MR. OTWAYsaid, he would beg to ask the Secretary of State for War, a Question with regard to an Answer which he had given two or three days since. The right hon. Gentleman, in aswer to a Question as to, whether steps would be taken to remove a Regiment stationed at Mauritius during the prevalence of the epidemic at present raging in that island, was reported as having said that the removal was a question entirely for the decision of the Commander-in-Chief. He desired to know whether the right hon. Gentleman had so expressed himself, and whether he adopted those views?
§ SIR JOHN PAKINGTONsaid, that the report of the portion of the Answer referred to by the hon. Gentleman was not accurate. What he (Sir John Pakington) had stated was that the Commander-in-Chief had sent out orders for a very strict inquiry into the circumstances under which the regiment had been permitted to land, considering the state of the health of the island. But, with reference to the subject more particularly referred to by the hon. Gentleman, he stated that he himself had sent out orders last year, giving full power and discretion to the Officer in command to remove the troops whenever in his judgment the health of the Island should render such a step advisable, and to prevent mistakes he had repeated those orders and again sent them out.