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*

S .E R I E S

LETT E R S,

DISCOVERING

The Scheme projefted by France,

la MDCCLIX.

For an INTENDED INVASION upon England

with Fl at-^ottom'd Boats;

A N D^

Various Conferences and Orioinal Papers touching that FORMIDABLE DESIGN.

POINTING AT

The Secret sind True Motives, which precipitated the Kcgociations, and

Conclufion of the laft Peace.

To which tre prefixed^

The SECRET ADVENTURES of the Young Pretender-

AND

The Conduct of the French Court refpeAing him during his Stay in Great

Britain^ and after his return to Paris.

ALSO

The Chief CAUfiB that brought on the late Banishment of the Jesvits from the French Dominions; a Secret as yet concealed from the Jesuits themfelves : with the real Examination of Father Hamilton, taken at Foantainbleau, Odober 1^56, who was employed to aflaffinate theYouNO Prstendsk*

Together with

The PARTICULAR CASE of the AUTHOR,

In a MEMORIAL to his late Royal Highaefi the Dake of Cumbbkland.

f ~

hy OLIVER MAC ALLESTER, Efq;

VOL. L

««

LONDON:

Printed for the A U T H OR; and fold by Mr. Williams, Flect-ftreet; Meff. Richardson and UnQjiHAax, Royal Exchange; MeflT. Fletcher and Co. St. Paul's Church-yard; Mr. Flexnby, near Gray's-Inn Gate, Holbonm ; Mr,

*>'

vtnoic Lra&ABT

317895 R

U

tOUDCN riOMDASnONB

1' ■ -•

[ a ]

II _»

»l«Hl !■ Illl • t I 1^ I l< Mil I ' ,',i| _, r. uwJL

T O

THE RIGHT HONOURABLE

CHARLES

Earl of C A M B p E N,

<^

%

Lord pigh ChanceHor of Sf^mf Brkain.

Mj LORD^

"^ "f^ERMlT xne to have the honour to addrefs

>^ Si and lay^ befof e- Yout Lordfhip a work, which,

. ; I fla(tdr myfelf, w^ll be found as interefting as any

^K of the kind, or on political fubjedS) ever publiOied

"^ in this kingdom, and to m.erit Your high conCde-

>^ ration and patronage ; for in it, together with many

\ other interefting fadls, will be fully difclofed the

•i;^ fchemes ajijl p(^itic& of thfe- French court, in their

<^ A 2 late

• • •

IV

D E D r.C'A T I O R

late ^«%n9 ftgainft hii^^cicd MajcftjgfAis cteaffp aa4 kingdoms ; and by what^ and whole means, thofe dangerous defigns were difcbvered and defeated.

.: V .„/.-, . • - - - ■- I i . v.> 1 . . w- i*. J.

That a perfon, who has not the honour or hap- pinefs to be known to Your Lqldfhip,'' IHould at- tltiipt to' addrefs liis wofks to fuch an emiifent anS diftinguiihed character, may ieeni fomewhat extra* ordimrf, : but as it is the work that will /peak for the perfon, and the merit thereof alone that fuppli- cate« and demands Your* Lordfhip's farour and ge- nerous protedion, the author hopes that will plead his excufe.

Exalted, /or inimitable virtues, to the higheft pitch of earthly greatnefs under the Britijb crown, to be keeper and preferver of his ^jefty*8 con-; fcience, and the delight of his people, who know that juftice and equity, pure and unfpotted as new- fallen fhow, fb-eam from that fountain, which^ un« biafled and unprejudiced, flows from, and runs thro* all your adions, no wonder that the oppreiled fly

to

DEDICATION. v

to Your Lordflup for redrefs of ills, for which the oppreflbr has no feeling. '^

*

Such considerations alone made me refblve to lay this work before Your Lordfhip, in hopes that they, with my fervices, and the injuflice I have re- cdved, may reach the Royal ear ; and that I (hall obtain^ (atisfadion, according to the merit of thofe iinportant fervices ; fince, for the honour and Secu- rity of the crown, and the happinefs and profperity of the nation, nothing that may contribute to either ought to be kept fecret, or concealed from one in Your high ftation; beieeching Your Lordfhip to indulge me in the liberty I take, of fubfcribing myfelf, with all truth, and the mod profound relped,

My Lord,

Your Lord{hip*s mod devoted, and

Moft obedient fervant,

Voi.L

O. MAC ALLESTER.

Aj

I «

A

S E R I E S

OF

L E T T E R S.

LETTER THE FIRST.

URIOSITY, from whofe powerful in- fluence no fcx or age is exempt, naturally leads us .to an enquiry after every thing that is new, amuling, or entertaining j but when interefling fubje£ts, objeds that regard the hapjiinefs and profperity of a mighty fovereign, and a great nation, prefent thcmfelvec to view> there can be no doubt, but (thus Vol. I. B excited)

fa] ' •

excited) th« ardent defire of a due knowledge thereof mud • Be raifed to the higheft pitchy amongfl: all ranks of people ; ..and that the public, ever anxious for the difcovcry of truth, itnd from whom thofe matters (for political reafons) are generally too long kept fecret^ will be greatly obliged, in having fuch difcoveries and candid explanations laid before them, as may clearly and evidently give them the fuUeft proof, and the mod ample fatisfaftion in thefe reipe€ts^

Perfuaded as I am of your impartiality in ^dging of fa<as> convinced of your rectitude of heart, and inviolable attach- ment to juftice and the laws of your country ; knowing alfo^. that every power and faculty of your mind has not been lefs* frequently employed in their defence,^ and in fupport of the juA rights -of the ilhiftrious houfe of Hanover to the imperial orown of thefe realms, againft the pretender and their com* mon enemy, than in endeavouring to prefcrve the liberty and independance of your fellow-citizens^ againft injuftice and oppreffion, I addrefs> therefore,, thefe letters to you, Sir, and with an intention to commit them to the prefs ; that the public, by a knowfce^e of the particulars of thefe interefting matters, may be truly informed thereof, and,, amongfl other things,, of fome late formidable defigns of the enemy in favour of the pretender, againft his Majefty's crowa and kingdoms, as well as againft the lives and poffeffions of his liege people in general, to the entire ruin of this nation^

By this correfpondence, you- will find difclofed, by what^. and by whofe means, that formidable defign of invading this kingdpm was difcovered and defeated ; the mjcans laid down,

and

r 3 J

vxiA vifible in thiuielvess of making the whole troops ahd imbarkation vidims of the cnterprizc, in cafe the attempt liad been carried into execation ; together with the fecret motives that brought about the late peace ; authenticated by the ftroogeft proof^» and fuch papers as have not hereto^ fore been made known to the public^

You will alfo find^ to your great furprife, and what is fo inconfiftent with the true Britt/b fpirit, the ungenerous^ crueU and ungrateful treatment of the perfon, who ren« dered to his Majef^ and this nation thofe great and impbr« tant fervices) the manner in which he has been ufed by men in power, notwithftanding the promifes and afTurances made to him^ of a generous and liberal recompence^ both before and after the fervices were performed ; which^ I dare fay, you will confidcr ^ith the public, as a di(honouf to the Britifb nation, and a great difcouragement to others hereafter to rifle their lives, to render fuch important fer- vices to either ; the Waht of which may prove of the laft confequence «id greateil fatality to both.

