ledges: "For half an hour I looked up at the orator in a reverie of wonder, and during that space I actually felt myself the most culpable man on earth; but I recurred to my own bosom, and there found a consciousness that consoled me under all I heard and all I suffered."

The four days' speech over, there come debatings about the manner of conducting the trial; that settled, sixteen days are consumed hearing evidence; at the end of which, what with previous arguments and delays, summer is come; and instead of a cold February morning, Sheridan has the morning of the third of June to begin the summing up of evidence. The hall is as crammed as ever. It is said, fifty guineas have been paid for a ticket to get in. There are no bounds to the excitement. The orator, as great in his own way as Burke in his, declaims elaborately, yet with immense impression, for two days, and then falls back exhausted, with a rhetorical, "My Lords, I have done,” into the arms of his great colleague, who hugs him with admiration.

The prorogation of parliament advances, and as yet only two out of the twenty items of impeachment have been heard. The proceedings linger through years; and not till 1795, seven years after the trial began, is the business finished, and the verdict given. Excitement has abated; opinion has changed. There has come a reaction since the astounding speeches of Burke and Sheridan were delivered. Cross-questioned evidence has produced a very different effect from warm, glowing, impassioned oratory. acquittal is expected, and it comes.

An

In the spring of 1795 there is again a crowd in Westminster Hall. The peers vote, "Not guilty," The Lord Chancellor on the woolsack informs Hastings of this; he bows, and retires. The charges of his defence have amounted to more than 76,000l.; but the East India Company lend him 50,0007., and grant him a pension of 40007. per annum. He devotes himself to quietude and study;

but once again, in 1813, appears in public, to give evidence to the House of Commons on the question of renewing the East India Company's charter. The members simultaneously rise to show honour to the man their predecessors had arraigned for high crimes and misdemeanors between twenty and thirty years before.

We have done. The echoes of Westminster Hall awaken solemn thoughts-thoughts of man and time-thoughts of nations and providence-thoughts of the great ocean into which time is pouring its streams-thoughts of the Infinite Ruler and Judge who governs all beings and events-thoughts "of the silent waitinghall, where Adam meeteth with his children "-thoughts of the great tribunal, at which all shall be arraigned, and where so many earthly judgments shall be reversed. These are thoughts for deep, deep pondering, which may well wake up in the hearts of all echoes of faith and prayer.

[These Papers are reprinted from the "Leisure Hour" of 1852 and 1856, which will account for several references not applicable at the present time.] ED.