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1788.

BOOK feel at times some transient emotions of pity at the sufferings they wish to perpetuate. "Amidst the pauses (says a certain vindicator of the African slave-trade) which the delay of cares so constantly occasions, at the setting in of the rains, there is something extremely affecting in observing some poor afflicted mourner pouring out her complaints in sighs and tears, while the thoughts of her distant country, her connections, and her friends, at once rush upon her mind. For amongst this class are many who have their feelings as exquisitely alive to the melting impressions of tenderness and sorrow as those who are distinguished by a better fortune.-Despair has cut off more people in the West Indies than plagues or famine.—Their principal festivals are at their burials: I never knew a negro who considered death as an evil, who either dreaded it by anticipation, or who was apprehensive when it was hovering near.”*

• BECKFORD's History of Jamaica.

In the beautiful poetic epistle addressed to Mr. Wilberforce by the celebrated Mrs. Barbauld, on the subject of the SlaveTrade, are to be found the following picturesque and animated lines, descriptive of the miseries entailed on the natives of Africa by this horrid traffic :

Nor in their palmy walks and spicy groves
The form benign of rural pleasure roves;
No milk-maid's song, or hum of village talk,
Soothes the lone poet in his evening walk;
No willing arm the flail unwearied plies,
Where the mix'd sounds of cheerful labor rise;

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788

Trial of

tings re

tion of

The trial of Mr. Hastings was resumed early in BOOK the session, and the third article, respecting presents illegally and corruptly received by Mr. Hastings, brought forward by Mr. Burke. In his Mr. Has opening speech in support of this charge, in which sumed. the fatal business of Nundcomar stood most conspicuous, Mr. Burke made use of the following Indiscreindiscreet expression: "that man Mr. Hastings Mr. Burke. MURDERED by the hands of sir Elijah Impey.” This afforded a ground of petition from Mr. Hastings, that this allegation should be prosecuted in specific articles, or that the house should grant him such redress as to them should seem meet." After a long debate, the house of commons resolved, “that no authority had been given by the house for the purpose of making any criminal charge respecting the death of Nundcomar, and that the words complained of ought not to have

No blooming maids and frolic swains are seen
To pay gay homage to their harvest queen.
No heart-expanding scenes their eyes must prove,
Of thriving industry and faithful love :
But shrieks and yells disturb the balmy air
Dum sullen looks of woe announce despair,

And angry eyes thro' dusky features glare.
Friends of the friendless-Hail, ye generous band!
Whose efforts yet arrest Heaven's lifted hand;
Around whose steady brows, in union bright,
The Civic wreath and Christian's palm unite;
Your merit stands-no greater and no less
Without or with the varnish of success.

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1789

BOOK been spoken." With this sort of reparation, though not absolutely amounting to an affirmation of innocence, Mr. Hastings was compelled to rest satisfied. By this time it began to be evident that the house of lords were very little disposed to give their countenance to the impeachment-all questions of reference being invariably determined in favor of the delinquent. On the 21st of May, 1789, the lord-chancellor informed the managers, that their lordships were of opinion that it was not competent for them to produce the examination of Nundcomar, taken by the majority of the council in the absence of Mr. Hastings, as evidence positive or presumptive in support of the charge of bribery and corruption. Mr. Fox, in reply, said, “that the examination of Nundcomar was offered by the managers as it afforded, when taken in connection with the demeanour of Mr. Hastings on that occasion, the strongest presumption of guilt. Mr. Hastings not only made no reply to the accusation, but endeavoured by violent measures to prevent it. Mr. Hastings's absence had been voluntary and contumacious. Shall he be protected from punishment, because he fled from evidence?` or shall Mr. Hastings be allowed to plead his own criminal omission as a legal defence of his own criminal commission? If evidence such as was now offered should be rejected, it would be in effect to proclaim, as it were by sound of trumpet, that

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bribery and corruption were let loose in India; BOOK and henceforth every delinquent, whatever degree of indignation his crimes might excite, might rest assured that no prosecution could possibly terminate in conviction. If Mr. Hastings was thus permitted to sacrifice his honor to his safety, he might look forward with confidence to an ultimate acquittal, accompanied with the contempt and detestation of all good men. The managers did not however conceive that the proceedings of the high court of parliament were to be regulated by the practice of the inferior court, but by the lex et consuetudo parliamenti'-the rules of substantial justice. It was the peculiar excellence of the law of England that it knew its own strength and its own weakness; and therefore, when the common forms of law were too weak to bring a powerful delinquent to justice, the high inquisitorial power of parliament was resorted to: but if it should appear that the common law, acknowledged inadequate, was to be adopted by that high tribunal in all its technical forms, proof would inevitably fail, the honor of the nation would be sacrificed, the great end of government, the happiness of the community, would be abandoned, and the sword of public justice would be wielded in vain."

dington

Mr. Grenville, speaker of the house of com- Mr. Admons, being advanced, upon the resignation of chosen lord Sydney, to the office of secretary of state, and

speaker.

BOOK in the sequel to a peerage, was succeeded, after sit

XXIII.

1788.

Tobacco excise bill.

ting in the chair of the house scarcely six months, by Henry Addington, esq. The new speaker soon acquired great reputation for dignity, integrity, and impartiality, in the discharge of his office; and he is, by the united voice of contending factions, allowed to rank amongst the ablest of those who have occupied that high and difficult station.

In providing the supplies of the year, Mr. Pitt was obliged to acknowledge the necessity of borrowing the sum of one million, contrary to his own prediction, that no loan would be wanted. This necessity, however, did not arise from the unproductiveness of the taxes, which rose even higher than the previous estimate of the minister, but from extraordinary and unforeseen causes, the principal of which were the sums voted for the liquidation of the arrear of the civil list, and of the debt of the prince of Wales, and the expence of the late armament: so that the general prospect of fu ture and permanent prosperity remained wholly unimpaired; and the minister acquired, from the present state of commerce and of the public funds and revenues, great and just increase of reputation.

An important operation of finance took place in the course of the session, in exchange of the heavy duties on tobacco from the customs to the excise. This was effected with general approbation, and great advantage to the public. It is a circumstance