ABSTRACT

T HE office of Governor was established in 1798, whenCeylon was placed under the dual control of the Crownand the East India Company. The Governor was appointed by the Crown, but obeyed all orders received from the Directors or the Governor-General of India so long as these were consistent with the Cabinet's instructions. The Governor's dispatches were addressed either to the Court of Directors or to Dundas, the President of the Board of Control, these last being sent in the first instance to the Directors. The civil servants, of whom the majority were drawn from Madras, were (entirely subject' to the Governor's orders. No Council was appointed, all legislative and executive power being vested in the Governor. I

In 1802 the authority of the East India Company was abolished, and Ceylon became a Crown Colony under the control of the Colonial Office. The new Instructions which were issued to Governor North in 1801 were similar to those of 1798 apart from the omission of all articles concerning the Company. Until 1828 the Governor held office during the royal pleasure, but after that date the term was limited to six years. 2 A Council

I C.O. 55. 61: Mar. 26, 1798: Dundas's Instructions to North; C.R. 52: May 5, 1798. For a fuller account v. chap. iv. The Governor had discretionary power in emergencies to act without awaiting the sanction of the East India Company. He was required to report all such occurrences at once to the Company.