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 CHAPTER XII

The Crowning of a Great Career

1781-1785

Meanwhile in England fresh storms were brewing against the Governor whose achievements in the far East were the one bright spot in the picture of England's uncertain struggle with a world in arms. The rancour of Francis, who might have sat for Milton's Belial or Pope's 'familiar toad,' was doing its poisonous work. Burke's fury against the Governor-General was inflamed not only by the arts of Francis, but by letters from his brother William, then Agent with the Rájá of Tanjore, and a partisan of Lord Macartney in his frequent quarrels with the Supreme Council.

In 1782 Lord North's Ministry was replaced by that of Rockingham, in which Burke's party had a leading voice. With the help of Dundas, they carried through the Commons a vote of censure on Hastings; and the Directors slavishly proceeded to recommend his recall. But in July a new Ministry under Lord Shelburne came into power, and the Court of Proprietors, once more rallying to the cause of their old favourite, steadily refused to make him a scapegoat