Hawes to Under-Secretary of State
18 January 1860
Sir,
I am directed to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 5th instant, transmitting for the consideration of Mr Secretary Herbert the Copy of a despatch from the Governor of British Columbia forwarding an application from the Royal Engineer Officers in that Colony for payment of the cost of certain property lost in the Transport "Briseis," and requesting to be informed whether there is any general Manuscript image general rule in force regulating the payment to Military Officers of compensation for personal property lost on board Government Transports.
In reply I am to acquaint you, for the information of His Grace the Duke of Newcastle that, under the provisions of the War Office Regulations of 1848, compensation is only granted for the actual loss of the Military equipment of an Officer, and that in no case is a claim for the loss of personal private property recognised.
I am to add that by Article 10, page 90 of the Manuscript image the said Regulations, an Officer is required to insure his baggage or articles of equipment when sent in a ship in which he is not himself a passenger.
I have etc.
B. Hawes
Minutes by CO staff
Manuscript image
Mr Merivale
Transmit copy to Govr for the information of Colonel Moody?
VJ 19 Jan
Annex dt.
HM Jan 19