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[Page 52]
"For these, and such like ills, we deem it meet,
"That HASTINGS should no longer hold his seat.
"But mark, my friends, in vain direction sought
"To fix on HASTINGS one specific fault ;
"And here I call upon their boldest Man,
"(The challenge let him answer if he can)
"To state a SINGLE INSTANCE, or to name
"ONE ACT that HASTINGS did, deserving BLAME !!!
"In general terms they couch a censure strong,
"T’obstruct our proving, that their censure’s wrong ;
"Those only in ambiguous language speak,
"Who feel their proofs and arguments are weak.
"Now stop a while, and turn your observation
"To men applauding their own moderation;
"For Wisdom they their reputations raise,
"By taking to themselves another’s praise.
"They tell us, the M’HRATTA War is due
"To HASTlNGS – tho' they know the fact untrue :
"And can Directors, void of truth and shame,
"For self-committed crimes their SERVANTS blame?
"Bold truths I speak, deny it if ye can,
"Our wise DIRECTORS laid the hostile plan;
"'Twas their command the peaceful Treaty broke,
"War's Trumpet blew. and gave th' aggressive stroke.
" One fact - you'll not believe, when I relate it,
"But let them contradict - if I must state it -
"FLETCHER, whose voice his own encomium sins,
"FLETCHER, who this false accusation brings;
"Who told you HASTINGS was the baneful source
"Of War, of Rapine, and of lawless Force;
"This very FLETCHER, d--n'd the Treaty made,
"And bade them seek That Treaty to invade;
"In these and acts he the COMMITTEE join'd'
"He first the war-provoking letter sign'd.
"It was not HASTINGS who the treaty broke,
"FLETCHER was he that did the war provoke:
"In scouting Peace, lay FLETCHER's moderation -
"His faith and wisdom in its violation;
"His justice, in condemning HASTINGS, shown,
"For Crimes his conscience tells him are his own;
"FLETCHER stand forth! and make thy own defence,
"Or clear from foul aspersion, INNOCENCE!
"On grounds like these, are all their Charges built,
"THEY sin themselves. and HASTINGS bears the guilt.
"Against one man were e'er such schemes devis'd?
Was ever character so scrutiniz'd?
"BY two COMMITTEES cast, without a hearing,
"Without a friend on his behalf appearing:
"But, after proving, by severest test -
"Convinc'd, his foe reluctantly confest,
"They had in all his public conduct found
"Integrity of HEART and judgment sound;
"Experience, knowledge, qualities that must
"Capacitate a man for PUBLIC TRUST.
"Shall talents such as these incur disgrace?
"Shall ignorance and folly take their place?
"Shall madness drive this PREFECT from his seat,
"The only Man that can preserve the State?
"This our DIRECTORS do in imitation
"Of FOX and BURKE, and THEIR ADMINISTRATION.
"To prove, however absurd CHARLES FOX may be,
"DIRECTORS can be more absurd than HE:
"The RAJAH's Exile and the BEGUMS' Tales,
"Which GENERAL SMITH so tenderly bewails,
"Are facts which stand in need of no defence,
"Consistent all with equity and sense:
"The RAJAH's larger tribute justly paid.
"The LORD with justice claims the VASSAL's aid;
"With justice fines, for orders disobey'd.
"To all their pleadings on the BEGUM side,
"The COMMODORE has perfectly reply'd;
"But grants, what I deny with reason strong,
"In some cases HASTINGS acted wrong:
"Yet no self-int'rest did his mind mislead,
"The Public Weal suggested ev'ry deed -
"Accusers venture facts with all your skill,
"Then shew me ONE, INTENTIONALLY ill."
I think, after reading this versify'd Prose,
Which has nothing but truth to adorn it, God knows!
(A fac-simile sketch of the Gentleman's speech,)
You will ask with what face can PLUMBOSO IMPEACH?
Perhaps you'll exclaim, that he's doing the same
As what fix'd upon FLETCHER's indelible shame;
That for HASTINGS's conduct he ought to atone,
As by pleading excuses, he made it his own.
