the first foundation of her misfortunes; to your equity she has now recourse through me for their alleviation, that she may pass the remainder of her life in a state which may at least efface the remembrance of the years of her affliction; and to your humanity she and an unseen multitude of the most helpless of her sex cry for subsistence.”

Moving and pathetic!—­I wish to recommend every word of this letter to your Lordships’ consideration, as a model and pattern of perfection.  Observe his pity for a woman who had suffered such treatment from the servants of the Company (a parcel of ruffians!)—­treatment that a ruffian would be ashamed of!  Your Lordships have seen, in the evidence, what this ruffianism was.  It was neither more nor less than what was necessary in order to get at the accounts, which she concealed, as his own corrupt transactions.  She was told, indeed, that she must privately remove to another house whilst her papers were examining.  Mr. Hastings can never forget this.  He cannot believe that anybody dare send such an order; and he calls upon you to consider the helplessness of their sex, and the affronts offered to women.

For Heaven’s sake, my Lords, recollect the manner in which Mr. Hastings and his creatures treated the Begums of Oude, and consider that this woman was only threatened (for the threat was never attempted to be executed) that she must, if she did not deliver up the accounts, probably be removed to another house, and leave the accounts behind her.  This blot can never be effaced; and for this he desires the Court of Directors to make her a large allowance to comfort her in her old age.  In this situation Mr. Hastings leaves her.  He leaves in the situation I have described the justice of the country.  The only concern he has at parting is, that this woman may have a large allowance.

But I have yet to tell your Lordships, and it appears upon your printed Minutes, that this woman had a way of comforting herself:—­for old ladies of that description, who have passed their youth in amusements, in dancing, and in gallantries, in their old age are apt to take comfort in brandy.  This lady was a smuggler, and had influence enough to avoid payment of the duty on spirits, in which article she is the largest dealer in the district,—­as, indeed, she is in almost every species of trade.  Thus your Lordships see that this sentimental lady, whom Mr. Hastings recommends to the Directors, had ways of comforting herself.  She carried on, notwithstanding her dignity, a trade in spirits.  Now a Mahometan of distinction never carries on any trade at all,—­it is an unknown thing,—­very few Mahometans of any rank carry on any trade at all; but that a Mahometan should carry on a trade in spirits is a prodigy never heard of before; for a woman of quality, for a woman of sentiment, to become a dealer in spirits is, my Lords, a thing reserved for the sentimental age of Mr. Hastings; and I will venture to say that