1786: 26 George 3 c.25: An Act for obviating all Doubts which have arisen, or might arise, with respect to the exclusive Power of the Court of Directors of the East India Company to nominate and appoint the Governor General and Council of the Presidency of Fort William in Bengal.
‘WHEREAS Doubts have arisen whether, on the Nomination and Appointment of a Governor General, the several other Members of the Council of the Presidency of Fort William in Bengal in the East Indies, under and by virtue of an Act, passed in the Twenty fourth Year of His present Majesty’s Reign,
[24 G. 3. Sess. 2. c. 25. §23.]
intituled, An Act for the better Regulation and Management of the Affairs of the East India Company, and of the British Possessions in India; and for establishing a Court of Judicature for the more speedy and effectual Trial of Persons accused of Offences committed in the East Indies, His Majesty’s Approbation of the same, under His Sign Manual, be by Law required:’ Therefore, for removing all Doubts respecting the same, May it please Your Majesty that it may be declared and enacted; and be it declared and enacted by the King’s Most Excellent Majesty, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the Authority of the same,
[His Majesty’s Approbation of Appointment of Governor General, &c. of Fort William not necessary.]
That His Majesty’s Approbation of the Nomination and Appointment of the Governor General, and of the several other Members of the Council of the Presidency of Fort William in Bengal, is not, nor shall be necessary to render such Appointments respectively good and effectual in Law, and that all Nominations and Appointments of any such Governor General, or Member or Members of the said Council of Fort William, by Authority of the Court of Directors of the said Company, since the passing of the before mentioned Act, were good, valid and effectual in the Law, notwithstanding His Majesty’s Approbation of the same was not signified to the said Company, or to the Court of Directors of the said Company, under His Majesty’s Sign Manual.
Source: Raithby, Statutes at Large (10 volume set), volume 8.