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BURKE'S KNOWLEDGE OF INDIA.

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orientalist, named Yuseph Emin, whose prospects he aided and advanced, first turned his thoughts and studies to the history and

CHARLES FOX, AFTER GILRAY.

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affairs of British India. A correspondence with Emin, who was established at Calcutta, supplied Burke with much information; his own comprehensive and industrious mind soon mastered a great deal more; and his knowledge was made perfect by his subsequent close intimacy with the eminent son of the Rev. Dr. Francis, the translator of Horace-Sir Philip Francis, a bold politician, whose temper and talents strengthened the strong suspicion, that arose from other circumstances, of his being Junius, and who, just as Junius ceased, went out to Bengal as member of council, to act an important part in the drama of Indian affairs. Thus was Burke prepared for the subject of India, which, in the session of 1772, grew into a topic of much serious parliamentary deliberation; and from that time forward continued at intervals more or less to occupy public attention.

Political investigation, in fact, was continually hovering over the territories and officers of the Company. The gallant but not immaculate Clive had passed through the ordeal of accusation in a measure unscathed. An act of Lord North's, in 1773, called the Regulating Act, made considerable changes in the government of India, giving to Bengal the chief control over all the possessions of the Company, and making the chief of that presidency governorgeneral. Clive was then in England. The place of the first governor-general fell to the lot of his former minion, Warren Hastings. Philip Francis, the friend of Burke, arrived from England to sit as a member of Hastings' council, and there to act in opposition to him. No doubt, much that followed was owing to the inquiring and obstinate spirit of Francis-a man, equally with Burke, intolerant of wrong, and far more personally implacable. Francis stirred Burke to the impeachment, and Burke became inveterate also; but Burke's disinterestedness was much more evident. He was convinced that Hastings was a very bad and culpable man; and none, indeed, not even Hastings' recent and brilliant defender, Mr. Macaulay, pretend now to show him guiltless. Certainly Burke was not altogether right in the

BURKE'S CONDUCT RELATIVE TO INDIA.

157 extreme violence with which he attacked the doings in India, and denounced and pursued the governor-general. But this at least may be said: when Burke discovered the abuses of the Company's servants, and fearful abuses they were, his temper, ever impatient of evil, ever "too fond of the right to pursue the expedient," would suffer no middle course, no temporising nor moderation. The whole Indian system of corruption, cruelty, and

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oppression fell a prey to his ungovernable wrath. anger of the avenging deities of classic story, it sought satisfaction in judgment and immolation; it went beyond discretion, even to the limits of mercy. But it had its ultimate effect. Take British India up to the time of Burke, sinking as it then was beneath its own extortionate and wasteful excesses,

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a cutpurse of the empire and the rule," and compare it with the Company's possessions now, which, with all the faults and imperfections still existing, form the best and most flourishing nation of the East: it will be then seen whether it did not require some exertion,

almost superhuman, to inaugurate the change. That was done by Burke, fiercely and intemperately no doubt; but it was done. The thunder of his eloquence cleared the atmosphere, and produced a better temperature. Misgovernment died away before his words: the native millions in India ceased to be common spoil, and began to prosper under a dominion converted from a curse to a blessing—from a quicksand to a harbour of refuge. This great struggle Burke, through a course of years, commenced, recommenced, and returned to again and again, incessantly, indefatigably, indomitably. His influence was the mainspring of the whole.

Early in 1781, two Indian committees -one select, the other secret-were appointed by the House of Commons to inquire into the notorious mal-administration and wretched state of the East India Company's affairs. The reports of these committees led to much debating relative to the general misconduct of the governing powers in India; but in consequence of a successful motion of adjournment, the whole proceedings, for the time, fell to the ground. On the 15th April, 1782, a new set of resolutions were presented to parliament relative to India. One of them was to the effect that Warren Hastings, governor-general of Bengal, and William Hornsby, Esq., president of Bombay, had acted in a manner repugnant to the honour and policy of the nation; had brought great calamities on India, enormous expenses on the East India Company, and that the directors of the Company should remove both Hastings and Hornsby. The directors were willing to do so; but the general court of proprietors interfered and prevented them. Thus ended this parliamentary attempt at redress.

In 1783 the introduction of Mr. Fox's East India bills roused the subject again in right earnest. Parliament met on the 11th November of that year. The speech from the throne announced that definitive treaties of peace had been concluded with France, Spain, and the United States of America, and that the preliminary articles had been ratified with the States General of the United

FOX'S EAST INDIA BILL.

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Provinces. The speech then directed the attention of parliament to East Indian affairs. The subject was entered upon forthwith. Mr. Fox submitted two bills to the consideration of the Commons. One bill was for "vesting the affairs of the East India Company in the hands of certain commissioners, for the benefit of the proprietors and the public." The other bill was for the better government of the territorial possessions and dependencies in India." On the 18th November Mr. Fox made an able speech in support of these measures. His plan was to establish a board, to consist of seven persons, who should be appointed with full power to appoint and displace officers in India, and under whose control the whole government of India should be placed; he also proposed to appoint another class, to consist of eight persons, to be called assistants, who should have charge of the sales, outfits, &c. of the Company, and in general of all commercial concerns, but still to be under the control of the first seven.

The discussion on these bills was of the most exciting kind. The debates frequently lasted till five o'clock in the morning. The speakers in favour of the bills were, besides Fox, Mr. Burke, Sir Grey Cooper, Mr. Sheridan, Mr. Anstruther, and Mr. Adam; those against the bills were Mr. Pitt, Mr. Thomas Pitt (afterwards Lord Camelford), Mr. Dundas, Mr. Powis, Mr. Jenkinson, and Mr. Macdonald. The arguments urged in opposition to the bills were drawn from two sources: 1st, the proposed arbitrary defeazance of the chartered rights of the court of proprietors and directors, without a justifiable plea of necessity; and 2dly, the dangerous power lodged in the hands of the intended new commissioners. On both these grounds issue was joined by the advocates of the new system.

On the 1st of the ensuing December, upon the question of the House going into committee on the first of these bills, Edmund Burke supported Fox in a magnificent harangue. He commenced with the following description of British India as it was in 1783:

"With very few, and those inconsiderable intervals, the Bri

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