ough the Company had
desired to know the channels through which he got those sums, there is
not (except by a reference that appears in another place to one of the
articles) one single syllable of explanation given from one end to the
other, there is not the least glimpse of light thrown upon these
transactions. But we have since discovered from whom he got these
bribes; and your Lordships will be struck with horror, when you hear it.

I have already remarked to you, that, though this letter is dated upon
the 22d of May, it was not dispatched for Europe till December
following; and he gets Mr. Larkins, who was his agent and instrument in
falsifying the Company's accounts, to swear that this letter was written
upon the 22d of May, and that he had no opportunity to send it, but by
the "Lively" in December. On the 16th of that month he writes to the
Directors, and tells them that he is quite shocked to find he had no
earlier opportunity of making this discovery, which he thought himself
bound to make; though this discovery, respecting some articles of it,
had now been delayed nearly two years, and though it since appears that
there were many opportunities, and particularly by the "Resolution," of
sending it. He was much distressed, and found himself in an awkward
situation, from an apprehension that the Parliamentary inquiry, which he
knew was at this time in progress, might have forced from him this
notable discovery. He says, "I do not fear the consequences of any
Parliamentary process." Indeed, he needed not to fear any Parliamentary
inquiry, if it produced no further discovery than that which your
Lordships have in the letter of the 22d of May, and in the accounts
subjoined to it. He says, that "the delay is of no public consequence;
but it has produced a situation which, with respect to myself, I regard
as unfortunate, because it exposes me to the meanest imputation, from
the occasion which the late Parliamentary inquiries have since
furnished."

Now here is a very curious letter, that I wish to have read for some
other reasons, which will afterwards appear, but principally at present
for the purpose of showing you that he held it to be his duty and
thought it to the last degree dishonorable not to give the Company an
account of those secret bribes: he thought it would reflect upon him,
and ruin his character forever, if this account did not come voluntarily
from him, but was extorted by terror of Parliamentary inquir