Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
A Review Of The Life And Writings Of The Right Honourable Edmund Burke.
information that incidentally reached him , that the Governor-General was equally culpable with any of those whose actions had undergone , or were undergoing , a discussion . »¦ He directed his efforts to procure more full and particular intelligence concerning Mr . Hastings , with a view to have him punished if he was found guilty of the crimes he suspected . While endeavouring to prepare for punishing injustice , he attended also to preventive .
He collected information respecting the general state of the Company and their possessions , territorial and commercial , to enable him to suggest means for the more judicious managementof their affairs , and wiser andjuster government of their territories in future . By him , it . is generally believed , the materials were furnished from which Fox framed his celebrated India Bill . This Bill , brought forward by Fox in a speech which equalled any he or any other man ever spoke , and attacked with arreat acuteness bv Mr . Pitt , was defended
by Burke . His speech on this occasion went chiefly to the argument from chartered rights . He contended that the India Company had so totally departed from the object of their charter , that it would be ,-the grossest folly and injustice to suffer them to act as they had done formerly , that the general obligation to abstain from wrong was more powerful than the special to deserve an agreement . The Bill was so disagreeable to the Lordsthat it was negativedand
, , the Coalition Administration turned out of office . During the succeeding parliament , Burke received from some of the young members a treatment very irreverent to his age , and unworthy of his genius . When he rose to speak , there was a concert of coughing , stamping , hooting , such as is often to be heard in the galleries ot the playhouseswhen they do not approve of the
perform-, ance . He , however , went on to act the part he conceived to be right . Hastings was , till the latter end of the parliament , the principal object of his attention . The prosecution of this man was by many imputed to private as much as to public motives . Mr . Burke was the bosom friend of
Admiral Pigot , brother of Lord Pigot , of whose arrest and imprisoiw ment , executed by General Stewart , Hastings was said to have been the joint contriver with the Nabob of Arcot . Mr . William Burke , appointed , through Edmund ' s interest , Deputy-Paymaster-General for India , and being at Madras , was desirous of going to Bengal as a more advantageous situation . Hastings would not permit his removal . There is no proof that because Burke supposedor even
, knew Hastings to be inimical to his friends , his private resentment induced him to commence a public prosecution . This is a mere conjectural assignation of unworthy motives . But whatever cause may have impelled Burke to seek the impeachment of the Governor-General , there appeared probable grounds . Hastings hadas was manifest from evidenceactedin instances
, , , many , in a manner , that at the first sight was a deviation from the rules prescribed to the servants of the Company . That apparent deviation constituted grounds for an enquiry . So thought the House of Commons . The iubsequent exculpation of Mr . Hastings no more
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
A Review Of The Life And Writings Of The Right Honourable Edmund Burke.
information that incidentally reached him , that the Governor-General was equally culpable with any of those whose actions had undergone , or were undergoing , a discussion . »¦ He directed his efforts to procure more full and particular intelligence concerning Mr . Hastings , with a view to have him punished if he was found guilty of the crimes he suspected . While endeavouring to prepare for punishing injustice , he attended also to preventive .
He collected information respecting the general state of the Company and their possessions , territorial and commercial , to enable him to suggest means for the more judicious managementof their affairs , and wiser andjuster government of their territories in future . By him , it . is generally believed , the materials were furnished from which Fox framed his celebrated India Bill . This Bill , brought forward by Fox in a speech which equalled any he or any other man ever spoke , and attacked with arreat acuteness bv Mr . Pitt , was defended
by Burke . His speech on this occasion went chiefly to the argument from chartered rights . He contended that the India Company had so totally departed from the object of their charter , that it would be ,-the grossest folly and injustice to suffer them to act as they had done formerly , that the general obligation to abstain from wrong was more powerful than the special to deserve an agreement . The Bill was so disagreeable to the Lordsthat it was negativedand
, , the Coalition Administration turned out of office . During the succeeding parliament , Burke received from some of the young members a treatment very irreverent to his age , and unworthy of his genius . When he rose to speak , there was a concert of coughing , stamping , hooting , such as is often to be heard in the galleries ot the playhouseswhen they do not approve of the
perform-, ance . He , however , went on to act the part he conceived to be right . Hastings was , till the latter end of the parliament , the principal object of his attention . The prosecution of this man was by many imputed to private as much as to public motives . Mr . Burke was the bosom friend of
Admiral Pigot , brother of Lord Pigot , of whose arrest and imprisoiw ment , executed by General Stewart , Hastings was said to have been the joint contriver with the Nabob of Arcot . Mr . William Burke , appointed , through Edmund ' s interest , Deputy-Paymaster-General for India , and being at Madras , was desirous of going to Bengal as a more advantageous situation . Hastings would not permit his removal . There is no proof that because Burke supposedor even
, knew Hastings to be inimical to his friends , his private resentment induced him to commence a public prosecution . This is a mere conjectural assignation of unworthy motives . But whatever cause may have impelled Burke to seek the impeachment of the Governor-General , there appeared probable grounds . Hastings hadas was manifest from evidenceactedin instances
, , , many , in a manner , that at the first sight was a deviation from the rules prescribed to the servants of the Company . That apparent deviation constituted grounds for an enquiry . So thought the House of Commons . The iubsequent exculpation of Mr . Hastings no more