364
HISTORY OF INDIA.
[Book IT.
A.D. 1685.
Impoach- inent of the Duke of Leeds.
The duke's explanation
and that he acquainted my Lord Portland with the Company's intention to make sucli a present; who tohl the deponent that the king would not meddle with it." On being asked " if he had offered the same to Lord Portland, he denied that he had so done, saying, if he had, he must never have seen his face more."
That bribery to an enormous extent had been carried on, there could now be no doubt, but the only case in whicii, as yet, it seemed capable of being proved, was that of the Duke of Leeds, against whom, accordingly, the commons resolved
to proceed by imjjeachment. On the reading of the report of the committee in the House of Lords, the duke rose in his place and said that "as he had formerly protested himself to be free in this matter, so he still denied, upon his faith and honour, that he was guilty of any such corruptions as were suggested against him, and that if the wdaole truth were laid open it would tend to his honour and advan- tage." His explanation was, " that Mr. Bates introduced Sir Basil Firebrace to him, and that he had conferences with Sir Basil upon the subject of the East India Company, which Sir Basil
Thoma: OsBO'.NE, Duke of Leeds.— From print after Sir P Lely. ■, n ^
was concerned tor; that some time after Mr. Bates came and informed him that he was to have a sum of money of Sir Basil, and desired his lordship to lend him one of his servants, Mr. Bates keeping but a footman, to receive the money, and so he lent him M. Robert ; that his lordship knew nothing of the sum, but afterwards Mr. Bates came to him and told him he had received 5000 guineas, which he offered to him, telling his lordship that he had been very obliging and kind to him, and that in acknow- ledgment of the many favours he had received from his lordship's hands, he humbly desired him to accept of them, which he refusing, Mr. Bates pressed him earnestly to take one-half or a quarter, which he still refused, declaring he would not touch a penny of them ; and told him since he had taken them, he thought there was no need of returning them — they were liis own, and he w^ished him good luck with them." While the duke was making this apology, or rather con- fession, he got private notice that the commons were preparing to impeach him. Startled at the news he hastened off, and intimated, through one of the members, his desire to be heard. Permission was given, and he made a long and appar- ently rambling speech, without making any favoui'able impression, for the im- peachment was immediately carried up to the lords. The first article, containing the substance of the whole, was as follows: — " Tliat certain merchants trading to
