'History of the Indian Navy. (1613-1863).' [‎52] (71/622)

52
HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY.
tention at the various ports, and the 4 Atalanta' one hundred
and six days, including thirty-six days' detention.
The 4 Berenice,' 'Atalanta,' and 4 Hugh Lindsay,' were
employed during the year 1837 in the transport of mails and
passengers between Suez and Bombay, from which date the
communication was regularly maintained. In 1838 it was
recorded as an extraordinary feat that English intelligence of
the 7th of March was received, per the 4 Atalanta,' in forty-one
days at Bombay, and fifty-four at Calcutta.
The third steamer built in England for the Indian Navy was
the 4 Semiramis,' of 720 tons and 300 horse-power, which
made her trial trip from Purfleet to the Nore on the 21st
of October, 1837, under command of Captain George Barnes
Bracks, who w 7 as accompanied by the Court of Directors The London-based directors of the East India Company who dealt with the daily conduct of the Company's affairs. , and
Captain Oliver, R.N., the newly nominated successor of Sir
Charles Malcolm as Superintendent of the Indian Navy. Sir
James Carnac, the Chairman of the Court, stated in the course
of his speech at the customary dinner, that Captain Bruckshad
been selected for the command on account of long and valuable
service, as well as his scientific attainments, and he mentioned
44 his elaborate and valuable surveys, charts of which had long been
published for the public benefit." Sir James associated with the
toast. Captain Lawrence, the " father of the Indian Navy" (who
was present) and Captain Houghton. He observed, he had had
much intercourse of late with officers of the Indian Navy, and
had found them 46 second to none in intelligence, talent, and
scientific knowledge." He then proposed the health of Captain
Bracks, and the Indian Navy. Captain Bracks, in returning
thanks, 44 ascribed his pursuit of, and the knowledge he had of,
steam affairs, to the encouragement he had met with from Mr.
Loch, the Director, the kindness of the Chairman, and others in
the Direction. Though he had no enemies of his country to
contend with, yet there was an enemy to steam navigation in
India he was ready to meet, and he would stake his professional
reputation he would conquer, with the steamers possessed by
the -Company; he meant that bugbear of Bombay imagination,
the south-west monsoon."
The 4 Semiramis' arrived at Bombay in April, 1838, with her
boilers in a bad state, and her engines in want of repairs.
However, she was urgently required to transport troops to the
Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , and, accordingly, Captain Bracks proceeded
thither towards the end of May, 1838. On his return he under
took to do battle against the south-west monsoon, which he had
described as 44 the bugbear of Bombay imagination." That a
Mayo to Fernarido Po, fourteen days two hours; Fernando Po to Table Bay,
fourteen days three hours; Table Bay to Port Louis, twelve days two and a-half
hours ; Port Louis to Bombay, thirteen days and a-half hour. Greatest run in
one day 252 miles.