HC Deb 12 February 1849 vol 102 cc639-41

The CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER moved the appointment of the following Select Committee on the Army and Ordnance:—Lord Seymour, Mr. Secretary at War (Mr. Fox Maule), Mr. Hume, Marquess of Granby, Mr. Walter, Sir W. Molesworth, Lord Charles Wellesley, Sir James Graham, Mr. William Miles, Mr. Cobden, Mr. Sidney Herbert, Mr. John Greene, Mr. Edward Ellice, Mr. Vernon Smith, and Mr. Bankes.

MR. B. OSBORNE

said, he wished to move the addition of the following names to the Committee:—General Sir De Lacy Evans, Colonel Lindsay, and Colonel Dunne.

MR. SPEAKER

said, the hon. Gentleman should give notice of that Motion for to-morrow.

MR. B. OSBORNE

But it is now tomorrow, Sir (it was at that time near two o'clock).

COLONEL PEEL

said he felt hound to complain of the absence of any officer connected with the Ordnance department from the Committee, although that department had of late been the subject of repeated attacks. He should suggest that his hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Chippenham (Captain Boldero) should be added to the Committee.

CAPTAIN BOLDBRO

also complained that there was not a single individual connected with the Ordnance department on the Committee. He thought that that omission was the more objectionable, as the public press had of late contained many attacks on that branch of the public service, and as these attacks were calculated to mislead the public. There was, in fact, a dead set made against the Ordnance department. He proposed that the name of the Clerk of the Ordnance (Colonel Anson) should be added to the Committee.

The CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER

said, that he merely proposed, with a few necessary exceptions, the reappointment of the Committee of last Session. He believed it was not advisable to overload the Committee with professional men, who would be better employed in giving their evidence as witnesses.

MR. NEWDEGATE

hoped, that no deference to what happened to be the number selected last year would constrain the right hon. Baronet the Chancellor of the Exchequer to exclude every Member connected with the Ordnance from the Committee. Many attacks had been made upon the Ordnance department since last year; and, besides, the proposed investigation involved science and details that could not be properly judged of by those who had no experience of them.

The CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER

said, that if the Committee would proceed with its inquiry into the Army, he could ascertain whether it would be desirable to add to it some Gentleman connected with the Ordnance before the inquiry into that branch of the public service was commenced.

The appointment of the Committee was then agreed to.

House adjourned at Two o'clock.