Oh, SIMON! I've said, and now say it again,
You know nothing yet of political men!
PLUMBOSO once more would be HASTINGS's friend,
Leave BURKE and that party, and HASTINGS defend -
Could you make him believe it would answer his end.
This modest young man had his eyes on the Chair
Of CALCUTTA's Chief Judge, with eight thousand a year.
From PARTY he strives that promotion to draw,
Which ought to be his, from the study of Law;
Could HASTINGS assist him that office to fill,
He would vote for him, plead for him, worship him still
Dear BROTHER, it often has happen'd, no doubt,
That in crossing the Hills, you've mistaken your route
When finding your error, you gladly come back,
And sought for some other more probable track.
So, as HASTINGS his views wanted means to promote,
PLUMBOSO gives BURKE his assistance and Vote;
In Parliament, also, he joins Opposition,
As the probable means to improve his condition.
For if looks may be trusted, I'll venture to say,
He is in a mournful, deplorable way;
But for or against, he is free of harangue,
And with equal indifference - save HASTINGS, or hang.
I know, that to uninform'd beings like you,
Such characters must appear shocking and new;
For I've often heard you say, that if B---KE were not void
Of shame, his own Brother had ne'er been employ'd:
Such remarks, my dear SIMON, are quite out of season;
You speak from your feelings and not from your reason;
PLUMBOSO's sweet talents, and Spouse,must be led,
BURKE's family too, must not languish for bread;
Nor must other wrinkled Disciples of Famine,
Be depriv'd of their chance of good stuffing and cramming.
Your flocks and your herds in the Mountains you feed,
Induc'd by futurity's probable meed;
In the final disposal, consulting the pay,
You fat them, you starve them, you kill them or stay.
A moment's reflection proves this to be true,
One principle governs PLUMBOSO and you.
But now from your Mountains, I'd have come down,
And mix with the folk that inhabit this town:
Then experience will quickly your sentiments change,
And nothing appear inconsistent or strange;
GEORGE HARDINGE, and said WARREN HASTINGS's name,
Like CHATHAM's,would live in the annals of fame.
If from Infamy's records their foes are exempt,
There is nothing can save them but scorn and contempt;
And with HARRY DUNDAS, 'tis a frequent expression
To HASTINGS we owe all our Eastern Possession.
These two for IMPEACHING him, join'd in the vote,
And would hang him To-morrow, their ends to promote;
For Ingratitude let not your tenderness weep,
'Tis exactly the case with yourself and your sheep.
I have something to add, which perhaps may be new,
And I give you my word, 'tis undoubtedly true:
The Genius of BURKE, for the honour of trade,
Has a great Linguâ-factory recently made -
'Tis a kind of MINT made for Character-striking,
And coining anew to an Orator's liking;
BURKE's Mint, when you put a fair character in,
Impresses upon them the picture of Sin:
But if they be black or deform'd to the view,
It can beautify also by coining anew.
And what is still more, it an alter, with ease,
Appearances just as the orator please;
But JOSEPH who thinks he has equal pretension,
Disputes with his LEADER the right of invention:
Yet I hope they'll agree, and conjointly apply
For a PATENT, which MAJESTY cannot deny.
Not HERSCHELL, who found out the Roads in the Moon,
Not the Chymical Head which contriv'd a Balloon;
Not the man who first gave us the notion of Print,
Is greater than BURKE in his Character-Mint.
Oh, GEORGE! shouldst thou hold it in just estimation,
And think, like myself, that 'twill better thy nation;
To reward his desert, and encourage invention,
As well as a Patent, oh! grant BURKE a Pension:
For not even thy Gold, should his Currency pass,
Will illuminate thy name, like his Copper and Brass.
But now, my Dear BROTHER, this letter I end,
And another new Speech I hereafter shall send -
When I fairly have heard what PLUMBOSO may say,
And have found him deny what he said t'other day.
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