33<5 MISSION TO PORTUGAL. [1806. 



Atlantic would be to those whose excursions had 

 hitherto been confined to a journey between their 

 town and country residence at home. But the ad- 

 miral, well aware of this resolution, without letting 

 any one entertain the least suspicion of what he was 

 about, arranged everything for the voyage of the 

 royal family and its attendants. In talking over 

 the matter, when both of us dwelt upon the absolute 

 necessity of the strictest secrecy, I remember his say- 

 ing, " You know there is but one way of keeping a 

 secret to tell nobody." I said, " Of course our col- 

 leagues must know it." " Certainly," he said ; " but not 

 their families, as they call their aide-de-camps" And 

 General Simcoe being exceedingly ill, it was agreed 

 that I should mention it to Lord Eosslyn as soon as 

 the preparations were completed, before which time 

 it was unnecessary to trouble him. As soon as every- 

 thing had been prepared, and all communication 

 between the fleet and the shore been cut off (I 

 forget on what alleged ground), the admiral only 

 waited till the proper moment came to execute his 

 plan. The success appeared quite certain. His design 

 was to have one or two boats with crews of picked 

 men, then a few of his most able and trusty officers, 

 and a number of men on whom he could rely, not in 

 any order or arrangement, but scattered about and 

 ready to assist when they received directions either 

 from himself or the officers, who were to be dispersed 

 among them, lie had rehearsed with them what he 

 expected would be done, and no one had the least 



