{ 
206] 
governments, :abd.to all who: do 
not refleét, that much of what 
may appear blameable to foreign 
nations and other ages, is often 
shaded and softened to the eye of 
the contemporary, which looses sight 
of the whole. scene, sees it only, 
as it wete; in fragments; and 
these too diminished and distorted 
by the intrusion. of .a thousand 
other circumstances and concerns 
that constantly solicit the attentions 
of self-love, and soon blunt our 
sorrow at the sufferings of others, 
when long continued, by the very 
means that should heighten . our 
sympathetic affe@tion. Amidst the 
thickest vapour, the traveller still 
enjoys light enough to see the near- 
est objects, and calls it only a mist ; 
but the distant spectator views 
it as a dark ‘and  portentous 
cloud. 
But there was no period, even 
when the accusations against Mr. 
Hastings were the loudest, and 
before the time was»come for re- 
ply, in which a general sympa- 
thy and concern for his state was 
wholly lost or suspended in can- 
did and impartial breasts, ‘The 
violence mixed with the oratory 
made use of against him, served, 
in some measure, as an antidote 
to the gall from whence it sprung. 
The true motives that urged on 
the impeachment became general- 
Jy suspeCted. The sentence pro- 
nounced by ‘the highest court in 
the kingdom, in tavour of Mr. 
Hastings, was universally gratulat- 
ed with sincere joy. . Men re- 
joiced to. find, that the integrity: of 
the late governor geheral had been 
‘ proved equal to his abilities. 
impressions that were made on the 
The 
ANNUAL REGISTER, 1705. 
public mind by the» trial of Mr, 
Hastings, in its different stages, 
ate faithfully described in a pre- 
face to a publication, which gives 
an. account of many curious cif- 
cumstances relating to the origin, 
progress," and issue, of sthe trial, 
and also suggests not a few im- 
portant reflexions.on the whole. 
Itis §* The History of the Trial of 
Warren Hastizgs, Esg. containing 
the whole of the proceedings and 
debates in both houses of parliament 
relating to that celebrated prosecu- 
tion, 
‘¢ From the moment that an im. 
peachment of Mr. Hastings was 
agreed on by the house of coms 
‘mons, the editor of the present 
compilation determined to | 
the progress, and to: colleét an 
to preserve every. document and 
memorial, in’ any material degree 
connected with a trial so .new in 
its nature, sO various and exten. 
sive in its -relations, and that 
might probably, in’ its issue, pro- 
duce the most important, though 
unknown consequences. The ins 
dustry with which he has execut= 
ed this plan will be readily ac- 
knowledged. To. some, perhaps, 
it may appear, to ‘have been car- 
ried to excess; but, of most of 
the. papers. he has preserved, a 
little reflection will discover some 
purpose either of utility or entertain. 
ment, and future conjunétures will, 
no doubt, as usual, by opening a 
wider sphere of relation, consti- 
tute and disclose new ways in 
-which these fugitive pieces may 
-contribute to the instru€tion: -of 
the civilian and the historian, and 
the amusement of the future anti- 
‘quarian: to the lawyer it is a 
record 
