§ Captain Pechellwished to ask the right hon. Baronet at the head of the War Department in that House, whether his attention had been drawn to a statement in the papers, of an outrage committed by some soldiers, in barracks at Brighton, on the persons and property of several of the inhabitants. He wished to know whether any official information had been received, and whether any steps had been taken by the Horse Guards to prevent a recurrence of such conduct?
§ Sir H. Hardingesaid, from the papers he found the quarrel at Brighton originated from a soldier having been struck and otherwise assaulted by three or four persons. The soldier called his comrades to his assistance, and the civilians ran into the house where the affray complained of took place. There was much violence used; in fact, the violent outrage which took place, it was impossible to defend. But, as the regiment had voluntarily come forward to defray the expense occasioned by the destruction of property which had occurred, and as there were legal proceedings pending against one of the offenders, he thought the House would not require him to enter further into the affair. With respect to the prevention of such occurrences, the Duke of Wellington, as Commander-in-Chief, had taken the strongest steps to prevent the recurrence of such affrays for the future.