Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1841-12-21
TRIAL OF WARREN HASTINGS.

I
inburgh Review, written, it is pre-
sumed, by Macauley:
"The preparations for the trial had
proceeded rapidly, and on the 18th of
February, 177S, the sittings of the
court commenced. There have been
spectacles more dazzling 10 the eye,
more gorgeous with jewelry and cloth of
gold, more attractive to grown up chill
dren than that which was then exhibited
at Wetminister: but, perhaps, there
never was a spectacle so well calcutta
ted to strike highly cultivated, re-
fleeing, and imaginative mind. All the
various kinds of interest which belong
to the near and to the distant. to the
present and to the past were collected
on the spot, and in one hour. All the
talents and all the accomplishments
which are developed by liberty and
civilization were now displayed, with
every advantage that could be derived
both from cooperation and from con-
trast. Every step in the proceedings
carried the mind either backward,
through many troubled centuries, to
the days when the foundations of the
Constitution were laid, or far away,
over boundless seas or deserts, to
.dusky nations, living under strange
stars, worshipping strange gods and
writing strange characters from right TO
left. The high court of parliament
was to sit, according TO forms handed
down from the days of TIE PIantage-
nets, on an Englishman accused of ex-
ercising tyranny over the lord of the
holy city ofBenares, and the ladies of
the princely house of Dude.
"The place was worthy of such a
trial. 1t was the great hall of William
Rufus; the hall which had resounded
with acclamations at the inauguration OF
thirty kings; the hall which had wit
messed the just sentence of Bacon, and
5 the Just absolution of Somers; the hall
! where the eloquence of Stafford had
for a moment awed and melted vic
torious party inhamed with just resent
ment; the hall where Chales had con-
fronted the high court of Justice with
r the placid courage which has half re.
l deemed his name. Neither military
nor civil pomp was wanting. The
avenues were lined with grenadiers
The streets were kept clear by cav
airy. The peers, robed in gold and
ermine, were marshalled by the her
aids, under Garter, King-at-arms. The
judges, in their vestments of state, at.
tended 10 give advice on points Of law.
Near hundred and seventy lords,
: three-fonrths Of the upper house, as
the upper'then was, walked in solemn
order from their usual place of assem-
, bling TO the tribunal. The junior baron
, led his memorable defence of GibraItar
against the fleets and armies ofFrance
The long procession was closed by
the Duke of Norfolk, Earl Marshal o.
e the Realm, by the great dignitaries
!, and by the brothers and sons of the
King. Last of all came the Prince O
r Wales, conspicuous by his fine per.
son and noble bearing. The gray ole
walls were hung with scarlet. The
long galleries were crowded by sucl
: an audience as has rarely excited the
], fears or the emulation of an orator
1t There were gathered together, IRON
y all parts of a great, free, enlightened
and prosperous realm, grace and femal,
= loneliness, wit and learning, the repre-
7 sentative every science every art
There were seated around the Queer
the fair young daughters of Brunswick
There the ambassadors of great king
l. and commonwealth gazed with admi
ration on a spectacle which no othe
country in the world could present
There Seddons in the prime of he
majestic beauty, looked with emotion
on scene surprising all the imitation
Of the stage. There the historian Q
the Roman Empires thought Of tn
y days when Cicero pleaded the eaus
= of Sicily against Verres, and when
IS, before Senate which had still SOM
e show of freedom. Tacitus thundere
r. against the oppressors of Africa. Their
were seen, side by side, the creates
~ partner and the greatest scholar of tn
a. age.
" The spectacles had allured Reynold
% from that easel which has preserved to U
* the thoughtful heads of SO many writer
and statesman, and the sweet smiles Of s
u many noble matrons. 1t had induce
Parr 10 suspend his labors in that dar
RI and profound mine from, from which h
had extracted treasure of erudition-
D treasure two often buried in the earth, to
often paraded with injudicious and inele
giant ostentation; but still precious, mas
sye, and splendid. There appeared til
voluptuous charms Of her to whom tn
heir of the throne had in secret pledge
K her fath.t There, too,was she the beat
" tiful mother of beautiful race, the S
S, Cecilia, whose delicate features, lghte
rs I'D by love and music, art has rescue
u from the common decay.t There wer
= the members of that brilliant society who
y quoted, criticised, and exchanged repal
or tees, under the rich peacock hangings {
Mr.. Montague; and there the ladies, who's
ss. lips, more pensiYe than those Of Fox hin