The Works of the Right Honourable Edmund Burke, Vol. 10 (of 12)Burke, Edmund
History
The Works of the Right Honourable Edmund Burke, Vol. 10 (of 12)
Burke, Edmund
Great Britain -- Politics and government -- 1760-1820; Political science -- Early works to 1800
My Lords, you see here Mr. Hastings enabling the corrupt eunuchs of this
wicked old woman to draw upon the Company's treasury at their pleasure,
under forged papers of the Nabob, for just such moneys as they please,
under the name and pretence of giving it to the officers of justice, but
which they distribute among themselves as they think fit. This complaint
was soon followed by another, and they furnish, first, the strongest
presumptive proof of the corrupt motives of Mr. Hastings; and, secondly,
they show the horrible mischievous effects of his conduct upon the
country.
In consequence of the first complaint, Mr. Hastings directs this
independent Nabob not to concern himself any longer with the Foujdarry.
The Nabob, who had before declared that the superintendence of all the
offices belonged to him, and was to be executed by himself, or under his
orders, instantly obeys Mr. Hastings, and declares he will not interfere
in the business of the courts any more. Your Lordships will observe
further that the complaint is not against the Nabob, but against the
creatures and the menial servants of Munny Begum: and yet it is the
Nabob he forbids to interfere in this business; of the others he takes
no notice; and this is a strong proof of the corrupt dealings of Mr.
Hastings with this woman. When the whole country was fallen into
confusion under the administration of this woman, and under her corrupt
ministers, men base-born and employed in the basest offices, (the men of
the household train of the women of rank in that country are of that
description,) he writes to the Nabob again, and himself confesses the
mischiefs that had arisen from his corrupt arrangements.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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