'History of the Indian Navy. (1613-1863).' [‎198] (217/622)

198
history of the indian navy.
ment of which was placed at the following scale:—Eight cap
tains, sixteen commanders, sixty-eight lieutenants, and one
hundred and ten midshipmen—total two hundred and two officers
of the combatant branch; also fourteen pursers and twelve
captains' clerks. In addition to these " covenanted" officers,
there were now in the Service, or engaged within the next two
years, fourteen masters and twenty-one second-masters, who
were employed to fill any temporary vacancies on board the
sea-going ships, and also officered the Indus flotilla and the
steamer 4 Comet,' stationed on the River Tigris, and commis
sioned by a Commander of the Service, who also held the ap
pointment of Surveyor-General of Mesopotamia.
By the Order of the 13th of September, 1847, the Superin
tendent w T as made a Commodore of the First Class in the
Indian Navy, and it was also directed that the Assistant-Super
intendent w r as to be a captain on the effective list, and to hold
his appointment for three years ; but, if for the advantage of the
public service, he might be re-appointed for a further term. The
nomination of a secretary to the commodore, was also sanctioned,
and Mr. Frederick G. Bone, Purser, received the appointment,
which he filled with success, and to the satisfaction of his
superiors and the Service generally, from the year 1847 to the
date of the abolition of the Service in 1863.*
The following was the Government General Order on this
augmentation, and the appointment of Sir Robert Oliver as
a First Class Commodore, "to command all officers and men,
the vessels and establishments of the Indian Navy afloat or
ashore."
"The Governor in Council deems this a fitting occasion to
offer to Sir Robert Oliver the warmest acknowledgments, on
the part of the Government, for the able manner in which he
has for many years conducted the department under his control,
and by his indefatigable exertions drawn forth from its very
inadequate and defective means most important services to the
State, and the Governor in Council feels confident that the ad
ditional powers now placed in the hands of the Superintendent
Eode, A. Chitty, E. F. T. Fergusson, E. Griles, J. Eernard, B. Crome, S. B.
Hellard, G. Holt, E. Jermyn, L. Jolliffe, H. Leeds, F. Nott, Gr. T. Robinson,
J. Sedley, J. S. Stevens, P. Taylor, A. D. Taylor, C. Walker, O. E. Way,
W. M. Pengelley, and C. Y. "Ward, to be lieutenants. Commander H. B. Lynch,
having obtained bis captaincy on the augmentation, was reappointed Assistant-
Superintendent from the 24th of November, the terms of the Warrant requiring
that the appointment should in future be held by an officer of that rant, though
in the past, lieutenants had frequently filled the office, which was now, however,
made of a much more responsible character, owing to the introduction of steam,
and increase of the Service.
# During Mr. Bone's absence on sick-leave to England, in the administration
of Commodore Wellesley, Mr. W. H. D. Williams, purser, a gentleman much
and deservedly liked in the Service, filled the office of Secretary to the Com
mander-in-chief.