§ MAJOR ARBUTHNOTasked the Secretary of State for War, Whether he is prepared to state the reason of the delay in filling up the Lieutenant Colonelcies of 4th Dragoon Guards, 22nd, 76th, and 80th Regiments of Foot; and whether, owing to this delay, one Regiment has embarked for foreign service without a Lieutenant Colonel; whether the delay has been occasioned by any difficulty experienced by His Royal Highness the Commander-in-Chief in selecting suitable officers, or whether it is due to a difference of opinion between the Commander-in-Chief and the Secretary of State for War as to such selections; and, whether there is any prospect of a decision being shortly arrived at and promulgated?
§ MR. CARDWELL, in reply, said, the selections referred to have been made in the manner described by the Royal Warrant—that is to say, upon the recommendation of His Royal Highness the Field Marshal Commanding-in-Chief, with the approval of the Secretary of State; they have been submitted to Her Majesty, received her sanction, and are about to appear in The Gazette. With regard to the sailing of the 80th Regiment, I have to inform the hon. Gentleman that the reason the regiment sailed without a lieutenant colonel was that the regiment sailed the day but one after the retirement of the lieutenant colonel was gazetted. According to the Royal Warrant no selection can be submitted for Her Majesty's approval until the retirement of his predecessor has been concluded. If the hon. Gentleman will put these facts together, he will find it is impossible that the new appointment could have been made.
§ MAJOR ARBUTHNOTsaid, as the right hon. Gentleman had not stated the reason which had caused this most unusual delay, he should feel constrained to repeat the Question on Thursday in some more precise language.
§ MR. CARDWELLThe hon. Gentleman need not give Notice of a further 207 Question of the same kind, because he will not obtain from me any gratification of his curiosity as to what has passed between His Royal Highness the Field Marshal Commanding-in-Chief and myself with regard to the selections in question.