ally realized, of the relation between the principal servants
of the Company and the Court of Directors.

So far the reparation, in point of honor, to Mr. Fowke was complete. The
reparation in point of interest your Committee do not find to have been
equally satisfactory; but they do find it to be of the most
extraordinary nature, and of the most mischievous example. Mr. Fowke had
been deprived of a place of rank and honor,--the place of a public
_Vackeel_, or representative. The recompense provided for him is a
succession to a contract. Mr. Hastings moved, that, on the expiration of
Colonel Morgan's contract, he should be appointed agent to all the boats
employed for the military service of that establishment, with a
commission of _fifteen per cent on all disbursements in that
office_,--permitting Mr. Fowke, at the same time, to draw his allowance
of an hundred pounds a month, as Resident, until the expiration of the
contract, and for three months after.

Mr. Hastings is himself struck, as every one must be, with so
extraordinary a proceeding, the principle of which, he observes, "is
liable to _one_ material objection." That one is material indeed; for,
no limit being laid down for the expense in which the percentage is to
arise, it is the direct interest of the person employed to make his
department as expensive as possible. To this Mr. Hastings answers, that
"he is convinced by experience it will be better performed"; and yet he
immediately after subjoins, "This _defect_ can _only_ be corrected by
the probity of the person intrusted with so important a charge; and I am
willing to have it understood, as a proof of _the confidence I repose in
Mr. Fowke_, that I have proposed his appointment, in opposition _to a
general principle_, to a trust so constituted."

In the beginning of this very Minute of Consultation, Mr. Hastings
removes Mr. Fowke from the Residency of Benares because "he cannot give
him his confidence"; and yet, before the pen is out of his hand, he
violates one of the soundest general principles in the whole system of
dealing, in order to give a proof of the confidence he reposes in that
gentleman. This apparent gross contradiction is to be reconciled but by
one way,--which is, that confidence with Mr. Hastings comes and goes
with his opposition to legal authority. Where that authority recommends
any person, his confidence in him vanishes; but to show that it is the
authority, and not the person, he opp