'History of the Indian Navy. (1613-1863).' [‎205] (224/622)

HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY.
205
" Bombay Castle, August 9, 1848.
" The Right Honourable the Governor in Council has re
ceived, with the deepest concern and regret, the report of the
decease, on the morning of the 5th instant, of Commodore Sir
Robert Oliver, and feels it to be his duty publicly to record the
high and lasting sense entertained of the value and importance
oAhe services which this lamented and distinguished officer
has performed while filling the office of Superintendent, and
latterly, of Commander-in-chief of the Indian Navy.
" Sir Robert Oliver has stood for ten years at the head of the
Indian Navy ; and during the whole of that period, the records
of Government abundantly prove, that he has discharged the
responsible and onerous functions of his high office in a man
ner which has elicited the warmest approbation of every
superior authority in India and in England. His energy, fore
sight, skill, and thorough practical knowledge of every branch
of his profession, have always been conspicuous; and these
qualities were so displayed in the equipment and fitting out of
the vessels despatched to co-operate with Her Majesty's Navy
in the China Expedition, that it pleased Her Majesty, in 1843,
to confer upon him the honour of Knighthood, expi-essly ' in
acknowledgment of the zeal and ability with which that officer
had exerted himself to further Her Majesty's Service in re
lation to the Expedition sent to the China Seas.' Under the
conduct of Sir Robert Oliver, the strength of the Indian Naval
Force has been largely increased, and its-services employed always
with honour and success, in every part of the Indian Ocean.
The various marine establishments connected with the Navy
have been extended, reformed, or organized. A steam factory An East India Company trading post. of
great power and efficiency has been erected, and commodious
slips for the promotion of shipbuilding at the port have been
constructed. Other works and improvements, planned or
advised by the same master-mind, have been completed or are
in progress, the whole designed to render the dockyard of
Bombay equal to the important national objects for which it
may be required. The great extension given to the Indian
Navy generally, and to its establishments in Western India,
under the management of Sir Robert Oliver, has caused the
Hon. Court of Directors The London-based directors of the East India Company who dealt with the daily conduct of the Company's affairs. recently to invest him, in his office of
Superintendent, with the commission of a Commodore ot the
First Class, and the dignity of Commander-in-chief.
" The Right Honourable the Governor in Council feels it to be
unnecessary to do more than point to these leading facts in
Sir Robert Oliver's Indian career. Originally selected to fill
the office of Superintendent of the Indian Navy on account of
the qualifications he had been proved to possess in his own
Service, the Royal Navy, he has amply fulfilled all the ex
pectations based on his appointment. He has devoted the