who were in attendance. The
lawyers, however, carried their point, and Burke was compelled to bring
forward specific charges against the accused. On the 4th of
April, therefore, Burke rose to charge Warren Hastings, Esq., late
Governor-general of Bengal, with high crimes and misdemeanors in the
execution of his office. On this occasion he laid on the table nine
distinct articles of accusation, and in the course of the following
week, he added thirteen others to the list. The principal charges
related to the affairs of Benares; the Rohilla war; the various
transactions in Oude; the Mahratta war, and the Mahratta peace; the
depriving the Mogul of Corah and Allahabad; the hard treatment of
Mohammed Reza Khan; the death of Nuncomar, who had been tried and
executed for forgery; the treatment of Fyzoola Khan, the Rohilla chief;
disobedience of orders; extravagant expenditure; the enriching of
dependents and favourites; and the acceptance of presents, or bribes,
by the governor-general himself. Before the whole of these articles were
laid on the table, Hastings had petitioned the house to be heard at its
bar, and to be allowed a copy of the several charges. These requests
were opposed by opposition, but were granted; and on the 1st of May
Hastings came to the house to make his defence. He was no orator, and
having been supplied with copies of the articles, he brought with him a
written defence, which he was allowed to read like a dry sermon. In it,
he first referred to the vote of thanks which he had received from the
court of directors, his employers, expressing astonishment that any one
else should venture to prefer accusations against him. After this,
he took a general view of the accusations, and began to read answers,
separately to each of the charges. His defence occupied two or three
days in the reading, and when it was closed, Hastings requested that
it should be laid on the table, and printed for the use of the members,
which was ordered. The examination of witnesses now took place, which
lasted three weeks; and when all had been examined, on the 1st of June,
Burke brought forward the first charge, that of the Rohilla war. Burke
commenced his speech by a solemn invocation to British justice, and
disclaiming any personal motive or private malevolence. After this he
drew a vivid, but overwrought picture of the character and condition of
the Rohillas, both before and after the invasion of their territories,
by the troops