s are Mr. Larkins, an Englishman, Cantoo Baboo, a Gentoo, and
a Persian moonshee, probably a Mahometan. So all languages, all
religions, all descriptions of men are to keep the account of these
bribes, and to make out this valuable account which Mr. Larkins gave
you!

Let us now see how far the memory, observation, and knowledge of the
persons referred to can supply the want of them in Mr. Hastings. These
accounts come at last, though late, from Mr. Larkins, who, I will
venture to say, let the banians boast what they will, has skill perhaps
equal to the best of them: he begins by explaining to you something
concerning the present of the ten lac. I wish your Lordships always to
take Mr. Hastings's word, where it can be had,--or Mr. Larkins's, who
was the representative of and memory-keeper to Mr. Hastings; and then I
may perhaps take the liberty of making some observations upon it.

_Extract of a Letter from William Larkins, Accountant-General of Bengal,
to the Chairman of the East India Company, dated 5th August, 1786._

"Mr. Hastings returned from Benares to Calcutta on the 5th February,
1782. At that time I was wholly ignorant of the letter which on the 20th
January he wrote from Patna to the Secret Committee of the Honorable
the Court of Directors. The rough draught of this letter, in the
handwriting of Major Palmer, is now in my possession. Soon after his
arrival at the Presidency, he requested me to form the account of his
receipts and disbursements, which you will find journalized in the
280th, &c., and 307th pages of the Honorable Company's general books of
the year 1781-2. My official situation as accountant-general had
previously convinced me that Mr. Hastings could not have made the issues
which were acknowledged as received from him by some of the paymasters
of the army, unless he had obtained some such supply as that which he
afterwards, viz., on the 22d May, 1782, made known to me, when I
immediately suggested to him the necessity of his transmitting that
account which accompanied his letter of that date, till when the promise
contained in his letter of 20th January had entirely escaped his
recollection."

The first thing I would remark on this (and I believe your Lordships
have rather gone before me in the remark) is, that Mr. Hastings came
down to Calcutta on the 5th of February; that then, or a few days after,
he calls to him his confidential and faithful friend, (not his official
secretary, for he