'History of the Indian Navy. (1613-1863).' [‎569] (588/622)

HISTORY OP THE INDIAN NAVY.
569
that from the year 1835 to 1855, a period of twenty years
was keDt^^hv ft' a + t ' ien , a bi-monthly, communication
fl i p P 3 the s^mers of the Indian Navy, thus saving
S t O OWn ^S 6 th t ^ SUm i Payable for Mail contract
(±70,000), and that, during the second Burmese War the
steam-frigates of the Indian Navv, which were emnlove'd is
transports as well as ships of war, are calcic S L:
recouped to the India House their total cost as well as main
tenance; also that, throughout the Persian War and Indian
Mutmy they were engaged in carrying troops and towing trans
ports, thus saving at least their cost to the Government-if all
these points are taken into consideration, it will, probably, be
found that no Government have been better or more eco
nomically served. This, doubtless, the authorities at West
minster, and, still more, the local Governments in India, have
discovered, and hence has arisen the oft-repeated cry for a new
Indian Navy, now echoed by the Viceroy.
On the 12th of March, 1863, the ' yemiramis,' Commander
Adams, Main, Lieutenant Carpendale, and 'Constance,'
Lieutenant I rollope, arrived from Aden, and, in the following
mouth, the Bombay Goveriiment caused advertisements to be
inserted in the local papers, offering for sale the 'Ajdaha,'
feemiramis, and ' Berenice,' « as they at present lie in Bombay
harbour. The steam frigates 'Assaye' and 'Puniaub' had
been sold in England, the sailing ships, in July of the preceding
year, and, more recently, the ' Victoria,' and now the last of the
fleet were put up to auction, the Indian Government retaining
only the 'Zenobia' and 'Ferooz/ the latter for the service of the
Governor-General, with the 'Coromandel,' 4 Prince Arthur,' and
' Dalhousie,' as troopships. The Bombay Government now
issued the following farewell order:—
66 Marine Department, Bombay Castle, the 22nd of April,
1863. ^No. 22, of 1863. The return of the c Semiramis,' ' Con
stance,'and 'Mahi,' from Aden, permits the final abolition of
the Indian Navy, as ordered by H.M.'s Government. The reasons
for this measure do not touch the high character of that Navy,
i he services of the Indian Navy have been most varied,
honourable, and useful. It has done successful war services in
Burmah, China, and Persia, the surveys made by its officers are
of widespread utility, and the beneficial results of its suppres
sion of piracy and the slave trade will long endure. The same
gradual change of circumstances which led to the conversion of
the East India Company's Bombay Marine The navy of the East India Company. into the Indian
Navy, has now led Her Majesty's Government to rely upon the
Royal Navy for all Naval duties in the Indian seas. The ex
tinction of such an honourable Service, and all the prospects to
which its officers looked, must be viewed with regret and
sympathy by the Government under which they served. These
i III
■ |
7 I;