'History of the Indian Navy. (1613-1863).' [‎296] (315/622)

296
HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY.
ceremony taking place at midnight in the presence of Lord
Elphinstone, Reai-Admiral 1 * Sir Henry and Lady Leeke, and
nearly three hundred guests, who repaired to the scene of the
launch from the dockyard, where an extemporised ball-room
had been fitted up. This fine steam-frigate was 277 feet in
length "over all," and 39^ feet extreme breadth; her tonnage
was 1,800, and horse-power, 650. Owing to the non-arrival
of her engines, she was not ready for sea until the following
October, and, upon the 17th, was commissioned by Commander
John W. Young. On the 21st of April her sister-ship, the 'Pun-
jaub,' was launched; this beautiful frigate was seven feet
longer than the 4 Assaye,' and was fitted with engines of 700
horse-power. Commander Young made over charge of the
6 Assaye' to Commander Daniell on the 21st of December, and,
on, the 2nd of January following, assumed command of the
' Punjaub.'
Bombay will not soon forget the memorable cyclone which
burst over it at midnight of the 1st of November, 1854, deso
lating the city and strewing the harbour with wrecks. The
wind veered round the compass, and, at three a.m. of the 2nd
of November, the pressure of the wind actually registered
35 lbs. to the square foot.f On the following morning Bombay
harbour presented a scene of desolation; five square-rigged
ships and three steamers were on shore, most of them dis
masted, and one hundred and forty-two smaller craft, mostly
native, were wrecked. The 'Assaye' drifted towards the
Castle walls and carried away her bowsprit, but was fortunately
saved from total shipwreck by the exertions of her officers and
men. The 4 Hastings,' receiving ship, drove from her moor
ings, sprung a leak, and, while being towed by the 'Queen,'
fouled the ship 'Mystery;' and, ultimately, after battering
against the fort wails, which she damaged to a considerable
extent, was brought to Mazagon in the last stage of decrepi
tude ; and, though she was patched up sufficiently to do duty a
little longer as receiving ship, the old frigate was soon con
signed to the limbo of the ship-breaker's yard. The surveying
brig, 4 Palinurus,' was dismasted, and got aground off the dock
yard breakwater, where her situation was one of extreme peril,
until she floated off with the tide. The Governor's and Sir
Henry Leeke's barges, and nearly all the pleasure yachts and
bunder boats usually moored off the Apollo bunder, were lost,
and the cutters 4 Margaret,' 4 Nerbudda,' and 4 Maldiva weie
* Sir Henry was placed on the Retired List of tlie Royal Nayy with the rank
of Rear-Admiral. On the 26th of May in this year, Captain F. T. owe ^as
appointed Assistant-Superintendent. , 0
t Equal to a force of 280 lbs. against a man weighing 182 lbs., or ^ 3 sto ' •
presenting a surface of eight square feet. The gardens were described as oo g
as if " a roller had passed over them," the streets were strewed with i
debris, and the loss of property was enormous.