Sir F. Burdettsaid, he was anxious to put a question relative to a subject of considerable importance. He wished to inquire whether the attention of the commander-in-chief had been called to a very extraordinary statement, relative to the treatment experienced by a soldier in Exeter, and which, if true, would demand an immediate inquiry.
§ Mr. Peelreplied, that as he happened to be in possession of some information on the subject, he would communicate it to 920 the House. He had inquired from sir H. Taylor, secretary to the commander-in-chief, whether the attention of that illustrious person had been called to the subject; and he was informed, that his royal highness, on being made acquainted with the statement, directed an immediate inquiry; and he had every reason to believe that the statement, in all its parts, was greatly exaggerated, and in many particulars wholly unfounded. But, at all events, an immediate inquiry had been set on fool.
§ Sir H. Viviansaid, that the statement was, to a great extent, exaggerated. An offer was made to the officer concerned, that the columns of a newspaper would be open to his refutation of the statement; but he replied, that he did not think it worth his while to reply to any thing that might appear in a newspaper, but would assist the investigation which the commander-in-chief had directed. The lieutenant-colonel was accordingly sent down to Exeter, and an inquiry would be immediately instituted. Knowing the prejudice which last year had been excited against that regiment most unjustly, he was disposed to think the statement was greatly exaggerated. He verily believed, that so far from there being any foundation for blame against the commanding officer, the transaction arose entirely from the strong inclination which he felt to avoid the infliction of corporal punishment, and which induced him to resort to severe drills and other punishments as substitutes.