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cated by his perfidious ally; that Middleton, who had been engaged in managing the previous violations, most busy to perpetrate the last; that Hastings, whom on his death bed he had left the guardian of his wife, his mother, and his family, turning those dear relations, the objects of his solemn trust, forth to the merciless seasons, and to a more merciless soldiery. A mind, touched with superstition, must indeed have cherished such a contemplation with peculiar impressions. That, sir, Mr. Hastings was regularly acquainted with all the enormities committed on the Begums, is proved by the clearest evidence. It is true, that Mr. Middleton was rebuked for not being more exact; but the exactness required of him afforded no apology for Mr. Hastings's feelings. He did not, indeed, give an account of the number of groans which were heaved, of the quantity of tears which were shed, of the weight of the fetters, or the depth of the dungeons.

From a review of the evidence which I have had the honour to submit to the house, I think, sir, it is evident that the Begums did nothing to merit the violence and cruelty with which they were treated, and that the charge of their promoting the rebellion in Oude was a mere pretext, wholly unfounded, contrived by Mr. Hastings for the abominable purpose of seizing on their treasures; thus violating the solemn guarantee of the company, and breaking its faith sacredly pledged by treaty. That Mr. Hastings has sunk and degraded the character of British justice in India, by making sir Elijah Impey, the chief judge, run about the country hunting for criminal charges, and collecting affidavits to support them, against those innocent and defenceless princesses. That his conduct towards the Begums has been marked by the most scandalous duplicity, the basest perfidy, the most unparalleled and grinding oppression, and the most insolent, wanton, and unmanly tyranny.

When, sir, the Court of Directors hearing of these enormously wicked transactions, ordered an inquiry to be instituted, the Governor General shrunk from

it with conscious guilt, and covered his evasion under a new and pompous doctrine, "That the majesty of justice was to be approached with supplication, and was not to lower itself by searching for crimes."

But I trust, sir, that the season of impunity has passed away. I cannot help indulging the hope that this house will vindicate the insulted character of justice; that it will exhibit its true quality, essence, and purposes; that it will demonstrate it to be, in the case before us, active, inquisitive, and avenging.

I have heard, sir, of factions and parties in this house, and know that they exist. There is scarcely a subject upon which we are not broken and divided into sects. The prerogatives of the crown find their advocates among the representatives of the people. The privileges of the people find opponents in the house of commons itself. The measures of every minister are supported by one body of men, and thwarted by another. Habits, connexions, parties, all lead to a diversity of opinion. But, sir, when inhumanity presents itself to our observation, it finds no division among us. We attack it as our common enemy, and conceiving that the character of the country is involved in our zeal for its ruin, we quit it not till it is completely overthrown. It is not given to this house, to behold the objects of its compassion and benevolence in the present extensive inquiry, as it was to the officers who relieved them, and who so feelingly described the extatick emotions of gratitude in the instant of deliverance. We cannot behold the workings of their hearts, the quivering lips, the trikling tears, the loud, yet tremulous joys of the millions, whom our vote of this night will for ever save from the cruelty of corrupted power. But, though we cannot directly see the effect, is not the true enjoyment of our benevolence increased, by its being conferred unseen? Will not the omnipotence of Britain be demonstrated, to the wonder of nations, by stretching its mighty arm across the deep, and saving by its fiat distant millions from destruction?

And will the benedictions of the people thus saved dissipate in empty air? No. They will not. If I If I may dare to use the figure, they will constitute heaven itself their proxy, to receive for them the blessings of their pious thanksgiving, and the prayers their gratitude will dictate.

It is with confidence, therefore, sir, that I move you on this Charge, That Warren Hastings be impeached.

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MR. SHERIDAN'S SPEECH,

ON SUMMING UP THE EVIDENCE ON THE SECOND, OR BEGUM CHARGE AGAINST WARREN HASTINGS, ESQ. DELIVERED BEFORE THE HIGH COURT OF PARLIAMENT, JUNE 1788.

THE two speeches of Mr. Sheridan on the trial of Warren Hastings, are undoubtedly more celebrated than any other productions of modern eloquence. But the "high and diffused renown" which they have acquired, must in a great degree be imputed to the impression excited by them in their delivery. For it is certain, no report of the speeches has hitherto been given to the publick which, as a whole, can aspire either to fidelity or unusual elegance.

The second speech, or the one pronounced in the house of lords, in reviewing the evidence on the Begum charge, is here presented in a far more perfect state than it has hitherto appeared. But even now, it is manifestly an abridgment, shorn of half the grace, and order, and beauty of the original. It still retains, however, many passages of the most sublime and exquisitely wrought eloquence.

As it is probable that these speeches were written compositions, copies of them may still be in Mr. Sheridan's possession, and we trust, if this be the case, he will be ultimately induced to gratify that desire which has been so often, so strongly, and so generally expressed by the lovers of eloquence to have them published. To withhold them altogether from the publick, he should recollect will be permitting his negligence to do criminal injustice to his own fame, to that of his country, and to the age which is entitled to boast of the glory of having given birth to these extraordinary productions.

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