To fatisfy thefe objeds, and give the cleared lights intd the feveral tranfadions propofed, it may be ncceffary to ftcp a little way back, and to mention fome fads antecedent to the defigns of the enemy for invading , thi^ kingdom, in the year 1762, by the flat-bottom'd boats, and an army of about 50,000 men, then allen^bled on the coaft of France, and provided with all things neceflary for that bold and formi- dable projeift's being, with the utmoft fccrccy of its deftina- lioKj, carrJ<;d into execution.

B 2 ' The

[ 4 1 The conne(fHon of many fadts and anecdotes relative to the unnatural rebellion of the year 1 745, and the prefent fubjeft, makes t&is neccffary; efpecially as many of them have hot been heretofore made public. For which purpofe^ it muft be remembered, that in the years 1743 and 1744, affociations, or rather .confpiraciesj. were entered into, in Scotland^ by the chiefs of the clans there, and others at- tached to their own deftruftion, in the tyrant family of the Stuarts ; which aflbciatioris were duly figned by them, and fent to Rome, for raifing a rebellion, which (according tQ their plan; was not to break out till the year 1746 or 1747, the time judged mcift proper, for the execution thereof, by the enemies of the houfe of Hanover, to place the pretender on the throne of thefe kingdoms,, or his eldeft fon Charles 5 who was to aA, and did afterwards aiTume that title,, and prer tended to a^, as Regent^ during the troubles, which broke out in Sa^tland a year fooaer than was cxpedled, or .cyen intended, by the aflbciates or conipiratOrs themfelves.; many of whom, at that very time, were in the fetvice of the crown of England^ or had their bread depending thereoa by penfions or other advantages, from which they drew their d;aily fupport^

4

Thoie perfbns, who had been at Rome on this bulinefs^ as commiflioners and emiiTaries, and to whom the fecret» with every precautipn for effecting; the fcheme, was ini- parted, being returned to England and Scotland, had their feveral parts affigned unto, them for bringing it to perfe.£tion.: that is to fay, they were to prepare fuch matecialsi. as^ they beft could, for this daring enterprize^ which,, they were peD*

fuaded^

Is]

fuadedy was to be'fccondcd hy France ^ and fupported by her trOop$9 0€* They were to found the minds and dif^ portions of their friends and acquaintance at London, and elfewheres to infinuate the great expectations of fdme new and happy change 5 to cultivate and improve every advan- tage and .circutt)iftartcc that n^ight prefeht itfelf for pro- moting this great tiefigtkt without difclofing the fecret ;, coh-^ fiding it but ta.ai Veyy few, and to thofe only as wercthcn named and agreed on; as perfons of known zeal and fidelity to the caufe, and on whofe prudence and integrity they could entirely rely ; fo that no opportunity ihould be omit- ted ^ tb^-accoflDpliihoQeiRt* of tbeii' hopes, and to condiidt matters-in fiich manner, a& to ripen into perfection for the year 1747* or at fooneft for the year 1746, according as the Englijb army fhould be then more or lefs employed abroad, in F Zanders or other diftant places, and the kingdom lefs jable< to de&ad itfolf^ fefiwajpt ofrher national troops ; an interval, which would give the French the opportunity of commencing fuch operations, as muft lay the Englijh under the neceflity of fending forces abroad to oppofe them.

It, was .. at this . tiijae the boftih was . tff bfurft in Scotland, the (naik to be taken off by the French^ and the young pretender to af^ar with Juftre and eclat at the. head of a Freneb and Highland army/ according to the project then

• agreed on, by- the- privity and approbation of the. French coQf t : and fo careful -were they of this fecret, that the Engiijb miniAty kne;w nothing of their defign, and would fcarce believe it, wheh it was firft reported, that they had taken i^pf^cws ixxScotlan^^ iUn^fr^the. ftaadardof.the pretender.

-r.'D Want

r 6 1

Want of proper intelligence of this defign broaglk on ah expence of milHons to this nation, without reckoning the loik Off many thou£md lives^ or the burning of cafttes, houfes^ plundering^ and other calannities which followed, and which ftill are recent in the minds of many j all which might have been prevented, if at that time fuch intelligence had been given, as has bcea lately communicated in a much more dangerous affair ; and which has been fo ill encouraged, and as yet remains unrewarded, as will be fully {hewn in the courfc of thefe letters.

The caufe of this rebellion's breaking out a year or two fooner than the time agreed on by the rebels and confpira^ tors themfelves, {hall be the fubjedt of my next letter.

C \ 1 ' • ' ' ^ --.... ' -^- - II

^iMib

LETTER THE SECOND.

/^ B S T I N A C Y and felf-fofficlency, ei(J)ecially where weighty matters arc in queflrion, are generally at- tended with bad confequences. The young pretender^ on the profped laid open to him by the affociations and afiurances of fupport from France (as mentioned in my former letter), could not wait the tedious delay of their being brought to maturity. Hurried by the natural inv- petuoiity of his own temper, the gf aflfying of which, even in the fma]lt{b m^tterft, • he ever |)refers before any other J

con«

( 7 ) confi^eration : thirfting for vengeance on his enemies ; cxpoftii^, or rather flattering himfclf, with the vain hopes, qf imnaediate^y poffefl^ng a crown and three kingdoms, by s( C9Hp de mapi : believing his own j^dgnient ibperior to that of his father or his friends, in the purfuit of his ambitious and bloody defigns : acting in all things contrary to the expr^fs orders and conimands of the firft, and in:contempt of the advice and entreaties of the latter, which had been -frequently repeated to him, and which he had as often pro«^ mifed to obfcrve, whenever the fubjeft of an invafion was agitated ; in a wprd^ in violation of all filial obedience, and the moft ibleom pfomifes made by him, as often as this point was >n^er confideration, Edward privately deter- mined to fet out for France, having by letters to his fecret friends, and otherwise, previoufly taken all the precautions he thought neccffary, for efcaping the difixculties and dan- gers that might attend his hazardous journey, or apparentljr obflruA his fecret views and rafh deiigns^

Thus determined^ he fets out from Rome for Paris ; and arriving, in his way thither, at AvignioUy incog, he found means 6o.be well received by a gentlewoman, who had been: diftinguiflied for her wit and great connexions, and who had been brought. up in a convent of that city, and whofe uncle was a bifhop refiding there : to whom he made his court direXly, in order to conceal himfelf, by the affiftance ^f the fain rdigiout, in caife of a purfuit; which he fufr pcftcdi and, not without reafon^ apprehended might be made to flop: him^ and bring him back ta Rome.

