Hastings Warren

Hastings, Warren (1732-1818), was born at Churchill in Oxfordshire. The expense of his education at Westminster was borne by his uncle. When the latter died, the boy's guardian sent him to India as a writer. In 1755 he became a member of the Council at Kasim Basar, and he was imprisoned at Murshidabad when, in 1756, the Nawab of Bengal took Calcutta. After its recapture he was sent by Clive as resident to Murshidabad, where he first came into conflict with Nand Kumar (Nuncomar). In 1761 he was summoned to Calcutta, and was soon after sent by Vansittart to Patna to settle commercial disputes. The first period of Warren Hastings's career was closed when, in December, 1764, he returned to England.

In 1769 he was sent out as second councillor at Madras, and two years and a half later was appointed Governor of Bengal. He immediately set about reforming the finances by putting the collection of revenue in the hands of natives under English supervision, and in reorganising the judicial system. At this time, in accordance with the ' Regulating Act "(1773), Hastings was appointed Governor-General, but could act only with the advice of his council of five. Of these all except one, Barwell, united to oppose his views. Nand Kumar, an Indian official, supported them by charging Hastings with corruption. Hastings in return charged him with conspiracy. Meanwhile Nand Kumar was tried before Chief Justice Sir Elijah Impey on a charge of forgery brought by private individuals, and condemned by him to be hanged. Macaulay charged Hastings with a judicial murder in this matter, but Sir James Stephen and others have shown that there is little or no case against him. The Governor-General had sent in a conditional resignation when charged with corruption, but when he heard of its acceptance he refused to submit, especially as all of his opponents, except Francis, were now dead. At, this time, in August, 1780, the quarrel between Hastings and F'rancis came to a head, and a duel was fought at Alipore, after which Francis returned, severely wounded, to England. In 1781 occurred "the robbery of the Oudh Begums," of which so ' much was made in the trial of the Governor-General. Early in 1785 Hastings resigned the governorship and sailed for England. He had long retained with difficulty his position, the Court of Directors being dissatisfied with the smallness of the revenue returns. Francis had for some time been fanning an agitation against him, and Burke eagerly took up the matter. An impeachment for extortion and illegal measures was carried by a large majority, and Burke, Sheridan, and Fox as managers delivered highly eloquent orations.

However, after a trial, which occupied 145 days and extended over more than seven years, Hastings was acquitted. Although ruined by the expense, he was saved froni insolvency by a grant from the Court of Directors. In 1814 he became a Privy Councillor, and in his old age received many other honours. He refused a.

peerage unless coupled with a public reparation, which was denied him. Judged by the standard of his own times, he is now shown to have been in personal integrity far superior, and in other respects at least morally equal to his contemporaries.