reference to the cases cited in your letter;
The facts are as follow..
1. The house in Macaoque Senace occupied by Captain Lavey was handed over to him by the Barrack Master, in lieu of four rooms in Barracks to which he is entitled, simply because there is not sufficiency of accommodation in the public quarters for him, as well as for several other Officers; this and other houses similarly occupied are bona fide appropriated for public purposes and for the transaction of public duties, the Officers living in them having a clear right to be provided with quarters at the public expense.
2. Any Officer provided with accommodation as above described is not at liberty to hire any other house, unless indeed he chose to do so at his own cost and with the sanction of the Officer Commanding the Troops; in such a very improbable case he would no doubt as a private individual be liable for all rates and taxes due on the house he had hired for himself, and the Quarters which he would be immediately vacated would be taken possession of by the Barrack Master and either allotted to another Officer or relinquished altogether if not required for the public service. The enclosed paper will show what is the custom in this Colony with respect to non-payment of rates and taxes by the Imperial Government, and one case may be considered a sufficient illustration of all others. If Landlords are compelled to pay...