the Right Hon. The Secretary at War

WILLOW LANE, NORWICH, _17th Septr. 1831._

SIR,--I have to acknowledge the receipt of No. 33,063, dated
16th inst., from the War Office, in which I am informed that
the Office does not feel authorized to give instructions for
the issue of the arrears of disembodied allowance claimed by my
brother Lieut. Borrow of the West Norfolk, until he attend the
next training of his regiment, and I now beg leave to ask the
following question, and to request that I may receive an
answer with all convenient speed. What farther right to his
_present_ arrears of disembodied allowance will Lieut. Borrow's
appearance at the _next training_ of his regiment confer upon
him, and provided there is no authority at present for ordering
the payment of those arrears, by what authority will the War
Office issue instructions for the payment of the same, after
his arrival in this country and attendance at the training?
Sir, provided Lieut. Borrow is not entitled to his arrears of
disembodied allowance at the present moment, he will be
entitled to them at no future period, and I was to the last
degree surprised at the receipt of an answer which tends to
involve the office in an inextricable dilemma, for it is in
fact a full acknowledgment of the justice of Lieutenant
Borrow's claims, and a refusal to satisfy them until a certain
time, which instantly brings on the question, 'By what
authority does the War Office seek to detain the disembodied
allowance of an officer, to which he is entitled by Act of
Parliament, a moment after it has become due and is legally
demanded?' If it be objected that it is not legally demanded, I
reply that the affidavits filled up in the required form are in
the possession of the Pay Office, and also a power of Attorney
in the Spanish language, together with a Notarial translation,
which power of Attorney has been declared by the Solicitor of
the Treasury to be legal and sufficient. To that part of the
Official letter relating to my brother's appearance at the next
training I have to reply, that I believe he is at present lying
sick in the Mountains above Vera Cruz, the pest-house of the
New World, and that the last time I heard from him I was
informed that it would be certain death for him t