But to proceed with the razinama.

“He never omitted the smallest instance of kindness towards us, but healed the wounds of despair with the salve of consolation, by means of his benevolent and kind behavior, never permitting one of us to sink in the pit of despondence.  He supported every one by his goodness, overset the designs of evil-minded men by his authority, tied the hand of oppression with the strong bandage of justice, and by these means expanded the pleasing appearance of happiness and joy over us.  He reestablished justice and impartiality.  We were during his government in the enjoyment of perfect happiness and ease, and many of us are thankful and satisfied.  As Mr. Hastings was well acquainted with our manners and customs, he was always desirous in every respect of doing whatever would preserve our religious rites, and guard them against every kind of accident and injury, and at all times protected us.  Whatever we have experienced from him, and whatever happened from him, we have written without deceit or exaggeration.”

My Lords, before I take leave of this affair of bribes and of the great bribe-broker, let me just offer a remark to your Lordships upon one curious transaction.  My Lords, we have charged a bribe taken from the Nabob of Oude, and we have stated the corrupt and scandalous proceeding which attended it.  I thought I had done with Oude; but as there is a golden chain between all the virtues, so there is a golden chain which links together all the vices.  Mr. Hastings, as you have seen, and as my honorable colleague has fully opened it to you, received a bribe or corrupt present from the Nabob of Oude in September, 1781.  We heard no more of this bribe than what we had stated, (no other trace of it ever appearing in the Company’s records, except in a private letter written by Mr. Hastings to the Court of Directors, and afterwards in a communication such as you have heard through Mr. Larkins,) till October, 1783.

But, my Lords, we have since discovered, through and in consequence of the violent disputes which took place between Mr. Hastings and the clan of Residents that were in Oude,—­the Resident of the Company, Mr. Bristow, the two Residents of Mr. Hastings, Mr. Middleton and Mr. Johnson, and the two Residents sent by him to watch over all the rest, Major Palmer and Major Davy,—­upon quarrels, I say, between them, we discovered that Mr. Middleton had received the offer of a present of 100,000_l._ in February, 1782.  This circumstance is mentioned in a letter of Mr. Middleton’s, in which he informs Mr. Hastings that the Nabob had destined such a sum for him.