COLONEL DUNNEsaid, that upwards of four years ago a Committee was appointed, on his Motion, to inquire into the mode in which Government contracts were made, and in the course of their investigation it transpired that some extraordinary defalcations and irregularities had taken place in the Ordnance department at Weedon. A Commission was appointed to inquire into these circumstances, and he begged leave to ask whether that Commission had reported, and if so, when the report would be laid upon the table. The right he n. Secretary for War had given notice of his intention to move the appointment of a committee with reference to the War Department, and he (Colonel Dunne) wished to know whether that Committee would interfere with the functions of a Committee for which he intended to move, with reference to the reorganization of the civil branch of that department. The expenses of the civil department of the army had been enormously increased, but while larger armies had been recently moved by the French war department with the greatest case, he believed that if we were to go to war our system was so imperfect that great disasters would occur. He concluded by asking the Secretary of State for War whether the report of the Commission appointed to inquire into the state of the Ordnance Department at Weedon, &c, has been received; and if received, when it will be laid upon the Table of the House.
§ MR. SIDNEY HERBERTreplied that the report of the Commission appointed to inquire into the transactions at Weedon bad not yet been received, but so soon as it had been presented, and the Government had had time for its consideration, it would be laid upon the Table. He had no wish to clash with the he n. and gallant Member with regard to the Committee for which he intended to move, and he might therefore state that he merely proposed the re-appointment of the Committee which sat at the end of last Session, whose labours he thought it desirable to recommence at as early a period as possible.