, ftating the reafons contained in any difpatch from the faid prefidency, for witholding or delaying any fuch accounts."

5.

"That there be laid before this Houfe, copies of all minutes of. confultation and correfpondence, to and from Bombay and Madras, relative to a Contract or Agency with Mr. Auriol, Secre

tary

ary to the Board and Council General, for a fupply of Rice to Madras and Bom

bav."

6. "That there be laid before this Houfe, copies of all papers relative to the revenue, and contracts of opium, fince the year 1782, fo far as the fame relates to any contract made during the government of the faid Warren Haftings. Efq.'.

7. "That there be laid before this Houfe, copies of all minutes of confulta tion and correfpondence between the Governor General and Council, and the Refident at the Durbar of the Nabob of Bengal, fince the month of January, 1780; together with an account of the expenditure and diftribution of the stipend allowed to the Nabob; together with the actual employments now held, and thofe for merly held, by Mahomed Reza Khan, and the orders of the Court of Directors thereupan."

8. "That there be laid before this Houfe, copies of all minutes of confultation, and other proceedings, relative to a charge made by the Governor General, Warren Hastings, Efq; against John Briftow, late Refident at Oude, for diftributing large fums of money from the treafury at Oude, without permiffion of the Nabob, or the permiffion or fanction of the Company's Governor of Bengal, and without accounting for the fame."

Thefe motions produced a variety of converfations, in which Mr. Burke, Mr. Fox, Mr. Sheridan, Mr. Francis, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr. Dundas, Major Scott, Mr. Ifaac Hawkins Browne, and Mr. Vanfittart fpoke.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer contended, that if any new ground was broken, or papers moved for that went to matters unmentioned in the reports of the committees that had in the courfe of the day been fo often alluded to, he wifhed, and indeed must infift on the Right Hon. Gentleman's flating them to the House. Mr. Dundas fupported this very frenuously.

Mr. Barke moved,

"That there be laid before this Houfe, copies of all other correfpondence, during the refidence of John Briftow, Efq; together with the documents therewith tranfmitted from the Province of the Oude; and alfo the answers thereto, and all proceedings relative to his conduct during the faid refidency, from the month of October, 1782."

Mr. Pin ftrenuously oppofed it as opening to new matter, and making the en

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Mr. Nicholas, Chairman of the Committee appointed to try the merits of the contefted election for the Borough of Ilchefter, reported to the Houfe, That the Committee were of opinion that the fitting

Member was unduly chofen, and that

George Johnftone, Elq. was duly elected.

ADJOURNED DEBATE CONCERNING

THE IMPEACHMENT OF MR.
HASTINGS.

The Speaker having called the attention of the houfe to that part of the business at which they had adjourned, read the following motion, the propriety of which

had then been decided

"That there be laid before this house, copies of all other correspondence, during the refidence of John Briftow, Efq; together with the documents therewith tranfmitted from the province of Oude; and alfo the answers thereto, and all proceed. ings relative to his conduct during the faid refidency, from the month of October, 1782."

Mr. Burke wished, that liberty were given him to withdraw the motion Low read, in order that he might fubftiture another, which he flattered himself would more effectually anfver the purpose. He declared that he had two objects in view. The firft was to obtain truth, and the fecond to fave time. In recommending this alteration, he confeffed that he was much obliged to a worthy Alderman for fuggefting fuch an idea; and as the motion which he intended to fubftiture was more

