GENERAL LINDSAYsaid, he wished to ask the Secretary of State for War, Whether he has any objection to recommend Her Majesty to postpone filling up the vacancy in the establishment of Generals of the Royal Engineers, caused by the death of General Alexander Gordon, until a Motion for an Address to the Crown, respecting the claims of certain Colonels, promoted for Distinguished Service in the Crimean War, has been submitted to the judgment of the House of Commons? To make his Question intelligible, he would beg to say that he had given notice of his intention to move an Address to the Crown respecting the claims ef certain Officers who had been promoted as Queen's Aides-de-Camp, in 1855, and otherwise, for distinguished service. Should the House agree to that Address, and the Government adopt the view which he should put forward, one of those Officers would 26 be promoted to fill a vacancy now existing; whereas if that vacancy were filled up immediately, another officer would fill it.
SIR GEORGE LEWISsaid, in reply, that there would be ample opportunity, during the Session, for bringing forward the Motion of which the hon. and gallant Member had given notice. Under the circumstances of the case, however, he did not feel justified in tendering to Her Majesty the advice which the hon. and gallant Gentleman recommended. He thought the matter had better be left to the discretion of the General Commanding-in-Chief.