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XX.

1773.

you how highly he thought of my fervices at CHAP. "the time, but alfo what his opinion is now." HE complained, that after fuch certificates, and fo merited, he thould be brought before the houfe like a criminal, and the very best parts of his conduct conftrued into crimes against the state. "I cannot fay," he concluded, "that I either fit or reft eafy, when I "find that all I have in the world is confif"cated, and no one will take my fecurity for "a fhilling. Thefe are dreadful apprehen"fions to remain under, and I cannot look upon myself but as a bankrupt. I have not any thing left that I can call my own, except my paternal fortune of five hundred pounds per annum, and which has been in the family "for ages. But upon this I am content to live; "and perhaps I fhall find more real content and happinefs, then in the trembling affluence of "an unfettled fortune. But, if it fhould be the "cafe, I have a confcious innocence that tells "me my conduct is irreproachable. Frangas, "non flectes. They may take from me what I "have; they may, as they think, make me poor, "but I will be happy! I mean not this as my "defence. My defence may be made at the "bar; but before I fit down I addrefs one re'queft to the houfe, that, when they come to decide upon my honour, they will not forget "their own."

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lution.

HAVING finished his defence, his lordship Exculpaquitted the houfe. A fentence of cenfure pro- tory fo pofed againft him was negatived, by a motion for the previous queftion; and at five o'clock in the morning, on the motion of Wedderburne, a refolution was paffed unanimoufly, merely afferting the fact of lord Clive having received

the

XX.

CHAP. the fum of two hundred and thirty-four thoufand pounds, with the additional obfervation, that, at the fame time, he rendered great and meritorious fervices to his country."

1773.

roth May.

In a fubfequent debate, lord Clive recapitu Continued lated the topics contained in his fpeech of the laft feffion, and exculpated himself from the Jord Clive. charges, made through the medium of the prefs,

Jancour

againft

He is ably defended

by Wed

on his conduct during his laft government. After this he intruded on the houfe no further, except to rectify a mif-ftatement of fome facts, and then, fuch was the fury of party-fpirit, that a member permitted himself to fneer at lord Clive's former defence, by faying, "the noble "lord was a long fpeech maker, and would, perhaps, offer another harangue of two hours "and twenty minutes."

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THE defence of lord Clive's conduct did not, however, reft on himself alone: Wedderderburne. burne, the folicitor-general, difplayed an unufual portion of learning, logic, and practical good fenfe, in his behalf. He reproached the committees with having, inftead of an open, liberal, and manly endeavour, to bring forward fuch regulations as would prevent future evils, reftricted themfelves to a narrow, contracted, invidious attention to the conduct of individuals. He juftified the depofition of Surajah Dowlah, on the grounds of juftice as well as of policy. Far from admitting that fuch a tranfaction was difhonourable to Britain, he claimed the admiration of the hiftorian, who in future times fhould record, that a revolution which "acquired to the company a dominion larger, "wealthier, and more populous than ever Athens poffeffed, or than Rome itfelf, when "the had conquered the Italian ftates; larger

than

XX.

1773.

"than France, and in revenues fuperior to CHAP. "most of the powers of Europe; that in the career of fuch conquefts-of fuch great "events, fo few actions are to be difcovered "by the moft inquifitive examination (and a "more prying one never was known) fo few "that reflect difhonour on individuals-none "that tarnish the British name." He removed every imputation of blame from the artifice ufed to circumvent the traitor Omichund, and appealed to the honour and gratitude of the nation, against an attempt to deprive an individual of the remuneration of actions, which had been the admiration of the world--the pride of Britain—the envy of Europe. In answer to the queftion, Where fuch oppreflions and tyranny were to be found as were practifed in Bengal? he faid, "In the democratical tyranny

of an Athenian mob, envious of every great “and noble name, taking off one for his wealth, banishing another for his family, and a third "for his fame. This deteftable spirit occafioned "real tyranny, and we are now following the example."

