§ SIR ANDREW AGNEWsaid, that without alluding to any particular case he wished to inquire of the Secretary of State for War whether a garrison order had been issued at Malta to the effect that all guards and sentries are to present arms to and salute the Host whenever it might pass their respective posts? Whether Her Majesty's Government had sanctioned this order, or were prepared to allow a similar one to be enforced in any British dependency? Whether Captain Sheffield, of the 21st Royal North British Fusiliers, had been placed under arrest for declining (as a Protestant) to comply with this order?
GENERAL PEELreplied that all orders given to the troops in garrison broad were transmitted to this country. He had made inquiries at the Horse Guards, and was informed that no order whatever had been given, except the circular issued by Lord Hill, in 1837. That circular had been acted on up to the present time without any complaint having been made, or the authorities seeing occasion to alter it.