The Works of the Right Honourable Edmund Burke, Vol. 12 (of 12)Burke, Edmund
History
The Works of the Right Honourable Edmund Burke, Vol. 12 (of 12)
Burke, Edmund
Great Britain -- Politics and government -- 1760-1820; Political science -- Early works to 1800
Mr. Hastings being now put over the whole country to regulate it, let us
see what he has done. He says, "Let me have an arbitrary power, and I
will regulate it." He assumed arbitrary power, and turned in and out
every servant at his pleasure. But did he by that arbitrary power
correct any one corruption? Indeed, how could he? He does not say he
did. For when a man gives ill examples in himself, when he cannot set on
foot an inquiry that does not terminate in his own corruption, of course
he cannot institute any inquiry into the corruption of the other
servants.
But again, my Lords, the subordinate servant will say, "I cannot rise"
(properly here, as Mr. Hastings has well observed) "to the height of
greatness, power, distinction, rank, or honor in the government; but I
can make my fortune, according to my degree, my measure, and my place."
His views will be then directed so to make it. And when he sees that the
Governor-General is actuated by no other views,--when he himself, as a
farmer, is confidently assured of the corruptions of his superior,--when
he knows it to be laid down as a principle by the Governor-General, that
no corruption is to be inquired into, and that, if it be not expressly
laid down, yet that his conduct is such as to make it the same as if he
had actually so laid it down,--then, I say, every part of the service is
instantly and totally corrupted.
* * * * *
I shall next refer your Lordships to the article of contracts. Five
contracts have been laid before you, the extravagant and corrupt profits
of which have been proved to amount to 500,000_l._ We have shown you, by
the strongest presumptive evidence, that these contracts were given for
the purpose of corrupting the Company's servants in India, and of
corrupting the Company itself in England. You will recollect that
40,000_l._ was given in one morning for a contract which the contractor
was never to execute: I speak of Mr. Sulivan's contract. You will also
recollect that he was the son of the principal person in the Indian
direction, and who, in or out of office, was known to govern it, and to
be supported by the whole Indian interest of Mr. Hastings. You have seen
the corruption of Sir Eyre Coote, in giving to Mr. Croftes the bullock
contract. You have seen the bullock contracts stated to Mr. Hastings's
face, and not denied, to have been made for concealing a number of
corrupt interests. You have seen Mr. Auriol's contract, given to the
secretary of the Company by Mr. Hastings in order that he might have the
whole records and registers of the Company under his control. You have
seen that the contract and commission for the purchase of stores and
provisions, an enormous job, was given to Mr. Belli, an obscure man, for
whom Mr. Hastings offers himself as security, under circumstances that
went to prove that Mr. Belli held this commission for Mr. Hastings.
These, my Lords, are things that cannot be slurred over. The
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account