He sacrificed to his own nefarious views
every one of those lives, as well as the lives of the innocent natives
of Benares, whom he designedly drove to resistance by the weakness of
the force opposed to them, after inciting them by tyranny and insult to
that display of affection towards their sovereign which is the duty of
all good subjects.
My Lords, these are the iniquities which we have charged upon the
prisoner at your bar; and I will next call your Lordships' attention to
the manner in which these iniquities have been pretended to be
justified. You will perceive a great difference in the manner in which
this prisoner is tried, and of which he so much complains, and the
manner in which he dealt with the unfortunate object of his oppression.
The latter thus openly appeals to his accuser. "You are," says he, "upon
the spot. It is happy for me that you are so. You can now inquire into
my conduct." Did Mr. Hastings so inquire? No, my Lords, we have not a
word of any inquiry; he even found fresh matter of charge in the answer
of the Rajah, although, if there is any fault in this answer, it is its
extremely humble and submissive tone. If there was anything faulty in
his manner, it was his extreme humility and submission.
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