on the 23d of April, 1795, judgment was pronounced by the Lords on the charges, most of them' severally, and Mr. Hastings was acquitted of them all.* The unprecedented duration of the trial, was an evil, wherever the fault lay, of an enormous extent, both as it bore upon the public and Mr. Hastings, but it was more especially grievous to the latter. The expences to the public of this trial amounted to more than 100,000l.; and Mr. Hastings' law expences to more than 60,000l. In consideration of the latter, and of his services, the East India Company voted him an annual pension of 4000l. for twentyeight years and a half, amounting to 114,000l. of which the company gave him 42,000l. in advance, and lent him beside 50,000l. And it is just to observe, that the company took other measures to declare their belief of his innocence. Mr. Hastings is said to be a good architect and engineer. His literary attainments are certainly very extraordinary for a man who passed more than thirtythree years of his life in active scenes of business in * Twenty-nine were the greatest number of peers who voted on this occasion. On the first article of the impeachment twentythree voted not guilty, and six guilty. On two of the articles the vote of not guilty was unanimous. The Lord Chancellor pronounced the judgment in the following words, "Warren Hast"ings, Esq. I am to acquaint you that you are ACQUITTED "of the ARTICLES of IMPEACHMENT, &c. exhibited against you by the House of Commons, for High Crimes and "Misdemeanors, and all things contained therein, and you are "discharged, paying your fees." 1799-1800 PP such such a service as that of the East India Company, and who entered their service before he was seventeen. Mr. Hastings is now in the 66th year of his age. We shall conclude this memoir with the following elegant specimen of Mr. Hastings' poetical powers. It is a rare instance that a man unites in his own person, various talents, in so great a degree of excellence. This beautiful imitation of the OTIUM Divos of Horace, is said to have been written while on his passage to England, in 1785. For ease the harrassed seaman prays, The Cape's surrounding wave; For neither gold nor gems combin'd Lo where their owner lies: Perch'd on his couch Distemper breathes, He who enjoys, nor covets more, Is of true blifs possess'd; Let but his mind unfetter'd tread, And wise, as well as blest. No Lest printed lies his fame destroy, Which labor'd years have won; Short is our span; then why engage Why slight the gifts of Nature's hand? The restless thought and wayward will, Nor think of woes to come; By Heav'n's eternal doom. To ripen'd age CLIVE liv'd renown'd, Too long, alas! he liv'd to hate His envied lot, and died too late, Too soon to fade. I bade the stone Record his name, 'midst hordes unknown, Unknowing what it told. To thee, perhaps, the Fates may give, I wish they may, in health to live, Herds, Herds, flocks, and fruitful fields; For me, O SHORE, I only claim, A state above the fear of want, Domestic love, Heaven's choicest grant, FINIS. T. Gillet, Printer, On Saturday the 30th of November will be published, LETTERS FROM ITALY, REVOLUTIONS IN THAT COUNTRY, From the Capture of NICE by the French Republic to the Expulsion of PIUS VI. from the Ecclesiastical State: Likewise pointing out The matchless Works of Art which still embellish PISA, FLORENCE, SIENA, ROME, NAPLES, BOLOGNA, VENICE, &c. &c. Who With Instructions for the Use of INVALIDS AND FAMILIES may not choose to incur the Expence attendant upon travelling with a COURIER. BY MARIANA STARKE, Author of The Widow of Malabar, The Tournament, &c. |