201:524;00@@@@@| 201:524;19[' ]| When Parliament met in$4$ the following winter, the 201:524;20[' ]| Commons proceeded to$9$ elect a committee for$4$ managing 201:524;21[' ]| the impeachment. Burke stood at the head; 201:524;22[' ]| and with him were associated most of the leading 201:524;23[' ]| members of the Opposition. But when the name of 201:524;24[' ]| Francis was read a fierce contention arose. It was 201:524;25[' ]| said that$3$ Francis and Hastings were notoriously on$4$ 201:524;26[' ]| bad terms, that$3$ they had been at feud during many 201:524;27[' ]| years, that$3$ on$4$ one occasion their mutual aversion had 201:524;28[' ]| impelled them to$9$ seek each other's lives, and that$3$ it 201:524;29[' ]| would be improper and indelicate to$9$ select a private 201:524;30[' ]| enemy to$9$ be a public accuser. It was urged on$4$ the 201:524;31[' ]| other side with great force, particularly by$4$ Mr%*Windham, 201:524;32[' ]| that$3$ impartiality, though the first duty of 201:524;33[' ]| a judge, had never been reckoned among the qualities 201:524;34[' ]| of an advocate; that$3$ in$4$ the ordinary administration 201:524;35[' ]| of criminal justice among the English, the aggrieved 201:524;36[' ]| party, the very last person who$6#1$ ought to$9$ be admitted 201:524;37[' ]| into the jury-box, is the prosecutor; that$3$ what was 201:525;01[' ]| wanted in$4$ a manager was, not that$3$ he should be free 201:525;02[' ]| from bias, but that$3$ he should be able, well-informed, 201:525;03[' ]| energetic, and active. The ability and information 201:525;04[' ]| of Francis were admitted; and the very animosity 201:525;05[' ]| with which$6#1$ he was reproached, whether a virtue or a 201:525;06[' ]| vice, was at least a pledge for$4$ his energy and activity. 201:525;07[' ]| It seems difficult to$9$ refute these arguments. But the 201:525;08[' ]| inveterate hatred borne by$4$ Francis to$4$ Hastings had 201:525;09[' ]| excited general disgust. The House decided that$3$ 201:525;10[' ]| Francis should not be a manager. Pitt voted with 201:525;11[' ]| the majority, Dundas with the minority. 201:525;12[' ]| In$4$ the meantime, the preparations for$4$ the trial had 201:525;13[' ]| proceeded rapidly; and on$4$ the thirteenth of February, 201:525;14[' ]| 1788, the sittings of the Court commenced. There 201:525;15[' ]| have been spectacles more dazzling to$4$ the eye, more 201:525;16[' ]| gorgeous with jewellery and cloth of gold, more 201:525;17[' ]| attractive to$4$ grown-up children, than that$6#2$ which$6#1$ was 201:525;18[' ]| then exhibited at Westminster; but, perhaps, there 201:525;19[' ]| never was a spectacle so$5#1$ well calculated to$9$ strike a 201:525;20[' ]| highly cultivated, a reflecting, an imaginative mind. 201:525;21[' ]| All the various kinds of interest which$6#1$ belong to$4$ the 201:525;22[' ]| near and to$4$ the distant, to$4$ the present and to$4$ the 201:525;23[' ]| past, were collected on$4$ one spot, and in$4$ one hour. 201:525;24[' ]| All the talents and all the accomplishments which$6#1$ 201:525;25[' ]| are developed by$4$ liberty and civilisation, were now 201:525;26[' ]| displayed, with every advantage that$6#1$ could be derived 201:525;27[' ]| both from co-operation and from contrast. Every 201:525;28[' ]| step in$4$ the proceedings carried the mind either backward, 201:525;29[' ]| through many troubled centuries, to$4$ the days 201:525;30[' ]| when the foundations of our constitution were laid, or 201:525;31[' ]| far away, over boundless seas and deserts, to$4$ dusky 201:525;32[' ]| nations living under strange