COLONEL SOMERSETsaid, he wished to inquire of the hon. Under Secretary for War, whether by the warrant of the 6th day of October, 1854, a lieutenant-colonel in command of a regiment, being absent with leave from his command for a period less than one month, loses that time towards the three years of actual command necessary to entitle him to the rank of Colonel?
§ MR. FREDERICK PEELsaid, that the attainment of the rank of Colonel was regulated by a warrant dated October, 1057 1854, by which a lieutenant colonel was required to serve three years in command of a regiment, in order to qualify himself for the rank of colonel. The Horse Guards, to which belonged, rather than to the War Department, the regulation of matters relating to the discipline of the army with regard to leave of absence, had allowed a relaxation of the rule, and permitted an officer to be absent from the command of his regiment for one month in a year without losing his time of service, and consequently if an officer had served three years in command of a regiment, and his absence did not exceed three months altogether, he would attain the rank of colonel; but if his absences were beyond that time, he must remain in command of the regiment for the period of the excess previous to his obtaining the rank of colonel.