The Sun.
London, England, 1862-02-14 00:00:00

ARMY MEDICAL DEPARTMENT.

Colonel SYKES asked the Secretary of State for War,
in reforence to an advertisement in the public papers headed
" Army Medical Department," stating that there would be
a competitive examination for thirty military assistant sur-
geons, whether her Maje ty's Subjects in India, and
coloured British subjects in Canada and the colonies, would
be allowed to compete ? Why 1,824 recruits, for the Bengal
Presidency alone, were sent out at the end of last year, the
fixed establishment of European troops of all rums for
India, namely 71,000 men, being at the time exceeded by
9,770 men; and, why the Queen'sßays, ordered home from
India, were stopped at Cawnpoor on their march to embark
far England ?
Sir G. C. LEWIS said that his hon. friend had moved
for certain returns last session which contained the greater
part of the information which he required. It was not
considered desirable to employ coloured persons in the British
army, as they were useful only in their own climate.

BARRACKS AND MILITIA STORES.
Capt. JER VIS asked the Secretary of State for War
whether the advertisement in the newspapers of the 10th
instant, in which tho War-office, asking for tenders for the
repairs of barracks and militia stores, was correct; and if
it was the intention of the Government to take the militia
stores and barracks out of the hands of the county magis-
trates, and relieve the counties from all future expense for
repairs, &c. ?
Sir G. C. LEWIS stated that the Home Office did not
undertake the duty of providing for the repairs for barracks
and military stores for the militia, and the hon. and gallant
momber was entirely under a misapprehension on the
subject. _ _

DISTRESS IN IRELAND.
Mr. MAGUIRE put a question to the Chief Secretary
For Ireland, in reference to a statement made by him on the
9th of February, concerning the districts of Kali and Skib-
berreon.

Sir R. PEEL said that this question was evidently put
with the view of discrediting the statement which he had
made the other evening on the subject of the alleged dis-
tress in Ireland. It would take too much time to read
the letters from different parties which he had,
or he could satisfy the house as lo the source from which
ho obtained his information. The statement which had been
made of the extent of the distress in Ireland originated in
a desire to revive agitation. If he was mistaken he would
be glad to retract what he had said ; but
he could assure the house he believed that the
statement as to there having been an exaggeration as to the
extent of the distress in Ireland was correct.

Mr. MAGUIRE said ho asked a question with respect
to a particular district, and would expect an answer to it.
Sir R. PEEL said the hon. member had assumed that
what he (Sir Robert Peel) had stated was untrue. He' had
received a letter that morning from Kanturk, which he
would read to the heuse.

Mr. MAGUIRE asked, as new matter was about being
entered into, whether it would be competent for him to
reply to the right hon. baronet.
The SPEAKER decided that the hon. member was at
liberty to do so.
Sir R. PEEL said one of the letters was from an ex
officio guardian of the Kanturk Union. (Cries of " Name.")
He declined to do so. The right hon. baronet then read
the letter in question, in which the writer stated that the
distress in lianttnk was not what was described, and that
the statements of Mr- Maguire were unfounded. (Cries of
" Order.")
ThbeertSyPtE.
readAlK thEßedleeettiiclr.ed that the right hon. baronet was
at liberty
Sir It. PEEL then read the remainder of the letter. He
also read a letter from Skibbereen and Skull, in the county
of Cork, in which the writer spoke in terms of the greatest
censure of the unfeeling conduct of the Irish landlords in
that part of the country towards their unfortunate tenantry.
(Hear, hear.) His statement would be corroborated by hon.
members in that house, and he would not hesitate to ex-
press his opinions on the subject, notwithstanding the
abuse he had received during the last three months from
interested and dissatisfied agitators. (Hear, hear.)
IRON PLATES.
Sir FREDERICK SMITH nsked the Secretary of State
for War when he expected to receive the report of the Iron
Plate Committee; and whether he intended to lay it upon
the table of the house ?
Sir G. C LEWIS said that the subject was under con-
sideration of the Board of Admiralty.
INFRINGEMENT OF THE CONVENTION WITH