66

THURLOW, the attorney-general, was on the other fide, but the exculpation of lord Clive appears complete. He committed no illegal. act towards his employers; he ufed no unne ceffary cruelty towards thofe whom he conquered; nor did he, in the purfuit of wealth, avail himself of the means which lay fo abundantly before him, to accumulate an enormous mafs of riches; the fortune he poffeffed was undoubtedly ample, but few in his fituation would have evinced fo much felf-denial, as to be fatiffied with a first acquifition, when many years of fubfequent fervice afforded opportunities,

and

CHAP. and a pretence for additions of infinitely greater importance."

XX.

$773Conteit

with the

St. Vin

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THE attention of parliament was alfo engaged, and the public feeling confiderably inCarribs of terefied, on a conteft with the Carribs of St. Vincent's, refpecting which many forcible appeals were directed to the houfe of commons and to the nation. To underftand this question it will be neceffary to recur to a diftant period, and examine hiftorically the fate of the island.

cent's.

Early hif

iland.

SAINT VINCENT'S, one of the discoveries of Tory of the Columbus, contains about $4,000 acres, and is twenty-four miles in length, and twelve in breadth. The Spaniards were not fufficiently numerous to attempt obtaining poffeffion, becaufe the Indians, who made it their place of rendezvous in expeditions to the continent, were in great force. Thefe Indians, who are commonly taken for the Aborigines, are denominated red, fometimes yellow Carribs. They are defcribed as a mild and moderate race, and of low ftature; inhabiting the woods in feattered families, in a fiate of primitive fimplicity, and under a kind of patriarchal government.

Y Although, throughout this inquiry, lord Clive difplayed the greatest firmness and inagnanimity, his mind never recovered its proper bias. Wedded to glory, and pluming himself upon those actions which had elevated him to an unparalleled degree of fame, and unexampled grandeur of fortune, he could ill brook the neceffity of defence, and felt as an ignominy the neceffity of pleading for his character and property. He, upon whofe pleasure had fo often depended the fate of fovereigns and of ftates, who might with truth be tyled "the fetter-up and puller-down of kings;" fickened at the recollection of that ingratitude which degraded him to the pofition of a culprit. A feverith uneafinefs took poffeffion of his mind; his feelings becoming daily more agonizing, brought on at length a delirium, one of the paroxyfms of which terminated his exiftence. His death happened the 22d of November 1774.

I have adopted the common orthography of this word: it is fometimes fpelt Charibb, and Bryan Edwards writes it Charaibes.

AT

1773Distinc

Carribs.

Ar a period which cannot be exactly afcer- CHAP. tained, but towards the latter end of the feven- XX. teenth century, a fhip from Guinea with a large cargo of flaves, was wrecked or run on fhore, tion bethe negroes efcaped, and, either by favour or tween red force, eftablished themfelves on the island. and black Thefe negroes were of the Mocoa race, tall, ftout, violent, irritable, and crafty. They foon increafed their numbers by intermarrying among themfelves and with the natives, and began to invade the property of their too con-fiding hofts. After a series of struggles, the intruders obtained poffeffion of the most valuable parts of the country, and by frequent flaughter reduced the number of their opponents to comparative infignificance. The defcendants of thefe Africans were called black Carribs.

French obtain a fet

IN the year 1719, the difputes between the The races of Carribs being carried on with great violence, the French inhabitants of Martinico tement. conceived hopes, that by favouring one party, and fubduing the other, they might gain poffeffion of the ifland; they therefore landed a confiderable force, and, calling themfelves allies of the red Carribs, committed fome hoftilities on the other party. The expected affiftance was however withheld, either through fear or jealoufy, and after lofing many lives, the French were compelled to make peace. Failing in their hopes of conqueft, they fucceeded in obtaining an eftablishment by negotiation, and from finall beginnings increafed their number of fettlers to eight hundred whites and three thoufand flaves. They did not acquire this advantage without many humiliating conceffions, and mortifying infults; they were obliged to fubmit, without refiftance, to all the caprices of favage licentioufnefs, to pernit the feduction

of

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