ABSTRACT

'Mr Pitt was through his whole speech uncommonly severe upon Mr Francis, making several pointed allusions to certain publications of that gentleman, and contrasting, comparing and combining many apt quotations from them, and from his speeches, that seemed to have a striking effect upon the house; but, not being in possession of the papers to which he referred, we are unable to give a sketch of these passages to our readers'. The controversy respecting Mr Hastings's conduct towards the raja of Benares, 9 July 1778, lies in the choice we are to make between two motives to which it may be imputed. The absent and the dead tell no tales. If the war with France had not opportunely occurred, Mr Hastings must have been a shallow fellow indeed, if he could have found no other pretence for extorting money. The art of calumny is not a whit more refined than the art of swindling.