'History of the Indian Navy. (1613-1863).' [‎290] (309/622)

290
HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY.
Had Captain Lynch not been an officer of the Indian Navy,
it is certain that—as in the recent case of Sir Lewis Pelly,
who was made a K.C.B. for his negotiations with the Envoy of
the Ameer of Afghanistan at Peshawur—he would have received
the ribbon of the Bath for his services in connection with the
Persian treaty.
On the conclusion of the Burmese War, the Queen's Govern-
merit conferred the Order of the Bath on three officers of the
Royal Navy, but only one of the Indian Navy, the first of the
Service to be admitted to its honours, received the coveted dis
tinction. Commodore Lambert was made a K.C.B., and Cap
tains Tarleton and Shadwell, who had, in addition, been
promoted from the rank of commander, were awarded the C.B.
Commodore Lynch was the fortunate officer to receive the latter
distinction, and Commander Campbell, second in seniority,
Avhose services at Rangoon, Bassein, and elsewhere, were very
meritorious, received a sword of the value of 200 guineas, and a
letter* from the Court of Directors The London-based directors of the East India Company who dealt with the daily conduct of the Company's affairs. , to the effect that his
rank disqualified him from receiving the C.B., a lame excuse,
as many instances have occurred in which officers of the rank
of Commander—one even in the case of a distinguished officer
of his own Service—have received the decoration.
The following General Order was published to the Service
under date the 14th of March, 1854:—"The Right Honour
able the Governor in Council has much satisfaction in publishing
witness the extended commercial intercourse between Mesopotamia and tlie ad
joining countries with Europe on the one hand, and with India on the other,
which he had strivein so well to initiate. As a Fellow of our Society of thirty-six
years' standing, the absence of his well-known face will leave a void amongst
us not readily refilled. Of the gap beyond, in the circle of his immediate rela
tions and friends, it is hard to speak; our deepest sympathy, however, is with
them."
# The following is a copy of the letter;—
" East India House, Feb. 7,1854.
" Sir,—I am commanded to inform you that the Court of Directors The London-based directors of the East India Company who dealt with the daily conduct of the Company's affairs. of the East
India Company have noticed with great satisfaction the flattering terms in which
the Grovernment of India has in its Despatches during the recent war in Burmah,
made mention of the conduct and services of the several commissioned officers of
the Indian Navy who were employed and have distinguished themselves in the
course of that war; and in order to show their sense of the conduct of the Indian
Navy, they have resolved to confer some special mark of favour and approbation
upon yourself as the senior of the Indian naval officers named in the Governor-
G-eneral's Despatch of the 2nd of July, 1853, your rank being immediately
that which would render you eligible for the honorary distinction of the .oatii.
It is accordingly the Court's intention to present you with a sword of the value o
two hundred guineas, in testimony of the high sense entertained by them oi your
services in the Burmese War. " I am, &c.,
" (Signed) James C. Melviii.
The sword bore the following inscription:—" Presented by the
Directors of the East India Company to Commander Charles Dugald Camp
bell, of the Indian Navy, as a testimonial of the high sense the Court enter ams
of his conduct and services in command of the Hon. Company's steam-inga
* Sesostris' while employed during the war with Burmah in the years loo an
1853."