§ MR. T. DUNCOMBEsaid, he rose to ask the Secretary of State for War whether it is his intention to recommend Her Majesty to reinstate Lieutenant Colonel Dickson, late of the Tower Hamlets Militia, after the Verdict obtained by that Officer in the Court of Queen's Bench against the Colonel of that Regiment?
GENERAL PEEL,who was very indistinctly heard, said the grounds upon which he had recommended the removal of Lieutenant Colonel Dickson were purely of a military character, arising out of circumstances connected with the affairs of the Regiment for which Colonel Dickson as commanding officer was responsible. Colonel Dickson was not tried by Court Martial, and had not, therefore, an opportunity of rebutting the charges made against him before such a tribunal, but he should think him fully entitled to any advantage he might derive from the verdict he had gained in the Court of Queen's Bench. As far, however, as the evidence taken in the course of that trial related to the military aspect of the question, the opinions expressed by his Royal Highness the Commander-in-Chief, the Adjutant General, and other Military Officers, only confirmed the view he (General Feel) had taken. He had not the slightest doubt that the Jury had done their duty; he was quite certain he had done his; and he had no intention to recommend Her Majesty to reinstate Lieutenant Colonel Dickson.
§ MR. T. DUNCOMBEsaid that if he Lad the honour of a seat in the next Parliament he would move for the appointment of a Select Committee to inquire into the conduct of the right hon. and gallant General and the Horse Guards with reference to Colonel Dickson, and also into the conduct of one of the Officers who was a Member of the Board of Inquiry subsequent to the proceedings of that Board, and during the trial to which he had referred.