The time was approaching, however, when he was to be stripped of that robe which has never, since the Revolution, been disgraced so foully as by him.  The state of India had for some time occupied much of the attention of the British Parliament.  Towards the close of the American war, two committees of the Commons sat on Eastern affairs.  In one Edmund Burke took the lead.  The other was under the presidency of the able and versatile Henry Dundas, then Lord Advocate of Scotland.  Great as are the changes which, during the last sixty years, have taken place in our Asiatic dominions, the reports which those committees laid on the table of the House will still be found most interesting and instructive.

There was as yet no connection between the Company and either of the great parties in the State.  The ministers had no motive to defend Indian abuses.  On the contrary, it was for their interest to show, if possible, that the government and patronage of our Oriental empire might, with advantage, be transferred to themselves, The votes, therefore, which, in consequence of the reports made by the two committees, were passed by the Commons, breathed the spirit of stern and indignant justice.  The severest epithets were applied to several of the measures of Hastings, especially to the Rohilla war; and it was resolved, on the motion of Mr. Dundas, that the Company ought to recall a Governor-General who had brought such calamities on the Indian people, and such dishonour on the British name.  An act was passed for limiting the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court.  The bargain which Hastings had made with the Chief Justice was condemned in the strongest terms; and an address was presented to the King, praying that Impey might be summoned home to answer for his misdeeds.

Impey was recalled by a letter from the Secretary of State.  But the proprietors of India Stock resolutely refused to dismiss Hastings from their service, and passed a resolution affirming, what was undeniably true, that they were intrusted by law with the right of naming and removing their Governor-General, and that they were not bound to obey the directions of a single branch of the legislature with respect to such nomination or removal.

Thus supported by his employers, Hastings remained at the head of the Government of Bengal till the spring of 1785.  His administration, so eventful and stormy, closed in almost perfect quiet.  In the Council there was no regular opposition to his measures.  Peace was restored to India.  The Mahratta war had ceased.  Hyder was no more.  A treaty had been concluded with his son, Tippoo; and the Carnatic had been evacuated by the armies of Mysore.  Since the termination of the American war, England had no European enemy or rival in the Eastern seas.