Page 421 - INDIANNAVYV1

CHAPTER XII.
1804—1828.

Proposed Survey of the Red Sea—Lord Valentia and Captain Keys—Resump-
tion of the Survey by Lieutenants Court and Maxfield—Survey of the China
Seas by Lieutenants Ross, Maughan, and Crawford—Services of Lieutenant
Court, first Marine Surveyor-Geueral in Bengal—Surveys by Lieutenant
Maxfield—Examination of the East Coast of Africa by Captain Smee and Lieu-
tenant Hardy—Death of Captain Court and Appointment of Captain Ross as
Surveyor-General in Bengal—His Resignation and Appointment of Captain
Lloyd—Surveys by Lieutenants Dominieetti and Collinson—Survey of the
Persian Gulf by Lieutenants Maughan, Guy, Bracks, Haines, and other
ofBcers.
SINCE the cessation of all sm-ve^ys in the j-ear 179o, when
Lieutenant Hayes returnetl tVom his voyage in tiie Eastefii
Archipelago, the ships of the Bombay Marine were fully oc-
cupied against France and her allies ; but on the conclusion of
the peace of Amiens, which proved so short and hollow, the
surveys were resumed, and, notwithstanding the risk encountered
by the olHcers of the Service, in prosecuting their researches,
risks of no imaginary descri])tion, as some of tliem were
captured while so engaged, and languished for a length of time
in French dungeons, such was the ardour inspiring these
gallant votaries of science, that no sooner were they released
than they resumed their labours, while others of their brother
ofHcers eagerl}^ volunteered their services for the dangerous
but honourable task of Itenefitiiig mankind by majjping out the
unknown seas of the Eastern hemisphere.
The only chart in existence of the Kcd Sea was drawn by
Lieutenant Robert White, of the Marine, who, in the year
171)5, when in command of the Hon. Company's cruiser
' Panther,' proceeded to Suez, making a cursory examination
of its shores. In the year 18U2-3, Lord Valentia,* while
travelling in the East, was a guest of Lord W'ellesKiy's at
Calcutta, and proposed to his lordship to end)ark in one of the
Company's cruisers on a voyage to the Red Sea, *• for the
* "Voyages and Travels to India, Ceylon, the Red Sea. Abyssinia,
and E"ypt, iu iy02-G, by George, Viscount Valentia." 3 vols, i Loudon,