Courts for the trial of Piracies and Offences committed on the high seas the Admiral or the Senior Naval Officer of the Station as well as all Admirals and flag Officers used to be included in the Commission issued by the Governor, and in the Letters Patent when sent from England, authorizing the holding of Admiralty Sessions, whilst the judge of the Admiralty invariably presided at those Sessions. Consequently the omission of the Naval Commander in Chief from a Court for trial of Piracy would have seemed firmer ground for objection, giving him a seat according to ancient usage.
5. It seems unfortunate, therefore, under circumstances which obviously preclude a Naval Officer from discharging his professional legal duties as President of a Court constituted as proposed, according to ancient usage. If however there must be a change, I think it desirable that there should be an additional Member in place of the Admiral and Senior Naval Officer, for those Officers together could only supply one member because during his stay here he himself becomes Senior Naval Officer. The Registrar General might be made an additional Member.