§ COLONEL C. LINDSAYsaid, he would beg to ask the Secretary of State for War, If he will re-consider his proposal in reference to the additional Capitation Grant to the officers and non-commissioned officers of the Volunteer Service, for the following reasons:—1st. Because it cannot take effect at this late season of the year, and will therefore be useless as a guide in framing the Volunteer Estimates for 1871; 2nd. Because it appears to be based upon an erroneous calculation that there are three officers in 1523 every corps or company even of eighty men; 3rd. Because if carried into effect it would throw an undue responsibility upon an important body of men who are obviously difficult to obtain; and, 4th. Because it would be a source of embarrassment to commanding officers who are responsible for the financial condition of their regiments and corps; and, whether it would not be advisable to institute a more practical inquiry into the necessary expenses entailed upon Volunteer Regiments, with the view of arriving at some more satisfactory conclusion to the Service in general?
§ MR. CARDWELLSir, I cannot admit that the inquiry has not been practical, since it was instituted in communication with a large number of Volunteer officers, who admitted that the items were, except in some few particulars, sufficiently comprehensive, and the amount was arrived at upon a comparison of a large number of the actual accounts of some of the principal corps in the country. I have already said that the Regulations are in a forward state, and I hope to issue them very shortly.