'History of the Indian Navy. (1613-1863).' [‎197] (216/622)

history of the indian navy.
197
bay "Telegraph and Courier" had a lengthy leading article on
the achievement. „ . , r ^ , ,
The addition to the Service of the ' Moozuffer was almost
neutralized hy the loss of the ' Coote.' This fine sloop-of-war
sailed from Bombay under the command of Lieutenant J. S.
Grieve, who had only joined her on tfhe 15th of the month, and,
on the morning of the 1st of December, grounded on a reef near
Calicut, to which port she was bound. Every exertion was
made by the officers and men to get her off, but without avail,
and, on the 3rd of December, she was abandoned, after all her
gun's and a great portion of her stores and ammunition had been
safely landed. The crew were accommodated on shore until
the arrival of the ' Medusa,' which took them to Bombay. The
hull of the ' Coote' was sold for 10,000 rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. , but her purchaser
sustained a total loss, owing to her having grounded, while being
towed ashore, on a mud bank, from which it was impossible to
remove her. Her unfortunate commander. Lieutenant J. S.
Grieve, brother to the late Commander Albany Grieve,—both
smart officers and eminent surveyors,—did not long survive the
loss of his ship, but died at Calicut on the following 7th of April.
In the year 1847 another steam-frigate, of the same size and
armament as the 'Moozuffer,' called the 'Ajdaha, or "flying
dragon," was launched in London, and sailed from Gravesend
on the 25th of September, under command of Captain Sanders
(Lieutenants H. A. Drought and H. W. Grounds proceeding in
her to India, on their return from furlough), and cast anchor
in Bombay harbour on the 28th of December.
In February, 1847, the Colaba Lighthouse, which was under
the charge of Lieutenant Hayman, of the Invalid Establishment,
was fitted with a light on the revolving principle, exhibiting its
greatest intensity every two minutes.
We have seen that, by the Orders of the Court, dated the
30th of January, 1839, and promulgated at Bombay on the 4th
of April following, the Indian Naval Establishment was fixed at
four captains, eight commanders, forty lieutenants, and forty-
eight midshipmen—total one hundred. Again, consequent on a
despatch of the Court, dated the 27th of August, 1841, and
published in General Orders of the 5th of November in that
year, the strength of the Service was fixed at six captains,
twelve commanders, forty-eight lieutenants, and seventy-two
midshipmen—total one hundred and thirty-eight. Again, by a
General Order, dated the 13th of September, 1847, in accord
ance with the Court's despatch of the previous 28th of July,
there was a further augmentation* of the Service, the establish-
# By the augmentation, the following officers received promotion from the 13th
of September, 1847 :—Commanders H. B. Lynch and J. P. Sanders to be
captains; Lieutenants O. D. Campbell, E. W. Daniell, A. H. Gordon, J. Gr.
Johnston, J. F. Jones, and J. W. Young, to be commanders j and Mates E.