§ MR. DENMANsaid, he wished to ask the Under Secretary of State for War, Whether the Junior Captain of the 3rd Middlesex Militia has recently been appointed to the vaeant Majority of that 1599 Regiment over the heads of the other nine Captains, some of them of many years standing; and whether such appointment has been made with the approval of the War Office or in accordance with the usages of the Service; if not, on what special grounds such appointment has been sanctioned.
THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTON, in reply, said, it was true that Lord Chelsea, the junior captain, had been appointed to the vacant majority over the heads of the remaining captains. It was no doubt true as a general rule, but by no means an invariable rule, that such appointments should be made by seniority, but several reasons had been held sufficient to justify a departure from that rule, one of which was local influence and position in the county. The militia was essentially a local force, and the influence and position of the officers of that force were always taken into consideration. In the present instance the lord-lieutenant had represented to the Secretary of State that the position of Lord Chelsea in the county was such as to render it for the advantage of the regiment that he should be appointed to the majority, and the Secretary of State had, therefore, recommended the confirmation of his appointment.