§ MR. PICKERSGILLI beg to ask the Secretary of State for War upon whose recommendation has Mr. T. D. Sewell been appointed to the command of the 4th Volunteer Battalion of the Essex Regiment; and whether Mr. T. D. Sewell is the "T. D. Sewell" mentioned in the evidence taken by the Select Committee of this House on "London Corporation (Charges of Malversation)," by whose direction in 1881 (he being then senior Captain of the Royal London Militia) a number of sergeants of that regiment attended in an organised body a public meeting in favour of municipal reform at Exeter Hall and disturbed the proceedings, and who was further charged with distributing forged tickets of admission to another public meeting in 1883; and, if so, whether Mr. Sewell will be continued in the command to which he has appointed him?
§ MR. E. STANHOPEMajor T. D. Sewell was recommended for the command 261 of the 4th Volunteer Battalion of the Essex Regiment, on account of his military qualifications, by the district Military Authorities in the usual manner. This officer is the person by whose direction, according to the evidence given before a Select Committee, a number of sergeants of the Royal London Militia attended and disturbed a meeting held at Exeter Hall in favour of municipal reform. The offence, committed in 1882, brought on him a severe reprimand, but he expressed great regret, and has since done good service as a Major in the 1st Tower Hamlets Volunteer Engineers. So far as past transactions are concerned, he will certainly be continued in the command to which he has been appointed.