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
"I have therefore kept the treaty with the greatest care and
caution in my possession, and, having taken a copy of it, I have
added to each article another, which appeared to me proper and
advisable, and without any loss or disadvantage to the English, or
anything more in favor of the Pundit Purdhaun than what was
contained in the former treaties. This I have sent to you, and hope
that you will prepare and send a treaty conformable to that,
without any _besides_, or _if_, or _why_, or _but_, and _whereas_,
that, as soon as it arrives, I may depart for Poonah, and, having
united with me Row Mahdajee Sindia, and having brought over the
Nabob Nizam ul Dowlah to this business, I may settle and adjust all
matters which are in this bad situation. As soon as I have received
my dismission from thence, I would set off for Calcutta, and
represent to you everything which for a long while I have had on my
mind, and by this transaction erect to the view of all the world
the standard of the greatness and goodness of the English and of my
master, and extinguish the flames of war with the waters of
friendship. The compassing all these advantages and happy prospects
depends entirely upon your will and consent; and the power of
bringing them to an issue is in your hands alone."
My Lords, you may here see the necessity there was for passing the act
of Parliament which I have just read to you, in order to prevent in
future the recurrence of that want of faith of which Mr. Hastings had
been so notoriously guilty, and by which he had not only united all
India against us, and had hindered us from making, for a long time, any
peace at all, but had exposed the British character to the irony, scorn,
derision, and insult of the whole people of that vast continent.
* * * * *
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