Page:Warren Hastings (Trotter).djvu/137

Rh he succeeded in gaining a majority of one. In the Court of Proprietors, however, the Governor-General had a large number of stanch allies. They flocked to the general meeting held on the 15th May, and after a long debate carried a vote of support to Hastings by a large majority. A few weeks later the Directors recanted their former decision by a majority of two.

The position at this time was highly dramatic. Hastings vowed that nothing but his king's commands should induce him to throw up his office. Clavering and Francis were busily intriguing, each against the other, for their President's place; each threatening to retire if he could not get it. At home Lord North was working to secure for Clavering the post which Francis already made sure of winning for himself. The Court of Directors were in mortal fear that Lord North would fulfil his threat of calling on Parliament to abolish the Company's political power. Alarmed at the uncertain attitude of the India House, and at Lord North's undoubted eagerness to gratify Clavering's powerful friends, Macleane and other of Hastings' well-wishers set themselves to bring about a compromise which would enable Hastings to retire with all honour from a struggle which he could not hope much longer to maintain.

By the end of October, 1776, Macleane fancied that he and the Minister had settled everything in supposed accordance with Hastings' own desires. But when Clavering a few days after was gazetted a Knight of