"So many confidential books have lately disappeared that the Admiralty purpose to do away with a good many copies. If they did away with 90 per cent. the Navy would be little incommoded. "Confidential Books," if of any importance, are generally published in Russia before being served out here. So much for their secrecy. In the second place, only those officers already familiar with their contents have much chance of seeing them - the ordinary officer can hardly do so. Thirdly, they have the reputation of being always out of date and inaccurate."