The Bombay Marine

Factual Questions
1

Originally a subset of the Royal Navy, later a private navy of the Honorable East India Company and eventually the Indian Navy.

As a private navy of the HEIC, did they press their crews and virtually enslave them as the Royal Navy did? Were their crews subject to being pressed by the RN?

2

In a Hornblower novel, Horney is forced to impress several sailors from a ‘John Company’ ship. It seems it was illegal, but then again they were on their way to India, so nobody would hear about it for a very long time.

Hope that helps.