§ MR. CHILDERSI must ask the permission of the House to make an explanation as to an answer I lately gave to the hon. Member for Dungarvan (Mr. O'Donnell) about an Article in the Guards' Regulations. I was obliged, by serious indisposition, to leave the House on Thursday evening, and I understand that at 2 in the morning some reference was made to my reply by the hon. Member. I find, what I did not know when I answered the hon. Member's Question, that the Guards' Regulations, although not a part of the Queen's Regulations, have been printed as an appendix to them. But they stand, in a material respect, on a different footing. They were counter-signed by the senior Colonel of the Brigade, and the Secretary of State was not a party to them. It is undoubtedly in Her Majesty's power to dispense with any of them should She be so advised, and in the case of the appointment of the Duke of Connaught, She has been advised by me to do so.
SIR HENRY FLETCHERThe Queen's Regulations are dated the 1st of July, 1881. The paragraph which has been alluded to is printed with appendix, and, therefore, forms part of them.
§ MR. CHILDERSThe Queen's Regulations are so dated. The appendix is added for information; but it does not form part of the Queen's Regulations, for the reason I have given—that the Guards' Regulations are signed by the senior Colonel, and are commonly known in the Guards as the Guards' Domestic Regulations.