'History of the Indian Navy. (1613-1863).' [‎514] (533/622)

514
HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY.
to taffrail, " rainbow fashion," fired salutes, and illuminated
in the evening. But the booming of their cannon was the
death-knell not only of the good old Company, but of the Naval
Service which had watched over its cradle, and now paid the
last honours at its obsequies, while the fluttering of the bunting
from every masthead and yard-arm, w r as emblematic of the fate of
the gaily-bedecked Hindoo widow, as she ascends the funeral pyre
at the lugubrious ceremony of the Suttee.* Similar observances
were held at Calcutta,t Madras, and the capitals of the provinces.
* The " Bombay Gazette " describes the celebration as follows :—The booming
of cannon, the strains of martial and national music, and the cheers of the multitude,
after the reading of the Kojal Proclamation on Monday, the 1st of November,
showed unmistakably that an event of deep interest to our community had just
been communicated. These were signals that the sceptre of Indian Grovernment
had been taken from the lifeless hand of the Company, after a long and famous
career, and consigned to that of Her Most Gracious Majesty the Queen of Great
Britain and Ireland. Notwithstanding the brevity of the notice given, for which,
we understand, the Bombay Government was in no way responsible, the official
arrangements for promulgating in the Town-Hall the new reign of things with
dignity and eclat, were highly creditable to all concerned. The "powders that
be " were represented in the persons of the Governor, high naval and military
officers, and legal functionaries ; and the sanction of religion, learning, and com
merce was given to the proceedings by the presence of several spiritual pastors,
members of the polite professions, and the mercantile community. The natives
far outstripped the Europeans in demonstrative enthusiasm ; they mustered in
great force at the Town-Hall, but their loyal manifestations were observable
everywhere from an early hour of the day, in the shape of preparations for the
decoration and illumination of their houses. After the proclamation had been
made, the motley stream of people were directed to the great centre of attraction
—the Esplanade. No stranger who has once seen this pride of Bombay, under
even ordinary circumstances, will soon forget it. Few towns in the world can
boast anything grander than the view of the Fort from the Money School at
sunrise, noon, or sunset. Let the distant reader then imagine how much this
magnificent spectacle must have been enhanced when the entire range of
diversified architecture, from point to point, was lit up with millions of lights,
and an endless succession of rockets, Roman candles, and other triumphs of the
pvrotechnic art. The men-of-war of the quondam 4 Indian Navy,' now to be
incorporated with the Royal Navy, was decorated in their best, from 4 morn till
dewy eve,' and at times gave out from the iron throats of their guns into
nation of their joy at the change, and in the evening they were illuminated from
stem to stern, and from deck to high topgallant mast. We do not for one
moment imagine that the chiefs, the officers, and the men of the Indian Navy,
forgot their late paymasters the Company. In the evening, next to the men-of-
w T ar, the illuminated ships, 1 Fearnought,' and 'Ellen Bates,' were the great
sources of attraction in the Bay. To an advanced hour of the night the throng ot
carriages and pedestrians on the Esplanade, and the other favoured spots for
witnessing the sights, proved how universal and lasting was the interest taken
by all classes of the community, rich and poor, of every shade of complexion and
creed, in the great incident of the day.''
■f The following was the Order issued by Mr. Cecil Beadon, Officiating ^ e ^ ie "
tary to the Government of India, of the celebration at Calcutta: " Monday
next, the 1st of November, having been fixed by the Right Honourable the
Governor-General for proclaiming the assumption by Her Majesty the Queen ot
the Government of the British territories in India, it is hereby notified that this
event will be proclaimed at four p.m. of that day, on the north steps of Govern
ment House. At the same time and place a proclamation by Her Most Gracious
Majesty to the chiefs, princes, and people of India will be read. All Civi,
Military, and Naval officers of Her Majesty and of the East India Company, are
directed to attend, and all classes of Her Majesty's subjects are invited to be