328 GANGETICHINDOOSTAN. 



Bt the fame act, the EngUJb laws and courts of judicature 

 was fixed at Fort William, in Calcutta, confifting of a chief juf- 

 tice, and three other judges, with power and authority to exe- 

 cute all civil and criminal, admiralty and ecclefiaftical jurifdic- 

 tion. The court v/as alfo to be a court of record, and a court of 

 oyer and terminer and gaol delivery, for the town of Calcutta 

 and Fort William- in Bengal, and the limits thereof, and the fac- 

 tories were fubordinate thereto. 



What the bufuiefs the criminal court has had in other cafes, 

 befides the convi6lion of Nundcomar for forgery, a crime not 

 capital by \hQ Hindoo laws, I am at a lofs to fay. He was charg- 

 ed and convitfled of a crime committed fix years before. Within 

 that period, the unhappy difputes between the prefident of the 

 fupreme council, Mr. Hajlings, and the majority, were carried to 

 an extreme height. Nundcomar, a Brahmin of high rank and 

 great wealth, had a quarrel with the prelident, and charged 

 him with accepting bribes in three inftances. The majority of 

 the council took advantage of this declaration, and endeavoured 

 to make it a charge againft Mr. Hajlings. It was fliaken off 

 within the period, and the difcovery of the Brahmin's forgeries 

 came to light. They feera never to have been urged againft 

 him by the prelident of the council, nor was the profecution in 

 any degree excited by Mr. Hajlings, notwithftanding the violence 

 he fhewed againft him ; notwithftanding his faffcring himfelf to 

 be made the tool of the three diftenting members of the council 

 to effeifl the ruin of the Governor General. The profecution was 

 advifed by a Mr. Farren, an attorney, in behalf of an individual, a 

 private perfon. Nundcomar was of courfe tried before the proper 

 court, at the head of which Sir Elijah hnpey was chief juftice. 



The 



