If they know the laws of their own country, which I dare say
they do, it is not to be expected that they should know the laws of any
other. But, my Lords, it is to be expected that the prisoner should know
the Gentoo laws: for he not only cheated Nobkissin of his money to get
these laws translated, but he took credit for the publication of the
work as an act of public spirit, after shifting the payment from himself
by fraud and peculation. All this has been proved by the testimonies of
Mr. Auriol and Mr. Halhed before your Lordships.
We do not bring forward this book as evidence of guilt or innocence, but
to show the laws and usages of the country, and to prove the prisoner's
knowledge of them.
From the Gentoo we will proceed to the Tartarian government of India, a
government established by conquest, and therefore not likely to be
distinguished by any marks of extraordinary mildness towards the
conquered. The book before me will prove to your Lordships that the head
of this government (who is falsely supposed to have a despotic
authority) is absolutely elected to his office. Tamerlane was elected;
and Genghis Khan particularly valued himself on improving the laws and
institutions of his own country. These laws we only have imperfectly in
this book; but we are told in it, and I believe the fact, that he
forbade, under pain of death, any prince or other person to presume to
cause himself to be proclaimed Great Khan or Emperor, without being
first duly elected by the princes lawfully assembled in general diet.
Pages:
241
242
243
244
245
246
247
248
249
250
251
252
253
254
255
256
257
258
259
260
261
262
263
264
265