§ Resolutions (March 20) reported.
§ SIR JAMES FERGUSSONsaid, that the Secretary of State for War was understood, on the Vote for the Volunteer Force, to say that there were only 40,000 bayonets in the country for its defence. [Sir GEORGE LEWIS: Of the regular army.] He was glad to hear the correction, because he had met officers belonging to the militia who regarded the statement as a slur upon that branch of the service. There were 95,000 militia of all ranks who were supposed to be trained.
SIR GEORGE LEWISwas quite certain he had added the words of "the regular army" to the statement in question. What he said was that there were only forty battalions of the regular army in the country. He might have added the Yeomanry if he had been recapitulating the force available for the defence of the country.