The Works of the Right Honourable Edmund Burke

Macleane "signifying thereupon his readiness to give the court every possible satisfaction
on that subject, but the powers with which he was intrusted by the papers in his custody
being mixed with other matters of a nature extremely confidential, he would submit the
same to the inspection of any three of the members of the court," the said Court of Directors
empowered the Chairman, Deputy Chairman, and Richard Becher, Esquire, to inspect the
authorities, powers, and directions with which Mr. Macleane was furnished by Mr. Hastings
to make the propositions contained in his letter of the 10th October, 1776, and to report
their opinion thereon. And the said committee did accordingly, on the 23d of the said
month, report, "that, having conferred with Mr. Macleane on the subject of his letter
presented to the court the 11th instant, they found, that, from the purport of Mr. Hastings's
instructions, contained in a paper in his own handwriting given to Mr. Macleane, and
produced by him to them, Mr. Hastings declared he would not continue in the government
of Bengal, unless certain conditions therein specified could be obtained, of which they saw
no probability; and Mr. George Vansittart had declared to them, that he was present when
these instructions were given to Mr. Macleane, and when Mr. Hastings empowered Mr.
Macleane to declare his resignation to the said court; that Mr. Stewart had likewise
confirmed to them, that Mr. Hastings declared to him, that he had given directions to the
above purpose by Mr. Macleane."

And the Court of Directors, having received from the said report due satisfaction respecting
the authority vested in the said Lauchlan Macleane to propose the said resignation of the
office of Governor-General of Bengal, did unanimously resolve to accept the same, and did
also, under powers vested in the said court by the act of the 13th year of his present
Majesty, "nominate and appoint Edward Wheler, Esquire, to succeed to the office in the
Council of Fort William in Bengal which will become vacant by the said resignation, if

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