§ CAPTAIN SCOBELLsaid, he wished to ask the noble Lord at the head of Her Majesty's Government whether Her Majesty's Government had decided to recommend the institution of an Order of Merit; if so, whether such Order was intended to be a new and distinct one, restricted to the military and naval services, and applicable to every grade therein; and whether it was determined to bring such Order of Merit into prompt operation?
§ VISCOUNT PALMERSTONSir, in reply to the question of the hon. and gallant Member, I beg to state, that it is the intention of Her Majesty's Government, as was stated on a former occasion in the other House of Parliament, to establish an Order of that description. Of course, it will apply to both services, because wo hope that merit will be equally prominent in both. The particular arrangements of that institution have not yet been settled. Information has been sought in other Countries in which a similar institution exists, and, until that information is obtained, the Government cannot frame the regulations under which the Order will be distributed.