'History of the Indian Navy. (1613-1863).' [‎562] (581/622)

562
HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY.
desirous of cancelling their indentures, that they should receive
a gratuity upon discharge. The Secretary of State then directed
that all officers, including those who proceeded home on fur
lough and sick-leave, after receipt at Bombay of the Governor-
General's despatch of the 17th of April, 1861, " which ordered
large redjictions and recommended abolition," should be allowed
their homeward passage-money; and, after referring to his
despatch of the 30th "of August, 1861, relating to the future
conduct of the Indian Marine Surveys by the Royal Navy,
which were to be conducted at the expense of the Imperial
Government, directed that the vessels of the Service not required
for the transport and civil duties, or for harbour defence, should
be sold. In the concluding paragraphs the Secretary of State
recommended for the immediate consideration of the Supreme
Government and that of Bombay, the details necessary for the
economical working of the Dockyards and Marine establish
ments at the two Presidencies.
Thus, the edict for the abolition of the Service had at length
go.ne forth, and the Indian Navy was a thing of the past. It
cannot be said that the step had been taken withont much and
long-continued cogitation, and the officers had, for a consider
able time past, considered themselves as men under sentence;
but now that the word " Finis" was irrevocably written in the
book of Time, as regards the Indian Navy, the news was stun
ning, and many voices were raised in the press regretting the
extinction of a Service possessing so memorable a history and
having the eclat attaching to great antiquity and unblemished
character.
It is difficult to say who suffered the greater injustice by the
abolition of the Service, the captains, lieutenants, or the whole
body of junior officers. In the covenants the latter entered
into with the Court of Directors The London-based directors of the East India Company who dealt with the daily conduct of the Company's affairs. , it was specified—" All officers,
without reference to the rank they may have attained, after an
active service of thirty years in India, under the old furlough
rules, or of twenty-six years' service under the new furlough
rules (which allowed four years' leave of absence to count as
service), were eligible to retije on =£360 per annum at once,
with the privilege of eventually succeeding to one of the senior
list pensions of =£800 per annum." As it was through no fault
of theirs the Service was abolished, and the retirement was
compulsory, it follows that they were all, to the youngest
midshipman An experienced sailor, but not a commissioned officer. , entitled to the full pension of £360 on completion
of service, and to the reversion of the four senior list pensions
of .£800 per annum.* This agreement in their covenant,
together with all others, was solemnly guaranteed by the " Act
for the better Government of India," wherein it is provided
* See Parliamentary " Return of the Pensioned and Discharged Indian Navy
Officers," dated India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. , 24th. of June, 1864.