There exists at the Admiralty a minute of more than twelve years standing, “that he was entitled to the C.B. for services performed in the China Seas under Admiral Parker and Sir Hugh Gough, G.C.B.” Keppel gave up the command of the finest ship in the navy, _St. Jean d’Acre_, to serve in the trenches. His predecessor, Lushington, in the command of the Naval Brigade before Sebastapol, upon giving up his command was gazetted on the 10th July 1855. “Captain Stephen Lushington, R.N. to the K.C.B.” He was not previously a C.B. Keppel from that time to the fall of Sebastapol commanded that Brigade. The General and the Admiral Commanding-in-Chief in their despatches eulogised the services of Keppel in the highest terms of praise. He commanded at the fall of Sebastapol, which was the crowning victory of the campaign. Lord Lyons _told me_ that the French could not have taken Sebastapol but for Keppel’s well-directed fire. His rank of captain is not sufficient excuse. Lushington was gazetted as captain, and when the distribution of the honours were gazetted there was one captain his senior and one his junior K.C.B. (I have had a correspondence with Panmure and Sir Charles Wood upon this subject.) I regret, and it is with painful regret I state it, that I can only collect from Wood the “stet pro ratione voluntas,” and that not very courteously given--but let that pass. The Government had an historical name, a great naval reputation, in Keppel’s case. I beg to challenge contradiction to my statement. Keppel has added to his naval fame, he ranks among the bravest and ablest captains in the British Fleet. It cannot be said of him that he has received any _honour_ for his distinguished services in the chief command of the Naval Brigade. Many officers, when the list was published, and since the peace, and the widows of officers who never saw a gun fired, have received the K.C.B. who have no claim superior to his; do not misunderstand me, that I express any disapprobation that such distribution has been made, I only wish to express the pain I feel--that services less than his have been considered by the Government as deserving of a higher reward. The Government intends to place before the public men deserving of its respect when these honours are conferred. In giving to the immediate predecessor in the same command and before the final victory the K.C.B., and withholding it from Keppel, the Government inflicts a stigma on Keppel as being unworthy to receive that which is bestowed upon his immediate predecessor. I do assure you that extreme surprise and regret are freely expressed by the highest, the ablest, and by a numerous body of the navy at this unmerited stigma.