'History of the Indian Navy. (1613-1863).' [‎206] (225/622)

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history of the indian navy.
whole energies of his life, with untiring zeal and unflinching
honesty of purpose, to the duties of his station. He has died at
his post; and the Government deeply deplores the loss of one
who, for ability, integrity, and faithfulness to his trust, justly
merits to be ranked among the most deserving and dis
tinguished servants of the State."
Though this eulogium was not undeserved, Sir Robert Oliver,
owing to defects of temper and judgment, was far from popular
in the Service over which he ruled for ten years. That the feel
ing of irritation caused by his administration, among the officers
of the Indian Navy, was very general, however often and forcibly
the Court of Directors The London-based directors of the East India Company who dealt with the daily conduct of the Company's affairs. and Bombay Government expressed their
confidence in him, is proved by the fact that no less than nineteen
officers, some of them the best in the Service,, men not inclined
to be malcontents without good grounds, echoed the complaint
of Captain Cogan, made in 1843, and separately petitioned the
Court for redress against what they considered the arbitrary
and unjust acts of Sir R. Oliver, more particularly in the case
of Lieutenant Bird,* whom he caused by General Order, under
# The following is tlie G-overnment General Order relating to these Me
morials :—
" Bombay Castle, May 3, 1848.
" The Eight Hon. the G-overnor in Council is pleased to direct the publication
in Greneral Orders of the following extracts of a despatch, dated the 22nd of
March, conveying the decision of the Hon. the Court of Directors The London-based directors of the East India Company who dealt with the daily conduct of the Company's affairs. upon a number
of memorials presented in September and October last, by the following officers
of the Indian Navy :—Lieutenants Peevor, Twynam, Dakers, Eatt, King, Eraser,
Manners, Constable, Adams, Etheridge; Messrs. Griles, Hellard, Toby, Robinson,
Taylor, E-anken, Mitcheson, Brooman, Stroyan, and Pengelley, which contained
comments upon the constitution and administration of the Service to which they
belong, and highly improper reflections and imputations upon their superiors.
The Eight Hon. the Grovernor in Council desires the most serious attention of
all the officers of the Indian Navy to the observations of the Hon. the Court of
Directors ; implicit obedience to their instructions will be strictly enforced; and
the Government trust that the leniency shown in the decision now promulgated
will be duly appreciated, and induce the young officers who have been misled to
join in an act which is characterised by the highest authority as a flagrant breach
of discipline and subordination, to endeavour, by their future behaviour, to retrieve
the confidence of their superiors, and obliterate the recollection of their miscon
duct on this occasion. The suspension awarded to Lieutenant Manners of six
months, and to Lieutenant Etheridge and Midshipman An experienced sailor, but not a commissioned officer. Pengelley of three months,
from pay, allowances, and the active duties of the Service, will take effect from a
date which will be hereafter fixed. Lieutenant B. Hamilton is admonished, in
conformity with the Hon. Court's instructions, and cautioned to be more circum
spect in his conduct hereafter.
" Letter from , dated the 10th of September, 1847 (No. 85), and the 1st of
October, 1847 (No. 99). Transmitting, with the observations and proceedings oi
Government thereon, nineteen memorials addressed to the Court by certain officers
and midshipmen An experienced sailor, but not a commissioned officer. of the Indian Navy, respecting the removal from the Service oi
Lieutenant Bird, under the Court's orders, respecting also the power vested in the
Superintendent of the Indian Navy, and the mode in which those powers are
exercised ; the inadequacy of the pay of lieutenants, their severe duty, consequen
on the paucity of commissioned officers, and the employment of strangers m
command of Indian Navy vessels, to the disadvantage of the officers of t e
Service; respecting, likewise, the system under which officers of the Indian