'History of the Indian Navy. (1613-1863).' [‎430] (449/622)

430
HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NlVY.
fitst, we believe, that had set foot in India for a century to
Calcutta, where she arrived on the 10th of June. On the 21st
of May the 6 Ajdaha,' Lieutenant Worsley, and, on the follow
ing day, the 4 Punjaub ? # Commander Foulerton, arrived at
Bombay from the Gulf, and, on the 25th, the latter sailed for
Calcutta, whither, also, the 'Zenobia,' Lieutenant Batt, had
proceeded from Madras. Thus, in the very earliest stages of
the Mutiny, five of the finest steam-frigates of the Indian Navy,
including the 'Auckland' from China, with crews inured to
active service, were placed at the disposal of the Supreme
Government, in addition to the officers and crew of the
' Coromandel,'t a new transport of 1,026 tons, brought out
from England, in the previous year, by Captain C. D. Camp
bell, which arrived with troops from Rangoon in July.
Commander Adams, who sailed from Bombay with a wing of
H.M's 64th Regiment, considered the crisis so urgent that he
passed Madras without coaling, and thus saved two days. He
says :— 44 The last shovelful of coals went on the fires as the
' Assaye anchored off Fort William. We saluted the Viceroy
with twenty-one guns, and there was no complaint of breaking
windows from the inhabitants, who were only too glad of the
protection afforded by the 4 Assaye^ and H.M.'s 64th Regiment.''
Scarcely had he dropped anchor on the 4th of June, than
learning from the Governor-General that he was anxious to
send treasure immediately to Bombay, the Commander of the
6 Assaye ' volunteered to conve}^ it, though he had not a ton of
coals on board; hastily procuring a supply from the depot of
the Peninsular and Oriental Company, he started that night,
for which act of promptitude he received a private letter of
thanks from Lord Canning. Calling at Madras for treasure,
and at Galle for coal, the 'Assaye' proceeded to Bombay,
where she arrived on the 15th of June.
Meanwhile, matters had come to an alarming pitch in the
City of Palaces, where, owing to Fort William being almost
* The ' Ptmjaub' did not participate in the action at Mohamra. On her
return to Bombay after the fall of Bushire, she sailed for the G-ulf on the 29th
of January, returned on the 9th of March to Bombay, which she again quitted
for the G-ulf on the 20th, too late to see further serrice. The ' Berenice,'
Lieutenant Chitty, left Bushire in the end of March for Bombay, where she
arrived on the 10th of April. She again proceeded to Mohamra, whence she
sailed on the 16th of May, and arrived at Bombay on the 28th, with Brigadier-
Greneral Henry Havelock and staff, towing a transport with the Light Battalion
on board. General Havelock and staff, with Brigadier Wilson of the 64th
Regiment, proceeded to Calcutta on the 1st of June, in the $ Erin,' which was
wrecked about half-way between Colombo and Galle on the 8th of June, when
G-eneral Havelock sailed in the ' Fire Queen' to Madras, where General Sir
Patrick Grant embarked, and, on the 17th of June, arrived at Calcutta on his
appointment as Commander-in-chief, in succession to General Anson.
f The 'Coromandel' sailed from London on the 5th of August, 1856, and
from the 2nd of December, when she arrived at Madras, had been employed
trooping between that place, Rangoon, and Calcutta.