These claims and regulations were first
proposed in Parliament November, 1772,
and may be said to have laid the founda
tion for that destructive system of admin
istration and control which has prevailed
since, though under different tyrannical
modifications, from Lord North's bill in
1773 to Mr. Pitt's in 1781. By this latter
bill a Board of Control, composed of cer
tain commissioners of the rank of privy
counsellors, was established, the members
of which were to be appointed by the King,
and removable at his pleasure. This board
was authorized to check, superintend and
control the civil and military government
and revenue of the East India Company.
A high tribunal also, for the trial of Indian
delinquents, was proposed at the same
time. The management of their commer
cial concerns was left in the hands of the
Company, the political and civil authority
only transferred to the crown. In 1786 some
alterations were made in the bill; the offices
of Commander-in-Chief and Governor
General were for the future to be united
in the same person, and a power given
to the Governor-General to decide in op
position to the majority of the Council.
The presidencies of Madras and Bombay
Lad been previously by Lord North's bill
ied under the superintendency of the
Governor and Council of Bengal, but by
this bill that point was also confirmed.
