§ COLONEL SYKESsaid, that he wished to state that, with reference to the Report of the Commissioners appointed to inquire into the defences of the Colonies, he thought that the Government had done injustice to two of the distinguished civilians who had been engaged in that inquiry, namely, Mr. Godley and Mr. Hamilton; their recommendation being that the allowance made by the State should be in proportion to that provided by the colony, and not that the Colonies should be left wholly to their own resources in providing means of defence. He would also urge that the claims of those officers who retired under the general warrant of 1826 upon the captain's half-pay, taking the step in rank, had not been fairly considered. Many of them were still living upon the captain's half-pay, though there was at least an implied pledge in the arrangement under which they retired from active service that they should have the advantages of increased pay as they succeeded to the higher ranks by seniority, equally with their contemporaries.