HASTINGS, \VAnREN, gov.gen. of India, b. Dec. 6, 1732, was descended from an ancient family long settled at Daylcsford, in Worcestershire. He was early left an orphan; but when only seven years old, he resolved to recover the manor and estate, which had passed out of the possession of his family. He was sent to Westminster school, and promised to be one of the first scholars of his age, when, at 17, he was sent out to India as a writer in the East India company's service. Having realized a moderate fortune, he, in 1764, returned to England. Iii 1769 lie again visited India, on his appointment as member of the council at Madras, and in 1772 was promoted to be president of the supreme council of Bengal. A year later, parliament enacted that the chief of the presidency of Bengal should be styled gov.gen. of India, and that Hastings should be the first gov.general. The finances of his government were at a disordered state, yet the demands of the East India company for money were incessant. His first step was to wrest certain rich provinces from the great inog,d, and to sell them to Sujah Dowlah, the nabob of Oude. The Rohillas resented the transfer to a cruel master, and Hastings, for a money consideration, infamously lent the nabob the services of the company's army for their subjugation. The great bralunan, Nuncomar, was put to death by his influence, in order to strike terror into the native population. He exacted vast sums from Cheyte Sing, the rajah of Benares, and finally confiscated all his pos sessions. He formed a treaty with Asaph-nl-Dowlah, the son of Sujah Dowlah, under which the mother and grandmother of the nabob, known as the begums or rrincesses of Onde, were to be stripped of their domains and treasures for the benefit of the company. These were the chief blemishes of his Indian administration; but against these are undoubtedly to be set off great public services. He was constantly trammeled by orders from home, and frequently borne down by an able and factious majority in council: yet lie preserved the British empire in India from a formidable combination of foreign and domestic enemies. He acted with vigor when the war with France out; he
broke the power of Hyder Ali; he organized a system by which justice was dispensed, the revenue collected, and. peace maintained, He encouraged Asiatic learui.ig When lie left India in the spring of 1785, that great empire was tranquil. A treaty had been concluded with Tippoo Sahib, son and successor of Hyder, and the Carnatic had been evacuated by the armies of Mysore. On his arrival in England, he was received Willi distinction by George III. and the court. The directors acknowledged his services by a unanimous vote of thanks. The Whig opposition were, however, loud and vehement against him, and succeeded in carrying in the lower house a motion for his impeach ment at the bar of the house of lords. The trial began in Westminster hall, Feb. 12, 17S8, the managers of the impeachment being Burke, Fox, Sheridan, Windham, and Mr. Charles (afterwards earl) Grey. Burke opened the proceedings in a speech which was extended over four sittings; Mr. Fox and Mr. Grey urged the charge respecting Cheyte Sing; and Mr. Sheridan was intrusted with the conduct of the article relating to the princesses of Oude. The interest taken by the public in the impeachment began to decline after these great displays of rhetoric. The trial, notwithstanding, languished for upwards of seven years. On the 149th day (April 23, 1795), it terminated in the acquittal of Hastings. Out of 400 peers. only 29 voted. The last 24 years of his life were passed at Daylesford, where, in the pursuits of literature, and the occupations of a country gentleman, the evening of his eventful, stormy, and checkered career was firenely passed. He died Aug. 22, 1818, in his 86th year, and was buried behind the chancel of the parish church of Daylesford. Few students of English literature require to he reminded of the eloquence with which the story of his life and his memorable impeachment has been told by lord Macaulay.