My Lords, you see what this man says himself, when endeavoring to prove
his own innocence. Instead of proving it by the facts alleged by his
counsel, he declares that by preserving good faith you might have
conquered India, the most glorious conquest that was ever made in the
world; that all the people want our assistance, but dread our
connection. Why? Because our whole conduct has been one perpetual tissue
of perfidy and breach of faith with every person who has been in
alliance with us, in any mode whatever. Here is the man himself who says
it. Can we bear that this man should now stand up in this place as the
assertor of the honor of the British nation against us, who charge this
dishonor to have fallen upon us by him, through him, and during his
government?
But all the mischief, he goes on to assert, was in the previous system,
in the formation of which he had no share,--the system of 1775, when
the first treaty with the Nabob was made. "That system," says he, "is
not mine; it was made by General Clavering, Colonel Monson, and Mr.
Francis." So it was, my Lords. It did them very great honor, and I
believe it ever will do them honor, in the eyes of the British nation,
that they took an opportunity, without the violation of faith, without
the breach of any one treaty, and without injury to any person, to do
great and eminent services to the Company.
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