Romaine to Merivale (Permanent Under-Secretary)

With reference to your letters of the 11th August
and 22nd October last respecting a promise of extra Pay
and allowances alleged to have been made to the Detachment
of Royal Marines sent from China to Vancouver's Island, I
am commanded by My Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to
transmit herewith for the information of the Duke of
Newcastle, a copy of a letter dated the 3rd January last
from Colonel

Holloway, late Commanding the Brigade of Royal Marines in China and I am to acquaint you that My Lords
have stated to Captain Magin—in charge of the Detachment, that they disapprove of his line of conduct with regard to
the extra Pay & Allowances, as it does not appear that there
were sufficient grounds for his assuming that either he or
his Detachment were to receive them. My Lords have also
informed Colonel Holloway

that he was injudicious in making any remarks upon the subject to the Detachment—much inconvenience having arisen in consequence.