'History of the Indian Navy. (1613-1863).' [‎12] (31/622)

12 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAYY.
Council decreed the abolition of 46 the separate office of the
auditor of Indian Navy accounts, and transferred its duties to
the civil auditor." Accordingly Commander Houghton was
nominated assistant to the civil auditor in the Marine depart
ment of the audit. The Service was thought at this time to bo
doomed, and the "Bombay Courier" of the 15th of June,
1833, stated that 44 positive orders had been received for
making extensive reductions from the 1st of July. The officers
were to be invited to retire, the force was to be cut down
to four ships and one steamer." In the face of such positive
statements, it is a marvel that the discipline of the Service was
maintained, and that all efficiency or esprit de corps had not
disappeared. But it was not so, and the officers continued to
discharge their duties with the Damocles sword of abolition
suspended over their heads.
In 1834, Lord William Bentinck, recurring to the pro
posals of the Report of the Finance Committee of 1829-30,
strongly recommended the Court of Directors The London-based directors of the East India Company who dealt with the daily conduct of the Company's affairs. to abolish the
Indian Navy, as he was of opinion the duties could be per
formed at less cost by a squadron of ships of the Royal Navy;
but, following the course adopted by Sir John Malcolm, the
arguments put forth by the Governor-General were refuted in
an able minute by Lord Clare, the Governor of Bombay, a
nobleman who strove to increase the efficiency of the Service,
and was held in warm regard by its officers. The Supreme
Government always entertained a certain jealousy of the Ser
vice, inasmuch as it was under the orders of the Governor of
a minor Presidency The name given to each of the three divisions of the territory of the East India Company, and later the British Raj, on the Indian subcontinent. ; and Sir Charles Metcalfe, who agreed
with the Governor-General in desiring its abolition on the
score of expense—actually called it " a pet service," than
which, surely, no appellation could be more inapplicable, for,
by the recent retrenchments, many appointments of value had
been abolished, or their emoluments curtailed. Thus, formerly,
the Service had Commodores both at Bombay and Surat, and
a Marine Board composed of its officers ; this Board had been
abolished, while both the assistants to the Master-Attendant
were of the uncovenanted service. The staff allowance of 200
rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. to a Deputy Judge-Advocate-General was abolished in
1832, and, a few years later, the Assistant Naval Auditorship,
held by Commander Houghton, was, upon his proceeding to
Europe, conferred upon a military officer.
In 1823, we find that officers of the Service held the fol
lowing staff appointments at Bombay ;—Master-Attendant,
Assistant Master-Attendant, Commodore, Captain of Mazagon
Dockyard, and Boatmaster; also, Accountant to the Marine
Board, and Marine Storekeeper. In addition to these, the follow
ing officers of the Service held shore appointments :—Captain
J. Jeakes, Conservator of Forests in Canara; Captain G.