duced pleasing and even delightful associations. Here it was; that he consoled himself for the persecution of his enemies, the luke-warm attentions of his friends, and the utter neglect of his superiors. He indeed lived long enough to behold many of his plans realised, through the agency of others: for the brilliant acquisitions of the Marquises of Wellesley and Hastings, are to be considered but as the early projects of a man whose gigantic ambition had grasped at the subjugation of all Asia. At length, having attained his 75th year, he died August 22d, 1818.

The lofty mind, the powerful talents, and unbounded success of Mr. Hastings, have been acknowleged even by his enemies; but it is extremely difficult to pronounce finally on his character and government. His conduct to Cheyt Sing and the Begums, although it produced a large sum of money, and that too at a critical period, to the treasury of the Company, was long viewed with an unfavourable eye in Europe, and stigmatised by more than one vote of the House of Commons.

The extermination of the Rohillas, as the war against that unfortunate nation was termed, had also for its object an accession of wealth *; but as it does not form an article of the impeachment, it might seem invidious to dwell upon it here.

The contracts appear to have been exorbitant; more especially that of opium, granted as a boon to the son of the chairman of the East India Company. At this period indeed, according to his own account, he was surrounded by some thousands of young men, belonging to the most powerful families in England, all of whom were clamorous for places and employments, from a man about to be impeached; and who therefore could refuse nothing to their combined credit and influence.

On the other hand, it must be allowed, that the conduct of a man, who had been near thirty-two years in the service of the East India Company, and during twelve Governor of Bengal, had been examined with a scrupulous and inquisitorial eye; nor ought it to be forgotten, that he achieved much for the permanent benefit and advantage of his employers. When a young man, he opened a short and speedy communication between this country and India, by the way of Suez; and Pondicherry was besieged and taken at an early period of the American war, by means of the intelligence thus conveyed from Europe. During his administration indeed, an intercourse took place with the most distant regions of Asia ; he was the first Governor who ever sent an ambassador to the Grand Lama; and it must be allowed, that he rendered the English name and exploits known to the most distant regions of India.

If his character is to be estimated by the advantages derived on the part of the Company from his administration, without entering on the question of right or wrong, then he ought to stand high indeed in their esteem. The stoppage of the tribute to the Mogul of 300,0001. together with the sale of Corah and Allahabad to the Nabob of Oude, for half a million : are objects of notoriety, yet both of these measures were condemned by Parliament in 1782, “ as contrary to policy, and good

, faith.” However, on referring to the transactions in Westminster Hall, which by the verdict of “not guilty," appear of a less equivocal nature, the sum gained by his employers is immense, as will appear from a statement made at that period, viz.

6 By the expulsion of Cheyt Sing, 200,0001. permanent revenue in future, which, together with the past years, amounts with interest, to

£ 5,300,000 · The money taken from the Zenana of the Begum amounted to 600,000l. which, with interest, makes 1,800,000

The presents received by Mr. Hastings with the interest, would amount to

900,000

a

£ 8,000,000 To two other sources of revenue, opium and salt, no guilt can possibly attach, and for the immense revenue arising out of these, the Company is solely and exclusively indebted to Mr. Hastings.

a

Whether his general policy was just; whether extension of territory on the part of a distant European nation, be strength or weakness, is a problem which history alone can decide with accuracy and precision.

and precision. Certain it is, however, that from the time of Clive, in whose school Hastings was educated, the India Company has uniformly followed this track to wealth and to greatness; until a country of unknown extent, and containing nearly forty millions of inhabitants, bends at this day to the policy and dictates of a few men, who, under the name of a Court of Directors, govern the greater part of Asia from their counting-house in Leadenhall street.

In private life, Mr. Hastings has always been represented as amiable, conciliating, and seductive. At an early period, he cultivated the muses; and all the terrors of an impeachment did not prevent him from sacrificing at their shrine, during his second voyage to Europe. At a later period, while writhing under a seven years' prosecution, he is said to have produced an epigram, the bitterness of which could alone be excused by his situation *: for although Mr. Burke at the moment he. was stung by it, complained loudly to the House of Lords, yet no one, on due consideration, will be inclined to think that it justly applied to this great ornament of the British senate. There can be no doubt but his friends are in possession of many of his poetic effusions; and it is well known, that his prose compositions are models of elegance, precision, and ability.

