§ MR. MILDMAYsaid, he would beg to ask the Secretary of War, with reference to the vacant colonelcy of the Scots Greys, Whether there would be any objection in future to state in the Estimates the services in consideration of which Colonelcies of Regiments are conferred, in the same way as was done in the case of Good Service Pensions?
§ MR. SIDNEY HERBERTsaid, that before the next Estimates were framed he should take this subject into consideration; but there was a distinction which hon. Gentlemen ought to draw between the two cases. Good service pensions were given for distinct acts of service before the enemy, whereas the rule had always been that regiments should be given for length of service, not necessarily in the field, because during a lengthened peace there might be cases of officers who were willing to serve, who might be good officers, but who might have no opportunity of distinguishing themselves in actual warfare.