'History of the Indian Navy. (1613-1863).' [‎202] (221/622)

202
HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY.
some of the most distinguished officers of the Indian Navy.
Captain J. P. Sanders, commanding the 6 Ajdaha,' was obliged,
by declining health, to proceed on shore on the 17th of March'
and died before the close of the year, near Malta, on his way to
England ; in him the Service lost one of its most accomplished
surveyors. On the 4th of August Captain Pepper died at
Poona. On the conclusion of the China War he returned, in
the 6 Akbar,' to Bombay, and was appointed Indian Naval Store
keeper, and, for six months, during the absence of Sir Robert
Oliver, officiated as Superintendent of the Indian Navy. Captain
Pepper himself proceeded to England on sick leave in April,
1845, and had only returned to Bombay on the 14th of December
preceding his death. A Government Order was issued, under
date the J 5th August, announcing the death of Captain Pepper,*
whose public services were lengthy and honourable. In the
following September died Commander H. C. Boulderson, de
scribed in the "Bombay Times," as " an officer of considerable
talents and attainments," who had filled the post of Assistant-
Superintendent under Captain Lynch, and officiated as Draughts
man during the absence of Commander Montriou.
In the latter part of the year 1848, owing to failing health,
Captain Ross, F.RS., resigned the posts of Master-Attendant
at Bombay, and President of the Bombay Geographical Society,
the latter of which he had held since the return of Sir Charles
Malcolm to England, having discharged the duties with great
ability and success for the past ten years, during which time
he could boast as his coadjutors many eminent men.t The
Government issued a General Order, dated the 8th of November,
1848, eulogistic of Captain Ross's lengthened and distinguished
services, and, on his resigning the post of President, the Geo
graphical Society elected him Honorary President, and requested
him to sit for his portrait. The Hon. J. P. Willoughby was
elected President in his place. Commodore Lushington, R.N.
being chosen Vice-President in the place of Mr. Lushington.
On Captain Ross' retirement from the Service, the Board of
Control refused to allow him the highest pension of his rank,
awarding him only £360 a year. As was observed by an in
fluential paper, in recording this misplaced act of parsimony
" He has for fifty years been almost continually employed in
# The death of Captain Pepper gave a step in rank to Commander J. P.
Porter, who had returned from Europe on the 10th of Mareh, and Lieutenant
E. A. Ball became Commander.
f We find in the list of Office Bearers for the year 1846, many men of
European reputation. One of the Yice-Presidents was that eminent scholar
and linguist, Major-General Vans Kennedy, and among the twelve Re
sident Members of the Committee, appear the names of Captain Lynch,
I.N., Lieutenant Jenkins, I.N., Mr. L. R. Reid, Colonel P. Melvill, General
E. Barr ; while in the list of the eight Non-Eesident Members were Major H. C.
Rawlinson, Captain G-. Le Gr. Jacob, Captain Carless, I.N., and Lieutenant
Cruttenden, I.N.