LIST OF THE LITERARY WORKS

Of the late Right Hon. Warren Hastings. 1. A Narrative of the Insurrection at Benares, 4to. 1782. 2. Memoirs relative to the State of India, 8vo. 1786.

3. A Treatise on the Means of guarding Houses, by their construction, against Fire, 8vo. 1816. 4. Fugitive Poetry, consisting of Imitations of Horace, &c.

270

No. XI.

Right Hon. JOHN EARL OF UPPER OSSORY,

BARON GOWER OF THE KINGDOM OF IRELAND; AND A PEER OF

ENGLAND, BY THE STILE AND TITLE OF BARON UPPER OSSORY,
OF AMPTHILL, IN THE COUNTY OF BEDFORD; LORD-LIEUTENANT
OF BEDFORDSHIRE ; KEEPER OF WALTHAM FOREST, IN THE
COUNTY OF LINCOLN ; AND OF ROCKINGHAM FOREST IN THE
COUNTY OF NORTHAMPTON.

Motto

FORTIS SUB FORTE FATISCET."

The name of Fitzpatrick is familiar to all such as are acquainted with Irish history. The ancient family, of which this branch was transplanted to England, flourished for many centuries in that portion of the sister Isle called Ossory; whence they derived the title of princes in former times, and of earls during a more modern period. In short, they deemed Heremon the first monarch of the Milesian race their ancese tor; many of them were still Toparchs or chieftains, before and at the English invasion, and ruled according to certain laws and regulations, that extensive territory, of which they appear to have been considered as lords paramount. On the conquest, they of course yielded a reluctant submission; and like other chieftains, balancing their interests, according to circumstances, sometimes appeared in arms for, and sometimes against England. It was evidently the interest of this country, to cherish and conciliate such men; yet the viceroys, and lords justices, did not always govern, according to the rules of sound policy; but not unfrequently in a manner consonant to their own private interests. All were at one period deemed rebels, whose estates were desirable objects, for the avarice or ambition of their enemies; and had the same liberal policy which has been generally extended to Ireland, during the middle and latter end of the present reign, been employed

a

in that of Elizabeth and James, the whole country would have been cultivated like a garden; and the entire population, happy, loyal, and content ! '. It was not until the time of Henry VIII. that due pains were taken to obtain the submission, and conciliate the feelings of this family. Barnard Fitzpatrick, then styled Prince of Ossory, was found in arms by that monarch. Knowing that he was an enterprising man, and the leader of a numerous body of followers, devoted to his person and interests, notwithstanding the noted stubbornness of the King of England's temper, he yet yielded so far to the wise counsels of those around him, as to court his submission, by promising both indemnity and honours, to himself, and descendants. He was accordingly created Baron of Upper Ossory, in 1541. His son Barnaby, the second Lord, became the favourite of Edward VI. and had that Prince lived, greater power, and additional honours, would doubtless have followed. The letters of this Prince to him, which are still preserved, attest His Majesty's personal regard for that powerful chief. In the succeeding reigns, the friendship of this great family was no longer cultivated; perhaps their interests were thwarted, and even their rights invaded: for we find the Fitzpatricks in arms against the English government; and Bryan the seventh Lord, after being defeated by superior skill and numbers, was exposed to all the penalties accompanying rebellion and attainder.

Richard Fitzpatrick, however, one of the leaders of this numerous and powerful clan, having become an officer in the English navy, found means not only to make his peace, but

, also to enrich himself; and as the former title had been forfeited, a new one, that of Baron of Gowran, was conferred in 1715, together with many of the forfeited estates of others. The family of Brunswick was now happily seated on the throne of these realms; and by recurring to dates, it will be readily perceived, that the conciliation of Ireland had become the wise, as it has ever been, the obvious policy of the English government, for Scotland was at that precise moment in arms,