stars, worshippping 201:525;33[' ]| strange gods, and writing strange characters from 201:525;34[' ]| right to$4$ left. The High*Court of Parliament was to$9$ 201:525;35[' ]| sit, according to$4$ forms handed down from the days 201:525;36[' ]| of the Plantagenets, on$4$ an Englishman accused of 201:525;37[' ]| exercising tyranny over the lord of the holy city of 201:526;01[' ]| Benares, and over the ladies of the princely house of 201:526;02[' ]| Oude. 201:371;19[' ]| The place was worthy of such a trial. It was the great 201:371;20[' ]| hall of William*Rufus, the hall which$6#1$ had resounded with 201:371;21[' ]| acclamations at the inauguration of thirty kings, the hall which$6#1$ 201:371;22[' ]| had witnessed the just sentence of Bacon and the just 201:371;23[' ]| absolution of Somers, the hall where the eloquence of Strafford 201:371;24[' ]| had for$4$ a moment awed and melted a victorious party inflamed 201:371;25[' ]| with just resentment, the hall where Charles had confronted 201:371;26[' ]| the High*Court*of*Justice with the placid courage which$6#1$ has 201:371;27[' ]| half redeemed his fame. Neither military nor civil pomp was 201:371;28[' ]| wanting. The avenues were lined with grenadiers. The streets 201:371;29[' ]| were kept clear by$4$ cavalry. The peers, robed in$4$ gold and ermine, 201:371;30[' ]| were marshalled by$4$ the heralds under the Garter-King-at-arms. The 201:371;31[' ]| judges in$4$ their vestments of state attended to$9$ give advice on$4$ points 201:371;32[' ]| of law. Near a hundred and seventy lords, three-fourths of the 201:371;33[' ]| Upper*House as the Upper*House then was, walked in$4$ solemn order 201:371;34[' ]| from their usual place of assembling to$4$ the tribunal. The junior 201:371;35[' ]| baron present led the way, George*Eliot, Lord*Heathfield, recently 201:371;36[' ]| ennobled for$4$ his memorable defence of Gibraltar against the fleets 201:371;37[' ]| and armies of France and Spain. The long procession was closed 201:371;38[' ]| by$4$ the Duke*of*Norfolk, Earl-Marshal of the realm, by$4$ the great 201:372;01[' ]| dignitaries, and by$4$ the brothers and sons of the King. Last of all 201:372;02[' ]| came the Prince*of*Wales, conspicuous by$4$ his fine person and noble 201:372;03[' ]| bearing. The gray old walls were hung with scarlet. The long 201:372;04[' ]| galleries were crowded by$4$ an audience such as has rarely excited 201:372;05[' ]| the fears or the emulation of an orator. There were gathered 201:372;06[' ]| together, from all parts of a great, free, enlightened, and prosperous 201:372;07[' ]| empire, grace and female loveliness, wit and learning, the representatives 201:372;08[' ]| of every science and of every art. There were seated 201:372;09[' ]| round the Queen the fair-haired young daughters of the house of 201:372;10[' ]| Brunswick. There the Ambassadors of great Kings and Commonwealths 201:372;11[' ]| gazed with admiration on$4$ a spectacle which$6#1$ no$2$ other country 201:372;12[' ]| in$4$ the world could present. There Siddons, in$4$ the prime of her 201:372;13[' ]| majestic beauty, looked with emotion on$4$ a scene surpassing all the 201:372;14[' ]| imitations of the stage. There the historian of the Roman*Empire 201:372;15[' ]| thought of the days when Cicero pleaded the cause of Sicily against 201:372;16[' ]| Verres, and when, before a senate which$6#1$ still retained some show of 201:372;17[' ]| freedom, Tacitus thundered against the oppressor of Africa. There 201:372;18[' ]| were seen, side by$4$ side, the greatest painter and the greatest scholar 