ave already shown, amongst the mass of his corruptions, that he let
the whole of the lands to farm to the banians; next, that he sold the
whole Mahomedan government of that country to a woman. This was bold
enough, one should think; but without entering into the circumstances of
the revenue change in 1772, I am to tell your Lordships that he had
appointed six Provincial Councils, each consisting of many members, who
had the ordinary administration of civil justice in that country, and
the whole business of the collection of the revenues.

These Provincial Councils accounted to the Governor-General and Council,
who in the revenue department had the whole management, control, and
regulation of the revenue. Mr. Hastings did in several papers to the
Court of Directors declare, that the establishment of these Provincial
Councils, which at first he stated only as experimental, had proved
useful in the experiment,--and on that use, and upon that experiment, he
had sent even the plan of an act of Parliament, to have it confirmed
with the last and most sacred authority of this country. The Court of
Directors desired, that, if he thought any other method more proper, he
would send it to them for their approbation.

Thus the whole face of the British government, the whole of its order
and constitution, remained from 1772 to 1781. He had got rid, some time
before this period, by death, of General Clavering, by death, of Colonel
Monson, and by vexation and persecution, and his consequent dereliction
of authority, he had shaken off Mr. Francis. The whole Council
consisting only of himself and Mr. Wheler, he, having the casting vote,
was in effect the whole Council; and if ever there was a time when
principle, decency, and decorum rendered it improper for him to do any
extraordinary acts without the sanction of the Court of Directors, that
was the time. Mr. Wheler was taken off,--despair perhaps rendering the
man, who had been in opposition futilely before, compliable. The man is
dead. He certainly did not oppose him; if he had, it would have been in
vain. But those very circumstances which rendered it atrocious in Mr.
Hastings to make any change induced him to make this. He thought that a
moment's time was not to be lost,--that other colleagues might come,
where he might be overpowered by a majority again, and not able to
pursue his corrupt plans. Therefore he was resolved,--your Lordships
will remark the whole of this most daring an