'History of the Indian Navy. (1613-1863).' [‎11] (30/622)

HISTORY OF THE INDIA.N NAYY.
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and talented officer, in the following terms —"His Lordship in
Council has much pleasure on this occasion in recording the
high sense he entertains of Captain Crawford's valuable services
in the several situations, afloat and ashore, which during his
long professional career he has filled, and especially the impor
tant situation of officiating Superintendent of the Indian Navy,
the duties of which he has discharged since January, 1833, to
the entire satisfaction of the Government." Commander Cogan,
senior officer at the Presidency The name given to each of the three divisions of the territory of the East India Company, and later the British Raj, on the Indian subcontinent. , and Comptroller of Dockyards,
was appointed to officiate until the return of Sir Charles
Malcolm, w r ho resumed his duties a few weeks later.
On the 25th of October, 1833, died at sea on board the
' Ciive,' Commodore Henry Wyndham, a distinguished officer,
who had only been appointed to the command of the Persian
Gulf squadron on the 9th of December, in the previous year.
He was succeeded by Captain Thomas Elwon, who had been
conducting the survey of the Red Sea since the year 1829.
Commodore Elwon, an officer of high scientific attainments, did
not long enjoy the perilous honour of commanding the Persian
Gulf squadron, which has proved fatal to so many incumbents.
He expired at Bassadore on the 17th of June, 1835, after a few
days illness, in the forty-first year of his age. In him the
Government lost an able and conscientious servant, and the
Service one who, by his affability and kindness of disposition,
had endeared himself to all equally in public and private life.
At an early period of his Indian career Commodore Elwon had
been obliged to proceed to England, owing to the effects of the
climate, and resumed his duties in 1819. Ten years later he
commenced the survey of the Red Sea, and had just completed
his portion of it, extending from Jiddah to the Straits, when
the death of Commodore Wyndham enabled the Govern
ment—which had more than once expressed its thanks and
approval for the masterly manner in which he conducted the
survey—to offer him what was in some respects regarded as
u the blue riband" of the Service. Unhappily for himself, he
turned a deaf ear to friendly councillors who warned him that
a respite from the active duties of his profession and a visit to
Europe, were essential for the maintenance of his health, and
too soon he paid the penalty of a noble self-abnegation, by an
early death in the service of his country. He was succeeded by
Captain Pepper, commanding the sloop-of-war 'Amherst.'
By orders of the Bombay Government, dated the 4th of
February, 1833, the following classification of the vessels of the
Indian Navy, was sanctioned :— 4 Amherst,' 6 Coote,' and ' Clive'
to be of the second class. 'Elphinstone,' 'Euphrates,' 'Tigris,'
and 6 Hugh Lindsay' steamer, to be of the third class.
' Ternate,' 6 Benares,' 4 Palinurus,' and 6 Nautilus,' to be of the
fourth class. On the 7th of the same month, the Governor in