of the world, because there can be nothing censurable in his conduct.  In short, if stability can be insured to such a government as this, where riches have been acquired in abundance in a small space of time, by all ways and means, and by men with or without capacities, it must be effected by a Governor thus restricted,”—­that is, a Governor restricted from every emolument but that of his salary.  I must remark, that this salary and these emoluments were not settled upon the vague speculations of men taking the measure of their necessities for India from the manners of England; but it was fixed by the Council themselves,—­fixed in India,—­fixed by those who knew and were in the situation of the Governor-General, and who knew what was necessary to support his dignity and to preserve him from the temptation of corruption:  and they have laid open to you such a body of advantages arising from it as would lead any man, who had a regard to his honor or conscience, to think himself happy in having such a provision made for him, and at the same time every temptation to act corruptly removed far from him.

The emoluments of the office, though reduced from the original plan which Lord Clive had proposed, may be computed at near 30,000_l._ a year, when Mr. Hastings was President:  22,000_l._ in certain money, and the rest in other advantages.  Whatever it was, I have shown that it was thought sufficient by those who were the best judges, and who, in carving for others, were carving for themselves their own allowance at the time.  But, my Lords, I am to give a better opinion of the sufficiency of that provision to guard against the temptation, out of Mr. Hastings’s own mouth.  He says, in his letter to the Court of Directors, “Although I disclaim the consideration of my own interest in these speculations, and flatter myself that I proceed upon more liberal grounds, yet I am proud to avow the feelings of an honest ambition that stimulates me to aspire at the possession of my present station for years to come.  Those who know my natural turn of mind will not ascribe this to sordid views.  A very few years’ possession of the government would undoubtedly enable me to retire with a fortune amply fitted to the measure of my desires, were I to consult only my ease:  but in my present situation I feel my mind expand to something greater; I have catched the desire of applause in public life.”

Here Mr. Hastings confesses that the emoluments affixed to office were not only sufficient for the purposes and ends which the nature of his office demanded, and the support of present dignity, but that they were sufficient to secure him, in a very few years, a comfortable retreat; but his object in wishing to hold his office long was to catch applause in public life.  What an unfortunate man is he, who has so often told us, in so many places, and through so many mouths, that, after fourteen years’ possession of an office which was to make him a comfortable fortune