Page 506 - INDIANNAVYV1

CHAPTER XIV. ;
1826—1830.

Changes in the Constitution of the Bombay Marine—The succession of Superin-
tendents—The Flotilla on the Arracan Coast—The Blockade of Berbera—The
materiel and personnel of the Service in 1S27—Discussion at the India House
on the Condition of the Marine—Remodelling of the Service—Appointment
of Captain Sir Charles Malcolm, R.N., as Superintendent—Formation of the
Service into a Marine Corps, and its anomalous position as regards Martial
Law—The Report of the Finance Committee—Trial of Commander J. C.
Hawkins for Slave Dealing—Steam Navigation, and Overland Communication
with the East—Commander Wilson and the First Voyage of the ' Hugh
Lindsay'—Titular Change of the Service to " Indian Navy."
DURING the Burmese War, one cruiser of the Bombay
Marine was employed at Peiiang, and four, besides the
surveying ships, 'Discovery' and 'Psyche,' maintaining the
peace of the Persian Gulf; and during the same period the
usual convoy was provided for the Surat vessels trading with
Mocha, and other ports in the Red Sea.
The commissioning of the new frigate 'Hastings,' on the
outbreak of the Burmese War, had necessitated an augmenta-
tion of officers. Four passed midshipmen, then called masters'
mates, were promoted to lieutenants, and an additional surgeon
was posted from the Army, the Marine always being supplied
with medical officers from the military establishment. By an
Order, dated the 12th of April, 1824, the Governor of Bombay
abolished the rank of commander, and increased the number of
senior and junior captains to twelve of each rank.* A change
was also made in the retiring allowances of officers who had
served twenty-two years in India.f
* The following were the officers affected by the promotion : Junior Captains
R. Morgan, G. "Walker, Daniel Ross, and W. T. Graham to be Senior Captains
Commanders W. MaxUeld, P. Maughan, D. Jones, W. Arrow, H. Hardy, C. J.
Maillard, J. Crawford, R. E. Goodridge, and First Lieutenant Thomas Tanner to
be Junior Captains.
t The following is the Government Order alluded to:—
" Bombay Castle, SeiJtember 30, 1S24.
" The Hon. the Governor in Coimcil is pleased to pubhsh for general informa-
tion the following Extract from the Hon. Court's despatch of the 20tli of August,
1823, amending the regulation of the 1st of August, 1798, for granting retii-ing
pensions to the officers of the Marine.
Para. 7. "Being of opinion that it is desirable that the total amount of retiring