§ SIR GEORGE BOWYERasked the First Lord of the Admiralty, In reference to the Petition presented to this House by the honourable Member for Gravesend, praying that an inquiry may be held into the justice or otherwise of keeping back his Rear Admiral's rank, to which he was entitled in March, 1878, and whether he will refer the matter to Mr. Attorney General, or some other competent and impartial Member of this House?
§ MR. W. H. SMITH,in reply, said, he had no right to inquire into any Petition which was presented to the House. Promotions on the Retired List were made in strict accordance with the regulations under the Orders in Council. Those regulations had been followed in every case with great exactness, and he did not think it would be right to refer a question of this kind to the Attorney General or anyone else.