* ' * •

The

[ 8 ]

The good lady, at that time young and gay, ' an4 fince not kfs known in the literary world by her writings, than by her misfortunes, at London , within thefe fexv years paft i nor lefs proud of her gueft than the confidence he repofed in her, was not wanting on her part to provide him a fafe retreat ; nor did (he fail, through intereft, piety, or gaiety, to fhew him every mark of politenefs, hofpitality, and ten- derncfs, whicli might render his retired fituation pleafing and agreeable to him, until fhe could take fuch meafures as her intereft, charafter, and her authority in the church, being a prelate's niece, gave her a reafonable pretext to make ufe of, for fafely conveying him out of the pope's territories into thofe of France, which are not far diftant from that city. His apprehenfions were not ill grounded ; for it was not long before mcflengers arrived with orders to the pope's governor (to whom Avignon is fubjeft) to examine all paf- fengers, and not to FufFer any to pafs the gates of that city, without apaflport; to which was annexed an order from the old pretender to flop his fon, and bring him back to Ronte, in cafe he fhould be found to travel that way.

The zeal and adivity with which thefe new and extra- ordinary orders and commands were obeyed'^ in a fhort time fubfided; it being fufpefted, that the bird had flown in the dark before the cage was (hut. The kind religieufe, how- iever, negle^fted nothing that might contribute to the ac- complifhment of the wi(hes of her gueft j when feigning a pretence to vifit an abbefs, at a- convent in the country, fhe wrote to the governoV for a paflport fof herfelf ; and he not in the leaft fufpeding, that a perfon of her charaAer could

have

C 91 T

jonogifdveatinxiv fem ber the pad

iJ

.Pitmdefl with thefe etfential protedions from* enqmty» a carriaget with every neceflary for his journey, was prepared ; and tboJady with her doiai^e) which fhe had drawn froirr his redretndnt^ bdbg therein artfully placed, in fuch ft^an<» oer jfi not to beiuipeifted or ieen^ £tt out oii her |nretended vlfii ; and feading a fervant a little before, to ihe w the go^ veroor's paii^it to the oiffioer, who commanded at the gate^ fhe, on her arrival there, pafTed with every mark of refpeA, and iwithoot ilKildaft! fg^^ioA cr taEafaSifiatkm ; and' cen« M^Ufitd the.iidycBktirer lafely to die place agr^d oa, in the tcrritodes of Brancef where ^her convenience hetrig pro-* vided, after Tectprocal acknowledgmetrts, declahltions of ftiendfliip^ juid t^nks^ he {liroIteutM his journey to withoat inlierruptioil J

All wkkedfidfe, ycM wJll agree^ is folly ; nor Is it much to be doubted, Jb^ ^dkat C}>en ads of ^ifebedlcbce, arid cMl doings,: win W /getiksraNy attended wifh'ftfn^f^il ton£^ quences 40 thoie (vt^ho do l^m { ^flippomtmetit, nhor^ca-^ tion, and infamy, being the ufual recompence of perfidious and unjoft a(dions«

*Ske {[dod offices of this lady, as (tie herfelf declares^

r^eaped this adsanitage by her Jiew ^loiuiedions ; for, hating 6mc time if ter etfmtnenced « feit «t RoMUy to be *hMved attddsftJwrgca fi«>m lier teKgf oils "^ows, a« being fbreetf iirto

Voj.-. r. ' c a

ai fiof^yent >y her jreUtfows, during hetl^nSetyeuif ami trary to the canons of the, church,: and conjtrarj^to hiKr.owx\ inclinations) ihc, by the intereft and recommendation of the father^ then Cbevaliir de St. George, obtained! a fentence or decree from the pope; Whereby (he was abfolved and dis- charged from, her vOw^) ind ibc dities oflaintnalj in codfe- q\ience/of, which, ihe refigned her cl^argef and- authorityv*^ which; £be held in that cooyent, aiid quitted both the hoole and the h.abit3 iince which time this lady has been the fubje^ of much difcourfe and converfation, bodi at Paris and London.

AjI

, The adventurer arriving at Paris, had immediately many private interviews and conferences * with his moft Chriitian Majefly and his minifters, who adviied him to lay afide his intentions of invading S^tland foe. ibme time. Here alio he met with reproaches, in letters from hb £itfaer, for^the undutiful behaviour he had (hewn, and the injudicious ftbps he was about to purfue ; but tho(e remonftrances and re- bukes, ferved only as fpurs to ahorie under the curb, to.raife and inflame his pailion for gciing forward, and to bring upon that miferable country, and thofe who joined him,, the d^Ution and fulTerings that ibon after followed.

Effedhially then to carry his own projedl into execution, he went to lodge at the houfe of * Enaas Macdonnel, who

afterwai*ds

* Emtas Macdonnelf after the defeat of Cullodin^ furrendered himfelf to the then honourable General CapipMI, now duke of JrgyU. He was brought to London priibner, and for fome time confined at a king'p mefleogen » ^9''^ thence carried to NfwgaU^ from which place he made bii (fe^pc, by throw- ing

I « 1

afterwards' apjMMttod «nder iht title of his banker, and who has fince felt the efiedts of his tyranny and ingratitude. In this houfbf as well as in other private places of rendessvous, the adventurer held his , feparate afTemblies, where Ke/fy, SuUharif Sta^kton^ Skerridafif ^ Gkngarry^ the chevalier

Maclean^

ing a box of fnuff in the turnkey^s. eyes, as he was opening the door of the fii&AyM (Where Macdonrnl was confined) to let a vifitor out. , He was im- ibejiateiy retaken^ and brought back by ii poor ordinary fellow, 'who law bin rdn through the ftreets was afterwards tried and condemned at 5r. Murgwrtfi Hilly and confined in the new goal, Swtbtoari. Twice or three times the cart at the dodr, and he ready to mount therein^ and all the apparatus /or his execution ready ; when he was each time reprieved, luckily for him, before be was carried to execution* At length he obtained mercy, by his late maje- fiy'-s. moft, gracious pardon. ' On Us retvroto JFrmctf, he obcaioei a periiion fron;i that court for his (tipport, which he fome time enjoyed } but the adven* turer difpleafed, or pretending "to be difpleafed, with fomething in the con- duct of this unfortunate man, . during his CufFerings, and which mod probably favcd his life, wrote to maHhal BflUtfit againft hrm ; and never ceafed his vndpihgf ^nttl he caufed tfae,peiTfioa.i0 be lakep ai^ ;. leaving: him deftitUle of <bread, which was afterwards, neverthelefs, in fome meafure fupplied to him, by the benevolence of a farmer* generaL

The caufc of the adventurer's difpIeaf^re and. y^cjumcnt was at thia timr Fai^, and;ftron^y rjeported at VerJailUs^ to be Qiyiag to fonjfu intelligence h^ h^d received from fome one then ncfar his royal l>ighne(s /V<^r/Vi^ ^l\e latr prinQc of^ff^aUsj who had coipmunicatcd ^o him fomething .that -AiiffbiMil/ had faid or difclofed wtien he was feat for one night, and examined before the.p^- — council after his condemnation, by which he faved his life; at'letfft this was the pttvailingaccoiuit given at tjuit^pap*' . • . . .

