[7] The sufferings of the British soldiers in Holland, in 1794–5, from the incompetence and negligence of their superior officers, and the waste of public money from the same causes, have scarcely been exceeded during the Crimean war. In Lord Malmesbury’s Diary we find the following entry on the 7th Dec. 1793: “Lord Herbert came to see me. Complained much of the insubordination of the army; that it was greater than could be believed, and that the Guards were so beyond measure. Condemned the conduct of Gage, who had resigned on being refused leave of absence.” On the 16th of Feb. 1794, the Duke of Portland writes to Lord Malmesbury: “The Duke of York will return to the army the latter end of next week. But I cannot help saying that unless the licentious, not to say mutinous, spirit which prevails among our troops, and which originated in, I am sorry to say, and is cultivated by the Guards, is not subdued and extinguished, there is an end of the army.” [8] His lordship’s country seat. [9] The Duke. [10] The following letter, addressed by a subaltern to his commanding officer, is given by the editor of the _Cornwallis Papers_, as a specimen of the habits, education and discipline of the British army about the year 1800:-- “_To Lieut.-Col. ----, -- Foot._ “SIR,--I _believe_ (I am a member of the ---- mess), if so, I will take the liberty to submit the following argument, viz., every gentleman under the immediate propensity of liquor has different propensities; to prove which, I have only to mention the present instance with respect to myself and Lieut. ----. _My_ propensity is noise and riot--_his_ sleep. “I ever conceived that in a public mess-room, three things were certain: first, that it was open to every officer who chose to pay the subscription; second, that he might indulge himself with liquor as much as he pleased; and third, that if a gentleman and a member of the mess chose to get intoxicated in the mess-room, that no other officer (however high his rank in the regiment) had a right, or dare order to restrain (not being president) his _momentary propensity_ in the mess-room. “As such, and this being the case, I must inform you that you have acted in a most unprecedented and unknown (not to say ungentlemanlike) way, in presuming to enter the mess-room as a commanding officer, and to bring a sentry at your back (which you asserted you had) to turn out the amusement (a hand organ) of the company (a stranger being present), and thereby prevent the harmony which it is supposed ought to exist in a mess-room. “I appeal to you as a gentleman, and if you will answer this letter _as such_, you at all times know how to direct to “---- ----, “_Lieut. ----, -- Foot_.” [11] Mr. Tierney’s speech in the House of Commons.