'History of the Indian Navy. (1613-1863).' [‎98] (117/622)

98
HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY.
of Bamian and the turrets of the Bala Hissar—soon, alas! to
be torn down in defeat and blood—and it could afford to break
faith and play fast and loose with the Marine which was no
longer essential to its existence. Tims it happened that after
disgusting every officer brought up in a Service whose duties
were purely military, by transforming a large portion of the
Indian Navy into a second-rate passenger service, than which
no course could be devised more derogatory to discipline, or
esprit de corps, the Hon. Court turned round and fulminated a
most undeserved and sweeping censure against the junior
officers and the Service at large. From the causes for dissatis
faction under which the Indian Navy was writhing, we omit
altogether from consideration the facts put forth in a respectful
Memorial by Commander Haines in 1837, by which it appears
that the emoluments of the staff appointments, which amounted
to 15,115 rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. per month in 1828, were reduced to 7,013 in
that year.
In 1838-39, important events took place in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran.
and on the Indus, in which the Indian Navy participated.
In November, 1837, a Persian army, under the personal com
mand of the Shah, commenced the siege of Herat, which was
only saved from capture by the genius of Lieutenant Eldred
Pottinger, of the Bombay Artillery. The attention of the
Government was earnestly directed to the siege, as it was sup
posed that the fall of what is known as " the key of India,"
would seriously endanger the safety of our Eastern Empire.
On the 1st of May, 1838, Lord Auckland, in a letter addressed
to Mr. (now Sir) John McNeill, British Minister at Teheran,
after stating his belief " that the state of our relations with
Persia is at the present moment exceedingly critical," suggested
that it might prove of " very essential aid " to his negotiations,
" were as many cruisers as can be spared for the service, together
with a regiment of Native infantry, despatched to the Persian
Gulf to hold themselves in readiness for any service on which
it might be deemed expedient to employ them, with a view to
the maintenance of our interests in Persia." Without waiting
for an answer, Lord Auckland instructed the Bombay Govern
ment to fit out and despatch the proposed expedition " at the
earliest practicable period."
Accordingly, the 4 Semiramis,' commanded by Captain Brucks,
which had only arrived from England in April, was speedily pre
pared for sea, and sailed, on the 4th of June, with eleven officers
and three hundred and eighty soldiers. She encountered very bad
weather near Muscat, and, the day after leaving Bombay, lost one
of her engineers ; the chief engineer also became seriously ill,
w 7 hen Captain Brucks, who was an excellent " steam officer,"
took charge of the engines. From Muscat he proceeded to
Bushire and Kharrack, where he landed the troops and some