201:372;19[' ]| of the age. The spectacle had allured Reynolds from that$6#2$ easel 201:372;20[' ]| which$6#1$ has preserved to$4$ us the thoughtful foreheads of so$5#1$ many 201:372;21[' ]| writers and statesmen, and the sweet smiles of so$5#1$ many noble 201:372;22[' ]| matrons. It had induced Parr to$9$ suspend his labours in$4$ that$6#2$ dark 201:372;23[' ]| and profound mine from which$6#1$ he had extracted a vast treasure of 201:372;24[' ]| erudition, a treasure too often buried in$4$ the earth, too often paraded 201:372;25[' ]| with injudicious and inelegant ostentation, but still precious, massive, 201:372;26[' ]| and splendid. There appeared the voluptuous charms of her 201:372;27[' ]| to$4$ whom the heir of the throne had in$4$ secret plighted his 201:372;28[' ]| faith. There too was she, the beautiful mother of a beautiful race, 201:372;29[' ]| the Saint*Cecilia, whose delicate features, lighted up$5$ by$4$ love and 201:372;30[' ]| music, art has rescued from the common decay. There were the 201:372;31[' ]| members of that$6#2$ brilliant society which$6#1$ quoted, criticised, and 201:372;32[' ]| exchanged repartees, under the rich peacock hangings of Mrs%*Montague. 201:372;33[' ]| And there the ladies whose lips, more persuasive 201:372;34[' ]| than those of Fox himself, had carried the Westminster 201:372;35[' ]| election against palace and treasury, shone round Georgiana, 201:372;36[' ]| Duchess*of*Devonshire. 201:373;01[' ]| ~~ ~~ ~~ 201:373;02[' ]| By$4$ this time July was far advanced; and the state of the city 201:373;03[' ]| was, hour by$4$ hour, become more frightful. The number of the 201:373;04[' ]| inhabitants had been thinned more by$4$ famine and disease than by$4$ 201:373;05[' ]| the fire of the enemy. Yet that$6#2$ fire was sharper and more constant 201:373;06[' ]| than ever. One of the gates was beaten in$5$; one of the bastions 201:373;07[' ]| was laid in$4$ ruins; but the breaches made by$4$ day were repaired by$4$ 201:373;08[' ]| night with indefatigable activity. Every attack was still repelled. But 201:373;09[' ]| the fighting men of the garrison were so$5#1$ much exhausted that$3$ they 201:373;10[' ]| could scarcely keep their legs. Several of them, in$4$ the act of striking 201:373;11[' ]| at the enemy, fell down from mere weakness. A very small quantity 201:373;12[' ]| of grain remained, and was doled out my mouthfuls. The stock of 201:373;13[' ]| salted hides was considerable, and by$4$ gnawing them the garrison 201:373;14[' ]| appeased the rage of hunger. Dogs, fattened on$4$ the blood of the 201:373;15[' ]| slain who$6#1$ lay unburied round the town, were luxuries which$6#1$ few 201:373;16[' ]| could afford to$9$ purchase. The price of a whelp's paw was five 201:373;17[' ]| shillings and sixpence. Nine horses were still alive, and but barely 201:373;18[' ]| alive. They were so$5#1$ lean that$3$ little meat was likely to$9$ be found 201:373;19[' ]| upon$4$ them. It was, however, determined to$9$ slaughter them for$4$ food. 201:373;20[' ]| The people perished so$5#1$ fast that$3$ it was impossible for$4$ the survivors 201:373;21[' ]| to$9$ perform the rights of sepulture. There was scarcely a cellar in$4$ 201:373;22[' ]| which$6#1$ some corpse was not decaying. Such was the extremity of 201:373;23[' ]| distress that$3$ the rats who$6#1$ came to$9$ feast in$4$ those hideous dens 201:373;24[' ]| were eagerly hunted and greedily devoured. A small fish, caught in$4$ 201:373;25[' ]| the river, was not to$9$ be purchased with money. The only price for$4$ 201:373;26[' ]| which$6#1$ such a treasure could be obtained was some handfuls of oatmeal. 