No. 72

Referring to Your Lordship's Circular Despatch of the 14th
September last I have the honor to forward a Sketch of the Badge
which it is proposed to adopt in this Colony, to be emblazoned
in the centre of the Flag to be flown by the Governor—in
accordance with the Order in Council made at the instance of the
Admiralty. The badge is the Crest of the Royal Arms, a Lion on
the Crown. I must however observe that the utility of the
change proposed appears to be doubtful. The Flag hitherto
authorized for use by the Governor on ship-board or in boats is
a White Flag with a Crown, or Arms of the Colony, in the
centre, and was known to be personal to the Governor; and could
not be mistaken for an Admiral's Flag. But the Union Jack has
always been flown at Government House, at Public Buildings, and
Forts in every Colony in which I have resided, as the National
Ensign. Is it now to be understood that the plain Union Jack is
no longer to be so used? If so the Nation will be without a
common National Ensign. The Navy fly one Ensign, the Naval
Reserve another, the Merchant Shipping a third. While there
will be as many varieties of the Union Jack as there are
Colonial Dependencies and Departments in Her Majesty's service.