Calcutta.] 



ORIENTAL COMMERCE. 



259 



Bengal to be a Member of Council, and to rank next the Governor-General, 

 although the chief command of the forces in India may be vested iu such 

 Governor-General ; but in case of a vacancy in the office of Governor- 

 General, such Commander in Chief not to succeed thereto (except provi- 

 sionally appointed so to do) ; but the vacancy to be filled up by the Coun- 

 sellor next in rank to the Commander in Chief* 



The Governor-General and Council not amenable to the Supreme 

 Court for acts done in their public capacity, nor for their rules and regula- 

 tions in revenue matters ; persons impleaded for acts done by their order, 

 the production of such order to be their discharge. Governor-General, &c. 

 and persons acting under their orders, subject nevertheless to process, &c, in 

 any competent Court in the kingdom. Parties aggrieved by orders of 

 Governor-General, &c, on making oath of the same in the Supreme Court, 

 and giving bond to complain in Great Britain before a competent Court, 

 the Supreme Court to compel production of those orders, Sec. and to exa- 

 mine witnesses, which examination is to be taken as evidence in any of the 

 Courts in Westminster. No suit to be carried on against the Governor- 

 General, &c. in Great Britain (the High Court of Parliament excepted), 

 unless commenced within five years after the commission of the offence, or 

 five years after the arrival of the parties in England. 



Trade. — The annual reports of trade, drawn up by the Calcutta Board 

 of Customs, have exhibited results which, it appears, are so much at va- 

 riance with the real state of the trade in Bengal, that no advantage can 

 well arise from the publication of statements drawn from that source, by 

 reason of the unsatisfactory mode in which the goods are valued. The 

 total amount of exports during eight years, ending 1820-21, are therein 

 shewn as follows : — 



Rupees. 



Imports, viz. Merchandise ™™ w „«*™.«lu\79,l 4,280 



Balance of specie 21,<>(i,79,214 



Bills returned to Calcutta 8,14,95,993 



4<J,60,S9,493 



Exports 44,58,91 ,038 



2,01,98,455 



It would appear from hence, that a quarter of a million sterling nearly, 

 is due to Bengal, instead of a large annual surplus remittance from thence 

 to Europe, estimated by some at three millions. Mr. Prinsep has clearly 



R2 



