§ MR. DARBY GRIFFITHsaid, he would beg to ask the Secretary of State for War, Whether his attention has been called to a published account of an inspection of the Chatham Garrison on the 10th August, by which it appears that the men having been on the ground from eleven o'clock a.m. till after two o'clock in the afternoon, carrying their knapsacks in full marching order, a number of men were compelled to fallout during the inspection in consequence of the intense heat, and were attended by the members of the Medical Staff Corps; and, whether he does not think that means might be found to avoid the exposure of men to the sun, during the hottest part of the day, for the purpose only of a general inspection?
§ SIR JOHN PAKINGTONsaid, he had some difficulty in answering this Question, because he doubted whether the hon. Member was serious in putting it. From all he had heard of the inspection of the 10th, those engaged in it congratulated themselves on having had a fine day. It was a little warmer than usual, and some of the men were perhaps oppressed by the heat to some extent; but he had heard nothing to lead him to believe that the men had in any way suffered, and it should be remembered that the Commander-in-Chief and the Staff were exposed at least as much, and perhaps to a greater extent, than the men. No doubt there were means of "avoiding the exposure of men to the sun;" but he could hardly imagine that the hon. Gentleman would seriously recommend an umbrella to be included in the equipment of the British soldier, or that soldiers should not be called under 1566 arms if it happened to be a little warmer than usual. The only serious Answer he could give to the Question was, that he felt the most perfect confidence that neither the Commander-in-Chief nor any officer would unnecessarily expose his men.