"THEREFORE I established the foundation of my empire on the morality and the religion
of Islaum; and by regulations and laws I gave it stability. And by laws and by regulations I
executed every business and every transaction that came before me in the course of my
government."
I need not read any further, or I might show your Lordships the noble principles, the grand,
bold, and manly maxims, the resolution to abstain from oppression himself, and to crush it
in the governors under him, to be found in this book, which Mr. Hastings has thought
proper to resort to as containing what he calls arbitrary principles.
But it is not in this instance only that I must do justice to the East. I assert that their
morality is equal to ours, in whatever regards the duties of governors, fathers, and
superiors; and I challenge the world to show in any modern European book more true
morality and wisdom than is to be found in the writings of Asiatic men in high trust, and
who have been counsellors to princes. If this be the true morality of Asia, as I affirm and
can prove that it is, the plea founded on Mr. Hastings's geographical morality is annihilated.
I little regard the theories of travellers, where they do not relate the facts on which they are
founded. I have two instances of facts attested by Tavernier, a traveller of power and
consequence, which are very material to be mentioned here, because they show that in some
of the instances recorded, in which the princes of the country have used any of those cruel
and barbarous executions which make us execrate them, it has been upon governors who
have abused their trust,—and that this very Oriental authority to which Mr. Hastings
appeals would have condemned him to a dreadful punishment. I thank God, and I say it