§ LORD ELCHObegged to ask the First Lord of the Treasury, if the intention of instituting a new Order of Merit for distinguished services in the field, which was publicly announced by the Duke of Newcastle in the month of December, had been abandoned, and if not, what was the cause of the delay, and when it was probable that it would be instituted and ready for distribution?
§ VISCOUNT PALMERSTONsaid, it was the intention of Government, as soon as possible, to issue the regulations of the New Order. The only cause of the delay that had taken place had been, that when they came to make detailed arrangements as to the practical test to he applied to the claims of private soldiers, and other matters of this kind, there had been found more difficulties in making satisfactory arrangements than had been anticipated; but he hoped that very soon those difficulties would be overcome.