n, Sir James Erskine, T. Pelliam, Wyndham,
St. John, J. Ansturther, Welbore Ellis, Michael Angelo Taylor, W. Adam,
Sir Grey Cooper, Philip Francis, F. Montague, Mr. Grey, Sir Gilbert
Elliot, Dudley Long, Lord Maitland, Colonel North, and General Burgoyne.
On the 25th of April, Burke, as chairman of this committe, presented six
articles of impeachment, which were forthwith read for the first time,
and ordered to be printed, and to be taken into consideration on the
9th of May. On that day, accordingly, it was moved that the articles of
impeachment should be read a second time, which motion gave rise to a
long debate. Hastings was again warmly defended by Lord Hood, who went
over his previous arguments, and implored the house to recollect that
whatever errors the accused had committed, he had, notwithstanding,
saved the most valuable possessions of the British empire. On this
occasion, also, Hastings was defended by Wilkes, who had almost veered
round to the opposite point of the political compass from that at which
he had started in early life, and who made one of the most effective
speeches that had been delivered on the subject. Wilkes moved an
amendment that the report should be read a second time that day three
months; and he was followed and supported by Nathaniel Smith, chief
secretary to the court of directors, Alderman Thompson, and Islay
Campbell, lord advocate, the latter of whom reviewed the whole subject,
both as a lawyer and a statesman. Other members, also, expressed their
dissent to an impeachment; and Mr. Burgess produced an address, just
received from the British officers now commanding in India, in which
they all bore testimony to the excellent character, high abilities, and
important services of the late governor-general. All the exertions of
the friends of Hastings, however, proved unavailing. At a late hour Pitt
delivered his authoritative opinion; and he having declared that it was
impossible for him to vote against the motion, and that the house could
no otherwise consult its own honour, its duty to the country, and the
ends of public justice than by sending the impeachment to the lords;
the motion was carried by a majority of one hundred and seventy-five to
eighty-nine. The first article was then read, and agreed to without a
division, and the rest were all passed with some trifling amendments
on the following day. Burke then rose and moved, "that Warren Hastings,
Esq., be impeached of high crimes a