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INDIA.

Constitution and Government.

The present form of government of the Indian empire is esta- blished by the Act 21 and 22 Victoria, cap. 106, called ' An Act for the better Government of India, 1 sanctioned August 2, 1858. By the terms of this Act, all the territories heretofore under the government of the East India Company are vested in Her Majesty, and all its powers are exercised in her name ; all territorial and other revenues and all tributes and other payments are likewise received in her name, and disposed of for the purposes of the government of India alone, subject to the provisions of this Act. One of Her Majesty's principal Secretaries of State, called the Secretary of State for India, is invested with all the powers hitherto exercised by the Company or by the Board of Control, and all warrants and orders under Her Majesty's sign-manual must be countersigned by the same.

The executive authority in India is vested in a governor-general or viceroy, appointed by the Crown, and acting under the orders of the Secretary of State for India. The Governor-General has power to make laws and regulations for all persons, whether British or native, foreigners or others, within the Indian territories under the dominion of Her Majesty, and for all servants of the Government of India within the dominions of princes and states in alliance with Her Majesty.

Governor- General of India. — Right Hon. Richard Southwell, Earl of Mayo, born 1822, eldest son of the fifth Earl of Mayo, in the peerage of Ireland; educated at Trinity College, Dublin, and M.A. 1844; M.P. for co. Kildare, 1847-52; Chief Secretary for Ireland, March to December 1852, and again February 1858 to June 1859 ; M.P. for Coleraine, 1852-57 ; M.P. for Cockermouth, 1857-68 ; for the third time Chief Secretary for Ireland, with a seat in the cabinet, July 1866 to September 1868; appointed Governor-General of India, September 1868.

The salary of the Governor-General is 30,000/. a-year, exclusive of allowances, which may be estimated at 10,000/.

The following is a list of the Governors-General of India, since the battle of Plassy, with the dates of their appointments: — Colonel Clive, 1751); Mr. Holwelh 1760; Mr. Vansittart, 1761; Mr.