Edmund Burke

The Honorable Governor-General is pleased to assert, with a confidential spirit peculiar to himself, that his measures hitherto stand unimpeached, except by us.

But this and other proceedings show abundantly of what efficacy that court has been for the relief of the unhappy people of Bengal.

The existence of the Supreme Court, as a means of relief to the natives under all oppressions, is held out to qualify a refusal to hear in the Council.

With regard to his principles relative to the natives and their complaints, if they are admitted, they are of a tendency to cut off the very principle of redress.

The power of inquisition ought rather to be wholly separated from the judicial, the former being a previous step to the latter, which requires other rules and methods, and ought not, if possible, to be lodged in the same hands.

This transaction is here stated by your Committee in a very concise manner, being on this occasion merely intended to point out to the House the absolute necessity which, in their opinion, exists for another sort of inquiry into the…

Hastings was very unfit for the high office of Governor-General, or for any office.

It ought to have been brought to an immediate and strict discussion.

Nothing is opposed to all this but a paper without signature, and therefore of no authority, attended with a translation of a very extraordinary appearance; and this paper, in apologizing for it, confirms the facts beyond a doubt.

But where the charge is direct, specific, circumstantial, supported by papers and verbal testimony, made before his lawful superiors, to whom he was accountable, by persons competent to charge, if innocent, he was obliged at least to…

He would voluntarily exculpate himself by his oath.

An innocent man would take a shorter and easier course.

It is impossible to combine together a clearer body of proof, composed of record of office and verbal testimony mutually supporting and illustrating each other.

That was charged by the majority of Council to have happened which might be expected inevitably to happen: the care of the Nabob's education was grossly neglected, and his fortune as grossly mismanaged and embezzled.

In case of female guardianship, her claim seems to be a right of Nature, and which nothing but a very clear positive law will (if that can) authorize the departure from.

A good education, conformably to the maxims of his religion and the manners of his people, was necessary to enable him to fill that delicate place with reputation either to the Mahometan government or to ours.

Much was necessarily to depend upon a person who was to preserve the moderation of a sovereign not supported by intrinsic power, and yet to maintain the dignity necessary to carry on the representation of political government, as well as…

Hastings has been charged with various acts of peculation, perpetrated at a time he could not excuse himself by the plea of any public purpose to be carried on, or of any faction in council by which it was traversed.

No member of any body, outvoted on a question, has, or can have, a right to direct any part of his public conduct by that principle.

Hastings had no right, in order to clear himself of peculation, to criminate the majority with faction.

Hastings tend entirely to destroy the character and functions of a council, and to vest them in one of the dissentient members.

A dispute may always be raised in council in order to cover oppression and peculation elsewhere.

If he gave his money as a free gift, he might value himself upon very honorable and very acceptable service; if he lent it on the Company's bonds, it would still have been of service, and he might also receive eight per cent for his money.

If the transaction was fair and honest, every native must have been desirous of making merit with the great governing power.

These principles are the more necessary to be inquired into, because, if admitted, they will serve to justify every species of improper conduct.