'History of the Indian Navy. (1613-1863).' [‎285] (304/622)

HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAYY.
285
In December, 1853, the Marquis Dalhousie proceeded, in the
'Zenobia,' to inspect the newly-acquired Province of Pegu, and,
probably, his Lordship's last official despatch written in British
Burmah, was that dated on board the 'Zenobia,' the 13th of
January, 1854, off Cape Negrais.
From October, 1853, to the following June, a period of nine
months, one of the ' Zenobia's' officers. Lieutenant Aylesbury,
commanded some gunboats, manned from the 4 Zenobia,' sta
tioned on the river frontier for the suppression of Dacoits and
preservation of order, and received, personally, the thanks of
Lord Dalhousie, as well as of the Supreme (rovernment, and
Colonel (now Sir Arthur) P hay re, the Commissioner of Pegu.
Under orders from the Government of India, in June, 1855, he
also officiated, for twelve months, as Superintendent of the
Irrawaddy steam flotilla, which had been organised by Captain
Rogers, late of the Indian Navy, Superintendent of the Bengal
Marine.*
* In July, 1856, Lord Dalliousie appointed Lieutenant Aylesbnrj Master-
Attendant and Marine Magistrate for Bassein and Dalliousie, as a reward for his
discinguished services. At our request this gallant officer, who was Second-Lieu
tenant of the 'Zenobia' throughout the Burmese War, on the departure of Lieu
tenant Jermyn after the capture of Rangoon, has furnished us with the following
Memorandum regarding the services of that ship :—
" At the taking of Rangoon we took part in the cannonade and storming of the
King's Wharf Stockade, when Lieutenant Jermyn, of the ' Zenobia,' was the first
in climbing through an embrasure in the stockade. As I saw his white trousers
disappear, I thought it was the last I should see of my old friend and messmate.
The ' Zenobia' was stationed as guard-ship at Kemmendine afterwards for a month
or so, when we were ordered to Moulmein with sick and others. En route to
Madras, the intermediate shaft broke, and we had to put back to Moulmein ; we
then took our station as guard-ship at Martaban, and the 'Ferooz,' Commodore
Lynch, went to Madras in our stead. Commander Ball was obliged to leave at
Moulmein and resign his command to Lieutenant Joseph Sedley, who, shortly
afterwards, was relieved by Commander J. Rennie. During the time Sedley was
in command, we saw some stockade service. On one occasion, I remember his
coming on board and saying there was a very strong stockade up the river called
Beeling Tat, and that the military on shore had advised him not to attempt tbe
taking of it, as he would burn his fingers. We were called away at once, and,
after hard work, we came on the place and took it with a rush. I fired the
houses in the village to windward, and drove the smoke on the enemy, while the
blue-jackets attacked them in flank. We were next engaged in the China-
Buckeer river on boat service. Afterwards we were stationed at Bassein as
guard-ship, and the men were always away on gunboat service, particularly in the
action with Mea Toon, at which so many men were lost; the first men in the
stockade, via Bassein, were the ' Zenobia's.' After this affair I was present with
Rennie, and second in command, at the Lamena business, and was slightly
wounded. It w r as a gallant little affair, and well carried out. I was afterwards
frequently at small boat alfairs, and latterly was despatched to guard the river
frontier. The officers appointed for this duty were myself, Mr. Brazier, Mr.
Strong, Mr. Pirn, Mr. Munro, and fifty blue-jackets. We proceeded to Kamma
as our station. All the time I had command of the river frontier, my men were
m first-rate order ; I could leave the boats and penetrate after Dacoits, and did
so, going to places that no Europeans had ever visited before. On my return
from this duty, I was presented with the usual thanks, and I have a letter from
Colonel Phayre, saying that now my services were over, he could testify that the