201:373;27[' ]| Leprosies, such as strange and unwholesome diet engenders, 201:373;28[' ]| made existence a constant torment. The whole city was poisoned 201:373;29[' ]| by$4$ the stench exhaled from the bodies of the dead and of the half 201:373;30[' ]| dead. 201:373;31[' ]| ~~ ~~ ~~ 201:373;32[' ]| First were rolled on$4$ shore barrels containing six thousand bushels 201:373;33[' ]| of meal. Then came great cheeses, casks of beef, flitches of bacon, 201:373;34[' ]| kegs of butter, sacks of pease and biscuit, ankers of brandy. Not 201:373;35[' ]| many hours before, half a pound of tallow and three quarters of a 201:373;36[' ]| pound of salted hide had been weighed out with niggardly care to$4$ 201:373;37[' ]| every fighting man. The ration which$6#1$ each now received was three 201:373;38[' ]| pounds of flour, two pounds of beef, and a pint of pease. It is easy 201:373;39[' ]| to$9$ imagine with what tears grace was said over the suppers of that$6#2$ 201:373;40[' ]| evening. There was little sleep on$4$ either side of the wall. The bonfires 201:374;01[' ]| shone bright along the whole circuit of the ramparts. The Irish 201:374;02[' ]| guns continued to$9$ roar all night, and all night the bells of the 201:374;03[' ]| rescued city made answer to$4$ the Irish guns with a peal of joyous 201:374;04[' ]| defiance. Through the three following days the batteries of the 201:374;05[' ]| enemy continued to$9$ play. But, on$4$ the third night flames were 201:374;06[' ]| seen arising from the camp; and when the first of August 201:374;07[' ]| dawned, a line of smoking ruins marked the site lately occupied 201:374;08[' ]| by$4$ the huts of the besiegers; and the citizens saw far off 201:374;09[' ]| the long column of spikes and standards retreating up$4$ the 201:374;10[' ]| left bank of the Foyle towards Strabane. 201:527;35[' ]| The Sergeants made proclamation. Hastings 201:527;36[' ]| advanced to$4$ the bar, and bent his knee. The culprit 201:527;37[' ]| was indeed not unworthy of that$6#2$ great presence. He 201:528;01[' ]| had ruled an extensive and populous country, had 201:528;02[' ]| made laws and treaties, had sent forth armies, had set 201:528;03[' ]| up$5$ and pulled down princes. And in$4$ his high place 201:528;04[' ]| he had so$5#2$ borne himself, that$3$ all had feared him, that$3$ 201:528;05[' ]| most had loved him, and that$3$ hatred itself could deny 201:528;06[' ]| him no$2$ title to$4$ glory, except virtue. He looked like$4$ 201:528;07[' ]| a great man, and not like$4$ a bad man. A person 201:528;08[' ]| small and emaciated, yet deriving dignity from a 201:528;09[' ]| carriage which$6#1$, while it indicated deference to$4$ the 201:528;10[' ]| court, indicated also habitual self-possession and self-respect, 201:528;11[' ]| a high and intellectual forehead, a brow 201:528;12[' ]| pensive, but not gloomy, a mouth of inflexible decision, 201:528;13[' ]| a face pale and worn, but serene, on$4$ which$6#1$ was 201:528;14[' ]| written, as legibly as under the picture in$4$ the council-chamber 201:528;15[' ]| at Calcutta, \7Mens 7a*equa 7in 7arduis\; such was 201:528;16[' ]| the aspect with which$6#1$ the great proconsul presented 201:528;17[' ]| himself to$4$ his judges. 