The charges, and the answers of Hastings, were first read.  This ceremony occupied two whole days.  On the third, Burke rose.  Four sittings of the court were occupied by his opening speech, which was intended to be a general introduction to all the charges.  With an exuberance of thought and a splendor of diction, which more than satisfied the highly raised expectations of the audience, he described the character and institutions of the natives of India; recounted the circumstances in which the Asiatic Empire of Britain had originated; and set forth the constitution of the Company and of the English Presidencies.

Having thus attempted to communicate to his hearers an idea of eastern society, as vivid as that which existed in his own mind, he proceeded to arraign the administration of Hastings, as systematically conducted in defiance of morality and public law.  The energy and pathos of the great orator extorted expressions of unwonted admiration from all; and, for a moment, seemed to pierce even the resolute heart of the defendant.  The ladies in the galleries, unaccustomed to such displays of eloquence, excited by the solemnity of the occasion, and perhaps not unwilling to display their taste and sensibility, were in a state of uncontrollable emotion.  Handkerchiefs were pulled out; smelling bottles were handed round; hysterical sobs and screams were heard, and some were even carried out in fits.

At length the orator concluded.  Raising his voice, till the old arches of Irish oak resounded—­“Therefore,” said he, “hath it with all confidence been ordered by the Commons of Great Britain, that I impeach Warren Hastings of high crimes and misdemeanors.  I impeach him in the name of the Commons House of Parliament, whose trust he has betrayed.  I impeach him in the name of the English nation, whose ancient honor he has sullied.  I impeach him in the name of the people of India, whose rights he has trodden under foot, and whose country he has turned into a desert.  Lastly, in the name of human nature itself, in the name of both sexes, in the name of every age, in the name of every rank, I impeach the common enemy and oppressor of all.”

Notes.—­Warren Hastings (b. 1732, d. 1818) was Governor-general of British India.  He was impeached for maladministration, but, after a trial which extended from Feb. 13th, 1788, to April 23d, 1795, and occupied one hundred and forty-eight days, he was acquitted by a large majority on each separate count of the impeachment.

William Rufus, or William ii. (b. 1056, d. 1100), built Westminster Hall in which the trial was held.  Bacon; see biographical notice, pages 332 and 333.  Somers, John (b. 1651. d. 1716) was impeached for maladministration while holding the office of lord chamberlain.  Strafford, Thomas Wentworth, earl of, (b. 1593, d. 1641,) was impeached for his mismanagement while governor of Ireland.  He conducted his own defense with such eloquence that the original impeachment was abandoned, although he was immediately condemned for high treason and executed.  Charles I. (b. 1600, d. 1649), after a war with Parliament, in which the rights of the people were at issue, was captured, tried, and condemned to death.