'History of the Indian Navy. (1613-1863).' [‎237] (256/622)

HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAYY.
237
«gi r9 _-I feel it a duty 1 owe to yourself and the officers and
seamen of the squadron of the Indian Navy under your orders,
to endeavour to express my sense of the value of the services
rendered by you and them, on the late call for their exertions, in
giving assistance to H.M.S. 'Fox,' under my command, to
extricate her from the perilous situation in which she was
placed. Professional knowledge, zeal, and activity, were shown,
which could not have been surpassed by any officers or seamen
in the world.
a I beg to be allowed, therefore, to express to them through
vou my own thanks and those of the officers and crew of the
'Fox.'"
On the death of Sir Robert Oliver, in August, 1848, Captain
Hawkins became Acting Superintendent and Commander-in-
chief of the Indian Navy, an office he continued to hold until
relieved by Commodore Lushington, in January, 1849. He
filled it at a period of great responsibility, and the rapid equip
ment of the flotilla and detachment of seamen, despatched to
Mooltan under his superintendence, received not only the praise
of the local Governments in India, but also the thanks of the
British Parliament. For all these services, extending over a
period of thirty-nine years, during which he twice received the
thanks of the British Ministry, and seven times that of the
Bombay Government, he would, had he been an officer of the
Royal Service, undoubtedly have been rewarded with either the
C.B. or knighthood, but the " cold shade" of the Service in
which he had passed a long and distinguished career, rested
upon him, and he descended to the tomb plain Captain John
Croft Hawkins.