§ MR. MAGUIREsaid, that an order had been issued two or three months ago for the disembodiment of certain regiments of Militia, among which were some Irish regiments. These regiments had been disembodied accordingly, but it seemed that for some reason the 2nd Staffordshire Militia had not shared their fate, and that a new supply of clothing for 1860–1 had been issued to the latter regiment. He wished to know whether that regiment was to be excepted from the proposed disembodiment of the Militia force, and the grounds of the exception? The colonel of the regiment, he believed, occupied comfortable quarters in the Phoenix Park, Dublin, and it was intelligible enough that he should be unwilling to return; but that was not the case with the men, and as there was plenty of employment for them in the pottery and mining districts, he was at a loss to know why the rule laid down, in other cases had here been departed from. He therefore wished to ask the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the fact that a new supply of clothing has been issued to the 2nd Staffordshire Militia regiment; and whether it is contemplated to except that regiment from the proposed disembodiment of the militia force, with the grounds for such exception?
§ LORD LOVAINEsaid, he could not conceive why the gallant Officer referred to should not occupy a house in the Phoenix Park, and he regretted that the hon. Gen- 1156 tleman should give a personal colouring to this subject by referring to matters which had nothing to do with it. With regard to the 2nd Staffordshire, he believed it was one of the best militia regiments in the service.