'History of the Indian Navy. (1613-1863).' [‎530] (549/622)

530
HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAYY.
from the 4 Coromaiidel,' as she led up to Pehtang. Soon after
two o'clock, the gunboats anchored about two thousand yards
from the fort." On the 21st of August the Takoo forts, which
were distant three miles from the mouth of the river, were either
stormed or surrendered, the British loss being seventeen killed
and one hundred and sixty-one wounded, and the French one
hundred and thirty. The fleet lay off the Pehtang # until the
return of the troops in November, when they were embarked,
and the ships returned southward.
The 'Assaye,' in May, 1860, was directed by Sir James
Hope to proceed to Singapore, where Commander Adams per
formed the duties of Senior Naval Officer, with his usual judg
ment and success, as appears from the following extracts of
letters from his superior officers. Sir James Hope writes to
him from Tientsin on the 12th November, 1860 :—" I hope to
have the pleasure of writing to you before your final departure;
in the meantime let me express to you the sense I entertain of
the zeal with which you have carried out all my wishes at
Singapore." Sir Robert McClure, also, under date, Singapore,
25th of December, 1860, expressed his obligations to him in
terms peculiarly acceptable from an officer of his distinction and
high professional reputation :—" In case I do not see you before
sailing, accept my sincere wishes for your success, and my high
appreciation of your conduct as an officer, while conducting the
duties of Senior Officer here, also for the ready co-operation
you have given me when required."
The 4 Zenobia,' after conveying troops, was sent to the Phil
ippine Islands, to look after a transport which was supposed to
have put into Manilla. The 6 Zenobia' met with a typhoon on
the way down, when her safety valves became unseated and the
paddle boxes were partially washed away ; indeed, the safety of
the ship was in a great measure attributable to the capacity and
seamanlike conduct of the commander. Lieutenant Chitty.
In January, 1860, Lieutenant Templer, then at Calcutta, his
Detachment, (No. 3) stationed at Chuprah, having been dis
banded, was appointed by the Supreme Government agent for
transports and proceeded in charge of the transports 4 Walmer
Castle/ 6 Octavia,' and 6 Mars,' with the 99th Regiment, to
Hong Kong, and then to Chusan, after the occupation of
which he was sent by the Admiral to Nagasaki, where his
management of the coal depot during a period of eight months
met with the approval of the Commander-in-chief.
Sir James Hope during the course of the war found oppor
tunities for inspecting all the ships of the Indian Navy engaged
* While lying at Pehtang, the 4 Coromandel' was sent on a cruise round the
Gulf of Pecheli, in search of some missing transports, and visited the Meatow
Islands. In January, 1861, on the conclusion of hostilities, Commander Batt
brought the ' Coromandel' round to Bombay.