Page 520 - INDIANNAVYV1

488 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY.

He here wished to mention a particiihir circumstance with
which his gallant friend was intimately connected. His gallant
friend had mentioned the capture of two China junks, which
had been given up in the most disinterested manner by Com-
modore Hayes. Now, his gallant friend was present on that
occasion, and he had, in consequence of the restoration of those
vessels, lost a very considerable share of prize money, the one-
eighteenth or one-sixteenth of ^£600,000. With respect to the
Bombay Marine, they must be all aware that it was one of the
oldest branches of the Company's Service; and, as his gallant
friend had truly stated, never was there an instance of any ship
belonging to the Bombay Marine having lowered her flag to an
enemy of equal force. Under these circumstances, he thought
that their Marine Service ought to be a subject of interest to
that Court. He could not help lamenting what he conceived to
be the indignity offered to this useful Service. In the first
place, he thought it was unfair to deprive the officers of that
rank which they formerly held. This led to a very ridiculous
occurrence. It happened that Commodore Hayes and his wife
dined with the Governor-General. The Commodore having
the rank of Colonel, the Governor-General thought it was
proper to lead out Mrs. Hayes to dinner, conceiving that the
precedence was due to her. This set the senior merchants'
hearts on fire, and they in consequence wrote long letters home
to the Court of Directors They pondered over this weighty
matter ; and at last they came to the resolution of uncom-
modoring the Commodore. Now, Mr. Wynn, who had been in
the habit of considering questions of precedence, and who was
nightly occupied in explaining them in the House of Commons,
thought this was very unfair, and therefore he reversed their
proceeding. This was no laughable matter, wdien they con-
sidered that an indignity was offered to an old and meritorious
officer, whose brow was covered with wounds and honours.
" It was a very fair subject of complaint that there was
no martial law for the Government of the Bombay Marine.
Did they ever before hear of a civilised society, especially a
military society, without some species of law for its govern-
ment. He always understood that, in the military profession,
the law ought to be more strict and rigorous than elsewhere.
He must ever view, as a gross act of injustice, the placing
captains of the Bombay Marine under the commanders of
Indiamen. He knew the captains of the Bombay Marine were
most distinguished men; perhaps they were the most scientific
men ever employed in the Naval Service. And he conceived
that it was really putting the cart before the horse, to place
the captain of a ship of war under the command of the captain
of a merchantman. It was an absolute indignity to the Service,
and he thought his gallant friend was right in withdrawing