Series CSA4 - Proceedings of the select committee,

During Clive’s second governorship (1765-1767) a select committee was composed of himself and his own nominees and friends. The East India Company intended it as a compromise measure to prevent Clive from acting independently of the council, but at the same time vested the power he required in the committee. Theoretically, the committee’s brief was ‘to restore Peace and Tranquillity to the Company’s Affairs in Bengall’ after which its authority was to devolve to the council. In reality, Clive did act independently of the council, using the committee to effect his reforms, and continued to use it as Calcutta’s main governing body even after peace had been achieved.