of the efficiency of the Naval Service should rest inclusively with the Admiral regulated under that Officer's responsibility.
A misapprehension to which I allude may, in part, be traced to the application made by Sir K. Pottinger & Sir Henry Pottinger for information as to the distribution of H.M. Naval Forces in China & the Orders under which they are acting.
And also to the fact of interference to prevent his having the detachment of H.M.S. "Agincourt" to the southward.
It appears, however, not unnatural that Sir H. Pottinger, feeling the responsibility reposed upon him of maintaining good intercourse with the Chinese Govt., should desire to be made acquainted with the points above adverted to, on which so much is connected with the peculiar attributes of his own position, & it was naturally to be expected that Sir H. Pottinger should demur to the intended movement of the Line-of-Battle Ship, the "Agincourt", to the southward with the Harbour.