§ COLONEL SYKESsaid, he rose to ask the Secretary of State for India, Whether the Royal Commission to inquire into the grievances of Indian Officers has been appointed, the names of the Commissioners, when the Commission is likely to commence its labours, and whether the 717 Petitions presented to the House of Commons can be brought to the consideration of the Commission?
§ SIR CHARLES WOODreplied, that he was very anxious that the Commission should have been sooner appointed, but he had had the greatest difficulty in obtaining the services of a suitable Chairman. He was anxious that his noble Friend (Lord Hotham), who had sat on both the previous Commissions, should undertake the duty, but the noble Lord felt an over-scrupulous delicacy on the subject, and feared that, as he had voted with him (Sir Charles Wood) in the division against the Motion of Captain Lewis, it might be supposed that he would not bring that absolute impartiality to the consideration of the subject which would naturally be expected from the Chairman. The noble Lord therefore declined, although he (Sir Charles Wood) was certain that no one else would have doubted the noble Lord's impartiality. The Commission, however, had been appointed. On Monday last the Commissioners held their first meeting, and they had been in communication with him upon the appoint- 927 ment of a Secretary. The names of the Commissioners would appear to-morrow in the Gazette.