208] ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 
/ 
Tt hag been justly observed, on the 
subject of legislation, that what is 
metaphysically true may be, in that 
very proportion, politically false ;* 
and that, in all cases, respect should 
be had to times and circumstances. 
it could scarcely be expected that 
Mr. Hastings, incircumstances that 
admit of great latitude of conduct 
in Europe, should attempt to wea- 
ther a storm in India by an Kvropean 
compass. Without violating the 
usages and laws of Asia, he com- 
bined and direéted a large military 
force for the preservation. of our 
Asiatic settlements. 
«¢ The confederacy of Europe with 
America; the eruption of Hyder 
into the Carnatic; the flight of sir 
"Thomas Rumbold trom Madras ; the 
supineness and imbecility of his suc. 
cessors in that presidency ; the de- 
fear of the British army under sir 
HeGor Munro; the excision of © 
colonel Baillie’s detachment: all 
these circumstances of improvi- 
dence, disgrace, and disaster, struck 
a temporary panic, and, for a time, 
annerved the heart, and. unstrung 
the arm. He who was the first in 
mind, asin station, to whom every 
anxious and imploring eye was 
now turned, did not disappoint the 
-fond hopes and expectations of his 
countrymen. From the centre of 
Calcutta an energy was diffused 
throughout the whole of the British 
settlements in Hindostan. The 
governor-general displayed a digni- 
ty and elevation of mind that seemed 
to carry him wholly out of himself, 
and to sink every private interest 
-and concern in the grand pursuits of 
“public spirit. And, in the midst of 
an unremitting struggle with the 
most odious and rancorous oppo- 
sition (springing, indeed, partly 
froma heétic irritability of temper) 
that was ever made to any system, 
he conducted the war at last to a 
- prosperous and glorious issue. 
‘© Such is Mr. Hastings ; whom 
neither innocence, nor virtue, nor ta- 
lents, nor complete and brilliant sues 
cess in the most arduous as well as 
important enterprise, was able to 
save from a prosecution not more 
surprising in its origin than wonder. 
ful in its condu@; which, when we 
reflect on the spirit that diated, 
perplexed, and protra€ted ity may 
be called, in the emphatic language 
of the sacred Scriptures, a FIERY 
TRIAL; and of which it may be 
remarked, that never was trial more 
unmerited, so long protratted, or so 
completely triumphant over such 
a combination of learning, ability, 
and political power. - » file 
‘© The public mind, by the ob. 
trusion of never ceasing assertion, 
was stunned into an apprehension 
that the late governor-general might 
not be found so free as was gene- 
rally wished, from all ground and 
shadow of reproach. Year passed 
on after year, and a degree of sus- 
picion was followed by a greater 
degree of indifference to the matter 
at issue. 
“© At last men began to wonder 
that where accusation was so loud, 
proof should be so feeble ; and public 
opinion, that had been the slowest 
to give any degree of credit to his 
accusers, formed the first and most 
certain presage of his acquittal. 
“ Every, thing in human affairs és 
mixed. Good is blended, and de- 
pends, in some measure, for its very 
essence, on evil. But the ways of 
Providence, though mysterieus, aré 
* See Mr, Burke’s Letter on the State of France. 
just. 
