'History of the Indian Navy. (1613-1863).' [‎257] (276/622)

HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAYY.
257
modore Lynch was the scion of an old Galway family, and pos
sessed that happy mixture of the fortiter in re, which enabled
him, by dint of energy and resolution, to carry an enterprise
to a successful issue, with the suaviter in modo, which pre
vented any asperities arising in the delicate relations existing
between himself and the senior officers of the Royal Navy, the
rock upon which too often the public service had been sacri
ficed to gratify pique or unworthy jealousy. An accomplished
scholar and linguist, he was also a diplomatist of the first
quality, and his distinguished bearing and well-bred ease of
manner fitted him as much for the intercourse of courts as his
bonhomie and geniality made him acceptable to all those with
whom he was brought into contact. Such opposites as Sir
Eobert Oliver and Commodore Lushington found him equally in
dispensable as Assistant-Superintendent, and he managed the
difficult task of acquiring their goodwill without sacrificing his
independence or the regard of his brother officers. Commander
Campbell was a man of great natural ability. He was equally
at home with the sextant and steam-engine, and was a votary
of science in the true acceptation of that term, for, though pos
sessing considerable theoretical knowledge, he was eminently
practical, while he was a first-rate seaman and gunnery officer.
Commanders Hewett and Rennie, par nobile fratrum, were
officers such as Nelson loved to have under his command.
Brave and dashing, reckless where personal safety was con
cerned, they were careful of the lives of their men and of their
own reputations, which, already considerable by their exploits
in China, were still further enhanced by the skill and daring
they displayed during the operations in Burmah. Finally,
these four officers were as eminent as surveyors as they were
distinguished in war. The achievements of Lynch in the
Euphrates Expedition and Mesopotamia, of Campbell in the
Red Sea and Maldive Islands, of Hewett in China, and of
Eennie on the coasts of India, were of a character that
would have stamped them as men of mark, even had they
never drawn a sword in the more troubled arena of military
strife.
On the cessation of the monsoon and the arrival of large rein
forcements from Bengal and Madras, General Godwin, having
resolved to attack Prome, embarked a strong column of troops
on board the following steamers :—Indian Navy; the 6 Sesos-
tris,'and 4 Medusa.' Bengal Marine: 'Fire Queen,'having on
board General Godwin, and bearing the broad pennant of
Commodore Lambert ; 6 Enterprise,' 'Mahanuddy,' 'Nemesis/
4 Proserpine,' and 4 Phlegethon.' Also nine boats of H.M. ships
'Hastings, (flag ship,) 'Fox,' 'Winchester,'and ' Sphinx,' to
convoy the cargo boats. On the 27th of September the squadron
weighed from the rendezvous off Yangernsiah, a town situated
vol. II. s