Page 252 - INDIANNAVYV1

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220 — HISTORY OF THE INDIAN XAVY.
died on the 14th of July, and to Calcutta, whence he returned
in 1802 to the former city as Envo}'' from the Governor-General,
Lord Wellesley, but the mission he despatched to the Imaum of
Sanaa to conclude a treaty, ended abortively.
The cessation of hostilities, arisini^ from the peace of Amiens,
the news of which was brought to India by Mr. P. Maughan, of
the Bombay Marine, was only employed by Napoleon to
strengthen his hands for continuing the war, and, at length, he
threw off tlie mask, and publicly expressed his animosity
towards this country in a memorable interview with Lord
Whitworth, the British Ambassador. On the 16th of May,
1803, our Ministry declared war, which raged without inter-
mission until Napoleon's abdication in 1814. On the reception
of the news of the outbreak of hostilities, the Indian Govern-
ment despatched the ' Bombay," frigate, thirty-eight guns,
bearing the broad pennant of Commodore John Hayes,* the
* The following is a copy of the Commission from tlie Grovernor-General and
Council, under which Captain Hayes acted, and it is of interest as indicating the
very full powers conferred on such ofBcers of tlie Bombay Marine, as commanded
the confidence of the supreme authorities in India :
" Commodore's Commission.
"To John Hayes, Esq., Captain in the Bombay Marine.
" Greeting
" Whereas, open hostilities have taken place between our Sovereign Lord the
King, and the French and Batavian Republics, and whereas, we, the said United
Company are didy authorized and empowered, by virtue of divers Charters in that
behalf, given and granted unto us by the predecessors of our said Sovereign Lord,
King of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, to raise and maintain forces and
armies, both by sea and land, and to appoint such and so many Generals, Com-
manders, and other officers as we shall think fit for the purpose of encountering
and resisting by force of arms all and every, the enemy and enemies of our said
Sovereign Lord the King and ourselves, and the said enemies and every of them,
their ships' armour, ammunition, and otlier goods, to invade and destroy in such
manner as in and by the said Charters is ]5rovided, mentioned, and contained.
Now we, the said United Company, in consideration of the premises, and reposing
especial trust and confidence in your good conduct, loyalty, and courage, do by
these presents, and under and by virtue of the Royal Cliarter aforesaid, and all
other powers in us vested, constitute and appoint you, John Hayes, Esq., Captain
in the Bombay Marine, to be, during the hostilities aforesaid, and during our
pleasure, and the pleasure of our Governor-General in Council, Commodore of
all the ships and vessels employed in our Naval and Bengal Marine service, for
aud under our Presidency of Fort William in Bengal, and of all our regular,
extra, and freighted sliips whatsoever, wlieresoever you shall fall in with tliem,
and to taiic the command of the same as Commodore with the same authoriry as
belongs to the ofEce of Commodore in the Naval Service of our said Lord the
King, and in the same manner as used in the said service, and to be Captain of
the Bombay ships of war to be employed in our said Naval and Marine Service,
against the said French and Batavian Republics, and all other nations and people,
against whom you may and shall be lawfully commanded to act during such hos-
tilities, either by proclamation issued by our Governor- General in Council or by
orders from our said Governor-General in Council specially to you directed. You
are therefore duly to command, exercise, and keep in good order and discipline,
all commissioned ofBcers, warrant officers, seamen, and others subordinate to you,
accordmg to such authonty, rules, powers, and provisions, as in and by the said
Charters, are mentioned and contained, aud as legally may be done, and we do
hereby command them to obey you conformably tliereto as their Captain, in which
station vou are to observe and follow all such orders aud directions as vou shall