Lushington to Under-Secretary of State

With reference to your letter of the 11th inst. forwarding a
Copy of a despatch from the Governor of British Columbia
relative to Captain W.A. Delacombe commanding the Royal Marines
at San Juan, being granted the local rank of Lieutenant Colonel
while so employed, I am commanded by My Lords Commissioners of
the Admiralty to acquaint you for the information of the
Secretary of State for the Colonies that My Lords cannot
recommend such a step.

2. Vice Admiral the Honourable George Hastings the late Commander
in Chief on the Station declined to entertain the same request
and My Lords attach much importance to the experience gained by
him while in command of the Pacific Station during a period of
three years.

3. My Lords further consider that it would form an undesirable
precedent to Give the local rank to successive Captains of
Marines of six or seven years
seniority who should chance to be in Command of the detachment
numbering between eighty or a hundred men. Under these
Circumstances, unless the Earl of Kimberley should see any
urgent reason for compliance My Lords are prepared to decline
acceding to this proposition.