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500 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. ;

sliips were to be officered on a new system, in order that their
efficiency might be increased, ships being formerly sent to sea
with a pancity of officers. Each ship was to have one captain
or commander, three lieutenants, one master (generally a. passed
midshipman), and five midshipmen ; but, unhappily, in too
many instances, this order was a dead letter, as the necessary
complement of officers was not forthcoming. In the preced-
ing year, a regular commissioned class of pursers was intro-
duced, these officers entering the Service as captain's clerks
this was a much required innovation, for many of the pursers
hitherto employed were not very reputable members of society.
Under date of the 30th of September, 1828, the Governor of
Bombay wrote home, proposing that pursers should have the
same pensions as lieutenants, that is, =£190 a-year after twenty-
two years' service, and =£125 after ten years ; and the Court of
Directors approved the proposal in their despatch of the 31st of
December, 1829 *
But these officers had a just cause of complaint in the title
they bore, of " purser " and " captain's clerk," and, though
they repeatedly memorialised to be denouHuated " paymaster"
and " assistant-paymaster," like their brethren in the Royal
Navy, the Court refused the boon. It may be said that the
grievance was a sentimental one, but, allowing this, as no extra
pay was involved, the Court might have conceded the privilege
which gratified a meritorious class of their servants, who fulfilled
important public duties and were of sufficient numerical
strength to be entitled to consideration, for we find that, at the
date of abolition, in 18G3, there were on the active list eleven
pursers and twenty captain's clerks.
* 111 the year 1836 the following Ordei-s of impoi'tance relating to pursers were
issued by the Governor in Council .
The first, dated the 28th of November, had reference to tlie G-eneral Order of the
11th of August, 1835, and prescribed the mode in which the detailjduties assigned
in that Order to pursers were to be conducted.
The Second Order, bearing the same date, was the publication of the following
letter from the Court of Directors, dated the 25th of May, regulating the
passage-money and furlough allowance :
" In your letter of the 27th of November, 1835, you transmit a memorial from
Mr. Purser JolifF, praying, on behalf of the pursers of the Indian Navy, that the
Court will grant them the same passage-money and allowance, on sick certificate
to Europe, as have been granted to lieutenants, with whom tlie pursers rank, and
you recommend the application to our favourable consideration. In our despatch
of the 31st of December. 1829, para. 29, we approved of the principle and amount
of the remuneration to the pursers, submitted for our sanction in your letter of
the 30th of September, 1828. That principle recognised the grant of retiring
.pensions to pursers, upon the same scale, and under the same regulation as
obtained in the cases of lieutenants of the Indian Navy. (Note—After twenty-
two years £190 a-year ; after ten and less than twenty-two years, £125.) You
have assigned satisfactory reasons to induce us to extend the furlough regulations
to the pursers, and we authorise you to admit them to the benefit of those
regulations accordingly, classing them with lieutenants. (Note—Their pay will
be £165 a-year.)
" We decline to grant passage-money to the oflBcers of the Indian Navy."