101?]

asna matter of propriety, but to give; a duc weight and confequence to their decilions. That the grant- ing a“ fuperiority to one prefidency over the rell, was alfo abfolutely necellfaryr, as their being furnilhed

xvith equal and feparate powers,'in'

matters that related towar, peace, and alliance, had frequently been productive of great dilorder, con- fulion, and contradiction; and that the propofed fuperiority, only re- lated to general affairs, and drd not at all interfere ‘with internal regu- lation. ' ’ ' ’ it was alfo thrown out, that other regulations would be necef- fary, particularly that the Com- Paay lhould immediately com- municate their advices from Ben- gal, t0 the treafury, or ‘iecretaries of liate, and that the Cornpany’s fervants fhould, under heavy penal- ties, bring all their fortunes home in the Cornpanyk lhips‘. Itwas concluded, th-attthough thele re~ gulations would operate ‘greatly towards a reformation, it was not to be expected, that thewholc could be done at once, and re- quire no flarther attention ; that on the contrary, it was probable tht Bengal would require their annual care; and that as new information could be obtained, a fixed and con- {lant attention in the controuling and legillative power, would at all times be necellary. » ' I As this bill excited a very gene- ral alarm, not only with refpefit to the Company, but thole who con- fidered it merely as dangerous in its tendency tvith regard to the con- flitution, it was vigoroufly -com~ bated in every part of its progrefs; every queltion, every claufe, and every addition, was produélitrc

"i

ANNUAL rtnotsren, 1773.

of a warm debate, and of a divi- fion." ' Every quefiion was, however, carried by-a great majority. In the mean tinre," the Ealt-lndia Com; pany, the ~City of London, and thofe proprietors who poflefled" votes,by holding 5001. flock, but being under a‘ thouland, were now to be depriredfof their franchifes, and who amounted to above 1200 in number, prefented feparate, and unufually ftrong "petitions" “againit the bill. Counfelr were alfo heard, in behalf of the Company, and of the 5001. ltocltholders. ' ‘ ' " Upon the firi’: divifion on the, qualification elaufe, whether it’ lhould be fixed at r000 l. flock, the quefiion was carried by 179 r0615.- Upon the next quefiion, a/vhichitrev laced to the eltablifltment ‘of: a governor and council at Bengal, after long debates, and a variety of amendments being propoféd and rejetited, it was at length put, whe-é ther the right of nominating the governor and council, fhould be veiled in the crown, or in the Com‘- pany, and was carried by 161 in favour of the former, to 60 who oppol-ed.‘ By this determination, the immediate appointment was vefied in parliament, the ofiieers- being, however, removable at the will of the Crown; ' The right of appointing judges was carried in favour of the crown by a fiill greater majority, the numbers being 193 to 18 Dilly." The falaries of the judges were fixed, at 80001. to the chiefjuflice, and 6oco l. a year to each of the other three, The appointments of the governor gene- ral and council were fixed, the firfi

at 25,000 lfand the four-others at _

10,000 l. each annually. - ~ - ' ' Other,