ch I have made,
the two former, namely, the misrepresentation and suppression, were
applicable to the case; but all the three, misrepresentation,
suppression, and falsification, were applicable to the report.

This I say in vindication of the opinions given, and for the
satisfaction of the public, who may be imposed upon by them. I wish the
word to be understood. When I say _imposed_, I always mean by it the
weight and authority carried: a meaning which this word, perhaps, has
not got yet thoroughly in the English language; but in a neighboring
language _imposing_ means, that it weighs upon men's minds with a
sovereign authority. To say that the opinions of learned men, though
even thus obtained, may not have weight with this court, or with any
court, is a kind of compliment I cannot pay to them at the expense of
that common nature in which I and all human beings are involved.

He states in the case the covenants and the salary of Mr. Hastings, and
his emoluments, very fairly. I do not object to any part of that. He
then proceeds to state very partially the business upon which the
Committee of Circuit went, and without opening whose conduct we cannot
fully bring before you this charge of bribery. He then states, "that, an
inquiry having been made by the present Supreme Council of Bengal
respecting the conduct of the members of the last administration,
several charges have been made, stating moneys very improperly received
by Mr. Hastings during the time of the late administration: amongst
these is one of his having received 150,000 rupees of Munny Begum, the
guardian of the Nabob, who is an infant."

In this statement of the case everything is put out of its true place.
Mr. Hastings was not charged with receiving a lac and a half of rupees
from Munny Begum, the guardian of the Nabob,--for she was not then his
guardian; but he was charged with receiving a lac and a half of rupees
for removing the Nabob's own mother, who was his natural guardian, and
substituting this step-mother, who was a prostitute, in her place;
whereas here it supposes he found her a guardian, and that she had made
him a present, which alters the whole nature of the case. The case, in
the recital of the charge, sets out with what every one of your
Lordships knows now not to be the truth of the fact, nor the thing that
in itself implies the criminality: he ought to have stated that in the
beginning of the business. The suppressions in the recital ar