'History of the Indian Navy. (1613-1863).' [‎203] (222/622)

HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY.
203
the scientific department of the Service; he bears a name as
an hydrographer, second only to that of Horsbur^h; and his
charts and surveys have been the means of saving numberless
lives and uncounted fortunes. Instead of remaining Master-
Attendant on the full emoluments of his office, while the duties
were discharged by a deputy, he retired, as he found the in
firmities of years advancing, and has been requited with a
salary less than that of the youngest boy civilian." However,
Captain Ross did not long remain an object for the exercise of
the miserable parsimony, if not injustice, of the Board of
Control, for he died in Bombay a few months after retiring
from the Service.
In a previous chapter we have described the great services
he rendered to the cause of hydrography, by his surveys of the
China Seas, between the years 1806-20, and of the Arracan
coast at a later period. Between the years 1821-33, he was
Marine Surveyor General of Bengal, where he had as his
assistants many officers of the Service, including Lieutenants
Crawford, Maxfield, Criddle, Barnard, R. Lloyd, G. Laughton,
A. S. Williams, G. Boscawen, T. G. Carless, C. Montriou, and
C. B. Richardson. On resigning office at Calcutta, he was ap
pointed Master-Attendant at Bombay, a post he filled for fifteen
years, when the infirmities of old age induced him to retire on
a pension. Daniel Ross was far in advance of his age as a
scientific hydrographer, and worthily earned the honourable
designation of the "Father of Indian Surveys."*
By Government General Order, under date the 14th of July,
1849, it was notified that, in future, the appointments of Master-
Attendant and Indian Navy Storekeeper, vacant by the retire
ment and death of Captains Ross and Pepper, should be held by
officers of the rank of Captain on the effective list, for a period
not exceeding three years, subject to reappointment, and that
the allowances were to be 800 rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. per annum, with house
rent 180 rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. . Captain Lynch succeeded Captain Ross as
Master-Attendant, and, on his departure to Europe soon after,
Captain Hawkins received the appointment.
Before the close of the year 1848, which had been a calami
tous one for the Service, in the number of distinguished officers
it had lost by death, another name w 7 as added, not less honoured
than those which had already gone 44 to that bourne w T hence no
* Some officers of ttie Service, including Captains Hawkins and Jenkins, Dr.
Buist, the noted editor of the c Bombay Times/ and Mr. (afterwards Sir) J. P.
Willoughby, made a proposal for the institution of a literary memorial to Captain
Ross, to consist of all published charts and hydrographic memoirs, to be kept in
the Town Hall at Bombay for public reference. The project received general
support, and a Committee was also formed in London, including the Hydrographer,
( Admiral Sir Francis Beaufort,) Sir Charles Malcolm, and Sir Charles Forbes, and
a considerable sum was collected and expended in furtherance of the object
in view.