120 THE BRITISH EMPIRE: — INDIA AND DEPENDENCIES
ten and not more than fourteen members, appointed for seven years by the Secretary of State. At least nine members of the Council must be persons who have served or resided ten years in India, and have not left India more than five years previous to their appointment. A member may be removed upon an address from both Houses of Parliament, and the Secretary of State for India may for special reasons reappoint a member of the Council for a further term of five years. No member can sit in Parliament.
The duties of the Council, which has no initiative authority, are to conduct the business transacted in the United Kingdom in relation to the government of India. The expenditure of the revenues of India, both in India and elsewhere, is subject to the control of the Secretary of State in Council, and no appropriation can be made without the concurrence of a majority of votes of the Council, which meets at least once a week, five being a quorum. In dealing, however, with questions affecting the relations of the Government with foreign Powers, in making peace and war, in prescribing the policy of the Government towards native States, and in matters of internal policy where the Government of India have addressed the India Office in a ' secret ' despatch the Secretary of State may act on his own authority. The Secretary of State regulates the transaction of business.
The supreme executive authority in India is vested in the Governor- General in Council, often styled the Government of India. The Governor- General, or Viceroy, is appointed by the Crown, and usually holds office for five years. The Capital of the Empire and the seat of government was moved from Calcutta to Delhi in 1912, the latter being formed into a separate territory under a Chief Commissioner.
Viceroy and Governor-General of India. — The Right Hon. Baron Hardinge of Penshurst, G.C.B., G.C.M.G.,'G.C. V.O., I.S.O., born 1858. Raised to peerage 1910. After filling other posts in the diplomatic service, was Ambassador at St. Petersburg, 1904-06 ; permanent head of Foreign Office, 1906-10 ; present appointment, November, 1910.
The salary of the Governor-General is Rs. 2,50,800 (16,720Z.) a year. The following is a list of the Governors-General of India, with the dates of their assumption of office : —
Warren Hastings .... Sir John Macpherson. Earl (Marquis) Cornwallis . Sir John Shore (Lord Teignmouth) , Marquis Wellesley .... Marquis Cornwallis .... Sir Geo. H. Barlow .... Earl of Minto .... Earl of Moira (Marquis of Hastings) Earl of Amherst .... Lord W. C. Bentinck ... Lord Auckland .... Lord Ellenborough Sir H. (Lord) Hardinge
Until 1834 these were Governors-General of Fort William in Bengal, not of India.
The Council of the Governor-General consists at present of six ordinary members, and the Commander-in-Chief, who is an extraordinary member. The ordinary members are appointed by the Crown, and usually hold office for five years. There are ten departments — Home, Foreign, Finance, Army, Public Works, Revenue and Agriculture, Commerce and Industry, Legislative,
1774
Earl (Marquis) of Dalhousie
. 1848
1785
Lord Canning . . . .
. 1856
1786
Earl of Elgin
. 1862
1793
Sir John (Lord) Lawrence .
. 1864
1798
Earl of Mayo
. 1869
1805
Lord (Earl of) Northbrook .
1872
1805
Lord (Earl) Lytton
. 1876
1807
Marquis of Ripon
. 1880
1813
Earl (Marquis) of Dufferin .
. 1884
1823
Marquis of Lansdowne
. 1888
1828
Earl of Elgin
. 1894
1836
Lord Curzon of Kedleston .
. 1899
1842
Earl of Minto
. 1905
1844
Lord Hardinge of Penshurst
. 1910
