XXI.

and has tended in a chief degree to weaken the BOOK force and influence, and to diminish the resources, of the Company in those parts."

"That every interference as a party in the do mestic or national quarrels of the country powers, and all new engagements with them in offensive alliance, have been wisely and providently forbidden by the Company in their commands to their administrations in India."

"That every unnecessary and avoidable deviation from those well-advised rules should be followed with very severe reprehension and punishment for it, as an instance of wilful disobedience of orders, and as tending to disturb and destroy that state of tranquillity and peace with all their neighbours, the preservation of which has been recommended as the first principle of policy to the British governments in India."

"That the maintenance of an inviolable character for moderation, good faith, and scrupulous regard to treaty, ought to have been the simple grounds on which the British governments should have endeavoured to establish an influence superior to that of other Europeans, over the minds of the native powers in India. And that the danger and discredit arising from the forfeiture of this preeminence could not be compensated by the temporary success of any plan of violence or injustice."

1782.

BOOK

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1789.

"That the conduct of the Company and their servants in India to the KING and Nudjiff Khan, with respect to the tribute payable to the one, and the stipend to the other; and with respect to the transfer of the provinces of Corah and Illahabad to the vizier, was contrary to policy and good faith: and that such wise and practicable measures should be adopted in future as may tend to redeem the national honor, and recover the confidence and attachment of the princes of India."

"That the Company's servants in their presidency of Bombay were guilty of very notorious instances of disobedience to the orders of their employers, as well in the proceedings against the nabob of Baroche, as in the commencement of the Mahratta war, by the seizure of the islands of Salsette and Coranja."

"That in forming an offensive alliance with Ragoba, the government of Bombay violated the orders of the Company against any connexions of that nature, and against any interference in the quarrels of the native powers."

"That it is the opinion of this house, that the motives, as well as success, of the Nizam's instigations to form and animate a confederacy of the great country powers against the British possessions in India, and the calamitous events which ensued, may be properly attributed both to the unjustifiable proceedings against the Mahratta government, and

to the conduct of the Madras presidency, in regard BOOK to the Peshcush, and Guntoor Circar."

As the result of the whole connected series of resolutions, it was finally resolved:

"That Warren Hastings, esq. governor-general in Bengal, and William Hornby, esq. president of the council at Bombay, having in sundry instances. acted in a manner repugnant to the honor and policy of this nation, and thereby brought great calamities on India, and enormous expenses on the East India Company, it is the duty of the directors of the said Company to pursue all legal and effectual means for the removal of the said governor-general and president from their said offices, and to recall them to Great Britain."

But if all the preceding resolutions were founded, as they indubitably appeared to be, on the basis of truth and justice, the concluding one merits only contempt, as wholly inefficacious and inadequate to the object in view. The purport of it was indeed approved and confirmed by the Court of Directors, who, on the 28th of October of this year, passed the following analogous resolution :

"RESOLVED, That it is the opinion of this court, that a steady perseverance in the system of conduct so frequently enjoined by the court of directors, cannot be expected from those servants whose ideas of extension of dominion, either by negotia

XXI.

1.782.

BOOK tion or conquest, have led them to depart from

XXI.

1782.

orders so often enforced; and THEREFORE that it is expedient to remove Warren Hastings, esq. from the office of governor-general of Bengal."

But this resolution it was necessary, according to the constitution of the Company, adapted merely to the transaction of mercantile affairs, to submit to the ultimate discussion of the court of proprietors; who refusing by a great majority to ratify the same, the whole proceeding passed gradually and silently into oblivion: and the decisions of the representatives of the nation, in a political concern of the highest moment, were counteracted and finally superseded by the prejudiced, not to say factious, determination of a body of ignorant and interested

traders.

Hitherto the new ministry, although composed of dissonant and jarring materials, had conducted public affairs with at least the appearance of perfect and cordial unanimity-the earl of Shelburne in the upper house bringing forward the same motions, and supporting them by the same general arguDeath of ments, as Mr. Fox in the lower. But an event now of Rocking took place which was the subject of deep and uni

ham.

versal regret, and the consequences of which cannot be sufficiently deplored, in the death of the marquis of Rockingham, July 1st, 1782, in the meridian of his age, and at the very height of his poli

XXI.

His charac

tical reputation-the weight and influence attached to BOOK which, the result of a steady and uniform adherence to the principles of liberty under every vicissitude of 1782 fortune, combined with the excellence of his private.ter. character, and the mild benignity of his manners, formed that power of attraction which held together the whole ministerial system; and when this ceased to operate, disorder, confusion, and mutual repulsion took place. The splendor of the new constellation faded, and "certain stars shot madly from their spheres."

ment of the

To drop all metaphorical and poetical allusion, it Advanceis necessary to state in plain language, that, on the earl of Shelvery day succeeding the decease of the marquis of Rockingham, the earl of Shelburne was declared first lord commissioner of the treasury. The acceptance of this high and pre-eminent office, without any previous communication with his colleagues in administration, was considered by the Rockingham party as equivalent to a declaration of political hostility on the part of lord Shelburne. It was in effect telling his allies that he conceived his influence in the cabinet to be sufficiently strong to enable him to stand without their assistance. It was evidently setting up a distinct and opposite interest, depending upon the secret assurances of royal favor and support. Precisely the same reasons which had induced the earl of Shelburne three months before to decline the offer then made still existed in full VOL. VII.

Y