A History of the Mahrattas v2.c33.16

v2.c33.16

The original of the above resolution is signed by Mr. William Hornby,² Governor and President, Mr. Daniel Draper, Mr. William Tayler of the Civil Service, and Mr. John Watson, Commodore of the Bombay Marine, who were the counsellors present on that memorable occasion. In the course of the consultation, a doubt arose whether the president and members had a legal right to enter on any treaty without the concurrence of the Governor-General in Council, as the operation of the Act of Parliament of 1773, which rendered the Presidencies of Madras and Bombay subordinate to Bengal, was to have effect in India from the first of August; but as intimation had not been received of the arrival of the members appointed from Europe, without whom the supreme parliamentary council could not be constituted, their proceeding, on mature deliberation, was deemed unobjectionable.