SIR THOMAS STAMFORD RAFFLES. 29 



fidence of his fidelity, " My cause, my honour, my 

 public reputation and private character are now be- 

 fore the supreme government, and I only ask a patient 

 hearing. Errors in judgment may be found in the 

 complicated administration with which I am en- 

 trusted ; measures of policy depend in a consider- 

 able degree on opinion, and there may be some dif- 

 ference of opinion perhaps, with regard to those 

 which have been adopted by this government ; but 

 the accusations against my moral character must 

 be determined by facts, and on this ground I will 

 challenge my accusers to produce any one act of 

 government, in which I have been actuated by cor- 

 rupt motives, or guided by views of sinister advan- 

 tage to myself." 



In addition to the feelings of a character un- 

 deservedly attacked, were now added those of deep 

 affliction in the loss of his dearest connections. 

 Soon after the delivery of the charges, he suffered 

 a severe bereavement in the death of Mrs Raffles, 

 which was followed by the intelligence of the de- 

 cease of Lord Minto, to whom he might be said to 

 be indebted for all his worldly prosperity, besides the 

 free intercourse and sympathy of friendship. He 

 had, however, on receipt of the charges, and imme- 

 diately before these great losses, written out replies, 

 which, though they could not, after the institution of 

 the proceedings by General Gillespie, be taken as ex- 

 culpation, shewed plainly to his judges that little 

 was to be dreaded in Mr Raffles, from a double or 



