'File XXXVI/1 CEREMONIALS, HONOURS & REWARDS. - SALUTES. 1887-1926.-' [‎13r] (30/217)

Tno. 45, Rank, dated Simla, the 28th August 1875.
Prom C.oloxel II. K. Burne, Secretary to the Government of India, Marine Dept.,
To—The Secretary to the Government of Bombay From c. 1668-1858, the East India Company’s administration in the city of Bombay [Mumbai] and western India. From 1858-1947, a subdivision of the British Raj. It was responsible for British relations with the Gulf and Red Sea regions. , Marine Department.
I am directed to forward, for the information of the Government of Bombay From c. 1668-1858, the East India Company’s administration in the city of Bombay [Mumbai] and western India. From 1858-1947, a subdivision of the British Raj. It was responsible for British relations with the Gulf and Red Sea regions. ,
No. 139 , dated 17 th July 1873. the accompanying copy of a despatch from
the Right Hon’hie the Secretary of State
for India, and of its enclosures, regarding an alleged want of courtesy towards
the senior Naval 0nicer ou the occasion of the visit of the \iceroy and Gover
nor-General to Bombay in November 187,2.
2. r lhe Governcr-G< ncral much regrets that there should have been any
appearance even of a want of courtesy to Captain Grant in any of the arrange
ments made under l£is Rxcelleucy s directions for the conduct <>f the ceremonies
at Bombay; and he D els assured that nothing could have been fuither from the
intention of any of those charged with the arrangements on that occasion.
B. A\ ith regard to the general question of the precedence to be assigned
to officers of the Royal Navy, and the mode of conducting correspondence, I
am desired to remark as follows :—
In the Royal Warrant of precedence, dated Oth May 1871, published* in
the Gazette of India of the Sth July 1871, provision is made for an officer of
the rank of Commodore only; but as since that warrant was framed, thouo-h
before it was actually published, Her Majesty’s Naval Forces in the East Indies
have again been placed under a Hag Officer, bolding the position and designa
tion of Commander-in-Chief, His Excellency in Council is of opinion that, he
should take the precedence assigned in the previous Royal Warrant of the 21st
May 1862, viz., below the Commander-in-Chief in India, if not also a Alember
of Council.
R As regards the position of the senior Naval Officer in the absence of
the Admiral Commanding-in-Chief, the Governor-General in Council is unable
to discover any authority for granting him, unless holding the recognized posi
tion of Commodore, any higher position than that which attaches under the
precedence warrant and regulations to the rank lie may bold in the Boval Navv ;
and in the Army there is no special rank assigned to the senior officer of any
body of troops, however large, unless he is commissioned in consequence as a
General Officer.
But on extraordinary occasions, suah as durbars A public or private audience held by a high-ranking British colonial representative (e.g. Viceroy, Governor-General, or member of the British royal family). , processions or other
public ceremonies, the Governor-General in Council thinks the representative
of the Royal Navy should be specially recognized, and that on such occasions
a distinctive place should, in the absence of the Naval Commander-in-Chief, be
assigned to tae senior Naval Officer present, irrespective of his rank in the
Roval Navv.
* i
It is the intention of the Viceroy also to confer on the senior Naval Officer
the privilege of the entry to Government House.
5. As regards the mode of conducting correspondence, I amtoohserve that
the Government of India has always been accustomed to correspond (as prescrib-
cd by the Secretary of State) through the Secretary to the Government, in the
Military Department (which embraces the old Atari no Department), and no
other channel has ever been adopted. The Governor-General in Council leo-s
that a similar practice may be observed at Bombay.
6. Should the Naval Commander-in-Cliief at anv time see fit to address
the Governor-General or the Governor direct (as the Bishops do, there can be
no objection, but it is considered convenient lo reply as is done in the case of
the Bishops) through the Secretary to the Government in the particular depart
ment to which the subject of the correspondence pertains.
7. Should the Naval Commander-in-Chief desire it, there wovdd be no
objection to such correspondence as being carried on, in any particular case in
which it might he convenient to adopt such a mode between His Excellency's
Secretary and the Secretary to the Government, in the Alilitary (Marine) De
partment. '
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