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HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 497

martial law was conceded to the Service, but it came under a
"questionable guise," and with certain anomalous provisions as
to convening courts-martial which are inexplicable, and appear
to be contrary to the dictates of common sense.
In order that their Marine might be placed under the same
provisions as to martial law which were applicable to their
Army, the Court of Directors decided upon the extraordinary
course of forming the service into a Marine Corps, and giving
the officers military as well as naval connnissions ; accordingly,
early in 182i), the Service underwent another, and the most
singular, but not the last, of its numerous metamorphoses.
The following is the order in question: —

" Bombay Castle, April 3, 1829.
" The following extract of a letter from the Hon. the Court
of Directors in the Marine and Forest Department, dated the
10th of September, 1828, together with the resolution of
Council in the same department of the 24th ult., are published
in General Orders :
"Para, 2. We have the satisfaction to acquaint you, in
reference to the expectation expressed in our despatch, dated
31st of October, 1827, Paragraphs 6 and 7, that an Act has
recently been passed for extending to the Bombay j\Iarine the
provisions of the 4 Geo. IV. cap. 18, being the law which
regulates the Com[)any's Army.
Six copies of the Act accompany this despatch
" Para. 3.
;
and in order that the Corps may have the benefit of it without
delay, we desire that you will forthwith embody its officers into
a regiuient, to be called the Marine Corps, under the command
of the Superintendent, with the rank of Major-Cieneral, in
which corps you will invite the petty officers and seamen to
enlist.
" Para. 4. The military connnissions of the officers are to
be of the ranks to which they are respectively entitled, under
our orders dated the 1st of August, 1798, which fixed the rank
the officers of the Marine were to enjoy respectively with the
officers of the Army, and the dates of the Military com-
missions are to correspond with those of the Marine connnis-
sions.
"Para. 5. You will cause it to be distinctly understood by
the Superintendent and all the oflicers under his comu)and, that
the I\Iarine officers are not, in virtue of their military commis-
sions, to exercise any interference, nor to possess any claim or
right to any advantages which may be exclusively enjoyed by
the Army, nor to receive any addition whatever to their
allowances.
" Para. (). That there may be no misunderstau'liiig regard-
ing the nature of the commission, we have caused a form to be
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VOL. I.