to General Burgoyne, expecting that the others could be expedited before the packet sailed with the first, which, however, by some mistake sailed without them, and the wind detained the vessel which was ordered to carry the rest. Hence came General Burgoyne's defeat, the French declaration, and the loss of thirteen Colonies.[1] It might appear incredible if his own Secretary and the most respectable persons in office had not assured me of the fact; what corroborates it, is that it can be accounted for no other way. It requires as much experience in business to comprehend the very trifling causes which have produced the greatest events, as it does strength of reason to develop the deepest design.
"The capture of Lord Cornwallis and his army united the whole Kingdom in one opinion of the impracticability of the War and the incapacity of the Minister who conducted it. Lord George was obliged to retire from office, but did it under cover of a Peerage, which gave occasion to an unprecedented motion and debate in the House of Lords, which for the sake of the Crown and its prerogative, as well as for the honour of the Peerage, it is to be hoped will never be again provoked under this or any future reign. The character he left in his office was that of a man violent, sanguine, and overbearing in the first conception and setting out of plans, but easily checked and liable to sink into an excess of despondency upon the least reverse without any sort of resource. The persons he brought into office were all, except his Principal Secretary, Mr. Doyley (who came about him I don't know by what accident), of a very obscure description, more or less of adventurers, of doubtful morals, and worse than doubtful integrity; but what disgraced him most of all, was his inveterate habit of corruption. He was not content with obtaining for his sons reversions of offices to a considerable amount, which ought to be executed by resident and capable persons and have since that time become the subject of an express Act of Parliament, but he made the
- ↑ See on this subject Hist. MSS. Commission Reports, vi. 277; also the Historical Review for April 1910, xxv. 315, where there will be found a "Memorandum by William Knox, V.S., in the Colonial Office," who was Under-Secretary at the time.
