§ LORD CLAUD HAMILTONsaid, he rose to ask the Under Secretary of State for War the intentions of Government as to the constitution of the permanent staff of the militia, in the event of that force being disembodied. In asking the question, he would beg to point out what had been the conduct of the Government in reference to the militia at the close of the last war. It was not until 1829, a period of fifteen years after that time, that it was proposed to make any considerable reduction in the permanent staff of the militia, and in the allowances of officers who had served in it. He would remind the House, that two years ago, when the war commenced, men came forward with alacrity, and left their callings to join the militia, without making any stipulation as to retiring allowances. As regarded the medical men who had joined the militia, the case was especially hard, as the places they quitted for the militia were immediately filled up, and they could not recover their business. At the end of the last war, for fifteen years they were allowed considerable retiring allowances, and at the end of that fifteen years they were allowed minor allowances. He should also like to know whether, what was done in 1814, with reference to the 1533 militia, would be the model of what was now to be done?
§ MR. FREDERICK PEELsaid, that the question, as to how the permanent staff of the militia should be constituted, and also what gratuity should be given, were matters which at present engaged the attention of Her Majesty's Government, and as soon as a decision had been come to, the result would be communicated to the Lord Lieutenants of counties, and the colonels of the different regiments of militia, and would thus be made known to the public.