solved from my promise, and did not attempt to obey
them." In fact, there is not so much as one grievance or abuse in the
country, that he reformed. And this was systematical in Mr. Hastings's
conduct,--that he was resolved to connive at the whole of the iniquities
of the service, because he was resolved that every one of those existing
iniquities should be practised by himself. "But," says he, "the
reformation required can produce no real good, and may expose your
affairs to all the ruinous consequences of personal malevolence, both
here and at home." This he gives you as a reason why he will not
prosecute the inquiry into abuses abroad,--because he is afraid that you
should punish him at home for doing his duty abroad,--that it will
expose him to malevolence at home; and therefore, to avoid being subject
to malevolence at home, he would not do his duty abroad.

He follows this with something that is perfectly extraordinary: he
desires, instead of doing his duty, which he declares it is impossible
to do, that he may be invested with an arbitrary power. I refer your
Lordships to pages 2827, 2828, and 2829 of the printed Minutes, where
you will find the system of his government to be formed upon a
resolution not to use any one legal means of punishing corruption, or
for the prevention of corruption; all that he desires is, to have an
absolute arbitrary power over the servants of the Company. There you
will see that arbitrary power for corrupt purposes over the servants of
the Company is the foundation of every part of his whole conduct. Remark
what he says here, and then judge whether these inferences are to be
eluded by any chicane.

"In the charge of oppression, although supported by the cries of
the people and the most authentic representations, it is yet
impossible, in most cases, to obtain legal proofs of it; and unless
the discretionary power which I have recommended be somewhere
lodged, the assurance of impunity from any formal inquiry will
baffle every order of the board; as, on the other hand, the fear of
the consequences will restrain every man within the bounds of his
duty, if he knows himself liable to suffer by the effects of a
single control."

My Lords, you see two things most material for you to consider in the
judgment of this great cause, which is the cause of nations. The first
thing for you to consider is the declaration of the culprit at your bar,
that