§ CAPTAIN ARCHDALLsaid, that no one deprecated more than he did the putting of Questions in that House on questions that had come before the Horse Guards; but he must beg to ask the Secretary of State for War, If he can state to the House, whether, in the opinion of his Royal Highness the Commander-in-Chief, any reflection rests upon Captain Brooke's honour, as an officer and gentleman, in consequence of the dispute which has taken place between him and Captain Peel (late of 11th Hussars), and his subsequent arrest and reprimand? He wished further to ask, Whether the right hon. Gentleman can state for what Captain Brooke was reprimanded?
§ SIR JOHN PAKINGTONI think, Sir, the House, and I think my hon. and 2135 gallant Friend behind me, will feel that this Question is put in an unusual form. I cannot refrain from saying I observe with some regret the great frequency with which military questions of this kind are made the subject of Questions and Motions in this House; because I cannot help fearing that the tendency of that great frequency is to impair and endanger military discipline. The dispute which arose between Captain Brooke and Captain Peel had relation entirely to a question of a private nature. The consequence of that dispute was, that Captain Brooke was led to use language of such great impropriety that when the subject was brought before the Commander-in-Chief his Royal Highness thought it necessary to make it the subject of a reprimand. I may add that, with a knowledge of the circumstances, I do not think that his Royal Highness could have taken a milder course than he did take, and further than that I do not think I am called upon to go.