Page:The supersession of the colonels of the Royal Army.djvu/14

 "to sanction any expense for the relief of the Colonels, and, indeed, he does not feel disposed to do so, since the grievance has arisen entirely from changes in the Indian Establishment, over which the Treasury had no control, and in respect to which that Department was not consulted,'"

Mr, Cardwell appeared to forget, when writing the above, that the grievance also arose from carelessness in drawing up an Act of Parliament, and from the apathy of the War Office on the subject.

The correspondence was continued for some time upon the principle of doing justice if we can, but of course not if it costs money; and at last, in order to settle the question, a fresh Committee was proposed by Mr. Cardwell, to be composed of one eminent lawyer, and of Officers of the two Services respectively, and of too high rank to be themselves personally interested, but Mr. Cardwell wound up his letter to the India Office, announcing his intention to appoint the Committee, by the following paragraph, dated War Office, July 20, 1869:—

"'Mr. Cardwell could not consent to refer to this Committee any proposals involving an increased charge upon the Estimates of this Department; but should propose to confine the reference to asking for their opinion upon the proper relative position of the Officers of the two Services.'"

The Duke of Argyll responded as follows: —

"India Office, July 21st, 1869. "In reply, I am to request you will inform Mr. Cardwell that