The Works of the Right Honourable Edmund Burke, Vol. 11 (of 12)Burke, Edmund
History
The Works of the Right Honourable Edmund Burke, Vol. 11 (of 12)
Burke, Edmund
Great Britain -- Politics and government -- 1760-1820; Political science -- Early works to 1800
He proceeds,--"This is not a place, nor have I room in it, to prove,
what I shall here content myself with affirming, that, by a sacred and
undeviating observance of every principle of public faith, the British
dominion might have by this time acquired the means of its extension,
through a virtual submission to its authority, to every region of
Hindostan and Deccan. I am not sure that I should advise such a design,
were it practicable, which at this time it certainly is not; and I very
much fear that the limited formation of such equal alliances as might be
useful to our present condition, and conduce to its improvement, is
become liable to almost insurmountable difficulties: every power in
India must wish for the support of ours, but they all dread the
connection. The subjection of Bengal, and the deprivation of the family
of Jaffier Ali Khan, though an effect of inevitable necessity, the
present usurpations of the rights of the Nabob Wallau Jau in the
Carnatic, and the licentious violations of the treaty existing between
the Company and the Nabob Nizam ul Dowlah, though checked by the
remedial interposition of this government, stand as terrible precedents
against us; the effects of our connection with the Nabob Asoph ul Dowlah
had a rapid tendency to the same consequences, and it has been my
invariable study to prevent it."
Your Lordships will remember that the counsel at the bar have said that
they undertook the defence of Warren Hastings, not in order to defend
him, but to rescue the British character from the imputations which have
been laid upon it by the Commons of Great Britain. They have said that
the Commons of Great Britain have slandered their country, and have
misrepresented its character; while, on the contrary, the servants of
the Company have sustained and maintained the dignity of the English
character, have kept its public faith inviolate, preserved the people
from oppression, reconciled every government to it in India, and have
made every person under it prosperous and happy.
My Lords, you see what this man says himself, when endeavoring to prove
his own innocence. Instead of proving it by the facts alleged by his
counsel, he declares that by preserving good faith you might have
conquered India, the most glorious conquest that was ever made in the
world; that all the people want our assistance, but dread our
connection. Why? Because our whole conduct has been one perpetual tissue
of perfidy and breach of faith with every person who has been in
alliance with us, in any mode whatever. Here is the man himself who says
it. Can we bear that this man should now stand up in this place as the
assertor of the honor of the British nation against us, who charge this
dishonor to have fallen upon us by him, through him, and during his
government?
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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