comprehenfive, and would in its nature

extend to other objects of equal magnitude, he hoped that no gentleman would oppofe it. With regard to the grand and fundamental principles of the bufinefs now in agitation, he entertained confiderable confidence of fuccefs, as he conceived that the house was pledged, by every tie of honour and dignity, to fupport him in his allegations, and encourage the inveftigation of a fubject that had for its ultimate end, the redemption of our candour, probity, and justice as a civilized nation. In the profecution of fuch an intricate affair, which required much attention, dilligence, and indefatigable perfeverance, it must be obvious to every gentleman, that much information was wanted, and that the production of various papers illuftrative of the fubject, would be abfolurely neceffary; he therefore hoped, that there would be no objection to the communication of evidence, which appeared of an important nature. He then begged leave to withdraw the motron which the Speaker had read, which was agreed to; when one to the following effect was fubstituted :"That there be laid before the house, duplicates of the correfpondence, inftructions, or minutes, from the Governor General and Council, concerning the ftate of the country of Oude, and the royal family there :-Alfo copies of the inftructions given to Mefirs. Johnstone, Middleton, and Briftow; as alfo fo many of the papers connected with the foregoing, as relate to the tranfactions with Aimas Ali Cawn."

The motion was feconded; when

Mr. Dundas, expreffed a wifh to know whether the reports on the table pledged the house to allow every paper, of what defcription foever, to be produced. In the prefent fiage of the bufinels, the accufation against Mr. Haftings was only implied. It refted chiefly on the authority of the Hon. Gentleman, who had come forward in the bufinefs. Before the house therefore fhould go on piling volume on volume, and paper on paper, agreeably to the fuggeftion of the Hon. Gentieman, he thought it was highly proper to confider, whether it was under any obligation to gratify him on this point, or whether it would act wifely and formally by fo doing. There was yet, no fpecific charge before the houfe. Would the Hon. Gentleman come forward with a specific accufation? If he fhould, in that cafe there might be fome plaufible reafon which he might urge for calling for certain papers, neceffary to fubftantiate his charge, but under the pre

feat aspect of affairs he could fee none. I He concluded by declaring, that he would ! act on the liberal fide with regard to the production of papers.

Mr. Burke contended, that the learned gentleman's reafoning was not at all jufti- 4 fied by the practice of the House. It was i ufual to call for papers, without mention- i ing for what purpofe. Papers had been laid on the table laft feffion in this very manner. He recollected the cafe in point, and would bring to the learned gentleman's recollection, that this inftance had obtained in relation to the affairs of the Nabob of Oude. He confidered the rejection of his requeft as a fiatagem to get rid of the whole enquiry; and although, formally fpeaking, he might take the advantage of the learned gentleman's fubterfuge, and fteal away from the enquiry, yet he felt too lively a fenfe of public juftice to defert its caufe. He well knew how much a criminal profecution depended on the firmnefs, vigour, and fidelity of the profecu. tor. Feeblencfs, as a defect in any of thefe principles, muft produce the woist confequence. An antient author had obferved that the ruin of Roman juftice arofe" Ex prevaricatione accufatorum.” If the accufor was not faithful to his truft, the criminal must triumph, and the charge muft fall. When Cicero accufed Verres, he was not abandoned, but fupported by the Flower of the Roman Senate. The Horten, Metelli, were ftrenuous in the caufe. The publick records were laid open to him. Every fpecies of Evidence was furnifhed. Perfons were even fent out of Italy into Sicily, to fish for proofs of his guilt. No means were left unemployed to bring to public juftice its proper victim. In like manner, the Cicero (Mr. Dundas) of the British Senate, when he feemed to feel that indignity against public crimes which did him fo much honour when ardent in the execution of public juftice, in a cafe which could not have elcaped the recollection of any who had attended to the Hiftory of India Delinquency, had every affiftance afforded him. The flow

er of the orators at the bar fupported him. Every paper which he wanted was produced. Every avenue of information was laid open. Crown lawyers were engaged in the research. Treafury clerks exerted themselves with all the enthusiasm of public virtue. In fhort, the learned Gentleman obtained more information than he might ultimately wished to have brought in charge against a great delinquent. But how different was his fituation, when com

