§ Order for Committee read.
§ MR. STAFFORDsaid, allusion had been made in a recent debate to the difficulty of procuring recruits for the militia, and no Member, except the Prime Minister, had taken any notice of that statement. He (Mr. Stafford) had since made it his business to ascertain whether there was any reason assigned for that difficulty, for he thought it would be a pity that the statement in question should go forth to the public if there was no foundation for it. He confessed he had no apprehension of such difficulty being felt. At the present moment it was, no doubt, of the utmost importance that every hour of sunshine and daylight should be made use of in getting in the harvest; and, in consequence of the large quantities of cereals now grown in Ireland, the same amount of labour was not available for this country as in former years, but as soon as the harvest was completed there would be no difficulty in obtaining recruits. The liberal scale of pensions given to the soldiers at the close of the Crimean war would be a great inducement to men even of a better class than usual to enlist. There was also a very general feeling throughout the country that the soldier should be well provided for and well looked after. It would not fail to have a beneficial effect if some reliable assurances were given by the War Office that every care should be taken of the men during the perilous and dangerous service on which they embarked; and he suggested the desirability of the Under Secretary for War, before the close of the Session, laying before the House all the arrangements fur clothing, medical comforts, and hospital accommodation to be provided for the army serving abroad.
§ House in Committee.
§ Bill passed through Committee.
§ House resumed. Bill reported, as amended, to be considered on Monday,