§ MR. PALKasked the Under Secretary for War, whether the examinations already taken before the Court of Inquiry now sitting, and presided over by Sir Alexander Woodford, would be laid upon the table of that House, and when? also, whether Her Majesty's Government contemplated any measures for the more efficient organisation of the medical and hospital staff, and of the Commissariat, or whether it was intended to reduce those departments to the same peace establishment which was found so inefficient at the breaking out of the war; also, whether it was true that a militia regiment had been called out for service within the last two or three days?
§ MR. FREDERICK PEELsaid, that there could be no advantage in publishing a mere fragment of the proceedings which had taken place before the Board of General Officers. He reminded the hon. Gentleman that, by the warrant constituting that Board, they were required to present their report to the Horse Guards, and up to this time they had presented no report which could be laid before the House. In answer to the second question, he had to state that, of course, some reductions would be made in various departments of the army in consequence of the peace, but it was intended to maintain them on an efficient footing. With regard to the militia, no regiment had been recently embodied for permanent service, and, if any had been called out, it must have been one of the disembodied regiments called out in the usual way, for training and exercise.