9-13-51 MFP Sextor CONTENTS ΤΟ THE SEVENTH VOLUME. PAGE Charge to the Grand Jury, at Calcutta, June 10, 1785 Charge to the Grand Jury, at Calcutta, June 10, 1787 Charge to the Grand Jury, at Calcutta, December 4, 8 22 32 47 65 CHARGE TO THE GRAND JURY, AT CALCUTTA, DECEMBER 4, 1783. GENTLEMEN OF THE GRAND JURY, IT might perhaps be fufficient, if my addrefs to you this day were confined to fome short remarks on those offences, of which the prifoners named in the calendar are accufed; but fuch is the particularity of my own, fituation, that I cannot help feeling an inclination to take a wider range. Six years have elapfed, fince the feat, which I have now the honour to fill, became vacant; and, in that interval, fo many important events have happened in India, and fo many interefting debates have been held in the parliament of Britain, on the powers and objects of this judicature, that I may naturally be expected to touch at least, though not to enlarge, on those events, all of which I have attentively confidered, and on the refult of those debates, at most of which I was prefent. Such expectations, if fuch have been formed, I should be very loth to disappoint; and, as I fhall express my fentiments without referve, you will hear them, I am confident, with perfect candour. None of you, I hope, will fufpect me of political zeal for any fet of minifters in England, with which vice my mind has never been infected; nor of political attachments here, which in my station it will ever behove me to disclaim, if, in the character of a magiftrate appointed to preserve the public tranquillity, Icongratulate you, who are affembled to inquire into all violations of it, on the happy prospect of a general peace in every part of the world, with which our country is connected. The certain fruits of this pacification will be the revival and extenfion of commerce in all the dependencies of Britain, the improvement of agriculture and manufactures, the encouragement of industry and civil virtues, by which her revenues will be restored, and her navy strengthened, her fubjects enriched and herfelf exalted but it is to India, that she looks for the most splendid as well as moft fubftantial of those advantages; nor can fhe be disappointed, as long as the fupreme executive and judicial : |