that there was no peculator; that there was gross corruption, but yet no person corrupted; that a torrent of violence, oppression, and cruelty, had deluged that country, but that every soul in it was just, moderate, and humane? To trace peculation to the peculator, corruption to its source, and oppression to the oppressor, had been the object of several searching committees, instituted by that house; and the result was, that government could not be foul and the governor pure. He concluded with moving for the production of certain papers necessary for the establishment of his charges, which were, in general, granted. Mr Dundas, who, during the course of a long and able speech, had smarted under Mr Burke's censure, for having shrunk from the accusation of the man whose guilt he had himself so largely contributed to report, endeavoured to defend his conduct, by distinguishing between the degree of criminality which appeared to him in Mr Hastings' government worthy of his recall, and that greater enormity which deserves persecution at home. Mr Pitt, rising in his defence, directed all the bitterness of his invective against Mr Burke, the mover, and his friend Mr Fox. They need not, he said, complain that the business is not in other hands; for, if the prosecution was to be the work of violence and resentment, it was best fitted for their own. He warded the charge of inconsistency from his friend, by reminding the opposition of their union with the greatest

enemies they had ever encountered, in the memorable event of the coalition.

On the 4th April, Mr Burke came forward completely equipped for the impeachment. He then solemnly charged Warren Hastings, Esq. late governor-general of Bengal, with sundry high crimes and misdemeanors: nine of the articles of impeachment he then delivered, and thirteen more the following week. On the 26th of the same month, Mr Hastings petitioned the house that he might be heard in his defence to the several articles, and that he might be allowed a copy of his accusation, which was granted. On the 1st of May, Mr. Hastings being called to the bar, after a grateful acknowledgment to the house for being allowed to be heard in person, he proceeded to read his defence, in which he was assisted by Mr Markham, son of the archbishop of York, and the clerks of the house. Three days were spent in hearing the defence, after which it was printed for the use of the members. The effect of the defence, which it had been confidently hoped would have quashed all future inquiry, did not seem to correspond with the sanguine expectation of Mr Hastings' friends. The remainder of the month was chiefly spent in examining witnesses; and on the 1st of June Mr Burke exhibited his first charge, which related to the Rohilla war, and concluded a speech of great length and energy by moving, that there were grounds for impeaching Warren Hastings on this article, for high crimes and misdemeanors.

After a full discussion, it appeared to the house that this war was unavoidable on the part of Mr Hastings: the proposition was therefore negatived by a majority of 119 to 76.

On the 13th June, Mr Fox brought forward a motion similar to Mr Burke's on the Rohilla war it was a charge respecting the expulsion of Cheyt Sing from the zemindary of Benares, and Mr Hastings' severe and arbitrary conduct in that province. It had been solemnly decreed by the supreme council of Benares, that the native prince, Cheyt Sing, and his heirs for ever, should enjoy the zemindary of Benares, on condition of giving only the usual payment of revenue hitherto paid to the late vizier. The refusal of Cheyt Sing to pay beyond this stipulated sum, drew down the vengeance of the British governor, and terminated in the expulsion of the native prince, after considerable bloodshed of his people. Mr Fox contended, that Mr Hastings had acted unjustly in his first demands; that his subsequent conduct was a continuation and increase of injustice; but that his last proceedings, when he arrived in that province, were flagrantly iniquitous and tyrannical; such, indeed, as had rendered the British name odious in India. In defence of Mr Hastings' conduct, it was urged, that in cases of extraordinary danger to the empire, the superior had a right to demand exorbitant aids of his vassal. In the present debate, however, the friends of Mr Hastings saw, not without apprehension and dismay, that the chancellor of the

exchequer, whom they could so little suspect of partiality to their enemies, leaned to the side of the accuser, declaring his persuasion, that, admitting the right of Mr Hastings to tax the zemindar, his general conduct in the business had been unnecessarily severe. The resolution

of Mr Fox, that there existed grounds of impeachment on the Benares charge, was carried triumphantly by the accusers of Mr Hastings with a majority of forty votes.

Thus the die was cast, but beyond this decisionnothing of importance regarding the case of Mr Hastings was brought before the house during the present session of parliament. Mr Dundas, however, introduced a bill for improving the government of India. This bill gave the governor-general the nomination to vacant seats in the council; it also limited his officers, and authorized him to decide upon every measure, whether agreeable or not to the council. The bill was warmly opposed in both houses, but was supported by great majorities, and passed into a law. On the 11th of July, the session of parliament closed.

Among the remarkable domestic incidents of this year, was an attempt on the life of the king by a female, who, presenting a paper to him as he alighted from his carriage at the garden gate of St James's palace, made a thrust at his breast with a concealed knife. The blow was happily avoided by a backward movement, and as she was about to make another thrust, her hand was seiz

ed by a yeoman of the guard, and the knife taken from her; his Majesty with his characteristic humanity exclaiming, "I am not hurt-take care of the poor woman; don't hurt her." On examination she was found to be one Margaret Nicholson, a person in obscure life from the north of England, whose reason was bewildered by some insane ideas of a right to the crown. Her insanity being fully apparent to the privy council, she was committed to custody as a lunatic,

CHAPTER XII.

1787-1790.

As the country was at this time in possession of the blessings of peace, the views of her public councils, and the wishes of her inhabitants were happily at liberty to cultivate the resources of commerce and revenue. It is a pleasing task to fill up the chasm which occurs in her history, from the absence of battles and sieges, with the records of her peaceable arrangements and treaties abroad, or of those financial measures at home, which, from the prosperous nature of the times, pressed but slightly on the mass of the people. The state of political parties continued without any material alteration. The right ho