201:528;18[' ]| His counsel accompanied him, men all of whom 201:528;19[' ]| were afterwards raised by$4$ their talents and learning 201:528;20[' ]| to$4$ the highest posts in$4$ their profession, the bold and 201:528;21[' ]| strong-minded Law, afterwards Chief*Justice*of*the*King's*Bench; 201:528;22[' ]| the more humane and eloquent Dallas, 201:528;23[' ]| afterwards Chief*Justice*of*the*Common*Pleas; and 201:528;24[' ]| Plomer who$6#1$, near twenty years later, successfully 201:528;25[' ]| conducted in$4$ the same high*court the defence of Lord*Melville, 201:528;26[' ]| and subsequently became Vice-chancellor 201:528;27[' ]| and Master*of*the*Rolls. 201:528;28[' ]| But neither the culprit nor his advocates attracted 201:528;29[' ]| so$5#1$ much notice as the accusers. In$4$ the midst of the 201:528;30[' ]| blaze of red drapery, a space had been fitted up$5$ with 201:528;31[' ]| green benches and tables for$4$ the Commons. The 201:528;32[' ]| managers, with Burke at their head, appeared in$4$ full 201:528;33[' ]| dress. The collectors of gossip did not fail to$9$ remark 201:528;34[' ]| that$3$ even Fox, generally so$5#1$ regardless of his appearance, 201:528;35[' ]| had paid to$4$ the illustrious tribunal the compliment 201:528;36[' ]| of wearing a bag and sword. Pitt had refused 201:528;37[' ]| to$9$ be one of the conductors of the impeachment; and 201:529;01[' ]| his commanding, copious, and sonorous eloquence 201:529;02[' ]| was wanting to$4$ that$6#2$ great muster of various talents. 201:529;03[' ]| Age and blindness had unfitted Lord*North for$4$ the 201:529;04[' ]| duties of a public prosecutor; and his friends were 201:529;05[' ]| left without the help of his excellent sense, his tact, 201:529;06[' ]| and his urbanity. But, in$4$ spite of the absence of 201:529;07[' ]| these two distinguished members of the Lower*House, 201:529;08[' ]| the box in$4$ which$6#1$ the managers stood contained an 201:529;09[' ]| array of speakers such as perhaps had not appeared 201:529;10[' ]| together since the great age of Athenian eloquence. 201:529;11[' ]| There were Fox and Sheridan, the English Demosthenes 201:529;12[' ]| and the English Hyperides. There was Burke, 201:529;13[' ]| ignorant, indeed, or negligent of the art of adapting 201:529;14[' ]| his reasonings and his style to$4$ the capacity and taste 201:529;15[' ]| of his hearers, but in$4$ amplitude of comprehension 201:529;16[' ]| and richness of imagination superior to$4$ every orator, 201:529;17[' ]| ancient or modern. There, with eyes reverentially 201:529;18[' ]| fixed on$4$ Burke, appeared the finest gentleman of the 201:529;19[' ]| age, his form developed by$4$ every manly exercise, 201:529;20[' ]| his face beaming with intelligence and spirit, the 201:529;21[' ]| ingenious, the chivalrous, the high-souled Windham. 201:529;22[' ]| Nor, though surrounded by$4$ such men, did the 201:529;23[' ]| youngest manager pass unnoticed. At an age when 201:529;24[' ]| most of those who$6#1$ distinguish themselves in$4$ life 201:529;25[' ]| are still contending for$4$ prizes and fellowships at 201:529;26[' ]| college, he had won for$4$ himself a conspicuous place 201:529;27[' ]| in$4$ parliament. No$2$ advantage of fortune or connexion 201:529;28[' ]| was wanting that$6#1$ could set off to$4$ the height his 201:529;29[' ]| splendid talents and his unblemished honour. At 201:529;30[' ]| twenty-three he had been thought worthy to$9$ be 201:529;31[' ]| ranked with the veteran statesmen who$6#1$ appeared as 201:529;32[' ]| the delegates of the British*Commons, at the bar of 201:529;33[' ]| the British nobility. All who$6#1$ stood at that$6#2$ bar, save 201:529;34[' ]| him alone, are gone, culprit, advocates, accusers. To$4$ 201:529;35[' ]| the generation which$6#1$ is now in$4$ the vigour of life, 201:529;36[' ]| he is the sole representative of a great age which$6#1$ 201:529;37[' ]| has passed away. But those who$6#1$, within the last ten 201:530;01[' ]| years, have listened with delight, till the morning sun 201:530;02[' ]| shone on$4$ the tapestries of the House*of*Lords, to$4$ the 201:530;03[' ]| lofty and animated eloquence of Charles*Earl*Grey, 201:530;04[' ]| are able to$9$ form some estimate of the powers of a 201:530;05[' ]| race of men among whom he was not the foremost. 