§ Order of the Day for the House to be put into Committee, read.
LORD ELLENBOROUGHtook that opportunity of reiterating the expression of the hope that, if the Mutiny Act was to be referred to a Select Committee for revision, it would be a Joint Committee of both Houses of Parliament, which would be by no means unwieldy if confined to those that had held commands. A very satisfactory instance was given last month by a noble Lord (Lord Ribblesdale) of marking with the letter "D" in a case of desertion—not having, as alleged by some, the effect of degrading the soldier thus punished—as the one in question was about to be promoted to the rank of sergeant-major of his regiment; and he (Lord Ellen-borough) submitted the same applied to flogging, as evidenced in the notable instance of Sir John Elley, who, after being promoted from the ranks, became a general officer; and who, as a Member of the other branch of the Legislature was, if not a brilliant ornament, at least considered a useful Member of the House of Commons.
§ VISCOUNT BURYsaid, he could only repeat what he had said before—that his right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for War was of opinion that a Joint Committee would be too unwieldy.
§ House in Committee.
§ Bill reported, without Amendment; and to be read 3a on Thursday next.