§ MR. SAMUEL SMITH (Flintshire)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for War whether it is with the sanction of the Secretary of State for War that two of the Clewer sisters habitually frequent both the barracks at Windsor, in opposition to the strongly urged protest of the chaplain, and whether an annual charge of£25 from the canteen fund of each regiment is made to the sisterhood; and whether, on the occasion of the presentation of colours by the Queen to the Scots Guards on the 15th instant, the Rev. Arthur Robins, who for 26 years has been the Church of England chaplain, was not suffered to appear in connection with the ceremony in which his own soldiers were taking part; and, if so, whether this was done with the sanction of the Secretary of State for War.
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR (Mr. WYNDHAM,) DoverThe visits of the Clewer sisters, and the payments made to them from canteen funds, have received the sanction of the Secretary of State. There is no Church of England chaplain to the troops at Windsor. The Rev. Arthur Robins is a local clergyman who officiates to the troops there. His presence was not required at the presentation of the colours, as the Church of England was represented by the Chaplain-General. Mr. Robins, like the other officiating clergymen, was invited to witness the ceremony.