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190 to create local legislatures for them, whenever the occasion demanded.

The Governor-General's Council, as constituted by Act of 1861, and as, in all material particulars, it has since remained, consists of five ordinary members, three of whom must have official experience of India. Of the others, one must be a barrister or a Scotch advocate, and is in charge of legislation; another has charge of finance. The Commander-in-Chief may be, and always is, an extraordinary member of Council. By an Act passed in 1874, the Crown was empowered to increase the number of ordinary members by creating a sixth member, for Public Works, a power which the growing importance of this Department renders highly expedient. For the purpose of legislation the Executive Council of the Governor-General is enlarged by additional members, not less than six nor more than twelve in number. Half of them must be non-official. Among them are invariably some distinguished natives and some of the leading merchants of Calcutta.

The arrangements, instituted by Lord Canning, have borne the test of thirty years' trial with considerable success. The inconveniences, occasioned by the tendency of the Council to become a little Parliament, have been checked. On the other hand, within the limits prescribed by the conditions of the case, much work of the utmost importance has been done; many useful discussions have been held; conflicting views have been boldly advanced