'History of the Indian Navy. (1613-1863).' [‎558] (577/622)

558
HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY.
Royal Navy, their crews being raised in India, or, if necessary,
sent out from England. All the expenses of these floating
defences will, of course, be defrayed out of the revenues of
India.
" 5. The manner in which the Bengal Marine has answered
the purposes of the Government of India proves that there are
many Maritime duties which can be performed with efficiency by
a temporary Service, fluctuating in numbers as the demand for
vessels may increase or diminish; and Her Majesty's Govern
ment consider that such duties on the Western coast of India
as have hitherto been performed by the Indian Navy, but for
which it may not be convenient to employ ships of the Royal
Navy—namely, the transport of troops and stores, and other
civil duties—can be performed for the future by a local Service,
entitled the Bombay Marine The navy of the East India Company. , on the same footing as that on
which the Bengal Marine has always been, and not under
martial law,
" 6. I have now to consider the number of vessels which
will be required for these duties, and I am of opinion that six
steam transports, three sailing transports, and tw 7 o steam vessels
for general service, will be sufficient for such purposes for all
India. The names of the vessels which, as far as I am able to
judge, are best suited for the several services, as well as the
manner in which it seems to me that they should be distin
guished, are shown in enclosure No. 1^ to this despatch. The
tour vessels required for the Bombay side of India should con
stitute the Bombay Marine The navy of the East India Company. , and the remaining vessels on the
Bengal side should form the Bengal Marine. There is no need
for a separate Marine for Madras; the vessels required there for
transport services have always been furnished from other Pre
sidencies where there are docks and conveniencies for the repair
and fitting of ships, as well as for their lying in safety during
the adverse monsoon. One or two of the Government vessels
retained on the Bengal side, might be considered as available
for the transport service of Madras upon the requisition of the
Government of that Presidency The name given to each of the three divisions of the territory of the East India Company, and later the British Raj, on the Indian subcontinent. , and while detached upon such
# Six steam transports. Late Indian Navy :— i Coromandel, , screw, room for
five hundred and fifty troops ; ' Dalhousie,' screw, room for four hundred and
fifty troops ; 4 Prince Arthur,' screw, room for five hundred and fifty troops.
Late Bengal Marine :—' Sydney,' screw, room for four hundred troops; 4 Austra
lian,' screw, room for four hundred troops; 4 Arracan,' paddle, room for five
hundred troops. Of the preceding, four ready for sea, viz., two on Calcutta and
Madras side, and two on Bombay side; and two in reserve. Three sailing transports
of the Bengal Marine, one ready for sea at Calcutta and two in reserve, viz.,
' Sesostris,' room for four hundred and fifty troops ; 4 Tubal Cain,' room for four
hundred troops; 4 Walter Morrice.' Two steam vessels for general service of
Government (of the late Indian Navy,) viz., 4 Ferooz,'for Calcutta, 1,450 tons,
500 horse-power, carries five hundred and twenty troops on long voyages: 4 Ze-
nobia,' for Bombay, 1003 tons, 280 horse-power, carries 337 troops.—Total,
eleven vessels j four in reserve, and seven ready for sea.