them while proceeding in the discharge of their duty, went on as a Council.  They called in Nundcomar to support his charge:  Mr. Hastings withdrew.  Nundcomar was asked what he had to say further in support of his own evidence.  Upon which he produces a letter from Munny Begum, the dancing-girl that I have spoken of, in which she gives him directions and instructions relative to his conduct in every part of those bribes; by which it appears that the corrupt agreement for her office was made with Mr. Hastings through Nundcomar, before he had quitted Calcutta.  It points out the execution of it, and the manner in which every part of the sum was paid:  one lac by herself in Calcutta; one lac, which she ordered Nundcomar to borrow, and which he did borrow; and a lac and a half which were given to him, Mr. Hastings, besides this purchase money, under color of an entertainment.  This letter was produced, translated, examined, criticized, proved to be sealed with the seal of the Begum, acknowledged to have no marks but those of authenticity upon it, and as such was entered upon the Company’s records, confirming and supporting the evidence of Nundcomar, part by part, and circumstance by circumstance.  And I am to remark, that, since this document, so delivered in, has never been litigated or controverted in the truth of it, from that day to this, by Mr. Hastings, so, if there was no more testimony, here is enough, upon this business.  Your Lordships will remark that this charge consisted of two parts:  two lacs that were given explicitly for the corrupt purchase of the office; and one lac and a half given in reality for the same purpose, but under the color of what is called an entertainment.

Now in the course of these proceedings it was thought necessary that Mr. Hastings’s banian, Cantoo Baboo, (a name your Lordships will be well acquainted with, and who was the minister in this and all the other transactions of Mr. Hastings,) should be called before the board to explain some circumstances in the proceedings.  Mr. Hastings ordered his banian, a native, not to attend the sovereign board appointed by Parliament for the government of that country, and directed to inquire into transactions of this nature.  He thus taught the natives not only to disobey the orders of the Court of Directors, enforced by an act of Parliament, but he taught his own servant to disobey, and ordered him not to appear before the board.  Quarrels, duels, and other mischiefs arose.  In short, Mr. Hastings raised every power of heaven and of hell upon this subject:  but in vain:  the inquiry went on.

Mr. Hastings does not meet Nundcomar:  he was afraid of him.  But he was not negligent of his own defence; for he flies to the Supreme Court of Justice.  He there prosecuted an inquiry against Nundcomar for a conspiracy.  Failing in that, he made other attempts, and disabled Nundcomar from appearing before the board by having him imprisoned, and thus utterly crippled that part of the prosecution