§ SIR JOHN PAKINGTONasked the Secretary of State for War, Whether it is true that more than 2,200 Officers of the Army have memorialised His Royal Highness the Commander-in-Chief with reference to the effect of the abolition of purchase on their position and prospects, and praying for inquiry; and, whether he will lay upon the Table a Return upon this subject, similar to 148 that for which an Address has been moved in the other House of Parliament, and including Copies of all Letters from the Generals Commanding Districts, forwarding the said memorials?
§ MR. CARDWELLSir, the number of those who are reported to me as having signed the memorials is 2,245. The Return has already been given to the other House on the Motion of the Duke of Richmond, and if my right hon. Friend will move for it I shall have no objection to lay it on the Table of the House.
§ MAJOR ARBUTHNOTasked the Secretary of State for War, Whether it is the case that the Memorials referred to in the question of the Right Honourable Member for Droitwich, bear the signatures of officers of all grades from that of colonel downwards, comprising the names of officers who bought all their commissions, of others who have bought some but not all, and of others who have paid for none, the latter class including some who received their commissions for meritorious service in the ranks?
§ MR. CARDWELLSir, I have no disposition at all to dispute the suggestions contained in the Question. My examination of those voluminous Papers has not been exhaustive, but I shall be quite safe in answering the Question generally in the affirmative.