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. Burke._--Order, my Lords, we call for, in the name of the Commons!
Your Lordships have heard us accused at your bar of falsehood, after we
had read the order upon which our assertion was founded. This man, whom
we have described as the scourge and terror of India, this man gets up,
and charges us, not with a mistake, an error, a wrong construction, but
a direct falsehood,--and adds, that his patience is worn out with the
falsehood he hears. This is not an English court of justice, if such a
thing is permitted. We beg leave to retire, and take instructions from
our constituents. He ought to be sent to Bridewell for going on in this
manner.
[_Mr. Wyndham here read the letter again._]
_Mr. Burke._--With regard to the ravings of this unhappy man, I am sure,
if I were only considering what passed from him to the Managers in this
box, and knowing what allowance is due to a wounded conscience, brought
before an awful tribunal, and smarting under the impressions of its own
guilt, I would pass them over. But, my Lords, we have the honor of the
Commons, we have the honor of this court to sustain. [Your Lordships,
the other day, for an offence committed against a constable, who was
keeping the way under your orders, did, very justly, and to the great
satisfaction of the public, commit the party to Bridewell, for a much
slighter insult against the honor and dignify of your court.] And I
leave it, therefore, for the present, till your Lordships can seriously
consider what the mode of proceeding in this matter ought to be.--I now
proceed.
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Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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