'History of the Indian Navy. (1613-1863).' [‎556] (575/622)

556
HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAYY.
for which all lovers of freedom, and particularly those who
have witnessed the horrors of the East African slave trade, will
applaud the gallant officer.
Lord Shaftesbury has related that Lord Palmerston, that
most astute and successful of our Foreign Secretaries, often said
to him i— 44 Whenever I want a thing well done, in a distant
part of the world ; when I want a man with a good head, a
good heart, lots of pluck, and plenty of common sense—I
always send for a captain in the Navy." Probably Brigadier
Coghlan, himself an able and sagacious Political officer, was of
the same opinion, and, if so, he was justified by the result.
Commander Adams, as the native chiefs knew well, was one
of those who would " stand no nonsenseand Lieutenant
McHardy says in his official report to the Admiralty, dated the
13th of November, 1862, that, "had the Sultan refused to
execute these eight, or to accept the ultimatum. Captain Adams
was quite prepared, provided Captain Playfair turned the duty
over to him, to have taken upon himself the responsibility of
Immediately making an example by blowing all his town down
and then blockading his coast until instructions w T ere received
from Government."
The Chief Secretary to Government, in a letter addressed to
Brigadier Coghlan, expressed the thanks of the Governor
in Council to Commander Adams, under date the 7th of
March, 1863, as follows: — u I am desired to state that Com
mander Adams appears to have performed the difficult duly
entrusted to him with intelligence and judgment, and I am
accordingly to request that you will express to that officer the
commendation of Government."
This was the last public service rendered by the Indian
Navy before it vanished, 44 like the baseless fabric of a vision,"
before the touch of the w T and of the Great Magician at West
minster. The coup de grace was given in a despatch, dated the
28th of November, 1862, from the Secretary of State for India,
decreeing the abolition of the Indian Navy, and it was to the
following effect:—
46 To His Excellency the Right Hon. the Governor -General of
India in Council.
44 My Lord. 1. I have received and considered in Council
the despatch from your Excellency's Government, No. 3, of the
18th of January last, in the Marine Department. The manner
in which Naval and Maritime services can best for the future
my dominions, or elsewhere, upon any pretext whatever, they (the Government
cruisers) shall seize and confiscate the slaves, but release the vessel and crew - „
<c Given under my hand, at Bunder Muryab, the 23rd day of January, 1863.
Signed by Mahomed Yusuf, and two of his principal chiefs, in presence of Com
mander Adams and Lieutenant Brebner, Indian Navy."