The Sun.
London, England, 1825-03-19 00:00:00

EAST-INDIA HOUSE.

TIIF. MARQUIS OF HASTINGS, LITE GOVERNOIt
tiE-
NEItAL OF BENGALOND THE HYDE-111AD PAPERS.
(From the Horning Herald.)

After twelve months of painful agitation and
doubt, since the question of personal imputation against Lord
HASTINGS was first raised in Leadenhall-street, and six days
of angry and protracted debate on the voluminous mass of
papers relative to the transactions of the house of Palmer and
Co. of Ilydrabad with his Highness the Nizam, this long-de-
pending question, as far as the body of Proprietors could pro-
nounce upon it, was yesterday decided by ballot, and the
amendment to Mr. Kinnaird's resolution, proposed on the first
day's debate by Mr. Astell, the Chairman of the Court of Di-
rectors, was carried by a large majority of votes. The ballot re-
mained open from eleven in the morning to six in the after-
noon, when it closed. The scrutiny then commenced, and
the result was declared at twenty mihutes to eight o'clock.
There was no discussion on this last day. Towards •
evening considerable interest was manifested to know the
result, but the Court, during the greater part of the
forenoon, was almost deserted. The Proprietors came in
slowly, and deposited their votes without a word. The silence
and solitude of yesterday presented a striking contrast to the .
crowd and confusion of former days, on some of which the
Chairman's best efforts could scarcely influence the assembllv
and chaos was order to the tumult that at intervals prevailed.
—This important question will probably not rest here. Lord
Hastings is a man of high and proud feelings, and ;till not be
contented with a negative exculpation of this sort. The late
Governor-General and his friends have already menaced an
appeal to a higher tribunal, and speak of bringing the whole
subject before Parliament. The amendMent now carried goes
to free the late Governor-General from all imputation of air-
rupt conduct ; but it neutralizes this declaration, by includ-
ing in the exemption the other members of the Bengal Go-
vernmait, against whom, on this score, there was not A
shadow of charge ; and it approves the political dispatches or
the Court of Directors to the Bengal Council, since Slay, 1020,
to January,- 1824, all of which reprobate the sanction givers
by the then Governor-General to the transactions of Palmer
and Company's house, in language as severe and unqualified
as it was well possible to use. The debate on this ques-
tion was one of unprecedented length and acrimony. It
enlisted the whole strength of both sides. The principal
speakers who defended Lord Hastings, and vindicated the
pecuniary transactions in the Nizam's capital, were Mr.
Douglas Kinnaird, who proposed the original resolution,
and replied in the last day in a speech of four hours ; Mr.
John Smith, the Member for Midhurat, whose speech
produced a great impression ; Mr. Hume, who menaced..
Mr. Adam with impeachment; Sir. Russell, for many
years the Company's resident at Hydrabad, and whose
address of two hours on the second day was one of the
most impressive ever heard in any assembly ; Mr. Patti'
son, a leading Director, who had entered a most animated
protest against the proceedings of the Court of Directors
Mr. Randle Jackson, and the veteran Sir John Doyle, the old
and attached personal friend of Lord Hastings through
The leading speakers for the amendment were—Mr. Astell, the
Chairman, who proposed it ; Sir George Abercromby Robin"
son, and Mr. Impey, both Directors ; Messrs. Freshfield anti
Poynder, respectable professional gentlemen ; Mr. Weeding,
an extensive tea merchant, who waded through the whole
Augean stable; a gentleman of the name of Boswell, w"
appeared perfectly innocent of all oriental affairs; and Mr.
Rigby,. who, by speaking and writing, has betrayed an uncom-
mon interest in the whole question, though neither Rajah nor
Nabob. By these respective speakers, every thing in Hindoa
mythology—all the attributes of Vishnu the preserver,-st"
the destroyer, Kriten the mystic Apollo, anti Kamadeera
the Cupid of the Bramins, was successively called forth--
all the volumes of oriental lore, from Pilpay's early fables
down to the ponderous tomes of Mr. Mill, and the recent pro-
ductions of Capt. Seeley, were ransacked and cited. The mass of
printed papers before the Proprietors were in themselve a libra-
ry. Nothing but unwearied industry, anxious days, and sleep-
less nights, could have conquered these appalling folios. It is
only surprising that, on a question of such vitality to his charc
ter, Lord Hastings himself was not present : his last lettere,ig
his friend Mr. Pattison, spoke of returning, but said he sll°'"
do so only to make war. He is now, we believe, at Valetta;
having exchanged his supremacy over 80 millions in In3l
for the government of a petty island in the Mediterranean'
"4
with a few thousand souls. The present situation of the 13.„"
Governor-General with the India Comy closely resembe!
