§ SIR JOHN PAKINGTONsaid, he wished to ask the hon. Under Secretary for War whether it was the intention of Her Majesty's Government, on the return of the British army from the Crimea, to bring home, at the public cost, the regulation number of chargers belonging to officers; or, if all the horses were not brought home, whether they intended to make up to all officers the amount of allowance to which they would have been entitled if the horses bad been lost in Her Majesty's service? He intended his question to cover the case of cavalry, infantry, staff officers, and, indeed, the case of any officers who were bound to have chargers with the army in the field.
§ MR. FREDERICK PEELsaid, he had stated on a previous occasion that General Codrington had not sent home any despatch explaining the reasons which induced him to issue the General Order upon this subject, and the right hon. Gentleman would probably agree with him that it was right that the Commander of the Forces should have a large discretion left to him in this as in other matters. Lord Panmure had, however, sent a telegraphic message to General Codrington, instructing him that where officers were desirous of having their chargers brought home to this country they should be allowed to do so at the public expense; and, he might add, that it was the desire of the War Office to act in a liberal spirit with regard to the claims of the officers in this respect.
COLONEL KNOXDid I understand the hon. Gentleman to say that this order emanated from the Commander in Chief?
§ MR. FREDERICK PEELYes; and a similar arrangement will be made with respect to the chargers of English officers attached to the Turkish Contingent.