*. TUs ph^tt9\^9. brought up inrirtffltf/; ianaigecittely drtitiieri^lefiiii mtones^i wis ^Idcft;ibh of. Matdmul of iSlkngarf% An the Highhnfsy ' cAief fil si^iaj^e'dan bfthattnme^ always attached to'the &iu€Tf% fuitily, and #hoie fftat^waa igg^ confideraUe. . He ms tidopn at fea with Ibi^ Derwtntuuifr^i

.',' M- »!•.-: .• i.©A 'i > ' > 'J . ••..' .*^v J.-'i'i • • -and

I " 1

MadwHt Bla^f and Tome lew ocbeffi^ Mttttded the con* fttltatjk)»s, and concurred in the refdotioiis* tlMre taken i fome oi whom had.ad^^^ and interefl enough ^xVtrfi^s^ at laft to draw the Frtnfh nai^Hftry into a Jeemuig approbat tion of this iJan. The two Ifidfc being. oi;dei:<d away \^^^9t'^ landy to prepare the clans, were clofeted with the king^ and afterwards with Monfieur jyArgenJon (as they themfelves boafled) the night before their departure, whei;e they re-? ceived the ftrongefl affurances of affiance in men and nao--. ney i with direAions ]to inform the friends of the caufi^ shtt there (hould not be wanting powerful fuppHes of every kind, ^when all things fliould be prepared for a rifing, and the dan5 ihould be in arms.

The dievalier and Blow immediately fet out on this Gom« miflion, and were the firft meffengers of this intended de- fcent in 1745^ and the firft vidims of their own weaknefs and ftupidity, as well as of Ae vigilance oi the Britijh go- vernment: for, arriving at Edmburgb^ where they lived too

freely.

and made priibner in the Tower ; is the fame perfon, who at firft was fuf-^ ipeAed, and univerfally reported, to be the adventurer's brother. Hts father was a long time confined clofe prifqner in Eiinlurgh caftle, on account of the then troubles, and his younger brother was at the head of his clan in the a£Uoi> at Prefion'Pens. In 1 747, the elder, through the clemency of his late majefty,. obtained bis liberty, by being difcharged out of the Tower, and fent back ta frenee^ with Sir Hi&or MacUan and others, then di&harged. Some time after his arrival in Francis he follicited the jroung adventurer for his intereft to procure him ibme advancement in one of the ^aub regiments ; but not- vn^ftanding bis own and his family's finrvices, and fufferings, he met with the iitmoft contempt and unkindAefs ftom the adventu«r { who toM him, he thought a ierjeant's poft was too good for htm. This is not Ac only inftaMt wo ihaU meet with in him of the Uackcft ingntitude*

[ >i 1

fredy^ and ftaid too long at a public-houfe^ for men charged with foch Important" matters (as they were afterwards re- proached for^ by their fuperiors and friends) the landlord fufpeftin^ jfrom their bdiltvlour and difcourfe only, that they were embarked in fome bad defign, gave information againfl^ them^ ^ and they were^ in confequence thereof, af- r«^^t; ^Vkde, warrant being font by the marquis of Tweedale, ^ktp. fcccctary • of flate for the afiRurs c^ Scotlandj to bring tt^eia to l4ind$n» th^ triere oondufted under a guard of horfe, .and kept clpie prifonefs* However, notwithftanding the fever^ examinations they underwent, they had the con« dud' to let: ikxhiog naaterial tranfpire*

In fom^ weeks &fter thefe tranfadtions (iminformed of the fate of his two ejbiflaries) the adventurer himiclf, with thofe who accompanied him^ after a narrow efcape of being taken at fea, arrived in the Highlands i where we (hall leave him for the prei^t, and conclude this letter with obferving, that it was to this ifitit and obftinacy of opinion in the ad- venturer, that the rebellion broke out in j 745, and which brought him fo* ill provided into Scotland; and, in my nextp I ihall give you fome account of what vras doing at Rome^ and the fteps taken towards forwarding his affairs ; though he had withdravm himfelf from thence in the manner before mentioned, to plunge himfdf, ^d thoufimds befides, into unipeakable miferies, hardihips, and diftreifesj of which many families fed the fevere ^eds unto diis day.

LETTER

I f* 1

m-^m

LETTER THE THIRD.

r i

T^ISPLEASED as the old chevalier appeared to be, at "^ his fon's precipitate flight^i fuch meafurefi were, never- thelefs, immediately refolved oh, and purfued, as might ftill favour the ^rand defign^ (this is what> in the vulga/ phrafe,

•

is faid ^^ to make the beft of a bad market*') amongft which it was judged necefTary to difpatch private meilengers with letters, as fix>n as poilible, to acquaint fQme of their parti- cular friends, in England^ Wales ^ and Scotland, of his fud- den departure for Paris, and thereby to invite' the few, in whom thegreateft confidence was plax^, and who could be moil ufeful, by their rank, charaAer, and abilities, to join him at Paris y as alfo to encourage all his friends to conti- nue fleady in their attachment, and endeavours for promoting the great end of the young adventurer's undertaking ; with affurances, that it would be well fupported. French promifes, Jike forjcigh bills, not duly honoured, fhould be protefted and returned for non-payment.

