Page:Memorandum (Rear-Admiral Sir John C. Dalrymple Hay, 1912).djvu/18

( 14 ) Council; also, whether you wish to be considered as a Candidate for Retirement, irrespective of age, in order to facilitate the reductions of the Active Lists.

Should your answer not be received before the 21st instant, you will be considered to have elected the new Regulations. I am to request that you will fill up in duplicate the Forms transmitted herewith.

I am, Sir,

Your obedient servant,

VERNON LUSHINGTON. , Bart., MP., C.B., 108, St. George's Square, S.W.

Sir John Hay was forty-nine, and the age retirement of 1866 would not touch him for sixteen years. He had been constantly employed, and had considerable experience in his profession.

A new proviso, specially affecting him, was introduced into the scheme of naval retirement.

This was that any admiral who had not been to sea for ten years during the latter years of his service as Captain and the early years of his service as Rear-admiral should be compelled to retire from the Navy. Mr. Childers stated in the discussion on Lord Henry