§ MR. RICHwished to bring under the notice of the House the heavy charge and serious consequences that might ensue from grants to the widows of officers killed in action, as compensation for the price of the commissions which their husbands might have purchased. He hoped that the system of purchase, which was fairly worn out, would shortly be put an end to, whereby the country would be rid of an incubus slowly and effectually. His object in rising on the present occasion was to obtain from the Government some explanation with regard to the course which they intended to pursue. He understood the Government was prepared to grant sums equivalent to the value of the commissions of those officers who fell in battle; but he could not learn whether this applied only to officers who had purchased their commissions, or to officers generally. But could the Government confine this regulation to officers who fell in battle, and exclude those who died of their wounds, or from exposure in the trenches, or marches? It was impossible to confine it; it must extend to all the officers in the field. This would involve a great expense, and the country ought to know all the circumstances. It would be unjust to confine it to those who had purchased their commissions, for had not those officers who had been in the army twenty or thirty years just as good a latent right to sell their commissions, and were not their widows and families entitled to the same consideration? The more so, because it was presumable that the widows and families of officers who had not been able to purchase their commissions were in worse circumstances than those of others. He hoped the noble Lord would give a full explanation of the views of the Government on this point.
MR. HEADLAMwas anxious to say a few words before the noble Lord offered an explanation. He was willing to accept the arrangement of the Government, as a concession in the right direction, but he was far from thinking that it went far enough. He thought, however, that both the House and the army had reason to complain of the delay on the part of the Government in submitting their proposal. It should be recollected that he (Mr. Headlam) had 537 given a notice on that subject at a very early period of the Session. On that occasion the Government had promised a distinct proposition of their own. Nevertheless, up to this moment they had no precise knowledge of that proposition. Now, the subject was a very serious one, for death had been rife with the army, and he himself had received more than one application from the friends of deceased officers in reference to it. He thought it was only due to the representatives of the families of those that had died in the service—due to those who day by day were risking their lives, to have precise information as to the intentions of the Government.
§ VISCOUNT PALMERSTONsaid, his noble Friend Lord Panmure had hoped before this to have been able to put the arrangement in such a shape as that it could have been communicated to Parliament. However, unexpected difficulties had presented themselves, which were not yet overcome, and hence the delay which had occurred.