GENERAL PEELthought it desirable (as there were many contradictory reports in circulation) that the Secretary for India should state to the House what was the amount and description of the military force about to be despatched to China. He had seen in The Times newspaper of Monday last a statement, taken from the Indian journals, that a force of 20,000 men was about to proceed from India to China. It was said to consist of fourteen regiments. Now, it was very desirable it should be known what those regiments were, as great interest was naturally felt by those who had friends serving with their regiments in India as to whether they were to remain in that country or be sent to China. The right hon. Gentleman had already stated that all the European regiments had been transferred from the Indian to the English establishment. With regard to that part of the force which consisted of Native regiments, he understood that three of them were intended to relieve the three Native regiments already in China. As these three regiments in China were paid by the Indian Government, he took it for granted that those going to relieve them would also be paid by the Government of India; but the remainder of the Native regiments would be paid by this country. Now, in the Estimates no provision had been made for them, except the sum of £500,000 taken on account of the expenses of the war. This amount would not cover the expense of transport and stores. The force in China would also be on Indian pay and allowances. The second part of his Question referred to the number of 1708 British troops to be paid for out of the Indian revenue during the next financial year. The total number of Her Majesty's army was 235,852; of these 143,362 were on the British establishment, and provision for them voted by Parliament, leaving 92,490 on the Indian establishment. It was important they should clearly understand this point, even in reference to the subject they were about to discuss that night. The sum taken for military purposes for the next year would not cover the total expenditure, including that of the Chinese expedition, and hereafter the House would have to vote additional sums for the China war. It was most important that the right hon. Gentleman should, if possible, give a reply to his question, What is the amount and description of force that has proceeded, or is about to proceed, from India to China; specifying, if possible, the Regiments of which the European portion of the force is composed; and what number of British Troops (including the depots) he is prepared to pay for out of the Revenue of India during the next financial year?