[123] Dropmore Papers, ii. 349.
[124] Bunbury, Great War with France, p. 46.
[125] Poisson, ii. 239, 240.
[126] Rousset, p. 183.
[127] Vie de Carnot, i. 138.
[128] “The squadron of men of war and transports was collected, the commodore’s flag hoisted, and the expedition sailed with most secret orders, which as usual were as well known to the enemy and everybody in England as to those by whom they were given” (Marryat, The King’s Own, ch. vii. ad init.). Marryat attributes this failing to the multitude of counsellors that compose a Cabinet. He may be right, but those who are acquainted with the scandalous carelessness with which Ministers treat confidential military documents, find no difficulty in accounting for it otherwise. This evil still continues, and will continue until Cabinet Ministers are subjected to the same penalties for abuse of trust as other servants of the King.
[129] Calvert, p. 72.
[130] Dropmore MSS. Lieut.-colonel Freemantle to Buckingham, 13th May 1793. Calvert, p. 79. Narrative by an Officer of the Guards, i. 29–31. Murray to Dundas, 10th May (private) 1793. There are some significant omissions from his public letter of the same date as published in the Gazette. Auckland Correspondence, iii. 58.
[131] 7th, 11th, 15th, 16th Light Dragoons.
[132] Murray to Dundas, 15th and 17th May 1793.