The India Company, who here did their duty with apparent manliness and vigor, were resolved, however, to do it with gentleness, and to proceed in a manner that could not produce any serious mischief to the parties charged; for they directed the commission of inquiry to the very clan and set of people who, from a participation in their common offences, stood in awe of one another,--in effect, to the parties in the transaction.

Without a prosecutor, without an impartial director of the inquiry, they left it substantially to those persons to try one another for their common acts.
Here I come upon the principle which I wish most strongly to mark to your Lordships: I mean collusive trials and collusive acquittals.

When this matter came to be examined, according to the orders of the Court, which was on the 4th of October, 1762, the Council consisted of Peter Maguire, Warren Hastings, and Hugh Watts.

Mr.Hastings had by this time accomplished the business of Resident with the Nabob, and had taken the seat to which his seniority entitled him in Council.

Here a difficulty arose _in limine_.