'History of the Indian Navy. (1613-1863).' [‎316] (335/622)

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316 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY.
able group, the captain, his wife, and some of the crew having
been picked up after four days' exposure in an open boat at
sea, while proceeding to Rangoon to make known their fate.
On the 31st of July, 1855, Commander Drought was trans
ferred from the command of the 4 Ferooz,' to that of his former
ship, the ' Auckland/ which was on the eve of sailing to the
China seas, and, on the 4th of September, the former ship left
Bombay, under charge of Lieutenant Batt, for Calcutta, when
Commander Rennie assumed command of her, being relieved in
the 4 Zenobia ? by that officer. From this time, except during
the brief interval occupied by the Persian War, the 4 Ferooz ,
remained under the immediate orders of the Supreme Govern
ment. On the 15th of November, the 'Ferooz,' which had
arrived at Madras two days before from Galle, conveyed Lord
Dalhousie, who had been staying some months at the Neilgherry
Hills for his health, to Rangoon, whence his lordship returned to
Calcutta on the 29th of November, the last time he steamed up
the familiar waters of the Hooghly. On the 17th of the fol
lowing month, the 4 Ferooz' was despathed to Suez to convey
to India his successor. Lord Canning, and Lady Canning, and,
on the 28th of January, 1856, she anchored in Bombay harbour
with his Lordship, who was greeted with great enthusiasm by
the people of the Western 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. , though, from the peace
ful aspect of affairs, few of those welcoming him on his landing,
could have anticipated that the viceroyalty of the new
Governor-General was destined to be not less famous, as
regards the occurrence of events of the first magnitude, than
that of any of his predecessors. On the 6th of February,
Lord Canning proceeded in the 6 Ferooz ' to Madras, and, after
a stay of eleven days with the Governor, the late Lord Harris,
sailed on the 25th of February for Calcutta. The'Ferooz ?
arrived off Fort William on the 27th, and, two days later, his
Lordship was sworn in, and commenced his momentous ad
ministration of Indian affairs.
On the 9th of March the Marquis Dalhousie, accompanied by
his daughter, Lady Susan Ramsay, after a memorable rule ex
tending over eight years, quitted the. scene of his labours on
board the 6 Ferooz,' which conveyed him to Suez. " His Lord
ship carried with him," said the 'Bombay Times,' "a larger
portion of respect and regard than has perhaps ever before
attended a retiring Governor-Generaland when this truly
great man went over the side of the 6 Ferooz,' after taking an
almost affectionate adieu of Commander Rennie, who had ever
been an especial favourite of his, and all the other officers, the
ringing cheers with which all hands greeted him, and the
echoes of the guns as, for the last time, he received the salute
due to his exalted position, must have evoked some painful
regrets.