§ Mr. Humeafter referring to the proposed plan for amalgamating the civil and military departments of the Ordnance, begged to ask the right. hon. Gentleman (the Chancellor of the Exchequer) whether he was prepared either to agree to the appointment of a Committee of that House to inquire into the subject, or to renew the former Commission, or to appoint a new one, with the view of ascertaining how far the object he had in view could be accomplished? He (Mr. Hume) should not be satisfied to go on with the Ordnance Estimates, unless he received some assurance that measures would be taken to prosecute the inquiries which had already been commenced upon the subject.
The Chancellor of the Exchequerreplied that it was the intention of his Majesty's Ministers, without delay, to renew the Commission appointed under the Government of Lord Grey.