'History of the Indian Navy. (1613-1863).' [‎108] (127/622)

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history of the indian navy.
Sir Frederick Maitland died at sea off Bombay on the 30th of
November, 1840, when the 6 Wellesley' returned into port, and
the remains of the fine old Admiral were interred on the 2nd
of December. He was universally beloved and respected, and
the officers of the Indian Navy, in grateful recollection of the
uniform kindness and consideration with which he had ever
treated them, entered into a subscription to erect a monument
to his memory in St. Thomas's Cathedral* in Bombay. In two
months, <£500 were subscribed by about seventy officers then
serving in India, with which sum a handsome marble pillar, sur
rounded by trophies, and having a suitable inscription, was
erected near to the memorial of Captain Nicholas Hardinge—
brother of the Governor-General of India—who fell at the cap
ture of the San Fiorenzo. in 1808.
The Service, whether known as the Bombay Marine The navy of the East India Company. or the
Indian Navy, has not always received a generous recognition
from the officers of the British Navy, under whom they have
from time to time served, but the names of Sir Samuel Hood,
Commander-in-chief, and Commodores Wainwright, Sayer,
Loch, Sir Josias Rowley, Sir F. Brisbane, and Sir F. Collier,
are honourable exceptions to that narrowness of spirit which
has animated some who, influenced by the distinction of
" Company's" and "Queen's," of which so much used to be
heard in the not altogether " good old times," sought to with
hold from their comrades of the Indian Service, a share of such
distinction as has been gained by co-operating with them
against their country's enemies in the worst climates in the
world. Among names which will ever be held in affection by
the officers whose record of service is now " as a tale that is
told," that of Maitland, the gallant and chivalrous seaman, to
whom the mighty Napoleon surrendered his sword on the
quarter-deck of the 6 Bellerophon,' will ever be prominent; and
this record of his worth and nobility of character, and that
other memorial on the walls of the Cathedral Church of St.
Thomas, will testify to the grateful remembrance in which his
memory is held by the officers of the Indian Navy.
After the affair at Bush ire, the duties of the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran.
squadron became very harassing. A vessel was obliged to lie
at Bushire to protect British interests, and the officers suffered
much annoyance from the liability to insult without being in a
position to resent it. The two other ships, which at this
time constituted the squadron, were engaged watching the
# This cathedral was built by subscription, the Company giving £10,000, and
was opened on Christmas Day, 1718, by the Rev. Richard Cobbe, who has left an
account of the ceremony. On the 7th of June, 1816, Bishop Middleton dedicated
it to St. Thomas. It is a plain building, with heavy buttresses and lofty lantern
tower of the Grothic style, with turreted pinnacles. The interior is, however, fine,
and the floor is paved with marble tiles j it seats about five hundred worshippers,
and contains some fine monuments.