201:530;06[' ]| The charges and the answers of Hastings were 201:530;07[' ]| first read. The ceremony occupied two whole days, 201:530;08[' ]| and was rendered less tedious than it would otherwise 201:530;09[' ]| have been by$4$ the silver voice and just emphasis of 201:530;10[' ]| Cowper, the clerk of the court, a near relation of the 201:530;11[' ]| amiable poet. On$4$ the third day Burke rose. Four 201:530;12[' ]| sittings were occupied by$4$ his opening speech, which$6#1$ 201:530;13[' ]| was intended to$9$ be a general introduction to$4$ all the 201:530;14[' ]| charges. With an exuberance of thought and a 201:530;15[' ]| splendour of diction which$6#1$ more than satisfied the 201:530;16[' ]| highly raised expectation of the audience, he described 201:530;17[' ]| the character and institutions of the natives of India, 201:530;18[' ]| recounted the circumstances in$4$ which$6#1$ the Asiatic 201:530;19[' ]| empire of Britain had originated, and set forth the 201:530;20[' ]| constitution of the Company and of the English 201:530;21[' ]| Presidencies. Having thus attempted to$9$ communicate 201:530;22[' ]| to$4$ his hearers an idea of Eastern society, as vivid 201:530;23[' ]| as that$6#2$ which$6#1$ existed in$4$ his own mind, he proceeded to$9$ 201:530;24[' ]| arraign the administration of Hastings as systematically 201:530;25[' ]| conducted in$4$ defiance of morality and public 201:530;26[' ]| law. The energy and pathos of the great orator 201:530;27[' ]| extorted expressions of unwonted admiration from 201:530;28[' ]| the stern and hostile Chancellor, and, for$4$ a moment, 201:530;29[' ]| seemed to$9$ pierce even the resolute heart of the 201:530;30[' ]| defendant. The ladies in$4$ the galleries, unaccustomed 201:530;31[' ]| to$4$ such displays of eloquence, excited by$4$ the 201:530;32[' ]| solemnity of the occasion, and perhaps not unwilling 201:530;33[' ]| to$9$ display their taste and sensibility, were in$4$ a state 201:530;34[' ]| of uncontrollable emotion. Handkerchiefs were 201:530;35[' ]| pulled out; smelling-bottles were handed round; 201:530;36[' ]| hysterical sobs and screams were heard; and Mrs%*Sheridan 201:530;37[' ]| was carried out in$4$ a fit. At length the 201:531;01[' ]| orator concluded. 201:531;02[' ]| 201:531;03[' ]| 201:531;04[' ]| 201:531;05[' ]| 201:531;06[' ]| 201:531;07[' ]| 201:531;08[' ]| 201:531;09[' ]| 201:531;10[' ]| 201:531;11[' ]| 201:531;12[' ]| 201:531;13[' ]| 201:531;14[' ]| 201:531;15[' ]| 201:531;16[' ]| When the deep murmur of various emotions had 201:531;17[' ]| subsided, Mr%*Fox rose to$9$ address the Lords respecting 201:531;18[' ]| the course of proceeding to$9$ be followed. The 201:531;19[' ]| wish of the accusers was that$3$ the Court would bring 201:531;20[' ]| to$4$ a close the investigation of the first charge before 201:531;21[' ]| the second was opened. The wish of Hastings and 201:531;22[' ]| of his counsel was that$3$ the managers should open all 201:531;23[' ]| the charges, and produce all the evidence for$4$ the prosecution, 201:531;24[' ]| before the defence began. The Lords retired 201:531;25[' ]| to$4$ their own House to$9$ consider the question. The 201:531;26[' ]| Chancellor took the side of Hastings. Lord*Loughborough, 201:531;27[' ]| who$6#1$ was now in$4$ opposition, supported the 201:531;28[' ]| demand of the managers. The division showed which$6#1$ 201:531;29[' ]| way the inclination of the tribunal leaned. A 201:531;30[' ]| majority of near three to$4$ one decided in$4$ favour of 201:531;31[' ]| the course for$4$ which$6#1$ Hastings contended. 