Si J. Bouring had thought proper to volunteer on a question long previously settled. Some apprehension was expressed in the minutes that
if any exception whatever were admitted, the general rule regarding Quarters could not be enforced. But it appears to me that a Government could surely concede a privilege claimable by usage and under a specific promise, without being thereby prevented from ever afterwards enforcing a general and prohibitive rule against special privileges.
Be this as it may, however, the fact remains that on the 18th March 1856, Lord Stanley's general rule against Quarters was infringed, and that the Secretary of State must support the same view against admitting Capt. Watkins' claims.
The result is the dispatch now received, which brings a respectful but earnest appeal from Capt. Watkins. He points out that when the Secretary of State had pronounced in his favor, and that being done suddenly, without his even being aware that any question was pending, he finds the decision in his favor reversed. He naturally infers, therefore, that some part of the correspondence must have been overlooked; and he earnestly applies for a reconsideration of his case.
Whatever line be now adopted must equally be open to the objection of inconsistency. My opinion is that Capt. Watkins is in the right, and that the proper course is to state that the positive decisions previously given in his favor had not been...
Page 220
1