'History of the Indian Navy. (1613-1863).' [‎234] (253/622)

234
HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVT.
year 1851, by the launch at Bombay of a beautiful steam-
frigate of 1003 tons, carrying six heavy guns, which received
the name of the c Zenobia,' bat offered a singular contrast to the
Waterford "pig-boat" of the same name, formerly in the Ser
vice. Commander C. D. Campbell was appointed to take com
mand of her, but, on the death of Captain Hawkins, he was
removed to the flag-ship, and, on the 8th of October, Com
mander Ball finally succeeded to the post. At this time orders
were sent out by the Court of Directors The London-based directors of the East India Company who dealt with the daily conduct of the Company's affairs. , for the construction in
Bombay Dockyard of two large steam-frigates. On the 16th
of February, 1852, the silver nail," customary on such
occasions, was driven into the keel of the first of these frigates,
which was to be named the 4 Assaye and, soon after, the same
ceremony was observed as regards her sister-ship, to be called
the 'Plassy,' though this name was subsequently changed to
the ' Punjaub.'
Commodore Lushington having expressed his desire to resign
the appointment of Commander-in-chief, the Court of Directors The London-based directors of the East India Company who dealt with the daily conduct of the Company's affairs. ,
on the 5th of November, 1851, elected as his successor Captain
Sir Henry J. Leeke, R.N. This officer did not proceed out to
India until March of the following year, and, meanwhile, im
portant events had occurred, which tested the efficiency of the
force over which Commodore Lushington had presided, an
efficiency in no small degree due to the confidence reposed
in the Commander-in-chief by the officers of the Indian
Navy.
Some months before Commodore Lushington's departure,
an unhappy event deprived the Service of one of its best
and most popular officers. At 1.30 a.m. of the 26th of August,
1851, Captain Hawkins, at this time Assistant-Superintendent
and commanding the 'Hastings/ met with a fatal accident, at the
age of fifty-three. He had dined with two friends in apparently
robust health and high spirits, and, afterwards, drove one of
them (Major French) in his curricle, to the reception of the
Viscountess Falkland at Parell. On his return, he brought
Major French back to his residence on the Esplanade, and then
proceeded alone towards his own house in Colaba. Soon after,
his lifeless body was found underneath the vehicle, which had
been upset by the horses running against a bank, and it was
supposed that a fit of apoplexy, to which he had formerly
been subject, had suddenly rendered him incapable of guiding
them. He was interred in the graveyard of the cathedral on
the same day, under a salute of twenty minute guns from the
6 Hastings,' and his funeral was attended by nearly all the
members of the legal and mercantile communities then at the
Presidency The name given to each of the three divisions of the territory of the East India Company, and later the British Raj, on the Indian subcontinent. , and by a large concourse of natives. The deceased
officer was carried to the grave by seamen of the 4 Hastings/ his
brother, Major Hawkins, of the 8th Native Infantry, was chief