tive proof of
corruption in this transaction, in which I am sure you already see that
corruption must exist. The charge was brought by a person in the highest
trust and confidence with Mr. Hastings, a person employed in the
management of the whole transaction, a person to whom the management,
subordinate to Munny Begum, of all the pecuniary transactions, and all
the arrangements made upon that occasion, was intrusted.

On the 11th day of March, 1775, Nundcomar gives to Mr. Francis, a member
of the Council, a charge against Mr. Hastings, consisting of two parts.
The first of these charges was a vast number of corrupt dealings, with
respect to which he was the informer, not the witness, but to which he
indicated the modes of inquiry; and they are corrupt dealings, as Mr.
Hastings himself states them, amounting to millions of rupees, and in
transactions every one of which implies in it the strongest degree of
corruption. The next part was of those to which he was not only an
informer, but a witness, in having been the person who himself
transmitted the money to Mr. Hastings and the agents of Mr. Hastings;
and accordingly, upon this part, which is the only part we charge, his
evidence is clear and full, that he gave the money to Mr. Hastings,--he
and the Begum (for I put them together). He states, that Mr. Hastings
received for the appointment of Munny Begum to the rajahship two lacs of
rupees, or about 22,000_l._, and that he received in another gross sum
one lac and a half of rupees: in all making three lac and a half, or
about 36,000_l._ This charge was signed by the man, and accompanied with
the account.

Mr. Hastings, on that day, made no reflection or observation whatever
upon this charge, except that he attempted to excite some suspicion that
Mr. Francis, who had produced it, was concerned in the charge, and was
the principal mover in it. He asks Mr. Francis that day this question:--

"The Governor-General observes, as Mr. Francis has been pleased to
inform the board that he was unacquainted with the contents of the
letter sent in to the board by Nundcomar, that he thinks himself
justified in carrying his curiosity further than he should have
permitted himself without such a previous intimation, and therefore begs
leave to ask Mr. Francis whether he was before this acquainted with
Nundcomar's intention of bringing such charges against him before the
board.

"_Mr. Francis._--As a member of this Council, I do not d