1780-10-23 (static/transcriptions/1780/10/004.jpg)

1780. 4 Term. [Monday] Oct. 23.

= inted in his Place, in manner above mention’d,”
It seems to me that in this Clause His Majesty expressly calls all the Inhabitants of Bengal, Bahar, and Orissa, his Subjects, which is a Fact that the Servants of the Company here are not willing to allow.

Before we went into Court to day Sir Elijah Impey, told me at my House, that [Shorthand –
since he saw me last Thursday he had received notice of
his appointment to be judge of the Sudder Diwani Adalat: “he said further” “and I have accepted it
Impey said also “I think I might prevent that interference with the court which might happen if it was
in other hands: I shall send all cases to the court that properly belong to it”: I said “I understand
it was only a court of appeal: Impey answered “no I understand this also a court of general
jurisdiction in causes above a set sum”: I said nothing to Impey implying approval nor
disapproval but turned the discourse to the news that Sir Eyre Coote in the Duke of Kingston had got
over the sands called the Braces: I do greatly disapprove of it because I think it must
nearly render Impey dependent on the Governor General and Council and consequently partial
to their wishes in every cause of the Company where they have wishes and in every other cause where they have a
wish, which are almost every cause of value that is brought into the court; and because his very
appearance of it bind his opinion in many important questions; for their right to make any such
appointment and the extent of jurisdiction to be granted to him may well come in question
in the Supreme Court of Judicature at Fort William in Bengal: and how is it to be expected
that he should decide against that authority under which he may: though no salary is yet granted yet]