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WARREN HASTINGS

the real prosecutor, or that Impey acted in collusion with his friend.

The hanging of Nanda-Kumár brought Hastings a welcome relief from some part of his former burden. 'The Governor is well assured' — sneers Francis in his Minute of September — 'that no man who regards his own safety will stand forward as his accuser.' The mouths of mercenary informers were closed thenceforward by the blow which had struck down the arch-informer himself. Cheered by the support of his own countrymen and the good-will of all the leading natives in Calcutta, the harassed Governor could take breath for renewing the struggle with his factious colleagues. On the 7th August, he found time to write Dr. Johnson a friendly letter of thanks for the book he had sent him through Mr. Justice Chambers of the Supreme Court. He tells the great English scholar of his own efforts to promote research into the history, traditions, arts, and natural products of India; of his success in compiling 'an abstract of the Gentoo law;' and begs Johnson to accept a copy of Bogle's Tibet journal, which he will find not unworthy of perusal, however wanting in the spirit of the Doctor's own 'Journey to the Western Islands of Scotland.'

To Lord Mansfield, in the following January, he sends a complete copy of 'Halhed's Code,' with a plan of his own, approved by his friend Impey, for defining and regulating the respective powers of the

[1]

  1. Gleig.