Page:Warren Hastings (Trotter).djvu/109

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THEIR ATTACKS ON HASTINGS
103

the man who had sold their services to a ruthless tyrant. Colonel Leslie declined to answer for the opinions of the army as to the moral character of the late war. The evidence of Leslie and Hannay was all in favour of the accused.

Baffled at one point, the three inquisitors attacked another, to nearly as little purpose. There was no evidence of the cruelties imputed to the Wazír. Of the Rohillás and their real character they learned many things which should have constrained them largely to modify their former misconceptions. But no amount of new facts could stay them in their furious career. They even found matter for a fresh charge against their President in the handsome donation which Shujá had bestowed upon Champion's troops. And, in. spite of all the evidence before them, they denounced him to the Directors as one who had waged war with 'an innocent nation,' and countenanced some of the worst atrocities committed by his ally[1].

As if to proclaim the essential pettiness of their motives, the three Councillors flavoured their despatch of November 30 with complaints of the scant courtesy shown them on their first arrival. They had been stinted of their proper salute, no troops were drawn out to greet them, Mr. Hastings had received them at his private house instead of the Council-chamber. Then there was undue delay in issuing the new commissions, and the ceremony of proclaiming the new Government was marked by the absence of

  1. Auber, Forrest.