ancis. He suspected that Mr. Francis, then going to Europe, would
confirm this charge by the suspicious nature and circumstances of this
generous offer; and this suspicion was increased by the connection which
he supposed, and which we can prove he thought, Mr. Francis had with
Cheyt Sing. Apprehending, therefore, that he might discover and bring
the bribe to light some way or other, he resolved to anticipate any such
discovery by declaring, upon the 29th of November, that this money was
not his own. I will mention to your Lordships hereafter the
circumstances of this money. He says, "My present reason for adverting
to my conduct," (that is, his offer of two lac of rupees out of his own
private cash for the Company's service, upon the 26th of June, 1780,)
"on the occasion I have mentioned, is to obviate the false conclusions
or purposed misrepresentations which may be made of it, either as an
artifice of ostentation or as the effect of corrupt influence, by
assuring you that the money, by whatever means it came into your
possession, was not my own,--that I had myself no right to it, nor would
or could have received it, but for the occasion, which prompted me to
avail myself of the accidental means which were at that instant
afforded me of accepting and converting it to the property and use of
the Company: and with this brief apology I shall dismiss the subject."

My Lords, you see what an account Mr. Hastings has given of some obscure
transaction by which he contradicts the record. For, on the 26th of
June, he generously, nobly, full of enthusiasm for their service, offers
to the Company money of his own. On the 29th of November he tells the
Court of Directors that the money he offered on the former day was not
his own,--that his assertion was totally false,--that the money was not
his,--that he had no right to receive it,--and that he would not have
received it, but for the occasion, which prompted him to avail himself
of the accidental means which at that instant offered.

Such is the account sent by their Governor in India, acting as an
accountant, to the Company,--a company with whom everything is matter of
account. He tells them, indeed, that the sum he had offered was not his
own,--that he had no right to it,--and that he would not have taken it,
if he had not been greatly tempted by the occasion; but he never tells
them by what means he came at it, the person from whom he received it,
the occasion upon which he r