201:531;32[' ]| When the Court sat again, Mr%*Fox, assisted by$4$ 201:531;33[' ]| Mr%*Grey, opened the charge respecting Cheyte*Sing, 201:531;34[' ]| and several days were spent in$4$ reading papers and 201:531;35[' ]| hearing witnesses. The next article was that$6#2$ relating 201:531;36[' ]| to$4$ the Princesses*of*Oude. The conduct of this part 201:531;37[' ]| of the case was entrusted to$4$ Sheridan. The curiosity 201:532;01[' ]| of the public to$9$ hear him was unbounded. His 201:532;02[' ]| sparkling and highly finished declamation lasted two 201:532;03[' ]| days; but the Hall was crowded to$4$ suffocation during 201:532;04[' ]| the whole time. It was said that$3$ fifty guineas had 201:532;05[' ]| been paid for$4$ a single ticket. Sheridan, when he 201:532;06[' ]| concluded, contrived, with a knowledge of stage-effect 201:532;07[' ]| which$6#1$ his father might have envied, to$9$ sink back, as 201:532;08[' ]| if exhausted, into the arms of Burke, who$6#1$ hugged 201:532;09[' ]| him with the energy of generous admiration. 201:532;10[' ]| June was now far advanced. The session could 201:532;11[' ]| not last much longer; and the progress which$6#1$ had 201:532;12[' ]| been made in$4$ the impeachment was not very satisfactory. 201:532;13[' ]| There were twenty charges. On$4$ two only of 201:532;14[' ]| these had even the case for$4$ the prosecution been 201:532;15[' ]| heard; and it was now a year since Hastings had 201:532;16[' ]| been admitted to$4$ bail. 201:532;17[' ]| The interest taken by$4$ the public in$4$ the trial was 201:532;18[' ]| great when the Court began to$9$ sit, and rose to$4$ the 201:532;19[' ]| height when Sheridan spoke on$4$ the charge relating 201:532;20[' ]| to$4$ the Begums. From that$6#2$ time the excitement went 201:532;21[' ]| down fast. The spectacle had lost the attraction of 201:532;22[' ]| novelty. The great displays of rhetoric were over. 201:532;23[' ]| What was behind was not of a nature to$9$ entice men of 201:532;24[' ]| letters from their books in$4$ the morning, or to$9$ tempt 201:532;25[' ]| ladies who$6#1$ had left the masquerade at two to$9$ be out 201:532;26[' ]| of bed before eight. There remained examinations 201:532;27[' ]| and cross-examinations. There remained statements 201:532;28[' ]| of accounts. There remained the reading of papers, 201:532;29[' ]| filled with words unintelligible to$4$ English ears, with 201:532;30[' ]| lacs and crores, zemindars and aumils, sunnuds and 201:532;31[' ]| perwannahs, jaghires and nuzzurs. There remained 201:532;32[' ]| bickerings, not always carried on$5$ with the best taste 201:532;33[' ]| or with the best temper, between the managers of the 201:532;34[' ]| impeachment and the counsel for$4$ the defence, particularly 201:532;35[' ]| between Mr%*Burke and Mr%*Law. There 201:532;36[' ]| remained the endless marches and countermarches of 201:532;37[' ]| the Peers between their House and the Hall: for$3$ as 201:533;01[' ]| often as a point of law was to$9$ be discussed, their 201:533;02[' ]| lordships retired to$9$ discuss it apart; and the consequence 201:533;03[' ]| was, as a Peer wittily said, that$3$ the Judges 201:533;04[' ]| walked and the trial stood still.