§ MR. WEBSTER (St. Pancras, E.)asked the Secretary of State for War, Whether he is aware that some of the officers of the Honourable Artillery Company recently presented an Address or Memorial to His Grace the Duke of Portland, the Lieutenant Colonel of the regiment, expressing confidence in Colonel Borton, the Adjutant; whether Colonel Borton himself accompanied these officers when they presented such Address or Memorial; and, whether such a proceeding established a breach of the Queen's Regulations, section 6, sub-section 7, which, amongst other things, provides that—
Every officer will therefore be held responsible who shall allow himself to be complimented by officers, non-commissioned officers, or soldiers, who are serving, or who have served, under his command, by means of presents of plate, swords, & c, or by any collective expression of their opinion. Commanding officers should also prohibit the practice of raising subscriptions for the purpose of presenting testimonials in any shape to superiors on quitting the Service, or on being removed from their Corps.
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. E. STANHOPE) (Lincolnshire, Horncastle)Section 6 of the Queen's Regulations does not apply to the Honourable Artillery Company. They are specially exempted by a clause in the Volunteer Act of 1863 from the operations of that -Act.