that of Lord Clive in Parliament, after hissecond rettoo LU Mee
country in 1769. The great difference is, that Lord Clive re:
turned with immense wealth, and Lord Hastings, after Heal
nine years government, with a salary of 50,0001. a year, is t "
loaded with enormous debts. A motion was made in the Haig!.
of Commons, on the 21st of February, 1773—" That, in the
acquisition of his wealth, Lord Clive had abused the pone
with which he was intrusted." The personal presence an
firmness of the celebrated individual against whom the moot:
was directed, saved him from impeachment and ruin. Tfri,
speech he made on this occasion concluded with the p*
lowing words:—" If the resolution proposed should receive
the assent of the House, I shall hare nothing left that I el
call my own, except my paternal fortune of 5001 a-year,
which has been in my family for ages past. But upon this r
am content to live, and perhaps I shall find more real content °'
mind and happiness than in the trembling affluence of an un-
settled fortune. But to be called, after sixteen years b°,,
elapsed, to account for my conduct in this manner, and after a,
uninterrupted enjoyment of my property, to be questioned and
considered as obtaining it unwarrantably, is hard indeed, al
a treatment of which I should not think the British Senate
pable. Yet, if this should he the case, I have a conscious iii.
nocence within me which tells me that my conduct is irreprnaLc„,,
able—Frangas non flecks. They may take from me vc",,',
I have—they may, as they think, make me poor, °':o
I will be happy. Before I sit down, I have one request '4
make to the House—that when they come to decide upon 114(0
honour, they will not forget their own !" Influenced by t'A
animated appeal, the Commons House of that day reje
the motion, and resolved, 44 That Lord Clive had rendered
great and meritorious seivices to his country." This 11,435
less Nobleman subsequently died by his own hand. PO,
he escaped the fate of Hastings by his personal firrnne,„
and his tides and vast fortune were transmitted to his °To'
scendants. A powerful appeal of the same description from
Lord Hastings might have produced the same effect:a
All sides acquit bins of any personal corruption. Avar.);„
is said to be the vice of age. But it would be a new W
of Eastern growth, in the bosom of Lord Hastings, logl,
known to him. In earlier years, and in a colder clime,
whole life was marked by opposite principles—by a lavish
regard of all personal prudence; hence his overwhelming e";
barrassments, which 9 years rule in Hindostan, with a priner4
revenue, and the added grant of 60,0001. from the C0mP33,10
ra.
were unequal to redeem. The main charge against him 10 g
patronage of Sir William Rumbold, who married his
and accompanied him to India ; and the sanction given bi,„l,
Governor-General to the alleged usurious transactions of 1;0
mer and Co.'s house, in which Sir Wm. Rumbold bee/0110r
partner, and speculated with his wife's fortune. Mr. Aro,
sell's clear and detailed statement of these transactions for
if correct, a complete defence of the whole—non wosir
tantas componere lites. We cannot now presume to ote,crof
upon them. On a first view, the allowances of the Pal co.
family, their " moonshees," and dependents, with the 3COIIO
mulated interest on the loan to the Nizam, appear enorra.nce
and the difficulties pressing on that Government in con:sego:or
were evidently alarming. The endless embarrassments
Allies, the Nabobs of Oude end Arcot, and the Rajah of itc7,l
jore, were not yet forgotten ; and the policy which denlthG
pecuniary transactions by the servants of the Company
native powers of India, was a wise and necessary one. rhe the
important question is yet to he discussed, before one O,A lO
highest tribunals of this country. Sir William Rumbnre
now in England, anti the appeals of Palmer and Compa,nYee
in progress for decision : there is, therefore, yet fill' yerf
for mature consideration, which this difficult subject !cd.
way demands,. before any just opinion can be pronotu:010
The ballot closed at six, and the scrutiny was over at
•20 minutes to eight. The numbers were then declared to,
For the question - - a
3ua
Against it -
289

Majority for Mr. Astell's Resolution -
The Resolution thus carried is as follows : the
" That this Court having taken into its consideratiOniot,
papers printed in pursuance of its order of the 3d of 111 arch slop
relating to the pecuniary transactions of the house of Ale dt
William Palmer and Co., at Hyderabad, with the Governit
of his Highness the Nizam, is of opinion that there is no gl°ol, of
for imputing corrupt motives to the late Governor-Genera tO
India, the Most Noble the Marquis of Hastings, K.G•%,tli
any Member of the Bengal Government ; at the same tiniNics.
Court feels called upon to record its approval of the.Pc°94o,
dispatches to the Bengal Government, under date the ow
May, 1820, 28th November, 1821, 9th April, NA and
January, 1024."