GENERAL CODRINGTONsaid, he wished to ask the Under Secretary for War whether the Warrant of December last, depriving Staff Officers of their soldier servants and rations, can be applicable to a state of war, or whether the Warrant is to be suspended on troops taking the field?
§ SIR JOHN RAMSDENsaid, that the Warrant alluded to provided for a money allowance to be given to staff officers in lieu of the privilege of employing soldier servants. That was intended to apply generally to all cases; but a state of war was an exceptional state of things, and it was impossible to frame any regulations which should be applicable alike to war and to peace. He was unable to answer the question generally, because the regulation must depend upon the particular circumstances of the force which happened to be in the field.