Council and the Supreme Court. In spite of the vague language of the Regulating Act, his own relations with the judges had thus far worked easily. He takes pleasure in avowing that on all occasions it has been Impey's aim in particular, and generally that of the other three judges, 'to support the authority of Government, and temper the law of England with the laws, religious customs, and manners of the natives[1].'
Meanwhile his enemies in the Council had soon returned to the game of baiting a President who still refused to throw up his post at their bidding. They restored to the Nawáb of Bengal the executive and judicial powers which Hastings had made over to his own officers. They suffered Oudh to fall into hopeless anarchy rather than relax their demands for money due from the Wazír. Even the hundred rupees which Hastings gave in charity to an agent of Kásim Alí, whose petition he laid before the Council in September, 1775, became the pretext for fresh attacks upon the President's character. From 'this small sample' Hastings invited the Directors to judge of 'the distracted state of your affairs, and the temper and objects of the members who rule your present administration.' Well might he complain that the merest trifles served to impede the course of business and swell the Minutes of the public proceedings. But no provocations, great or small, should tempt him to retire and leave his assailants uncontrolled masters of the Government. 'Prompted equally by duty and
- ↑ Gleig.
