Graham, Mr. Fowke, Mr. Markham, Mr. Benn,
concerning the affairs of that country. Did he ever, upon this alleged
contumacy, (for at present I put the rebellion out of the question,)
inquire the progress of this personal affront offered to the
Governor-General of Bengal? Did he ever state it to the Rajah, or did he
call his vakeel before the Council to answer the charge? Did he examine
any one person, or particularize a single fact, in any manner whatever?
No. What, then, did he do? Why, my Lords, he declared himself the person
injured, stood forward as the accuser, assumed the office of judge, and
proceeded to judgment without a party before him, without trial, without
examination, without proof. He thus directly reversed the order of
justice. He determined to fine the Rajah when his own patience, as he
says, was exhausted, not when justice demanded the punishment. He
resolved to fine him in the enormous sum of 500,000_l._ Does he inform
the Council of this determination? No. The Court of Directors? No. Any
one of his confidants? No, not one of them,--not Mr. Palmer, not Mr.
Middleton, nor any of that legion of secretaries that he had; nor did he
even inform Mr. Malcolm [Markham?] of his intentions, until he met him
at Boglipore.
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