What reason under heaven could he have to go and seek
another master, to place himself under the protection of Sujah Dowlah,
in whose hands Mr. Hastings tells you, in so many direct and plain
words, that neither the Rajah's property, his honor, or his life could
be safe? Was he to seek refuge with the Mahrattas, who, though Gentoos
like himself, had reduced every nation which they subdued, except those
who were originally of their own empire, to a severe servitude? Can any
one believe that he wished either for the one or the other of these
charges [changes?], or that he was desirous to quit the happy
independent situation in which he stood under the protection of the
British empire, from any loose, wild, improbable notion of mending his
condition? My Lords, it is impossible. There is not one particle of
evidence, not one word of this charge on record, prior to the
publication of Mr. Hastings's Narrative; and all the presumptive
evidence in the world would scarcely be sufficient to prove the fact,
because it is almost impossible that it should be true.
But, my Lords, although Mr. Hastings swore to the truth of this charge,
when he came before the House of Commons, yet in his Narrative he thus
fairly and candidly avowed that he entertained no such opinion at the
time.
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