HIGH COURT OF MADRAS. 



103 



Calcutta was caused by the Moguls conferring upon the 

 Company on the 12th August 1765 the Dewanny of Bengal, 

 Bahar and Orissa. This led also to a greatly increased inter- 

 ference of Parliament in the affairs of the Company, and, 

 after an enquiry by two Parliamentary Committees, to the 

 passing of the Statute of 13 George III, c. 63, commonly 

 called the Regulating Act, from its being the first legislative 

 measure which prescribed any definite system for the conduct 

 of the Company's affairs. 67 



By this Act a Governor- General and four Councillors were 

 appointed for the government of the Presidency of Fort 

 William in Bengal, and for the ordering, management, and 

 government of all the territorial acquisitions and revenues in 

 the Kingdom of Bengal, Bahar, and Orissa, and they were 

 authorized to superintend and control the government and 

 management of the Presidencies of Madras, Bombay, and 

 Bencoolen 68 so far and in so much that it should not be lawful 

 for any President and Council of Madras, Bombay, or 

 Bencoolen to make any orders for commencing hostilities, or 

 declaring or making war against any Indian Princes or 

 powers, or for negociating or concluding any treaty with any 

 such Indian Princes or powers without the consent and appro- 

 bation of the Grovernor- General and Council. 



Warren Hastings, Esquire, it was enacted, should be the first 

 Governor- General, and Lieutenant- General John Clavering, 

 the Honorable George Monson, Richard Barwell, Esquire, 

 and Philip Francis, Esquire, the four first Councillors ; the 

 power of nominating the succeeding Governor- General and 

 Council being vested in the Court of Directors. 



The King was empowered to establish by Charter or letters 

 patent under the Great Seal a Supreme Court of Judicature 



67 Auber, vol. i, pp. 338, 440. 



68 Bencoolen was ceded to the King of the Netherlands by Treaty dated the 

 17th March 1824. 