Amongft others, a letter was wrote to the ♦ earl of Clan^ carty, to the above effed, by the Chevalier de St. George

* himfelf.

tl < I a^iJfc^^

* Lord Clancarty^ feveral years before he received the letter of invitation from the old pretender, had been in Inland^ where he brought ejedments for recovery of an eftate forfeited by his father, amounting to about j^. 60,000 per year, which he claimed under a fettlement of marriage. The parliament

of

I is r

himfdif. He therein acquainted the earl/ that his fon was fet out ffom Romi for Paris, to fettle fome preliminaries with that court fipr effedtually putting the projeSl in execu- tioii ; and that as he had received the moft fatisfadtory af- iiirances of fiiccours in men and money, and every other material neceflary for the completion of the bufinefs, he prayed and required his lordfhip (who^ it was agreed on^ was to command at fea, being well acquainted with, and broughf up in that fervice) to leave London, as foon 'as con* veniently he could, and to. go .directly to Faris^ in order to join his fom, who at that time, he doubted not, but hoped, might be difluaded from purfuing ra(h meafurcs, and pre- vailed on to pbftpone his voyage to Scotland, for fome time longer at leaft, until things could be duly prepared ; and who perhaps might, in the interim, appear publickly there, according as the circumftance and fituation of affairs fhould admit, or beft cohreipond with the intrigues and politics of the French court • ' s

t

This nobleman, who had thought himfelf ill ufed by the miiiiftry of England, required but a very flender invitation to join in any enterprizie, that, in his opinion, might diftrefs^

them;

of that kingdom pafled a vote, whereby it was refolved, that any lawyer, •counfid, att<irneyt or rollicitor, that ihould proceed in fuch fuit, (ic. fiiould 1>e deemed an enemy to his country, &r« This refolution^ which quieted the minds and interefts of the pofleflbrs of that large eftate, enraged the mind of the earl, who thought himfelf intitled to the whole ; and dlfappointed in that cxpefbtion, he fought any occafion for procuring to himfelf the profpe£l of pofleffihg^^hat great fortune, and would have joined the Grand Turk or Cham «f Tariary to obtain it.

them} »nd» tb^rpfpiv, wHh' groiviiidterii^inft eMdinfll^lM«i

gaft to GsttU hts afKtir^f an4 prepuc to fet outt for IVn^r,

Yet the difpofition he fhewed^ of an ci>odiesiCQ to thia l6t-« ter from the old cAepab'eTf did not procoed .froni any parti- cular afFedHon or attachment to hiin tsr his hsmij, aa will appear by the fequel*

• • • •

dopes of recoveriixg and poflfeiling. a la^ eAate fbdeited by his fadier, with the ambition of appeatimg jat the head of a powerful fquadrion at fea^ as he was made to believe^ feem to have been his chief mo^i^ea, ^nd ftrongeft ioci^*^ ments* Be. that aa it map, h^ fbon arranged his own privator affairs, and fet out for Frsnce i but, i^ i how gnat wc^ his furprize and difappqixutment, when, <ftn laftdiag <ihere^ he found, that, wfailfl he was perfoimiDg Ha voya^ ttt France 9 the adventurer had fet out £rom xkoice on his voy-*; age to Scotlandy and had ai^ually arrived in that kingdom I Sluos Deus vult perdere nemo dement at.

« ■ « • *

The news of the adventurer's djanger 4md eicape at fea, and of his being fafe landed in Stotlund, wax known in France before the Englijh miniftry were fully apprifed thereof, or at leafl convinced that it was fo. This news, however, had very different effefts on thofe to whom it was conamuni* cated ; ibme were rejoiced at the happy deliverance he, had, from the danger that fo nearfy threatened him, and at his fafe landing in Scotland, looking on both as good omens in his favour; whilfl others, of more folid judgment, and

grmter .

[ '7 ]

greater fbrefight atfd penetration, looked upon ihts Attempt as liot only ra(h ^nd inconfiderat^, but as moft eiie&ual to ihipwreck his fortune*

His Iriends Whom he had left behind, efpecially thofe "virho were in<^ fanguine and earneft in foUicitations for fuc^ cours to be fent after him, begaq to conceive great hopes tp themfelves, by the news frequently received from Scotland i and they 1)okily 4>oke on that behalf, to procure troops for

that fervice^

*

Troops were not wanting on the coaft of France^ had the minifters at that time beeji in the leaft difpofed to fend them. Bouhgttey Calais^ Dunkirk, and other ports, were fuffici-^ ently gamilhed with forqes ; but the court was not, dr ap- peared not to be, entirdy fatud&od with the expedition. Befides, there was a large French army encamped in Flirn^ ders ; and their king was with the army, attended by his minifters, where they remained for fome time.

The adventurer's brother, then called duke of Tork, was in Frdncif and had at this time his . reiidence generally at Boulogne or Dunkirk, .where he was pompoufly attended by ^feverd perfons of diftin<3:ionj and couriers under diiguifes 'and various pretexts wtre frequently going and coming to «nd from England, Wales, and Scotland, with letters and difpatches ; but no order for troops to* be fent to Scotland could be obtained from France.

Vol. I. D At

r 18 J

At length the partizans of the caufe, thinking it duty not to negkA fo fair an opportunity, as that of the king and his miniiler's being with Ae army^ the earl of Clancarty and lord Marjhal were deputed and diipatched tOt the camp in Flanders^ to folicit the minifter for immediate affiftance, and immediate fupply of forces, to invade Scot*- Ibndi. and to keep up the fpirit of rebellion- in that kingdonu

Monfieur D^Avgenfon^ the then^ minifter, received* thefe- two earls with that politenefs due to their rankr and enter- ing on the fubjeft of their commiffion^ WArgenfon (fpeak- ing to lord MarJhatJ affedEed* to be flirprifed' that his Idrd- (hip did not go to Scotland with the adventurer; to which die other replied, he thought he was fiot fufficiently fup- plied or prepared for fuch an expedition; but that, as he had begun, he might continue to make a good diverfion, until a prosier and reafonable fupply of inen.could,be,fent,tDj himc ,

jyArgenfon then a/ked him, what number of men he- thought might be fufficient to d6 the work, with thofe who* were already in arms ? (ftDl at times exprefling his furprife, that he did not embark with his prince^ as he called him, . and condudt him to iSc0//i^;^, as^itwas hiS' lordfhip's natisie country, and he fo well acquainted therewith, and beloved by the people, that he might have drawn many more, toge- ther, who would have readily followed him).. The lord Mar^^/ anfwered, that if he would give him- but 7000 men^. he would immediately embark with them, and undertake,, upon peril of his life, with the troops already in arms;^ and ;

thofe.

[ 19 1 lSi6k thtft would riie on his appearing at the head of the' army there^ to complete the work, and place the pretender oil die throne^- as there were not fufficient force then in Eftg-' land to oppofe them ; but that it was necelTary that this* fupply Should be fent with all difpatch, before the Engli/b troops could be called home from Germany.

The French minifter cooly replied, that he was very forry^ as he feared fuch a laumber could not be then fpared ; but faid, he would think of it, and fee what could be done .; aJlTuring them, neverthelefs, that the caufe fhould be fuf- tained, and help fhould not be wanting. Lord Clancarty going on in importuning the minifter, and feconding lord Marjhal*^ demand, jyArget^fon fay:s to him, ^uanfa voire prince^ Mw/eigneuTf il efi alkr en Ecoffe^ en Btanctec : fen . Juisfacbi. Vous tietes pas bein coeffe^ Monfeigneur ; voukz vous queje vous envoye man pernquer, ilfait bein cceffer.

