And if this be the case, as I hope and trust it has been proved to your Lordships, that there is law in these countries, that there is no delegation of power which exempts a governor from the law, then I say at any rate a British governor is to answer for his conduct, and cannot be justified by wicked examples and profligate practices.
But another thing which he says is, that he was left to himself, to govern himself by his own practice: that is to say, when he had taken one bribe, he might take another; when he had robbed one man of his property, he might rob another; when he had imprisoned one man arbitrarily, and extorted money from him, he might do so by another.

He resorts at first to the practice of barbarians and usurpers; at last he comes to his own.

Now, if your Lordships will try him by such maxims and principles, he is certainly clear: for there is no manner of doubt that there is nothing he has practised once which he has not practised again; and then the repetition of crimes becomes the means of his indemnity.
The next pleas he urges are not so much in bar of the impeachment as in extenuation.

The first are to be laid by as claims to be made on motion for arrest of judgment, the others as an extenuation or mitigation of his fine.

He says, and with a kind of triumph, "The ministry of this country have great legal assistance,--commercial lights of the greatest commercial city in the world,--the greatest generals and officers to guide and direct them in military affairs: whereas I, poor man, was sent almost a school-boy from England, or at least little better,--sent to find my way in that new world as well as I could.