The Works of the Right Honourable Edmund Burke

perspicuity,—stated the grounds and principles upon which they were made,—stated the
abuses that grew upon them,—and that every revolution produced its abuse. You saw the
native government vanish by degrees, until it was reduced to a situation fit for nothing but
to become a private perquisite, as it has been, to Mr. Hastings, and to be granted to whom
he pleased. The English government succeeded, at the head of which Mr. Hastings was
placed by an act of Parliament, having before held the office of President of the Council,—
the express object of both these appointments being to redress grievances; and within these
two periods of his power, as President and Governor-General, were those crimes committed
of which he now stands accused. All this history is merely by way of illustration: his
crimination begins from his nomination to the Presidency; and we are to consider how he
comported himself in that station, and in his office of Governor-General.

The first thing, in considering the merits or demerits of any governor, is to have some test
by which they are to be tried. And here, my Lords, we conceive, that, when a British
governor is sent abroad, he is sent to pursue the good of the people as much as possible in
the spirit of the laws of this country, which in all respects intend their conservation, their
happiness, and their prosperity. This is the principle upon which Mr. Hastings was bound to
govern, and upon which he is to account for his conduct here. His rule was, what a British
governor, intrusted with the power of this country, was bound to do or to forbear. If he has
performed and if he has abstained as he ought, dismiss him honorably acquitted from your
bar; otherwise condemn him. He may resort to other principles and to other maxims; but
this country will force him to be tried by its laws. The law of this country recognizes that
well-known crime called misconduct in office; it is a head of the law of England, and, so far
as inferior courts are competent to try it, may be tried in them. Here your Lordships'
competence is plenary: you are fully competent both to inquire into and to punish the

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