'History of the Indian Navy. (1613-1863).' [‎297] (316/622)

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HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY.
297
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seriously damaged. The 4 Elpliinstone'had a narrow escape,
as she grounded off the Custom House basin, and was only
o-ot afloat by the discipline and smartness of the crew and skill
of the officers ; backing astern, she set a staysail and threaded
her way through the crowded harbour to the anchorage outside
the shipping.
The paucity of commissioned officers in the Service, which
had long been a serious bar to its efficiency, was more apparent
in 1854-55 than at any previous time. Since 1847, when
the last augmentation had taken place, the number of ships had
been increased by the addition of the corvette 'Falkland,' and
the steam-frigates 6 Ferooz/ 4 Ajdaha,' 4 Zenobia,' 'Assaye,'
and 'Punjaub,' while a large fifty-gun screw frigate and a
smaller steamer were building at Bombay. Of the eight
captains on the strength of the Service, three held shore
appointments, viz., the Indian Navy Storekeeper, Master-
Attendant at Bombay, and Assistant-Superintendent, who also
commanded the Commander-in-chiefs flag-ship; and three
held commands afloat—the commodore in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. ,
senior officer at Aden, and Superintendent of the Indus flotilla.
Owing, however, to a portion of the captains being always
absent on furlough or sick leave, some of these commands were
held by commanders. Again, in the latter part of 1855, out of
the sixteen commanders on the strength of the establishment,
there were six in England, two were employed on survey duty,
one was in charge of the Indus flotilla, leaving a total of only
seven for naval duties ; as there were nine vessels in commis
sion, which were regular commander's commands, two of these
were held by lieutenants, who, however, were as amply quali
fied for the duties as any post-captains. The evils of the
paucity of officers were most seriously apparent among the
lieutenants; of the sixty-eight on the list, only thirty-eight
were available for active employment : of these, eight held
commands, nine were on staff employ or surveying, one was
employed under the Bengal government From c. 1758-1858, the East India Company's administration in Bengal. From 1773-1833, the most senior of the three subdivisions of India, also known as the Supreme Government of India. From 1858-1947, a subdivision of the British Raj. , leaving twenty for
the ordinary duties of lieutenants. Now at this time, exclusive
of the 'Victoria,' 4 Berenice,'and 4 Euphrates,'there were the
following fifteen vessels employed as men-of-war :— 4 Assaye,'
4 Punjaub,' 4 Akbar,' (guard ship), 4 Ajdaha,' 4 Ferooz,' 4 Auck
land,' 'Falkland,' 4 Clive,' 4 Elphinstone/ 4 Queen,' 4 Semiramis/
4 Zenobia,' 4 Tigris,' 4 Mahi,' and 4 Constance,' requiring at least
thirty-nine lieutenants. To make up the deficiency, mates,
directly after passing their examinations, and having only five
years' actual sea service, were created acting-lieutenants,*'
* In the Squadron Orders of August, 1854, when the rank of acting-lieutenant
was first largely introduced, owing to the pressing want of officers, the following
mates were promoted to the provisional rank from the 10th of that month :—
Messrs. Barker, Carew, E, Carej, Clarkson, Douglas, Forster, Mason, E-ushton,
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