pared

ared with that modern Cicero? He felt intelf oppofed in the fulfilment of a duty hich it became them more especially to charge Unfupported by thofe in power, he ordinary means of legal information re denied him. He had even been inormed, that not only Miniftry difcountanced his effort, but that even the people of England difapproved of it. But tould this allegation be well founded? Was it poffible that the people of England could difapprove of a perfon who was contending for the violated rights of men? The The building of churches, and the erectng of hofpitals, were exprethons neither of patriotifm nor of charity, compared to the noble work of bringing to public juftice the man of ambition, or the tyrant who hid trampled under foot the liberties of the human race. Such was the victim which the juffice of this country required as an atonement. It was not from motives of private refentment that he acted in this matter, but from the pureft principles of benevolence towards mankind. In the profecution of this bufinefs, reviled as he might be on account of the active part he had taken against Mr. Haftings, he was confcious to himself that he had been ac

tuated by a fincere regard for juftice; and in this fentiment he was confirmed by an uld maxin, which he had learned in his eacher years, and which he hoped he would Carry with him to the grave - Bleffed are ye when men fhall revile you and perfccute you, and fhall fay all manner of evil against you for my fake: rejoice and be exceeding glad, for great is your reward in Heaven." He had looked for affistance from thofe in power; but he faw that leffer objects interested them more deeply. He found that the adjustment of the three per cents was to minifters more an object of concern than the vindicating the violated rights of millions of the human fpecies. The country of Oude was of no fmall extent. It did not refemble Pembookethire or any of the leffer counties in England, though even a flagrant encroachment on the privileges of the leaft of them would occafion general complaint. Its extent was fifty-three thoufand fquare miles; it contained ten millions of inhabitants; its revenues amounted to eight milions, and was of courfe greater than the whole unappropriated revenue of Great Britain, was this then an object for the fport of ambition? Or was fo large a portion of the human race to be allowed to perifh for want of public juftice? He, for his own part, felt the magnitude of the obPOL. MAG. VOL. X. MARCH, 1786.

ject too much to abandon it. Notwithftanding the obstruction that was thrown in his way, the incitements of duty would lead him to endeavour to furmount it. If it was the opinion of the House that he fhould, he would bring forward his charge. He felt himself fupported by the intrinic gondaefs of his caufe, and in confidence of fuccefs founded on this principle, he would hazard it against all that power and wealth could oppole.

Major Scott recommended to the Hon. Gentleman who had undertaken the crimination of Mr. Haftings, to bring the whole concerns of the East India House once more into the Houfe of Commons. With regard to the eighth report, on which the Hon. Gentleman had frequently beflowed many encomiums, there was fome material information omitted. The whole evidence of Colonel Stuart, which was of great importance to Mr. Hastings, had been fuppreffed. This was acting with a partiality totally unprecedented and unjuftifiable. Material information concerning Sujah Dowla and the Empire of Oude, had likewife been fuppreffed or mifconftrued. He mentioned that the ruin of that country had arifen by the exaction of fpecie from the Vizier. Mr. Haftings had confiderably meliorated the defects of the government, and recovered the balance due from the Vizier to the Company. He took notice of the Eaft India Directors having accepted about 60,000l. from the Governor and Council abroad, during the time when Mr. Gregory had the direction of affairs. He was then about entering into a long historical account of Afiatic affairs, when he was interrupted by

Mr. Wilberforce, who infifted, that the Hon. Gentleman was wandering from the question before the Houfe; he therefore hoped that he would be lefs digreffive.

The Speaker thanked the Hon. Gentletleman for his judicious obfervation, and recommended a ftricter attention to the queftion.

Major Scott having declined his historical illufration, made foine remarks, which called up

Mr. Fox, who juftified his own conduct, and that of his friends, relative to the difcuffion now before the Houfe. He fpoke concerning the tranfaction of Benares; and faid, that no provocation, or malicious animadverfion, would make him deviate from the duty which he owed the public.

Mr. Francis gave his opinion about the tranfaction of Benares, and reprobated the Ee.

measure

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