'History of the Indian Navy. (1613-1863).' [‎314] (333/622)

314
HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAYY.
by every one who knew him, he had served continu
ously for thirty-two years in the service of Government in
India, and was considered a very superior officer. He had
served in the first Rangoon War, and took a prominent part in
all the maritime surveys round by Bengal. In 1839 he
came to Bombay, and commanded the receiving ship 'Has
tings,' and was acting draughtsman as well for some years.
In this position he became a great favourite with the late Sir
Robert Oliver, and he was in such good favour with seamen,
that he had often from three to four hundred sailors in his
ship, and by this means he made up the war complements of
the ships and steamers equipped for the China War. He
planned and wrote out the whole of the ordnance equipment
required for the vessels of the Indian Navy, and was a general
referee from the highest official quarters respecting professional
matters afloat; but, strange to say, though he had a most won
derful memory, was Highly read, and well informed upon
almost every subject, yet he could never be induced to become
an author. His love of reading and writing was great, and
there were few men, however learned, that he could not cope
with in scientific acquirements. His manner was retiring and
unassuming, but at the same time he had a high and noble
spirit, and was most warm-hearted and generous. From 1847
to 1851, Commander Montriou was in charge of the Observatory,
and then Government appointed him Senior Naval Officer at
Aden. Here he, on several occasions, distinguished himself in
the boat attacks of the Arabs, and co-operating with the
Resident for the welfare of the port; and he was constantly
consulted by the Resident in political matters, on account of
his great tact, learning, and experience.
" But at Aden, private misfortunes and family bereavements
told heavily upon his constitution, and, after a long and dis
tressing illness, he was burnt out of house and home, and he
and his wife and child were left utterly destitute of everything,
except the clothes they had on when rescued from the flames.
On this occasion he lost property to the amount of 26,000
rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. . He therefore had to begin life anew, and, on his return
to Bombay, was given the command of the ' Queen,'* and then
^ The following instance of the devotion to duty which distinguished Captain
Montriou, is giyen by Lieutenant Oarew, at this time one of the officers oi t e
* Queen.' He says:— -n t . t. wp
" We were steaming down the river Hooghly, bound to Bombay, wnen
struck on that most dangerous bank, the James and Mary. The tide was rapi y
falling, and no time was lost in laying a bower anchor out in mid-stream, an
shifting all the guns to windward, where they were well secured ; mean ime
boats were lowered. Our vessel, whose keel adhered to the mud ot the s e p
bank, was heeling over fast, when Captain Montriou, in answer to some img s
by the pilot, replied, * No, the ship may leave us, as that we can t help, u
won't leave her while she floats, so we will go to quarters, ^e xemai .
quarters watching the vessel gradually heeling over till the guns hung rom