Your letter of the 
3 inst, with its enclosures,
               relative to the Marines sent to 
Vancouvers Island from
               China on board H.M. Ship "
Tribune" has been laid before the
               Secretary of State for War. In reply I am to acquaint you,
               for the information of the 
Duke of Newcastle, that 
M
                  Secretary Herbert sees no reason for differing from His
               Grace in thinking that it might 
be
be advisable, under the
               circumstances, to call upon the Officer Commanding the
               Detachment (
Captain Maginn) for an explanation of his
               conduct in holding out to the Men promises of extra pay
               and allowances and a grant of land at the end of six
               years service; but he would remind His Grace that 
Captain
                  Maginn is under the control of the 
Admiralty and not of this Department.
               
               M Herbert desires me at the same time to observe
               that he does not perceive from Rear Admiral 
Sir M. Seymour's
               Despatch that any reference has been made 
to
to 
Colonel Holloway,
               Commanding the Brigade of Royal Marines in China, who,
               together with 
M Jeans, the Admiral's Secretary, is
               distinctly pointed out by 
Captain Maginn as the Officer
               from whom he received the assurances in question.