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Sir John Hay to the Admiralty.
February 8, 1870.
Sir,
I have the honour to request that you will be so good as to express to my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty my thanks for their courtesy in permitting me to see the Minute reflecting upon me personally for an act of the late Board. This was the sole object of my first request. I have therefore only to state that I believe it to be inconvenient and contrary to ordinary usage that a personal charge should be publicly recorded without making its object aware of its existence. I take the liberty further to add that I do not think that on reflection it will be found that either I or my late colleagues "had entered needlessly and with imperfect knowledge into a controversy with the War Department." I must leave their Lordships to deal with the charges as they think proper.
J. C. D. HAY.
The Secretary of the Admiralty.
The Admiralty to Sir John Hay.
I am commanded by my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to transmit to you a copy of the Supplement of the 'London Gazette' of the 1st March, containing the Provisions of the Schemes of Retirement and Improvement of Pay sanctioned by Her Majesty's Order in Council of the 22nd February, 1870.
I am to draw your attention to the clauses in the temporary provisions under which option of electing the new or old Regulations for Retirement and Pay may be given you; and I am to request that you will state, in writing, without any delay, whether you wish to be dealt with under former Regulations or to accept the terms offered by this Order in
