the school of Cossim Ali Khân.
If he had lived with us, he would have quoted the example of Cicero in his government, he
would have quoted several of the sacred and holy prophets, and made them his example.
His want of learning, profane as well as sacred, reduces him to the necessity of appealing to
every name and authority of barbarism, tyranny, and usurpation that are to be found; and
from these he says, "From the practice of one part of Asia or other I have taken my rule."
But your Lordships will show him that in Asia as well as in Europe the same law of nations
prevails, the same principles are continually resorted to, and the same maxims sacredly held
and strenuously maintained, and, however disobeyed, no man suffers from the breach of
them who does not know how and where to complain of that breach,—that Asia is
enlightened in that respect as well as Europe; but if it were totally blinded, that England
would send out governors to teach them better, and that he must justify himself to the piety,
the truth, the faith of England, and not by having recourse to the crimes and criminals of
other countries, to the barbarous tyranny of Asia, or any other part of the world.
I will go further with Mr. Hastings, and admit, that, if there be a boy in the fourth form of
Westminster School, or any school in England, who does not know, when these articles are
read to him, that he has been guilty of gross and enormous crimes, he may have the shelter
of his present plea, as far as it will serve him. There are none of us, thank God, so
uninstructed, who have learned our catechisms or the first elements of Christianity, who do
not know that such conduct is not to be justified, and least of all by examples.
There is another topic he takes up more seriously, and as a general rebutter to the charge.
Says he, "After a great many of these practices with which I am charged, Parliament