§ MR. GROVEsaid, he would beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether the official restrictions imposed for so many years on the late Surgeon in Chief of the Metropolitan Police Force, and announced as a necessity to the candidate, on his retirement, have been entirely relaxed, notwithstanding that the strength of the Police Force has so materially increased; and, whether the present Chief Surgeon is required to visit the sick of the different divisions, and perform the other duties of his office in the same manner as his predecessor, who was prohibited from engaging in private practice?
§ MR. GATHORNE HARDY,in reply, said, he found that in April 1866, while the right hon. Member for Morpeth (Sir George Grey) was at the Home Office, the relaxation of the rule in regard to that matter was first made. Mr. Holmes was allowed to take private practice on condition that the salary, which had been £800, was reduced to £500, and that he should at all times be available for police duty. Mr. Holmes undertook so to be, and there was no complaint of his not having attended to that duty.