Bombay.] 



ORIENTAL COMMERCE. 



U5 



Bombay claims a distinguished rank among our foreign naval arsenals ; 

 it has always been famous for shipbuilding, and formerly supplied Bengal 

 and other parts of India with shipping. Many fine ships are now built at 

 Bengal, so that this branch of commerce at Bombay has rather diminished. 

 Merchant ships of considerable burthen, (from 600 to. 1300 tons,) for the 

 country trade, and the service of the Company, have been built here, 

 which, in point of beauty of construction, excellent workmanship, and 

 durability, are superior to any class of merchant ships in the world. Many 

 Bombay-built ships of 25, 30, 32, and 40 years' standing may be met 

 with. Bombay has the peculiar honour of being the first place in the 

 British dominions out of Europe, at which a ship of the line was ever 

 built; it has also added several line frigates to the Royal Navy : they 

 are all built of Malabar teak, which is esteemed superior to that of any 

 other part of India. The builders are Persees, who are very skilful and 

 assiduous ; so that for the skill of its naval architects, the superiority of its 

 timber, and the excellence of its docks, Bombay may be considered of the 

 first importance to the British Empire in India. 



The Government of Bombay and its dependencies is by law vested in a 

 Governor and three counsellors, who are, in respect to the native powers, 

 to levying war, making peace, collecting and applying revenues, levying 

 and employing forces, or other matters of civil or military government, 

 under the controul of the Government General of Bengal ; and are, in all 

 cases whatever, to obey their orders, unless the Court of Directors shall 

 have sent any orders repugnant thereto, not known to the Government 

 General, of which, in that case, they are to give the Government General 

 immediate advice. The Court of Directors appoint the Governor and 

 members of the Council, and likewise the Commander in Chief of the 

 forces : the latter is not, &v officio, to be of the Council, but is not dis- 

 qualified from being so, if the Court of Directors shall think fit to 

 appoint him ; and when member of the Council, he takes precedence of 

 the other Counsellors. The civil members are to be appointed from the list 

 of civil servants, who have resided twelve years in the service in India. The 

 method of conducting business at the Council-board is as follows: — Matters 

 propounded by the President, are first proceeded upon : he may adjourn the 

 discussion of questions put by the other members of Council, but not 

 more than twice. All orders are expressed as made by the Governor in 

 Council. The Governor has power to act contrary to the opinions of the 

 other members of the Council, taking upon himself the whole responsibility. 

 On such extraordinary occasions, the Governor and Counsellors are to com- 

 municate to each other their opinions and reasons by minutes in writing, 



