said son,
as it was "with almost unconquerable reluctance he had been persuaded to
deprive her of them," and at the time of his submitting to become an
instrument in this injustice, did "declare," both, to the Resident and
his ministers, "that it was an act of compulsion."

LXXIX. That the said Hastings further, by insinuating that the women in
question would act amiss in appealing to _a foreign jurisdiction_
against a son and grandson, could not forget that he himself, being that
foreign jurisdiction, (if any jurisdiction there was,) did himself
direct and order the injuries, did himself urge the calumnies, and did
himself cause to be taken and produced the unsatisfactory evidence by
which the women in question had suffered,--and that it was against him,
the said Hastings, and not against their son, that they had reason to
appeal. But the truth is, that the inquiry was moved for by Mr. Stables,
not on the prayer or appeal of the sufferers, but upon the ill
impression which the said Hastings's own conduct, merely and solely on
his own state of it, and on his own evidence in support of it, had made
on the Court of Directors, who were his lawful masters, and not suitors
in his court. And his arrogating to himself and his colleagues to be a
tribunal, and a tribunal not for the purpose of doing justice, but of
refusing inquiry, was an high offence and misdemeanor (particularly as
the due obedience to the Company's orders was eluded on the insolent
pretence "that the majesty of justice ought to be approached with
solicitation, and that it would debase itself by the suggestion of
wrongs and the promise of redress") in a Governor, whose business it is,
even of himself, and unsolicited, not only to promise, but to afford,
redress to all those who should suffer under the power of the Company,
even if their ignorance, or want of protection, or the imbecility of
their sex, or the fear of irritating persons in rank and station, should
prevent them from seeking it by formal solicitation.

LXXX. That the said Warren Hastings, at the time when he pretended
ignorance of all solicitation for justice on the part of the women
aforesaid, and on that pretence did refuse the inquiry moved by his
colleague, Mr. Stables, had in all probability received from the
Resident, Middleton, or, if he had made the slightest inquiry from the
said Middleton, then at Calcutta, might immediately receive, an account
that _they did actually solicit_ the sai