Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1842-03-15
Fe7n B,nty's Miscellany.
NUARREN HASTINGS.

oGor o. creating and experimenting
Srs,or, orinternal administration in the
80 bv which, instead OF a wretched
an,,cbv that existed before his time,
order was made to prevail, justice was
rendered accessible TO all, and peace
was secured to an immense population
in vast country, - and after having !
encountered and triumphed over a per-
socution unparalleled in the history of
ana persecution which, under the
fallacious name Of an impeachment for
high crimes aud misdemeanours, las
ted eight years, and was rolentessly
carried on by all the malignant inAu-
ence and talent Of powerful party
the real character Of Warren Hastings
has not I'LL the present day been thor
ouchly understood. Mr.. Gleig's Me-
moirs of the great Governor-Genera
of India, with the mass of letters and
other documentary evidence embodied
in them, will forever setat rest all con-
t,oversy on the public and private mer-
its Of Hastings. The vital services
he rendered his country were met by
the bascst ingrattude; though his grea,
test enemies are forced 10 admit that
had the intrigues against him in 1850
and 1881 succeeded, had the virulent
animosity of Sir Philip Francis attained
It's object by displacing Hastings from
the seat Of power, those years would
have seen the loss OF our dominion in
Asia. after Witnessing our decline in
America.
Ii was, indeed, while England was
passing through the most dangerous
crisis she had ever known; when she
had been forced, in spite Of the most
lavish use of her resources in blood
AID ire sure, to recognise the iudepeu-
dencc Of thirteen re5eIiious American
colonies, and to yield to France and
Spain the possession gained by former
Conquests,-it was, we say, at this hu-
initiating epoch that the vlgour, decis-
ION, and wisdom, of Hastings not only
preserved, but greatly augmented our
power in India, though it was learfuly
endangered by the formidable hostility
of European and Asiltc enemies. At
this period, India was the only quarter
of .the globe wherein England did not
suffer gricvous loss; and the mlinte-
nance Of her asceudency there was
solely attributable to the skill, patriot
ism, and statesman-like sagacity of
Hastings.
The little that can ever be known
Of the early days Of this great man has
trauspired in the valuable Memoir
written by Mr.. Gleig. This portion
othi life is, u the last degree, touch
ing and interesting. The youth OF
Hastings was passed under circum
Stances so discouraging as, in a mind
less resolved than his, would efectu-
ally have stiAcd all honorable ambi-
tiou. But chill penury could not re-
press his noble rage Though born
IN the very lap Of poverty, and recev-
log the first rudimenis Of education at
a charity-school, the friendly orphan,
when only seven years old, conceived
tue romantic idea Of regaining tue ali
Cnated lands and possessions ofhis an
ceslors, for Warren Hastings w 81 far
old and lofty race. DaylesiorG, il
Worcestershire. had time imme norial
bcenthe seatof the elder branch Of The
family Of Hastings, the descendants o
which falling gradually into decay, were
at length compelled to sell 10 a Lon
don merchant their ancestral hall anc
lands.
TO the seemingly impossible prof
Get of regaining these-a project con
ceivcd at a time Of actual destituion
Mr. Hastings, in after life, allu
ded in the following words
TO lie beside the margin Of tina
stream "a small brook skrting the vii
llze Of Churchill and muse, was on
OF my lavorite recreations; and there
one bright summer day. when | wa
scarcely seven years old, Iwellremem
Der that first formed the determine
lion to purchase buck DaylesEord.
was then literally depe- ddnt on thos
whose condition scarcely raised ther
above the pressure Of absolute wan
vet somehow or another, the child
dream, as it did not appear unreasonc
Die at the moment, 50 in after years
never faded away. God knows ther
were periods in my career, when to az
complsh that, OF any other object I
honorable ambition, seemed to nc in
possible; but | have lived to accom-
ptl-h il. And though, perhaps, le
public men have more right than |
complain of the worlJs usage, | ca
never express sufficient gratitude to Il
Kind Providence which permits me
pass the evening OLA long, and, tru.
not useless life, amid scenes that a
endeared TO me by so many pc
s7Hll as well as traditional associ
Ton
In the village Of Churchill, ill
had attained his eigth year, little Wa
rem remained, imbibing the scanty 10
furnished by the chariIy-scLool. II