LORD J. RUSSELLThe hon. Member for Bolton and other hon. Gentlemen have Motions on the Paper respecting corporal punishment in the army. I have lately had an opportunity of seeing the Commander-in-Chief, the Duke of Wellington, and my right hon. Friend the Secretary at War has also had an interview with his Grace. We find that the Commander-in-Chief has measures in contemplation not for the abolition of the power of inflicting corporal punishment in the 244 army, but for the regulation of its exercise. I think, therefore, that it would be inconvenient to have a discussion upon the subject before the Commander-in-Chief has matured his measures. I hope, therefore, that my hon. Friend the Member for Bolton will consent to postpone his Motion, and that I shall ere long be in a condition to inform the House what measures are contemplated.
§ DR. BOWRINGI collect from the noble Lord that the whole subject is under the consideration of Government, and I should be sorry that any Motion of mine should interfere with their decision; but I consider myself so pledged to the public, to the popular feeling, and to what may be called the general mind, that I musk ask the noble Lord, if the measures to be proposed by the head of the army do not appear satisfactory, to allow me to bring the question under the notice of the House before the end of the Session. I feel myself bound to press on the attention of the House this interesting and painful subject.
§ MR. OSBORNEHaving given notice of an Amendment, I may be allowed to say, that the declaration of the noble Lord has given me so much satisfaction that I shall not, under present circumstances, think it necessary to press my Amendment.
§ MR. W. WILLIAMSI wish to ask the noble Lord whether it is intended to take into consideration the same question as regards punishments in the navy? When the Estimates are before the House, on the question that the Speaker leave the chair, I shall also think it right to bring before the House the subject of courts martial.
LORD J. RUSSELLWhat I said was, that the Commander-in-Chief of the army has the subject under consideration, with a view not to the abolition but to the regulation of the exercise of corporal punishment. I have not had any communication, with the naval authorities, and I am, therefore, not at present able to give any answer to the question of the hon. Member for Coventry. As to what my hon. Friend the Member for Bolton has said, if he be not satisfied with the contemplated measure of the Commander-in-Chief, I will take care that he shall have an opportunity of expressing his dissatisfaction.
§ MR. HUMEThe noble Lord was not present the other night during the discussion on the articles of war, as applied to the navy: had he been present, he would 245 have seen that the punishments were, upon nearly all occasions, death—death—death—and that it is absolutely necessary to make some change. A hope was then expressed that this matter would be made a subject of revision.