Autograph Letter, Signed

np: March 22, 1803. HASTINGS, Warren [1732-1818] [Governor-General of India (1773-1785), impeached on grounds of corruption and cruelty]. Autograph Letter, Signed, dated March 22, 1803, to George Payne. Writing to say that despite reports that Mrs. Hastings has been seriously ill, she has in fact been in uncommonly good health. [OFFERED WITH:]. 2 Engraved portraits of Hastings, one by T.Bromley dated 1797 (size of sheet: 31.7 x 21.6 cm.), the other by T.Knight after a painting by Joshua Reynolds (25.75 x 16.8 cm.), and an engraved ticket of admission (21 x 16 cm.; plate measuring 16.25 x 10.7 cm.) to the 62nd day of Hastings’ trial, signed by [Charles Stanhope, third Earl] Stanhope [1753-1816] [Politician], with wax seal (ticket with upper left-hand corner clipped & with short tear along 1 plate mark). Hastings was famously impeached in the House of Commons in 1787 on charges of personal corruption and high crimes and misdemeanours relating to his term as Governor in India. The trial, which lasted for a total of 145 days over a period of seven years and three months, cost Hastings £70,000, and almost bankrupted him. In April of 1795 he was acquitted of all charges, and in 1814 he was made a Privy Councillor. 4to. pp. 3 with address panel. (seal torn off, the holes not affecting text, horizontal & vertical folds)