CAPTAIN VIVIANsaid, he would beg to ask the Secretary of State for War, Whether his attention has been drawn to the extraordinary supercession of the Colonels of the Imperial Army by Colonels of the Indian Army; whether he is aware that Colonels of 1864 on the Indian list will, in all probability, be promoted to the rank of Major-Generals, while Colonels of the Imperial Army of 1854 remain still unpromoted; and, whether it is proposed to take any steps to remedy this great injustice, which is keenly felt by officers of the Imperial Army?
§ SIR JOHN PAKINGTON, in reply, said, he was quite aware that Indian Colonels were being promoted over the heads of Colonels in the Imperial Army, but he was afraid the case was an exceptional one with which he could not deal. These promotions were taking place under the Royal Warrant of 1864, which had been prepared with very great care, and had been confirmed by the then Secretary of State and the Commander-in-Chief. At present the Warrant operated in favour of the Indian Army; but there was reason to believe that, in a short time, the advantage would be on the side of the Imperial Army.