Page:The supersession of the colonels of the Royal Army.djvu/15

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OF THE ROYAL ARMY.
11

the Duke of Argyll consents to the appointment of a Committee as proposed, upon the understanding that no suggestion can be entertained involving a charge upon Indian revenues."

In accordance with this liberal determination of the two members of the Cabinet chiefly concerned, the burlesque of another Committee was gone through, and the following directions were issued for the guidance of the distinguished persons composing it.

"1. The Committee will inquire into the effect of the existing Regulations on the present and future relative position of the Colonels of the two Services.

"2. If the Committee should be of opinion that these Regulations operate unjustly or unequally on the interest of Officers of either Establishment, they will report what alteration should be made in them, having regard to the Parliamentary Guarantee given to Officers of the Indian Establishment by the Acts of 1858 and 1860.

"3. The Committee will limit their Recommendations to courses which shall not involve increased charges upon either Imperial or Indian Revenues.[1]

"War Office, 3rd August, 1869."

With regard to these instructions, I will only remark that I believe no English Minister ever created a deeper feeling of disgust among those affected by any measure than did Mr. Cardwell by laying down the principle that England could only see justice done to her faithful servants on condition of its costing nothing.

However, the Committee was appointed, and was composed as follows:—The Vice-Chancellor, Sir Wil-

  1. Report of Select Committee, &c., 1870.