3© , A. D. 1783. 



them in their journals, before they fhould permit any fuch perfon to 

 fail for India. They were to decide upon all differences between the 

 governors and councils, or between the different governments in India, 

 within three months, or enter the reafons of delay in their journals, and 

 to give anfwers to any queftions fubmitted to them from the prefiden- 

 cies in India alfo in three months. They were to take cognizance of 

 all grievances of the native princes of India, and do them complete juf- 

 tice according to the exifling treaties. Neither the diredors nor aflift- 

 ant diredors were to hold any office in the company's fervice, or any 

 place of profit, during pleafure, from the crown ; and they were to be 

 removeable by the king on an addrefs from either houfe of parliament. 

 The directors were not to be difqualified from fitting in the houfe of 

 commons ; and the afliflant diredors were to hax'e fabrics of ;^5oo 

 a-year from the company. The act was propofed to be in force for four 

 years. 



The bill for the better government of the terriiorial pojfejfions and depend- 

 encies in India, 



after obferving that great diforders prevailed in the go%-ernment of the 

 Britifh Eaft-Indies, and that the fervants of the company had not paid 

 due refpe6t to the lawful authority of this kingdom, proceeded to define 

 the limits of the powers entrufled to the governor-general and the pre- 

 fidents and councils, and ordered that all their proceedings fhould be 

 fair and open, and that they fhould fix up their ordinances, written in 

 the languages of Perfia and Hindooftan, in every provincial court of 

 the territory to which they related. The governor-general was prohib- 

 ited from invading the territory of any prince, unlefs a majority of the 

 council fhould declare under their hands, that fuch prince was about to 

 attack the territories of the company, and alio from forming any alli- 

 ance for the purpofe of fliaring any territory. The company's principal 

 fervants were not allowed to hire out any farm or other thing to any 

 fervant of any perfon in the civil fervice of the company : and all mo- 

 nopolies in India were to be annulled. Illegal prefents were to be re- 

 coverable at law by the giver or the company, or, failing them, by any 

 perfon for his own benefit. All lands and tenements, not in the adual 

 poffeffion of the company or their farmers, were to be deemed the pro- 

 perty of the native land-holders, on their paying the ufual rents, unlefs 

 legally difpoffelTed. The rights of the proteded princes and their vaflal 

 princes were carefully guarded ; and the company's fervants v/ere ftridly 

 prohibited from having any pecuniary tranladions whatever with them, 

 or receiving any mortgages of land from them. The commiflioners 

 were direded to examine and fettle the difputes between the nabob of 

 Arcot and the rajah of Tanjore, and to tranfmit orders to the governor- 

 general for adjufliug the claims of Britifli fubjeds upon thofe princes. 

 No fervant of the company , nor agent of any proteded prince, was to 



