'History of the Indian Navy. (1613-1863).' [‎59] (78/622)

HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY.
59
ing vessels in the Indian Navy 4 The conveyance of mails for
packet service being provided for, the remaining purposes for
which the Indian Navy would be required for are, against an
enemy in case of war, for the transport of troops, stores, and
treasure, the protection of the trade from piracy, and for sur
veying ; and as we have no doubt that all these objects would
be attained more effectually by steam than by sailing vessels,
it is our intention to effect the arrangement with the least pos
sible delay, and, as a first step towards it, we have resolved to
build two suitable steam vessels of war. We shall hereafter
take into consideration the alterations which may be necessary
in the establishment of officers, consequent on the substitution
of steam vessels for sailing vessels in the Indian Navy ; in the
meanwhile, we think it desirable that an opportunity should be
afforded to the officers, if possible, of obtaining information and
experience upon the subject of steam navigation and marine
engines, which will, in the altered state of the Service to which
they belong, be expected of them, in addition to the ordinary
acquirements of a Naval officer, and you have our authority to
make such arrangements as may appear to you calculated to
encourage and facilitate the attainment of the desired qualifi
cation.
u The establishment of our steamers employed as vessels of
war must, of course, differ in grade as well as in number from
the establishment of our steamers employed as packets, and the
same difference exists in the Royal Navy. The accommodation
for the officers in the packets cannot, consistently with the pur
poses of such vessels, be as convenient as they are in vessels of
war; but, so long as the officers employed are members of the
same Service, and have relative rank, according to seniority, in
the Indian Navy, there can be no distinction between the com
mander and officers of a war vessel and of a packet, except that
which naturally arises from the date of respective commissions;
but, in order to remove any ground of complaint on that head,
we direct that the command of the steam vessels, when em
ployed as packets, be restricted to lieutenants, unless an officer
holding the rank of commander shall be desirous of such com
mand, due regard to be had in cases of seniority, when com
bined with efficiency. We, however, positively interdict the
employment of mates of merchantmen, or any other than
commissioned or warrant officers of the Indian Navy, in any
situation of command or responsibility on board any of our
vessels, except in the engine room.
" In the event of any of the officers being desirous of quitting
the Indian Navy, in consequence of the altered condition of that
Service, we have resolved to permit them to retire from it, upon
the following scale of pensions; provided, however, that the
total number of the officers who may be desirous of availing