COLONEL NORTHsaid, he would beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether the Sale of Commissions for the benefit of Widows and Children under the sole authority of the Commander in Chief has been discontinued since the year 1825.
GENENAL PEELsaid, he had no doubt 416 the question of his hon. and gallant Friend was put in consequence of a letter winch appeared in The Times newspaper on Tuesday last with reference to the answer he (General Peel) gave to his noble Friend the Member for North Northamptonshire (Lord Burghley) on the previous night. He could only express his great astonishment that the writer of that letter could have had any doubt upon the subject, seeing that he made reference to the page of the Report containing the evidence taken as to the sale of Commissions, and also to the marginal note. But it was impossible that the writer could have read the evidence, for it was distinctly stated in the passage referred to that the sale of these Commissions under the sole authority of the Commander in Chief was abolished in the year 1825.
CAPTAIN VIVIANsaid, he wished to know whether the practice had simply been discontinued, or whether any positive rule was adopted which rendered it impossible for the Commander in Chief to sell these Commissions.
GENERAL PEELsaid, it was impossible for the Commander in Chief to sell a Commission without the sanction of the Secretary of State for War.