'History of the Indian Navy. (1613-1863).' [‎295] (314/622)

HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY,
295
No events of importance occurred during the year 1853
beyond the concluding operations of the Burmese war, and the
launch, in November, of an eighteen-gun sailing corvette of
494- tons, called the 'Falkland,' after the Governor, Lord
Falkland. On the 19th of November she was commissioned
by Commander John Stephens, late of the ' Semiramis,' but, on
the 26th of January, 1854, he was superseded* by Commander
H. H. Hewett, who had been residing at the Mahableshwur
Hills for the benefit of his health since his return to Bombay.
The 'Falkland' was a perfect model of a small ship of war,
and with her square spars and tapering masts, having the
tauntness almost of a thirty-six gun frigate, was the admiration
of Bombay Harbour.
In this year (I854)t two fine steam-frigates were added to
the Service. On the 15th of March, the ' Assaye,' which had
been a little over two years in building, was launched, the
strap ; devices, an anchor surmounted by a grenade, above that the lion. Cap
tains under three years—The same epaulettes ; devices, an anchor surmounted by
a lion. Commanders—Two epaulettes, gold bullions 3^ inches long. If inch in
circumference; device, a lion. Lieutenants—Two plain gold epaulettes, bullion
3 inches long, 1|- inch in circumference ; no device. All the devices on the epau
lettes are to be of silver. Pursers—Two epaulettes of gold, the same bullion as
lieutenants, but silver strap. Secretary to Commander-in-chief—The same as
pursers, with a golden lion on the strap. Surgeons—The same as pursers. The
epaulettes of all grades are to be loose bullion, and the present box and jacket
epaulettes are to be discontinued.
" And as much inconvenience has arisen from a w r ant of uniformity of dress for
the officers of the Service (more particularly so when waiting upon their superiors),
who, from the variety of orders given, and from there being at present six or seven
different dresses worn, can scarcely know which is right, I beg it to be distinctly
understood that I have no objection to the surtout coat being continued without
epaulettes, as worn by the officers of the E-oyal Navy, and with distinctive lace on
the cuffs, as follows, viz.:—
" Commodores of 2nd Class—Four rows f inch wide. Captains—Three rows
J inch wide. Commanders and Secretary to Commander-in-chief—Two rows
2 inch wide. Lieutenants—One row | inch wide. The surtout coat of all other
officers to be plain. The coat to be of blue cloth or kerseymere, double-breasted,
and with the Hon. Company's buttons, and to be worn only by officers above and
with the rank of purser. Jackets and round hats to be worn on board the ship,
if permitted by the captains or commanding officer. Mates and midshipmen An experienced sailor, but not a commissioned officer.
when on duty at the dockyard or rigging loft, may wear a blue cloth jacket. The
caps of all officers down to the rank of clerk and of 1st Class engineers and 1st
Class boatswains, gunners, and carpenters, are to be surmounted with the Com
pany's lion."
# Some of the crew of the 4 Falkland 5 had refused to obey a negro boatswain An officer responsible for the equipment on a ship and overseeing the work of the ship's crew. ,
and, by sentence of court-martial, were transported. By an exercise of authority
which excited much adverse criticism in the Service and the Bombay Press, Sir
Henry Leeke superseded Commander Stephens, an officer whom he had, shortly
before, highly complimented for the efficiency and high state of discipline in
which he had brought back the ' Semiramis ' from her three years' commission in
China.
f In this year also an iron river-steamer for navigating the Indus, called the
' Lady Falkland,' constructed by Messrs. Laird, at a cost of £15,000, and sent
out in pieces to Bombay, had been launched from the dockyard, but her career
was very brief, for, when proceeding to her destination in tow- of the c Berenice,'
she foundered on the 6th of May, being totally unable to meet the heavy seas
which she encountered on the passage.