One case has happened since the time which is limited by the order of
the House for this Report: it is so very important, that we think
ourselves justified in submitting it to the House without delay. Your
Committee, on the supposed rules here alluded to, has been prevented (as
of right) from examining a witness of importance in the case, and one on
whose supposed knowledge of his most hidden transactions the prisoner
had himself, in all stages of this business, as the House well knows,
endeavored to raise presumptions in favor of his cause. Indeed, it was
his principal, if not only justification, as to the _intention_, in many
different acts of corruption charged upon him. The witness to whom we
allude is Mr. Larkins. This witness came from India after your Committee
had closed the evidence of this House in chief, and could not be
produced before the time of the reply. Your Committee was not suffered
to examine him,--not, as they could find, on objections to the
particular question as improper, but upon some or other of the general
grounds (as they believe) on which Mr. Hastings resisted any evidence
from him. The party, after having resisted his production, on the next
sitting day admitted him, and by consent he was examined.
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