[25] At the close of the American War, such a number of Officers retired so astonishingly enriched, that it is imagined it excited the jealousy of Government. Hence enquiries and investigations were made; means were taken to put a stop to such iniquitous practices; and His Royal Highness, the Commander-in-Chief, has since taken measures to put an effectual termination to such disgraceful conduct. I speak from authority when I assert, that when the Peace of 1783 took place, one Military Officer retired to his own Country (a Sister Kingdom) with the enormous Sum of £190,000, when the income arising from his Regimental Commission, together with his Staff situation, could not have been equal to £1000 a-year. He was seven years on service in America. [26] It is certainly a gross imposition on the Public, but falls particularly heavy on the Naval and Military departments. [27] The Officer whose gallantry took a praam in Boulogne Harbour, in sight of Buonaparte. [28] We have seen M----rs of P----t driving to places, and scrutinizing into matters that did not concern them; when, had they turned their active powers to the circumstances above mentioned, they at least would have obtained more credit, and perhaps not have subjected themselves to a disgraceful defeat and general contempt. [29] It has been whispered, that strange means were resorted to in order to get at the opinions of men in high rank, respecting the operations on the Peninsula. I own I do not credit the malicious story, but, as Sir John was conversant in state politics, I must leave him to form his own conjectures, and his directing his son to write typically might be defended. [30] A _true_ Bill. [31] Many ‘wise Men have come from the East,’ of late Years. [32] The Right Honourable Sir Charles Stuart, K.B., &c. &c. [33] Major-General Peacocke, of the Guards. [34] The custom was introduced by H.R.H. the Duke of York, and is as follows: if any Officer, no matter the Rank he may hold, is desirous to pay a dutiful respect to the Commander of the Forces, or may have business to transact with His Royal Highness, he is directed to repair to the Horse-Guards at an early hour, on the day appointed for the Levee, and write down his Name and Rank in a list presented to him. He is then told at what hour the Duke commences his Levee, and according to the situation of the Signatures on the list, he is introduced. A similar system is observed at the Offices of the Adjutant and Quarter-Master-General. [35] I am afraid I expose my ignorance in making this remark; but, as I observed, those Gentlemen were not all dressed in the same kind of Uniform: (for instance, one in the Uniform of the Guards; another in the Uniform of some Militia Corps; a third, in the Uniform of a Light Regiment; but all with two blazing Epaulettes) I must own I was puzzled in endeavouring to account for this Masquerading.