Page 171 - INDIANNAVYV1

—

HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. ];"!9
Company, and when the Kiug of France assisted the Americans
in their struggle for independence, he pkinned the hinuiliation
of the enemy's power in India, by the capture of Pondicherry,
which was indeed carried into efifect, though the town was
subsequently restored at the peace. The Company were so
sensible of his services on this occasion, that they presented
him with a handsome service of plate. Owing to the hardships
he had endured in early life, and the eft'ects of the unhealthy
climates in which he had served, his health began to decline,
and, on the very day his daughter was married, the 16th of
December, 1783, the year before the passing of Mr. Pitt's India
Bill, he was seized with a fit of apoplexy and expired.*
Thus, at the age of sixty-two, passed away this distinguished
officer, who not only possessed professional qualities of a high
order, but was ever a faithful guardian of the affairs of the
Company, whose territorial possessions he had extended. To
return to the records of the Bombay ]\Iarine.
It would appear that it was usual during the war with France,
for some ships of the Bombay Marine to be attached to His
]\Iajesty's fleet in the Indian Seas. In the year 1747, Commodore
Griftin had arrived from England with a squadron to reinforce
the British fleet, which then consisted of eleven ships, the French

* His widow, Lady James, erected a monument to tlie memory of her late
liusbaud 0!\ the northern brow of Shooter's Hill. It has been thus described :
" Lady James being a woman of considerable taste, resolved to effect her purpose
in a manner that could not fail to attract the notice of eyery traveller who passed
into Kent. By way of perpetuating the memory of the capture of Severndroog,
the year after the death of its victorious assailaut she caused a castellated build-
ing to be erected after a design by Mr. Jup]), the summit of which is upwards of
140 feet higher than the cross on the dome of St. Paul's. It consists of three
stories, and is surrounded by battlements. The inside is fitted up in an appro-
priate manner with arms, partisans, shields, javelins, &c., proper to the various
nations of the East; and the whole is so contrived as to impress the niiud with
the belief that it is the identical armoui-y a])pertaining to Angria. In the room
above this, the naval actions and enterprises of the Commodore are beautifully
painted on the ceiling, and from the windows there is a most admirable view of
London, the Thames, the shipping, and the adjacent country. This monument
of Lady James's affection may be seen on a clear day from many parts of this
metropolis, and from the tops of most public buildnigs. On a tablet over the
entrance of the buildins, which is generally known by the appellation of Lady
: —
James's Tower, is tlu> following inscription ' This building was erected, 17>S4,
by the representative of the late Sir William James, Hart. To commemorate
that gallant officer's achievements in the East Indies, during the command of the
Company's Marine forces in those seas, and in a particular manner to record tlio
conquest of tlie Castle of Severndroog, on tiie coast of Malabar, which fell to his
superior valour and able conduct on the 3rd day of Ajiril, 1755.' " Sir William
James was succeeded in his title and estate by his eldest son, who then became
Sir Kichard James, and, on his decease, by his remaining son, who also died on
the 16th of November, 1792, at the early age of eighteen years, when the Baro-
netcy became extinct. Lady Eancliffe, the only daugliter of Sir William James,
died on the IStli of January, 1797, and his widow, Lady James, died soon after-
wards. The lineal represent;itive of this gallant sailor is now Sir Richard Le-
vinge, Bart., who has still in his possession the sword of honour voted by the
Comj^any to his ancestor, and a magnificent portrait painted by Sir Joshua
Eeynolds.