Here is another discovery, my Lords.  When he recalled Mr. Bristow, he did it under the pretence of its being desired by the Nabob of Oude; and that, consequently, he would not keep at the Nabob’s court a man that was disagreeable to him.  Yet, when the thing comes to be opened, it appears that Mr. Middleton had made the Nabob, unwillingly, write a false letter.  This subornation of falsehood appears also to have been known to Mr. Hastings.  Did he, either as the natural guardian and protector of the reputation of his fellow-servants, or as the official administrator of the laws of his country, or as a faithful servant of the Company, ever call Mr. Middleton to an account for it?  No, never.  To everybody, therefore, acquainted with the characters and circumstances of the parties concerned, the conclusion will appear evident that he was himself the author of it.  But your Lordships will find there is no end of his insolence and duplicity.

He next tells the vakeel, that the reason why he postponed the mission of Mr. Bristow to Lucknow was lest the people of Lucknow should think he had obtained his appointment in consequence of orders from Europe, and contrary to the Governor’s inclination.  You see, my Lords, he would have the people of the country believe that they are to receive the person appointed Resident not as appointed by the Company, but in consequence of his being under Mr. Hastings’s particular patronage; and to remove from them any suspicion that the Resident would obey the orders of the Court of Directors, or any orders but his own, he proceeds in the manner I have read to your Lordships.

You here see the whole machinery of the business.  He removes Mr. Bristow, contrary to the orders of the Court of Directors.  Why?  Because, says he to the Court of Directors, the Nabob complained of him, and desired it.  He here says, that he knew the Nabob did not desire it, but that the letter of complaint really and substantially was Mr. Middleton’s.  Lastly, as he recalls Mr. Bristow, so he wishes him to be called back in the same fictitious and fraudulent manner.  This system of fraud proves that there is not one letter from that country, not one act of this Vizier, not one act of his ministers, not one act of his ambassadors, but what is false and fraudulent.  And now think, my Lords, first, of the slavery of the Company’s servants, subjected in this manner to the arbitrary will and corrupt frauds of Mr. Hastings!  Next think of the situation of the princes of the country, obliged to complain without matter of complaint, to approve without [ground?] of satisfaction, and to have all their correspondence fabricated by Mr. Hastings at Calcutta!

But, my Lords, it was not indignities of this kind alone that the native princes suffered from this system of fraud and duplicity.  Their more essential interests, and those of the people, were involved in it; it pervaded and poisoned the whole mass of their internal government.