« 54

but only when meetings were held for the purposes
of making laws and regulations. It was not necessary
 that he should be present to form a quorum
even at those meetings, although he was particularly
 charged with the duties of legislation. His
concurrence might be wanting to a law, but the
law would nevertheless be good ; even his absence
at the time of enactment would not vitiate it.
Parliament manifestly intended that the whole of
his time and attention, and knowledge and ability,
should be employed in promoting the due discharge
of the legislative functions of the Council. He had
no pre-eminent, control over the duties of that
department, but he was peculiarly charged with
the task of giving shape and connexion to the
several laws as they passed, and also with the
labour of collecting local information, and with
bringing his legal skill to the assistance of the
Council in order to effect a sound and rational
legislation.

By the Act of 1853 the duties which, under the
tormer Act, had rested principally on the fourth
ordinary member of Council were performed by
many. The Governor of each Presidency and the
Lieutenant-Governor of each Lieutenant-Governorship
 was empowered to appoint a Legislative
Councillor. The Legislative Councillors so appointed
 were members of the service of a certain
standing ; and, consequently, had passed a conuderable
 time in India; were conversant with