SIR THOMAS STAMFORD RAFFLES. 
29 
fidence of his fidelitj^, “ 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 ou 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 
afBiction 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 he 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 
