All preliminary steps having been duly taken, Burke, in the beginning of June, brought forward the charge relating to the Rohilla war.  He acted discreetly in placing this accusation in the van; for Dundas had formerly moved, and the House had adopted, a resolution condemning, in the most severe terms, the policy followed by Hastings with regard to Rohilcund, Dundas had little, or rather nothing, to say in defence of his own consistency; but he put a bold face on the matter, and opposed the motion.  Among other things, he declared that, though he still thought the Rohilla war unjustifiable, he considered the services which Hastings had subsequently rendered to the State as sufficient to atone even for so great an offence Pitt did not speak, but voted with Dundas; and Hastings was absolved by a hundred and nineteen votes against sixty-seven.

Hastings was now confident of victory.  It seemed, indeed, that he had reason to be so.  The Rohilla war was, of all his measures, that which his accusers might with greatest advantage assail.  It had been condemned by the Court of Directors.  It had been condemned by the House of Commons.  It had been condemned by Mr. Dundas, who had since become the chief minister of the Crown for Indian affairs.  Yet Burke, having chosen this strong ground, had been completely defeated on it.  That, having failed here, he should succeed on any point, was generally thought impossible.  It was rumoured at the clubs and coffee-houses that one or perhaps two more charges would be brought forward, that if, on those charges, the sense of the House of Commons should be against impeachment, the Opposition would let the matter drop, that Hastings would be immediately raised to the peerage, decorated with the star of the Bath, sworn of the Privy Council, and invited to lend the assistance of his talents and experience to the India Board.  Lord Thurlow, indeed, some months before, had spoken with contempt of the scruples which prevented Pitt from calling Hastings to the House of Lords; and had even said that, if the Chancellor of the Exchequer was afraid of the Commons, there was nothing to prevent the Keeper of the Great Seal from taking the royal pleasure about a patent of peerage.  The very title was chosen.  Hastings was to be Lord Daylesford.  For, through all changes of scene and changes of fortune, remained unchanged his attachment to the spot which had witnessed the greatness and the fall of his family, and which had borne so great a part in the first dreams of his young ambition.

But in a very few days these fair prospects were overcast.  On the thirteenth of June, Mr. Fox brought forward, with great ability and eloquence, the charge respecting the treatment of Cheyte Sing.  Francis followed on the same side.  The friends of Hastings were in high spirits when Pitt rose.  With his usual abundance and felicity of language, the Minister gave his opinion on the case.  He maintained that the Governor-General was justified in calling on the Rajah