The Works of the Right Honourable Edmund Burke, Vol. 08 (of 12)Burke, Edmund
History
The Works of the Right Honourable Edmund Burke, Vol. 08 (of 12)
Burke, Edmund
Great Britain -- Politics and government -- 1760-1820; Political science -- Early works to 1800
III. That the said Warren Hastings, having formed the plans aforesaid
for the ruin of the Rajah, did set out on a journey to the city of
Benares with a great train, but with a very small force, not much
exceeding six companies of regular black soldiers, to perpetrate some of
the unjust and violent acts by him meditated and resolved on; and the
said Hastings was met, according to the usage of distinguished persons
in that country, by the Rajah of Benares with a very great attendance,
both in boats and on shore, which attendance he did apparently intend as
a mark of honor and observance to the place and person of the said
Hastings, but which the said Hastings did afterwards groundlessly and
maliciously represent as an indication of a design upon his life; and
the said Rajah came into the pinnace in which the said Hastings was
carried, and in a lowly and suppliant manner, alone, and without any
guard or attendance whatsoever, entreated his favor; and being received
with great sternness and arrogance, he did put his turban in the lap of
the said Hastings, thereby signifying that he abandoned his life and
fortune to his disposal, and then departed, the said Hastings not
apprehending, nor having any reason to apprehend, any violence
whatsoever to his person.
IV. That the said Hastings, in the utmost security and freedom from
apprehension, did pursue his journey, and did arrive at the city of
Benares on the 14th of August, 1781, some hours before the Rajah, who,
soon after his arrival, intended to pay him a visit of honor and respect
at his quarters, but was by the said Hastings rudely and insolently
forbid, until he should receive his permission. And the said Hastings,
although he had previously determined on the ruin of the said Rajah, in
order to afford some color of regularity and justice to his proceedings,
did, on the day after his arrival, that is, on the 15th day of August,
1781, send to the Rajah a charge in writing, which, though informal and
irregular, may be reduced to four articles, two general, and two more
particular: the first of the general being, "That he [the Rajah] had, by
the means of his secret agents, endeavored to excite disorders in the
government on which he depended"; the second, "That he had suffered the
_daily_ perpetration of robberies and murders, even in the streets of
Benares, to the great and public scandal of the English name."
V. That it appears that the said Warren Hastings is guilty of an high
offence, contrary to the fundamental principles of justice, in the said
mode of charging misdemeanors, without any specification of person or
place or time or act, or any offer of specification or proofs by which
the party charged may be enabled to refute the same, in order to
unjustly load his reputation, and to prejudice him with regard to the
articles more clearly specified.
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