§ MR. SELWYNsaid, he wished to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty, Whether the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty intend to recal the Circular of the 2nd of February, 1860, relating to the rank of Chaplains in the Royal Navy, or to alter the Circular so as to make it accord with that portion of the Order in Council which relates to the same subject; and whether the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty are prepared to make any arrangement, in compliance with the request of the Chaplains, that in choice of quarters, sharing prize money, and taking a passage, they rank with Commanders afloat, or field officers when employed on shore?
§ LORD CLARENCE PAGETsaid, that he believed the question of the hon. and learned Gentleman referred to an Order which had been issued on the 23rd, and not on the 2nd of February, which cancelled a former Order framed upon an Order in Council. He believed the Circular, with regard to Chaplains, had been issued in accordance with the desire of a large portion Of the Chaplains themselves, who did not wish to have any military rank. It was only a certain limited number of ambitious gentlemen who desired to have that rank, while the great majority of the body thought their own sacred calling 1493 was a sufficient distinction. With regard to the choice of quarters, by which he presumed the hon. and learned Member meant cabins, he had to state that Chaplains were always allowed one of the best cabins in the quietest part of the ship. With regard to sharing prize-money and taking rank as commanders afloat, he was afraid the Admiralty could not accede to that proposal. The Chaplains had never ranked with Commanders afloat, but had taken their rank with the Paymasters and Surgeons, and other Officers of that class, and the Admiralty had no intention of altering that arrangement.