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BEAUTIES

OF

THE

BRITISH SENATE.

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T is with great difficulty that I attempt to speak to this House; but I find myself so particularly called upon, that I must make the attempt, though I should expose myself in so doing. With what confidence can I venture to give my timents upon a motion to bring in a bill for the better regulation of the East-India Company's affairs, a subject of such national confequence, who myself stand charged with having been the cause of the present melancholy fituation of the Company's affairs in Bengal? This House can have no reliance on my opinion, whilst such an impreffion remains unremoved. The House will therefore give me leave to remove this impreffion, and to endeavour to restore myself to that favourable opinion, which, I flatter myself, they entertained of my conduct, before these charges were exhibited against me. Nor do I wish to lay my conduct before the Members of this Houfe only; I fpeak likewise to my country in general, upon whom I put myself, not only without reluctance, but with alaerity.

VOL. II.

R

It

It is well known that I was called upon, in the year 1769, by a General Court, to undertake the management of the Company's affairs in Bengal, when they were in a very dangerous and critical fituation. It is as well known, that my circumftances were independent and affluent. Happy in the fense of my paft conduct and fervices, happy in my family, happy in my connections, happy in every thing but my health, which I loft in the Company's fervice, never to be repaired. This fituation, this happiness, I relinquished at the call of the Company, to go to a far diftant, unhealthy climate, to undertake the envious tafk of reformation. My enemies will fuppofe, that I was actuated by mercenary motives. But this House and my country at large will, I hope, think more liberally. They will conceive that I undertook this expedition from a principle of gratitude, from a point of honour, and from a defire of doing an effential fervice to the Eaft-India Company-to that Company, under whofe aufpices I had acquired iny fortune and my fame.

My profpects on going abroad were by no means pleafing, or encouraging; for after a violent conteft, thirteen Directors only were chofen, who thought favourably of my endeavours to ferve the Company; the other eleven, however well they might wish to the Company, were not willing that their good purposes fhould be accomplished by me. They firft gave all poffible obftruction to my acceptance of the Government, and afterwards declined invefting me with those powers, without which I could not have acted effectually for the benefit of the Company. Upon my arrival in Bengal, I found the powers given were fo loofely and fo jefuitically worded, that they were immediately contefted by the Council. I was determined, however, to put the moft extenfive construction upon them, because I was determined to do my duty to my country.

Three paths were before me: one was ftrewed with abundance of fair advantages. I might have put myself at the

head

head of Government as I found it. I might have encouraged the resolution which the gentlemen had taken, not to execute the new covenants which prohibited the receipt of presents: and although I had executed the covenants myself, I might have contrived to return to England with an immense forture, infamously added to the one before honourably obtained. Such an increase of wealth might have added to my weight in this country, but it would not have added to my peace of mind, because all men of honour and fentiment would have juftly condemned me.

Finding my powers thus difputed, I might in defpair have given up the commonwealth, and have left Bengal without an effort to fave it. Such a conduct would have been deemed the effect of folly and cowardice.

The third path was intricate; dangers and difficulties were on every fide; but I refolved to purfue it. In fhort, I was determined to do my duty to the public, although I should incur the odium of the whole fettlement. The welfare of the Company required a vigorous exertion, and I took the resolution of cleansing the augean stable.

It was that conduct which has occafioned the public papers to teem with fcurrility and abuse against me ever fince my return to England. It was that conduct that occafioned those charges; but it was the conduct which enables me now, when the day of judgement is come, to look my judges in the face. It was that conduct which enables me now to lay my hand upon my heart, and moft folemnly to declare to this House, to the gallery, and to the whole world at large, that I never, in a fingle inftance, loft fight of what I thought the honour and true interest of my country and the Company; that I was never guilty of any acts of violence or oppreffion, unless the bringing offenders to justice can be deemed fo; that as to extortion, fuch an idea never entered my mind; that I did not. fuffer those under me to commit any acts of violence, oppreffion, or extortion; that my influence was never employed

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