A. D. 1 78 1. 695 



company are alio to lupply all neceflary ftores for the repair of the 

 king's fhips in India, for which they are to be paid during the war : but 

 after the peace fuch ftores are to be fupplied at the company's expenfe. 



The company were, as before, reftridled from accepting bills from 

 India for more than ^300,000 in one year, befides the uiual warrants of 

 ;^8,ooo to the commander of each of their ftiips, without the permiflion 

 of the treafury. 



Doubts having arifen, whether, in confequence of great number-> ot 

 foreigners being proprietors of India ftock, the fhips in the company's 

 fervice could be abfolutely confidered as Britiih veflels, it was declared 

 by this act, that all their fliips are confidered as Britiih Hiips within the 

 true intent and meaning of the ad. 



The governor-general and council of Bengal were continued in office 

 during the continuance of this ad, vmlefs removed by the king : and, 

 in cafe of death or refignation, the dircdors may appoint fuccellbrs to 

 them with his Majefty's confent. 



As fome compenfation for the reftraints now laid upon the company, 

 the prohibitions againft Britifli fubjeds being in any way whatever con- 

 cerned with foreigners in India were made ib ftric't, that even lending 

 money, diredly or indiredly, to any foreign European was declared 

 unlawful. [21 Gfo. ///,<:. 65.] 



The doubts and difficulties concerning the authority of the fupreme 

 court in Bengal having been found produdive of much difleulion be- 

 tween the judges of it and the governor-general and council, and of 

 many evils to the inhabitants ; and it being ' expedient, that the lawful 

 ' government of the provinces of Bengal, Bahar, and Oriila, fliould be 

 ' fupported, tliat the revenues thereof fliould be collcded with ceriaintj, 

 ' and that the inhabitants fliould be maintained and proteded in the 

 ' enjoyment of their ancient laws, ufages, rights, and privileges,* it was 

 enaded, that the governor-general and council of Bengal fhould not be 

 fubjed to the jurifdiclion of the fupreme court for any thing done in 

 their public capacity, nor any other perfon for any thing done by a 

 written order from them ; that the fupreme court fhould have no jurif- 

 didion in matters of revenue (except to punifh moderately any abufe or 

 extortion committed in the collet'"lion of it), nor any authority over any 

 perfon by realbn of his being a landholder or farmer of lands. Among 

 a variety of regulations for the proceedings of the court, it was ordered, 

 that caiifes between the Mahomedan or Hindoo inhabitants of Calcutta 

 fliould be tried by ihcir own laws, and, if the parties were of ditfereni 

 religions, by thole of the defendant ; and that what is allow.ible by their 

 laws fliould upon no account be adjudged to be criminal, though it 

 might be lb by the law of England. Finally, the governor-general, the 

 council, tlu- advocate-general, ami all perlbns ading under their order.?, 

 were indemnified for any thing done in rcfiftauceto the authority of the 



