The Cecil Whig., 1841-12-04

Chamber at Calcutta, Mems oqHa IN drdi-
uS;-such was the aspect with which the
great pro-consul presented himself to his
Judges.
His counsel accompanied him, mcn all
of whom were afterwards raised by their
talents and learning to the highest posts
in their profession-the bold and strong
minded Law, afterwards Chief Justice of
the Kings Bench; the more humane and
eloquent Dallas, afterwards Chief Justice
OF the Common Pleas; and Plomcr. who
nearly twenty years later, successfully
conducted in the same high court the de-
fence of Lord Melville, and subsequeutly
became Chancellor. and Master of
the Rolls.
But neither the culprit nor his adyo-
cltcs attracted so much attention a the
accusers. In the midst of thn blaze Of
red drapery, had been fitted up with green
benches and tables fer tie Commons
The managers, with Burke at their head.
appeared in full dress. The collectors
of gossip did not fail to remark that even
Fox, general Y so regardless OF his appear
ance, had paid to the illustrious tribunal
the compliment of wearing bag and
sword Pitt had refused to be one Of the
conductors of the imyclchment, and his
commanding, copious and sonor0us elo-
quencc was wanting to the gron, m;ttar
OF various talents. Age aui blindness
had unified Lord North ior the dUtics o.
a public prosecutor; and his friends were
left without the help Of h', excellent sense
his tact, and his urL,mi,y. But in spite
Of the absence Of these two distinguished
members of the lower house, the box in
which the managers stood contained an
array of speakers suchas perhaps lad not
appeared together since the great age of
Athenian cloqucnce. There stood Fox
and Sheridan, tie English Demosthenes,
and the English iiypcrideS. There was
Burke ignorant, indeed, or negligent, of
the art OF adapting his reasonings and his
style 10 the capacity and taste Of his hear
ers; but III amplitude Of comprehension
and richness Of Imagination superior to
every orator, ancient or modern
There, with eyes rcyarcntally fixed on
Burke, appeared the finest gentleman Of
the age, his form developed by every
manly cXercisc-his face beaming with
intelligence and spirit-thc ingenious, the
chlvalrous, the high souIcd Wmdham.
Nor though surrounded by such men.
did the youngest manager pass unnotccd.
At an age when most OF those who dis
llnguished themselves in life are still con-
tending for prizes and fcIIowShips at COL
lege, he had won for himsclfa conspicuous
place in Parliament. No advantage orfor-
tune or connection was wanting that could
set OFF TO the height his splendid talents
and his unbiemishcd honor. At twenty
three he had been thought worthy to be
ranked with the veteran statesman who
as the delegates of the British
commons, at the bar tic British nobili-
iy.--All who stood at that bar, save him
alone, are gonc-culprit, advocates, ac-
cusers TO the generation which is now
in the yigor Of life, he is tic soul repre-
sentative Of q great age that has passed
away.-l}ut those who, within the last
ten years, have listened with delight, till
the morning sun shone on the tapestries
Of the House Of Lords, to the lofty and
eloquencc of Charles Earl Grey. |
are able TO form some estimate Of the pow |
crs OF race Of meE among whom he was
not the foremost.
The charges and the answers Of Has
lngs were first read. This ceremony oc-
cupied two whole days, and was rendered |
less tedious than it would otherwise have |
been, by the silver voice and Just ompha-
SIS Of Cowper, the clerk of the count.
near relation of the amia1le paet. On
he third day Burke rose. Four sittings
ol the court were occupied by his open
ng speech, which was intended to be
general Introduction to all the charges. |
with an cXuberance Of thought and
jplendour Of dictIon which more than sat
SIZED the highly raised expectation Of thn
audience he described the character AMI
Institutions Of the natives Of India; rccoua.
ed the circumstances in which the Aslt-
C empire of Britain had originated; and
set forth the constitution Of the company
md of the English Presidencies. Having
hus attempted TO communicate to his
hearers an idea of Eastern society, as Vi
nd as that which existed in his own mind
he proceeded to arraign the administra-
ion Of Hastings. as Systematically con-
luctcd in defiance Of morality and public
aw.
The energy and palhos OF the great or
'tor extortcd expressions OF unwonted
'dmIratlon even from the stern and hos
lie Chancellor; and for a moment, seem
,d 10 pierce even the rcsolute heart of the
Ieiendant. The ladies in the galleries,
lnaccustomed to such displays of cIo-
luence, excited by the solemnity of the
occasion, and perhaps not unwilling to
display their taste and sensibi.itv, were
II u state Of uncomfortable emotion.
were pulled out, smelling
,ot,1oc ,,,oro b,nIo1 ,o,,l ,-.. / |