_qualifications_, which entitle him to such uncommon distinction? Is
it for his superior _integrity_, or from his eminent _abilities_, that
he is to be dignified at such hazard of every consideration that ought
to influence the members of this administration? Of the former (his
integrity) I know _no proofs_; I am sure it is not an evidence of it,
that he has been _enabled_ to make himself the principal in such a
_competition:_ and for the test of his abilities I appeal to the letter
which he has _dared_ to write to this board, and which I am ashamed to
say we have _suffered_. I desire that a copy of it may be inserted in
this day's proceedings, that it may stand before the eyes of every
member of the board, when he shall give his vote upon a question for
giving their confidence to a man, _their servant_, who has publicly
insulted _them, his masters_, and the members of the government to whom
he owes _his obedience_,--who, assuming an association with the Court of
Directors, and erecting himself into a _tribunal_, has _arraigned_ them
for _disobedience_ of orders, _passed judgment_ upon them, _and
condemned or acquitted them, as their magistrate or superior_. Let the
board consider, whether a man possessed of so _independent_ a spirit,
who has already shown a _contempt_ of their authority, who has shown
himself _so wretched an advocate for his own cause and negotiator for
his own interest_, is fit to be trusted with the guardianship of _their_
honor, the execution of _their_ measures, and as _their_ confidential
manager and negotiator with the princes of India. As the motion has been
unaccompanied by any reasons which should induce the board to pass their
acquiescence in it, I presume the motion which preceded it, for _reading
the orders of the Court of Directors, was intended to serve as an
argument for it, as well as an introduction to it_. The last of those
was dictated the 23rd December, 1778, almost two years past. They were
dictated at a time when, I am sorry to say, the Court of Directors were
in _the habit of casting reproach upon my conduct and heaping
indignities upon my station_."

Had the language and opinions which prevail throughout this part of the
minute, as well as in all the others to which your Committee refer, been
uttered suddenly and in a passion, however unprovoked, some sort of
apology might be made for the Governor-General. But when it was produced
five months after the supposed offence, and then