To point out in a clear manner the spirit of the second money transaction to which your Committee adverted, which is represented by Mr. Hastings as having some “affinity with the former anecdote,"[24] (for in this light kind of phrase he chooses to express himself to his masters,) your Committee think it necessary to state to the House, that the business, namely, this business, which was the second object of their inquiry, appears in three different papers and in three different lights:  on comparing of these authorities, in every one of which Mr. Hastings is himself the voucher, if one of the three be true, the other two must necessarily be false.

These three authorities, which your Committee has accurately compared, are, first, his minutes on the Consultations;[25] secondly, his letter to the Court of Directors on the 29th of November, 1780;[26] thirdly, his account, transmitted on the 16th of December, 1782.[27]

About eight months after the first transaction relative to Cheyt Sing, and which is just reported, that is, on the 5th of January, 1781, Mr. Hastings produced a demand to the Council for money of his own expended for the Company’s service.[28] Here was no occasion for secrecy.  Mr. Francis was on his passage to Europe; Mr. Wheler was alone left, who no longer dissented from anything; Mr. Hastings was in effect himself the whole Council.  He declared that he had disbursed three lacs of rupees, that is, thirty-four thousand five hundred pounds, in secret services,—­which having, he says, “been advanced from my own private cash, I request that the same may be repaid to me in the following manner.”  He accordingly desires three bonds, for a lac of Sicca rupees each, to be given to him in two of the Company’s subscriptions,—­one to bear interest on the eight per cent loan, the other two in the four per cent:  the bonds were antedated to the beginning of the preceding October.  On the 9th of the same month, that is, on the 9th of January, 1781, the three bonds were accordingly ordered.[29] So far the whole transaction appears clear, and of a piece.  Private money is subscribed, and a public security is taken for it.  When the Company’s Treasury accounts[30] are compared with the proceedings of their Council-General, a perfect correspondence also appears.  The three bonds are then [there?] entered to Mr. Hastings, and he is credited for principal and interest on them, in the exact terms of the order.  So far the official accounts,—­which, because of their perfect harmony, are considered as clear and consistent evidence to one body of fact.