r
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53

appointed severally by the local Governments. At
the same time the fourth ordinary Councillor, who
held, under the former Act, the corresponding
office of legislative member, was made a member
in the executive branch as well as in the legislative
 branch. Consequent upon these changes, discussion
 became oral instead of in writing ; bills
were referred to select committees instead of to a
single member ; and legislative business was conducted
 in public instead of in secret. The system
50 introduced was considered by those who were
well versed in it to be an infinite improvemnent
upon the former system.

Comparison between the Legislatures of 1834
and 1853.

Under the former Act the sole power of making
 laws and regulations 2% India was vested in
the Governor-General of India in Council. That
vody consisted of the Governor-General and four
ordinary members of council ; the Commander-in-Chief,
 if appointed an extraordinary member of
Council, also formed one of the body. Of the four
ordinary members, it was directed that three should
be appointed from persons in the covenanted service
 of the East India Company, and the fourth
from persons who had never been in the service.
The duty of the fourth ordinary member was confined
 entirely to the subject of legislation. He had
no power to sit and vote in the Executive Council,