Lord Clancarty is a man generally carelefs in his drefs i though, on occafions, no man drefles better, appears with more luftre, or has a better tafte in cloaths % but happened at this time to be- in a deihabiUe, with an ordinary black tie-wig, fuch as he commonly wears <mi journies, and which added no ornament to the reft of his drefs ; which gave the minifter the opportunity of changing the difcourfe, and making hini this iheering complinjent {all this being lord Clancarty^ own account). It provoked him fo much, who is naturally warm and rough, though a man of good fenfe, with a bad application of it, that he ftarted up from hid chair, defiring lord Marjbal to come aw^, and faying to

D 2 him

f. « J

in Engtijhf which he knew the minifler did iiot ftaod^ ^ Damn the fellow, he is making his diverfion of us;'* and never after .could he be prevailed on to go near him. The confequence that followed this interview! muft rtferve for my next. It was faid indeed, that if the peer had met the minifter on any other than French ground^ he would have given him more occafion for a furgeon to drefs his head» than his lord(hip had for a barber to accommodate his wig.

LETTER THE FOURTH.

T>ESPONDENCY and refentment fcldom fail to fol- low difappointment cloie to the heels, when we find that promifes of fervices, and profeffions of friendfliip, arc only made and calculated to delude and deceive us. It is> not, therefore, much to be wondered at, if tl^e two lords^ mentioned in my former letter had retained a litt4e of both^. on the reception they met vnth from the French minifter^ and the little attention he (hewed for the fuccefs of the Scotch affairs, in the conference they had with him ; for the fup- port of which, their folicitations were entirely dire£led.

Lord Marpal * and lord Clancarty had both been long perfetuted> by the malevolence of their adverfe ftars. For- tune

• Lord Marjhal received fo many flights and affronts from the young pre- tender and his brother, after the tttacbment he had ihewn for that caufc^

whick

t «« J

iqne feeihed t6 hafe-ferned her back lipcm them. AccuA^ tomed to her frowns, they cot^rteii'iiotiher foniles i ncur were they ignorant of the Hith faith cha< fiumM be given to pro^^ xnifes of men> - wfaoie principal ftudy, whofe greateft merit, whofi daily pradice and highdft ambition, is to cajole and deceive.

' 'Contrary, 4ien, to jwhat one might exped to refult from fuch dreads arid dpprdhedfioirs,- as fill the mind on believing their caufe, tieir all^ to be abandoned or loft, their ardour cooled nQt ) lio dteje^ion was perceived ; nor was Acir re- ientment lefs for being fmothered. They heartity 'wiflied, it is true, all the ill pofiible to UArgenfon ; and there was not at that tioie any dne of :> the party in France tbsJt would not have triump^d at his death or downf^l. But th^ did act think it for the' intereiS: pf the cauie , to fhew any. out-- ward tokend >oY their di^bntdit. }f either did they pd^lifli iwhat had paiHd at their conference with iXArgenfony left it might difpirit their friends, and otherwife hurt the intereil of the caufe. For thofe reafons, it was made known only to a few* ' I

They, therefore, continue^ their iolkitations at court> with more warpith than befot^e, Ibcbnded by the adven- turer's brother; in which ievecal of ^ the French nobility,

' ^ '• friends

which' \\t had unfftftunjitely ^mbajrlcfd in^ stnd the man/ Services he h^ ren- flered tKem, ^that he 2$. length abandoned both, and would iiever after be per- fuaded to meddle in their affairs; the* Hf treatmcyit and ingratitude he thee With fr(^ tlie twoi^iothiiDa liavl^rfiiufed asd peov^ed bis Ji^^eft lefeotaieoir^ jiKbi^;4lJa^. opened his eyes, and convinced him of the errors in which h& had been toa long blindly wanderii^

[ " ]

friends to that family, affifted and jomed^ feme ladies de* daring at that time, in their private cabals, that if the ad^ venturer wanted moneT, ihty would* - amoogft their own Tex, raife by {libfcription a large fum to he remitted to him^ even ihbuld they be obliged to fell or mortgage their jewek to procure it. Thus the fpirit of his affairs was revived and wrought up, when they were thought to be at low ebb. New applications were&lfo continudly making in his favour from Rome, and other places ;, which at length difpofed thd minifler to (hew, it leaft in appearance^ an intention of aid* ing and aiiifling the young adventurer, by traniporting a body of troops in^ Scotlaf^^

His fuccefs at Prefion^P^ms reanimated the courage of Jiii friends in France, and gave them room to demand, with greater freedom and boldnefs, the performance of at leafl fbmc of the bountiful promifes fo profufely Mattered in his behalf a long time before, and which, until then* feemed to be totally laid afide, or entirely forgot.

The minifter then began, thro* fhame, (if any fuch thing can be found in the poffeflion of thofe miniflers, who, from die authority of office^ imagine there is no ihame in vio- lating their faith, and the moft facred promifes) or he was driven by the prefUng importunities, with which he was daily tormented, ferioufly to think of doing fomething to relieve himfelf from both, and dazzle the hopes and expedlations of all. For which purpose, fbme piquets drawn from the Irtjh brigade were ordered to embafk, which land- ed in Scotland, except a few, who were taken at fea« Lord Clares regiment entire embarked,, with old Sbortal, their

lieutenants^

••

i: as I

lieutenantrcolonet, who tfeen commanded them for tbafex* peditioHi being at that time the only hijbman alirc, of all thofe, who had'left />•(?&»</ with Jaaks^^fi Seicond, after hi» defeat at the Boyne. This old officer> in his very advanced age, was ifofanguine, that no argument could diffuade him to quit the colours of the regiment ; and notwithflanding die great infiffmities incident to one of his years* he em- •barkedy with the hopes of feeing* as he often iince declared, ttnce more his native country, before his death, by a voyage Be intended to make thither from Scotland^ as foon as thac^ kingdom could be reduced : which childiih reft>lution may well be sittributedL to the effedU of his great age.

^ \ .

This regimenr^ \nth their old colonel^ fuiFeced much in Aeir voyage to Scotland^ from contrary winds and bad wea* jtfair ; and the old xAsm; to augmeQt his afHi^ions^ had the additional mortification of feeing only the hills and plains of th&t unhappy country (for iUch it certainly was at that jundture) without having fb much as the pleafare of putting his focjt on: £bore : for the captains of the veflels^ in whom thefe troopS> and fome.fbw others^ Were embarked, for rea^ fons and pretences beft known to themfelves (but which were foon fufpe£ted to be by fccret orders given to them by the French miniftry) refufed to land them y which created much d^urbance and diilention in thofe (hips, amongd the officers and VMSt^ who,, enraged at the difappointment of getting on (hore, were almoft ready to mutiny. Some few of the officers, however, by force or artifice, got on fhore, and w^nt and joined the rebel army ; the reft were dirciftly Brought, back to France k

There

In]

There were at {his time likewile ibine few o^ber$, who had quilted therrregiiixents in fbreigii : fervke; who found tneans to c get itito Statkmd, unddTpret^gite of fe^eal for the cauie; bt^f 'flK>re from a principle of felf-4ntereft» to obtain» in the trouble and conftifion, at that time, daily incraafingy preferment in an undifciplined army, diat w^ted bifioers to inftt-uft theih; in the military exercife : but mdft of thofc unfortunate entttptitirs, with many others/ the year 'folii- lowing, found their retreat- in the prifbns o( Lofuhn and SoufAwark, where they remained to lament their fate, till fent back to -France.

