ointment of a
stepmother in exclusion of the parent, whether the usage of the East
constantly authorizes the continuance of that same distribution of rank
and power which was settled in the seraglio during the life of a
deceased prince, and which was found so settled at his death, and
afterwards, to the exclusion of the mother of the successor. 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. The history of Munny Begum is stated on the records of
the Council-General, and no attempt made by Mr. Hastings to controvert
the truth of it.

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.
What connection this waste and embezzlement had with the subsequent
events the House will judge.

On the 2d of May, 1775, Mr. James Grant, accountant to the Provincial
Council of Moorshedabad, produced to the Governor-General and Council
certain Persian papers which stated nine lacs of rupees (upwards of
ninety thousand pounds sterling) received by Munny Begum, on her
appointment to the management of the Nabob's household, over and above
the balance due at that time, and not accounted for by her. These Grant
had received from Nuned Roy, who had been a writer in the Begum's
Treasury Office. Both Mr. Grant and Nuned Roy were called before the
board, and examined respecting the authenticity of the papers. Among
other circumstances tending to establish the credit of these papers, it
appears that Mr. Grant offered to make oath that the chief eunuch of the
Begum had come to him on purpose to prevail on him not to send the
papers, and had declared _that the accounts were not to be disputed_.

On the 9th of May it was resolved by a majority of the board, against
the opinion and solemn protest of the Governor-General, that a gentleman
should be sent up to the city of Moorshedabad to demand of Munny Begum
the accounts of the nizamut and household, from April, 1764, to the
latest period to which they could be closed, and to divest the Begum of
the office of guardian to the Nabob; and Mr. Charles Goring was
appointed for this purpose.

The preceding facts are stated to the House, not as the foundation of an
inquiry into the conduct of the Begum, but as they lead to a