HC Deb 18 May 1857 vol 145 cc406-7
SIR DE LACY EVANS

said, about a year ago a Commission was appointed to inquire into the military education and institutions of the Continent, with a view to certain improvements which were contemplated in the education of officers of the English army. A day or two before the late Parliament was dissolved, he was about to move for a copy of the Report of the Commissioners, when he was informed that it was already in print, and would be circulated immediately. He had been informed that it had since been circulated among the Members of the other House, and he thought it strange that it should be in the hands of the Peers, some time before it was delivered to the Members of the House of Commons. As many persons felt deeply interested in the matter, he should be glad to hear when it would be placed in the hands of Members of that House. He hoped that there would be no further delay in the matter.

VISCOUNT PALMERSTON

said, that the subject of the education of officers had for some time occupied the serious attention of the Departments interested in considering the matter. Several proposals had been made by different persons, with a view of aiding the deliberations of the Government. These proposals led in the end to the formation of a Board, composed of military officers of merit, at the head of which was the Commander in Chief. This council was at present employed in preparing out of all the materials before them a plan to be adopted for the future education of officers. When that plan should have been matured, and the Government had decided on bringing it forward upon its own responsibility, there would be no objection to place the matter before the House, but he thought the House would not desire that the disjointed elements and materials out of which that plan was to be constructed should be brought piecemeal before them, and that the more especially when it was considered that many of those materials were the confidential suggestions which parties had volunteered for the good of the public service.

SIR DE LACY EVANS

was afraid that he had not made himself understood. The Report to which he referred could not be considered confidential, for it had been circulated amongst the Members of the other House, and if so, he could not see why it should not also be placed in the hands of Members of that House.

VISCOUNT PALMERSTON

would inquire by whom it had been circulated. It might have been circulated by private parties. He was certainly not aware of anything of the kind having been put in circulation by the Government.

MR. SIDNEY HERBERT

thought, that the noble Lord and the gallant General were at cross purposes. The gallant General, as he understood, was not referring to any general plan of education for officers of the army, but to the Report of a certain Commission which had been appointed to inquire into the state of education in foreign armies, and if that report had been circulated among the Members of the other House of Parliament there was no reason why it should not be laid before Members of that House.

VISCOUNT PALMERSTON

said, if the hon. and gallant General would give him a memorandum of what he wished, and also give notice of his question, he would be better able to give him a more satisfactory answer.