Loods of the Admiralty to Admiral Sir Thomas Packy, Bart. - which exactly to meet the question alluded to therein was the precedency of the Major General over the Naval Commanding the troops Commander-in-Chief, on the ground that he was Lieutenant Governor of Plymouth. On reference to the Horse Guards His Royal Highness the Commander-in-Chief expressed the opinion that where the Naval Officer and the General Officer of the two Services hold superior relative rank, he would necessarily be entitled to take precedence of the General Officer Commanding the Troops, even though the latter might happen to be Lieutenant Governor of the Garrison; and the point was decided accordingly.
I believe that decision to have been a wise one, because a decision based on other than the obvious and simple grounds of relative seniority would not give equal satisfaction to the services affected.
R G Gordon, Governor
1st March 1872.