o be weighed against his failings; which
time, he said, was, when in case of conviction on the charges alleged
against him, he came to receive sentence. Pitt concluded by saying,
that, with respect to the particular charge under discussion, Hastings
had clearly convicted himself of criminality, and by contending that the
deed admitted of no plea of necessity. Upon a division the motion was
carried by a majority of one hundred and twelve against fifty.

The charge relating to abuses, for selfish purposes, in contracts and
salaries, was opened on the 15th of March, by Sir James Erskine, who
endeavoured to show that Hastings had made both corrupt and improvident
bargains for providing bullocks, elephants, &c.; that he had grossly
favoured individuals that were devoted to his will, and useful in his
designs, at the expense of the company; and that he had been guilty
of abuses in the opium contracts. As usual, Major Scott defended the
accused, and entered with great minuteness into the particulars of
the charge; but on a division the motion was carried by sixty against
twenty-six.

The affair relative to Fyzoola Khan, the Rohilla chief, who retained
possession of Rampore in Rohilicund, was brought forward on the 22nd of
March, by Mr. Wyndham. The eloquence and nice metaphysics of Wyndham's
speech were much admired, but he evidently misstated some of the facts
and bearings of the case. Major Scott proved this to demonstration;
but on a division, the motion was carried by ninety-six against
thirty-seven.

The seventh charge, relating to the corrupt receiving of bribes and
presents, was opened by Mr. Sheridan on the 2nd of April. It was clear
that Hastings had been singularly indifferent as to riches for his
own use yet the orator imputed to him the grossest corruption and most
ravenous greed for money. He remarked:--"He is changeable in
every thing but corruption; there, and only there he is systematic,
methodical, immutable. His revenge is furious as a tempest, or a
tornado; but his corruption is a monsoon; a trade-wind, blowing
uniformly from one point of the compass, and wafting the wealth of India
to the same port, in one certain direction." In his speech, however, in
indulging his wit and irony, Sheridan gave vent to some sallies, which
showed that he was convinced that Hastings had not received the presents
for himself, but for his employers. Describing the accommodating
morality of the court of directors, and their c