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elbauritius, and Hong Kong.
(1) In the Colonial Office despatch No. 158, it is stated as follows:-
"It has been deemed preferable, that, in the absence of any strong and special reasons, the 'Officer Commanding Her Majesty's Forces' should not have a seat in the Legislature.
The principal reason for this decision has been the fact that the Officer Commanding Her Majesty's Forces is not under the same obligation as is incumbent upon the Civil Officers to support the measures of the Government; and if he should feel it his duty, acting in accordance with his own judgment, to speak or vote against any such measure, the opposition of an officer holding so high a position would be made undesirably prominent.
I would observe that the writer of the above paragraph appears to labour under a very erroneous impression.