CIRCULAR,
Rules of War
in
Colonial Waters.
[Annex]
despatch
of which has
been received from
Her Majesty's
in answer
to our Circular
and I
that
the chart
would be furnished with
observations.
24 June 1822
Sir,
367 Downing Street,
28th March, 1863.
Questions having arisen as to the mode in which Governors of Colonies should communicate with Officers of Her Majesty's Navy, and the mode of conveying notices of different kinds to Commanders of Foreign Vessels in Colonial waters, I have to convey
the following instructions on these subjects:-—
The Governor will write in his own name to any Naval Officer (that is to say, the Senior Officer then within his immediate reach), holding the rank of Flag Officer, Captain, Commander, but will communicate with Senior Officer of lower rank through his Private Secretary. In no case will he communicate through the Colonial Secretary, whose functions are of a different character, and whose office should not be the place of deposit for communications between the Governor and Officers in Command of Her Majesty's Naval Forces.
Any notice or direction, conveyed by the Governor's authority, to the Commander of any Foreign Vessel, should be conveyed through the Officers of the Colonial Government, and not through the Officers of Her Majesty's Navy, whose intervention should not be applied for, unless the directions conveyed, through the ordinary channel, should fail to produce their effect.
I have the honor to be,
Sir, Your most obedient,
Humble Servant,
CL.