It > .

Through policy or fineffe, the court of France^ to ihew, or pretending to (h^W, her approteitibn and conoirrence in this bufinefs, fent over on this oc<!afion' fas part of the promtfed fuceoursy ho ddubt) X>[fc Monfieur Bouir\ cloathed with the character of a minlfter, tor the ^buftg adveritiirep. TThis foreign dfnhaffador puffed a^^ay declarations, faid to be bis mafter's, or by his orders whereby it was deddred, that ■a treaty of alliance had been entcfed intd between bim and his cottjin 5 that as he hfad drawn the fwbrd^. he^^wouTd rot fheath it, until he had pTadfed him on the thfone of his^aii- ccftors, &c. or to jhat effeiSt i the importance of which, as well as of thi^ embafly, for fome fli6rt time, gave a high and new air to matters s and a tone extraordinary to the friends in Scotland, as weH as td die partizans ttf the caufe in France.

Public promifes and profeffions of this kind, made with- out any great appqarance of performance, no eflfeftual fup- plies being yet arrived from France, though fo lortg^ expcfted,

, .'r and

[ H ] and ib many favourable opportunities for fending them had then! elapfed/ were not fwallowed down by all, and became doifbtful to many s in fo much that moft of the Highland chiefs, who began to look upon this man with an eye of fulpicion, would have been much better pleafed, and would haic foiuxd (as they faid themfel ves) better refource, in the arrival of three or four thoufand auxiliaries, than in all the odious, fulfome, perfidious declarations, he daily expreffed, and which ^on, like fmoak,. evaporated, without any better effect than leaving thofe, who were credulous, to be dupes to their own credulity*

Gr??t, it IS true, were the expedlations which the adven- turer^s fuccefs in the adtion at Pre/ion- Pans raifed amongft his friends abfoad, and particularly amongft many of the French themfelves ; fome of whom in fecret bdgan to look upon him with fear and jealoufy } which occafioned J8(?/^r^, the pretended ambafiador^ who in fa<ft was regarded in no other light than as a fpy, to be fent over. That vidtory, which, with fo much facility, declared itfclf, in that adtion, in his favour that day, and which gave him, his followers and partizans, at home and abroad^ ihch flattering delufive hopes, had been in- finitely better for him and his followers to have been lofl than gained for him : he would then have been obliged' to have returned from whence he came, (if not taken by thofe he came to deflroy) the lives of thoufands had been fpared, and the troubles, diflrefTes, and calamities, that fpllowed^ ,ha4 never been known. This fuccefs then proved as a fnarq.or a decoy to lead him to misfortunes, which he did not forefee, and of which his advifers were ignorant, by encouraging

Vol. I. E him

r a6 ]

him in his ambitious projed, in which providenoe» it u vifible^ intended he never (hould fucceed^ as I hope clearlf to prove to yon in my next*

——pi

LETTER THB FIFTH.

V

TNFATUATED by this vidory, he remained at JS^«- ^ burgb^ much longer than one in his dei^erate (ituation ought to have done^ if he had any hopes of accompliihing his evil deiigns ; if he had not been under the fatality* that his wayward fate had determined to render his expe^tions abortive in the end.

Many were the motives affigned for his delay^ and ftrongly reported, by his beft and neareft friends : yet at this very time he began to exert a fpirit, which he had not before (hewn, and privately to murmur at the obftinacy and per* verfenefs of the Scatcbf and ^e difreipe^ul treatment he had received from feveral of that nation, who then accom^ panied him to their own ruin.

Entertainments, operas, balls^ and other amuiements of that nature, greatly occupied a confiderable part of his time.. By this he thought to render himfelf amiable and agreeable to the nobility, and others, who at that time reforted to^

Edinburgh $.

[ *7 I

Edittburgb I and in order, by an afikble, obliging, and cour-* teous bchairiottr, to remove dio£: prejudices that had been and ceoMined ftrongljr imprinted on the minds of moft peo- ple, againft his family, as well as to eftabliih a good opinion and favourable reputation of himielf ; whilft his natural in-- dinations, and real intentions, were, by this artful beha^ viour* concealed. On the other hand, it was faid, with equal appearance of truth, that he remained at Ettinburgb only to wait for the arrival of fome of the clans, who were preparing to follow, and who had £iithfully promifed to march and join him# One or other of thefe reafons may be true I and, for my own part, I am inclined to believe, that there is ibme truth in both.

But amoogft all the idle uncreditable reports that were then fpread abroad on this fubjed, none was more ridicu* lous, falfe^ or ill founded, than that which related to an intrigue with a woman called * Miis Jenf^ Cameron : her Nation, her age, her occupation, tafte, and charader, ef^ fe^ally remove every kind of fufpicion on that head. This woman brought on berielf the reputation, or rather the nick^name* of his miftrefs, nierely by fpeaking fisivourably of him and hi$ interefts, and by profd^ing an attachment to him, virhich was common to all her name, who at diat time

£ a formed

rii*«WfMM^

* This woman liTed at Ediniurgb j was what the HigbUndtn called loyally attached to the family of the Stuarts i was ufed to invite the ladies and gen- tlemen of the town to come to lee her, and drink Cbarly*s health. She was far advanced in years, kept a kind of milliner's 0iopi and was only dttbb*d by way gf ridicule with the name of his miftrefs.

[ ^8 ] formed a large clan. Had the liking or paffion, whicH had captivated him for Mifs Wdkingjbaw^ whom he afterwards caufed to be brought over to France to him, and who ftill remains with him, notwithftanding his repeated unkindnefles, and cruel treatment of her, as may hereafter be more parti- cularly mentioned ; had this, I fay, been known at that time, the name of Jenny Cameron had been as much in oblivion then, as it is now, and ever will remain.

It was to thefe amufements^ entertainments, dancings, and the like, with waiting for fome of the clans to advance and join him, that the delay was owing ; which prevented him from marching forward fooner, in order to attack Car^ ItJUy to open for himfelf a paffage into England^ which he afterwards, but too late, eflFedted, with refpedt to his grand view, and other interefts : for whilft, by his delay at Edin^ f^HVgk* l^c was fecuring to himfelf an imaginary fund of praife and aife£tion, he was, in reality, drawing upon himfelf a load of blame, trouble, and difappointment ; which, by a woeful experience, he foon after difcovered, in the fatal C9pfequen<(es that followed. He doubted not of being joined by feveral: in his march to Deriy; but, to his great morti- fication, a , few only of the . common people, about Man* cbefteri ranked themfelves unfortunately under his forelorn ilandard. Befides, his delay gave time for the Englijh mini- fters to call home fome of the national regular troops from Flanders (where they were then employed) with the duke of Cumberland at their head ; whilft others, in the pay of Great Britain^ or by treaty united to her interefts, put themfelves in march for the fame purpofe^ and foon arrived in England.

