Page 531 - INDIANNAVYV1

—
HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. — 400

tenant-General Sir Sydney Beckwith, K.C.B. The same
system was in vogue until, in 1847, the Superintendent
was transformed into a Commander-in-ehief, and hoisted
his broad pennant in Bombay harbour as a first-class com-
modore.
Scarcely had the measures of 1828 for the increased efficiency
of the Service, as a war marine, been inaugurated under the
fostering care of a distinguished officer of the lloyal Navy, than
their utility was seriously impaired by a development which
affected both the discipline and status of the Service. This
step was the enactment by Government, in August, 1829, of
rules and regulations, whereby the Service was transformed
from a Marine established for purely war purposes into one of
a hybrid cliaracter. A regular packet service was to be
established, and the Company's steamers were to run at stated
intervals between Bombay and Cosseir, carrying passengers
who were to pay 1,200 rupees for the passage either way.
" Passengers taking servants with them were to pay in addition,
150 rupees for a European, and 75 for a native." The charges
for overland postage from Bombay, were to be as follow :
" If the letter or packet weighs not more than one rupee, four
rupees. If it weighs more than one rupee, but not more than
two rupees, eight rupees. Ditto more than two rupees, but not
more than three rupees, twelve rupees ; and so forth, four rupees
for each additional rupee weight up to twelve rupees, beyond
which weight no packet will be allowed." As a rupee weighs
about three-quarters of an ounce, this makes the charge twelve
rupees, or 24s. per ounce.
During the year 1829,* orders were issued that the larger
* At this time of great changes and General Orders, the following order, dated
Bombay Castle, 2nd February, 1829, addressed to Sir Cliarles Malcolm, Superin-
tendent of Marine, should not be omiUed a record in tlie.se jiarjes :
" It having been brought to the notice of the Hon. the (.rovernor of Bombay
Fort and Castle, tiiat masters of country vessels, and merchant vessels, and ships
within the harbour of Bombay, have hoisted pendants and assumed other (.li!<-
tiuctions, in contravention of JI.AI.'s proclamation bearing date 1st January, l.StU,
and the Governor of H.M.'s Forts and Casiles being directed by ll.M.'s siiid
proclamation on tlieir observing any sliip or vessel bel()ni;ing to any of I1..M'h
subjects, wearing the Hag commonly ilcscribcd as the L'nion Jack, or any of tiie
distinction Jacks in the said proclamation mentioned, unless sncli ships or vcsscIh
shall liave commission of letters of manpie or rei)risal, or sluill bo employed in
H.M.'s service, to cause such Hag, pendant, Jack, or ensign, to be seized, and to
return the names of the master or eommaniler of sucli shijjs and vessels wearing
sucli ilag, pendant, Jack, or ensign, contrary to H.M.'s aforesaid prochunution,
mito the Judge of H.M.'s Higii Court of Admiralty, for the time being. The
Hon. the Governor of the Fort and Castle of Bombay, is jJeased liieivby to
enjoin you to carry the provisions of the above proclamatiun into elFeet, ivs far as
regards the sliips or vessels witliin the harbour of Itombay ; an<l you are liereby
directed to seize, or caused to be sei/.cil, by ollicers of tlie Marine Service of
Bombay, such (lag, pendant. Jack, or ensign worn by any ship or vessel within
the Jiarbour of Bombay, contrary to H.IM.'s said proclamation, and to return to
the Hon. the Governor the names of the respective masters of ships or vesseU mj
oli'euding."
K K 2