The American Revolution was not remotely affected by this habit.

With ministers long absent in the country important questions were postponed or forgotten.

The crisis which in the end brought France into the war was partly due to the carelessness of a minister hurrying away to the country.

Lord George Germain, who directed military operations in America, dictated a letter which would have caused General Howe to move northward from New York to meet General Burgoyne advancing from Canada.

Germain went off to the country without waiting to sign the letter; it was mislaid among other papers; Howe was without needed instructions; and the disaster followed of Burgoyne's surrender.