Mr. Henry Lytton Bulwerpresented a numerously-signed Petition from Coventry, praying for the immediate discharge of Somerville from the Scotch Greys. The hon. Member hoped, as the Court of Inquiry had terminated, that the evidence would be made public, and that Somerville would be immediately discharged.
Sir John Hobhousesaid, the proceedings before the Court of Inquiry had been laid before the King to-day, and as soon as his pleasure was made known, he should be happy to afford every information upon the subject. With respect to the discharge of Somerville, he had made an application to the proper quarter, for that did not depend upon him, nor was it in his power to grant a discharge. The answer, however, which he had received gave him reason to believe the discharge would soon be made out, and nothing that had occurred since had given him reason to alter that opinion.
§ Colonel Sibthorphad served for nine years in the Scotch Greys, and he knew that the officers were on all occasions disposed to act most kindly towards the privates. He knew, from experience, that it was extremely painful to be obliged to 1242 punish soldiers but it was necessary to preserve order and regularity in the army, and to hold a power over the army which was never enforced except in cases of absolute necessity. He deprecated all such complaints as these, as chiefly coming from those who had but little desire to see order and regularity in the army.
Mr. Henry Lytton Bulwerknew that many other armies were kept in good order without corporal punishment, and he saw no reason why our army should not be as well regulated without flogging.
Sir Charles Burrell said, it was a mistake to suppose that no soldier after flogging became a good and useful member of society. He had known many instances to the contrary during the time he was in the army; in one instance a drummer was flogged, and afterwards behaved so well that he became a Serjeant; and after leaving the army, he was elected to be Governor of Lewes House of Correction.