Although when George, Prince of Wales, had attained his majority, he had an allowance of £50,000 a year, £60,000 to furnish Carlton House, and an additional £40,000 for cash to start with, yet he was soon after deep in debt. In 1787, £160,000 was voted, and a portion of the Prince's debts was paid. £20,000 further was added as a vote for Carlton House. Thackeray says: "Lovers of long sums have added up the millions and millions which in the course of his brilliant existence this single Prince consumed. Besides his income of £50,000, £70,000, £100,000, £120,000 a year, we read of three applications to Parliament; debts to the amount of £160,000, of £650,000, besides mysterious foreign loans, whereof he pocketed the proceeds. What did he do for all this money? Why was he to have it? If he had been a manufacturing town, or a populous rural district, or an army of five thousand men, he would not have cost more. He, one solitary stout man, who did not toil, nor spin, nor fight--what had any mortal done that he should be pampered so?" The proposed impeachment of Warren Hastings, which actually commenced on February 13th, 1788, and which did not conclude until eight years afterwards, excited considerable feeling, it being roundly alleged that Court protection had been purchased by the late Governor-General of India, by means of a large diamond presented to the King. The following rhymed squib tells its own story. It was sung about the streets to the tune of "Derry Down":-- "I'll sing you a song of a diamond so fine, That soon in the crown of the monarch will shine; Of its size and its value the whole country rings, By Hastings bestowed on the best of all Kings. Derry down, &c. "From India this jewel was lately brought o'er, Though sunk in the sea, it was found on the shore, And just in the nick to St. James's it got, Convey'd in a bag by the brave Major Scott Derry down, &c "Lord Sydney stepp'd forth, when the tidings were known-- It's his office to carry such news to the throne;-- Though quite out of breath, to the closet he ran, And stammer'd with joy ere his tale he began. Derry down, &c. "'Here's a jewel, my liege, there's none such in the land; Major Scott, with three bows, put it into my hand: And he swore, when he gave it, the wise ones were bit, For it never was shown to Dundas or to Pitt.' Derry down, &c. "'For Dundas,' cried our sovereign, 'unpolished and rough, Give him a Scotch pebble, it's more than enough. And jewels to Pitt, Hastings justly refuses, For he has already more gifts than he uses. Derry down, &c. "'But run, Jenky, run!' adds the King in delight, 'Bring the Queen and Princesses here for a sight; They never would pardon the negligence shown, If we kept from their knowledge so glorious a stone. Derry down, &c.