§ MR. BIGGARsaid, his hon. Friend the Member for Queen's County (Mr. Arthur O'Connor) had given Notice that he would move—
That, in the opinion of this House, recruiting for the Army should be suspended in Ireland pending the restoration of the constitutional liberties of the people of that Country;but he was mainly anxious, at present, to ascertain the number of Irish soldiers recruited into the British Army from time to time, their length of service, and the proportion sent to foreign countries. The Motion would be deferred until next Session. When his hon. Friend had raised the question on a former occasion, the Secretary for War promised him information in relation to it.
§ MR. CHILDERSsaid, what the hon. Member for Queen's County (Mr. Arthur O'Connor) had been promised was a Return showing the number of Irish soldiers as compared with English and 1028 Scotch soldiers sent on foreign service for a period of five years; also the number on foreign service at present. He had not had time to complete the latter Return; but he could supply the former. It was very curious that the proportion of Irish soldiers to the whole Army was exactly the proportion of Irish soldiers sent abroad—22 and 23 in 100.
§ MR. BIGGARsaid, he thought the answer would be satisfactory to his hon. Friend.
§ Main Question, "That Mr. Speaker do now leave the Chair," put, and agreed to.