32 POLITICS OF THE DAY. [1807. 



ought to be said. It would be better, therefore, in 

 the first instance at least, to confine any paragraphs 

 that may be inserted upon the unfortunate failure at 

 Eosetta to such general topics as will not seem to 

 imply an intimate knowledge of all the circumstances 

 of the case. The most obvious of these are the un- 

 fairness of judging merely from success, and the par- 

 ticular unfairness to the late ministers and to the 

 officers employed, of forcing the former to defend 

 themselves at the expense of the latter, when they 

 have not had an opportunity being deprived by their 

 removal from office of a sight of the despatches of 

 knowing the circumstances which have induced them 

 to deviate from their orders. The truth is, that the 

 attack of Eosetta was entirely the act of the officer who 

 commanded ; it formed no part of our plan, nor can I 

 conceive on what ground it was undertaken. In ad- 

 verting to this generally, it may not be amiss to take 

 notice of the danger of officers disregarding their in- 

 structions, and the encouragement which has been 

 given to this practice in the cases of Sir Henry 

 Pophani and Sir David Baird. I write this in great 

 haste, but if you can call on me to-morrow about half- 

 past eleven, I shall be glad to talk with you on the 

 subject. I am going out of town between twelve and 

 one. Ever yours, H." 



TO THE VISCOUNT IIOWICK. 



"ALBANY, Kept. 13, 1807. 



" .... I have just seen a gentleman from the 

 city. They are in very great dismay about the Buenos 