[ 29 ]

This anfwercd the views of the French minifter: for, Bruffeh being at this time clofcly bcfieged by Marfhal Saxe, it foon fell into his hands. He had thrown fuch a quantity of bombs into that city, that many churches and convents fuffcred thereby ; and moft of the nuns, who for years be- fore had not once feen the ftreet, or enjoyed the converfation of men, unlefs that of their confeffors, were obliged to fly from thofe convents, for fome time, which gave them the opportunity of feeing the world once more, and of tailing, for fome (hort time, thofe pleafures of life they had fo long renounced.

1

We cannot too much admire or appkud the difpatch and chearfulnefs, with Which the EngUJIj army advanced to feck the enemy. A kind of terror had, at this time, began to ipread itfelf abroad, and the progrefs of the rebels alarmed great numbers of people ; which rendered the bufinefs much more ferious than it appeared to be in its firft breaking out. What is it any army will not do or endure, commanded by a general whom they love, and in whom they place their hopes and confidence ? After the fatigues of long campaigns abroad, their courage warm, and, ' reanimated with love, and duty for their king jmd country, they look for an occaifion to give frefli proofs of both, being perfuaded, that they fhall return with vi<5i:ory and laurels.

London was not at this time, you know, entirely free from apprehenfions and inquietude i but the city, always ready to fupport the juft rights of the crown, not lefs diftin- guifhed for its zeal and attachment to the illuilrious family

on

i 3® 1

on the throne^ than for their detoftation and eocitempt of the Stuarts nee, waa not wanting- to take fuch precautions^ and purfue fuch meafures, as the exigence of the tkaes^ the dan* ger that menaced the public tranquillity^ and the neceffities of the national affairs, demanded. Their attention and li- berality were of very great utility : contributions * were made» and neceifary fupplies were fent to the foldiers, which were not otherwife provided for ; and who» in n hard win* ter, at that time advancing fail upon them, in proportion as they advanced to meet the enemy, found great benefit and relief thereby ; as they prevented many from being attacked by colds and other diforders, that might have been fatal to them, and weaken the arms of our country, and which are generally the certain confequences of vnnter campaigns.

But this was not the only happy efFed: of their loyal and prudent deliberations and reiblutions on this event. It had an effect, perhaps, not thought of, or much expeded, at the time of taking thofe refolutions, and exerting thofe ads of zeal and generofity. The adventurer faw widi grief, that he had no friends, or none of any confequence ; that the good and glorious example of the city of London would (oan be followed by the reft of the kingdonii, if there (bould be any farther neceflity for other fupplies, of what nature foever they might be. He faw with a forrowful heart, that no

riiings.

. * The utility of Alderman, now Sir Stepbin Tbiodon JanJfgrCt great fervices on this occafion, can never be forgot.— -See the Appendix at the end of the 2d volume, giving an account of the parttddar fuma ndfed and appHed by the city of LQndQn on this critical oocaiion.

t 3' J

fififigftt or appearance of rifiiigSy in any ttfptA, (hewed dietnfelves in his hmmr, eidier in town or country, that coold be of any material consequence to him. His expe£ta-> tions of drawing any advantage from discontent or difunion amoflgfl die people^ were firuitlels ; for difcontent or mur« muring there was none. The only ftruggle was in an emu* lation amongft thoie, who were endeavouring to ihew their greateft zeal to defeajt him, and to root out the whole feed of the Jacobites.

The influence refulting from this example fet by the city cf London, at iSiat critical time/ over the whole nation, did not hS, to ftrike him and his followers^ with fuch a damp, as obliged them to thinic of their own fecurity, to retreat, and to'haften back fafter than they came; left they ftiould be iurrounded, ^or cut off by the troops then advancing under the command of his rbyal highncfs the duke of Cumberland, . and tbofe other general officcry who aflcd under his orders : wherefore it became neceflary for felf-prefervation to de- camp. Dire<^ions were given to pile baggages and the retreat began. The roads, they were to take, and the difpo- iitions for their march, in order to efcape the danger that threatened them,- of being taken or cut off by the duke's army, were entirely fettled and privately directed by Sulli^ van, who, it was faid, better than any of the reft, by the fituation of the Englijh army, and the diipofitions made of fome detachments of the troops, forefaw the danger the re- bels were then expofed to, and the facility of their deftruc- lion, unlefs timely avoided by every prudent ftcp and pre-

^^WttOA Jthat was pojEIible to be taken.

■ No

t 33t 1

No time was, therefore, to be loft. Ladies * and nlen,

boys and wenches, -who had/dllowedthi^ir fathers, brother^,

and relations, tparqhed with their army, ffMsne^ in front, £>me

in rear ; fome half ilarye^^ fome ha}f naked ; but moft of

m

them without ihoes or flockings. It. was a kind of comedy to fee the grotefque figures many of them cut at that time i but to moft of whom^ in the end^ -it proved a tragedy. They were purfued in their retreat into^ J^dotfand by the duke, with his army at their heels. . . ,

So much, as I apprehend, may be material to relate, and fatisfadtory to you, as to what followed this retreat, I fhall curlbrily mention in my nextj not intend^g to write a hif-- tory of that rebellion, but only torelate fuch particular tran- fa^ions as have fome connection with what is to follow, and which may be worthy your obfervation, and ^public atten- tion, and have not been made public.

* Lady OgilvUj and others, who followed the armys fl^c was afterwards taken, and made her efcape out of Edinburgh caftie*

•1

. •

LEtTER

t 33 ]

■*— ^^— — — ■! ■ I ■ ■ ■ I

LETTER THE SIXTH.

^T^HE adventurer and his army taking the rout of Carlf/le, in their way to Scotland^ he left in that city and garriibn, as he pafTed by it, a few, who, he knew, could make little or no refinance aglinfl the force that clofely purfued him, and which would foon retake that city, though it had been tea times better fupported. It was necefiary here to make, aa he thought, a {ham parade to amufe them : for which pur*^ pofe he gave orders to thofe, who commanded in CarltfUf to make the beft defence poiGble, and not to furrender till the laft extremity ; promifing that he would foon fend a fufficient force to raife the fiege, and repulfe the enemy : from which he propofed this advantage, that thereby he might retard the march of the Englijh army, and facilitate his own efcape into Scotland.

. .How, cruel and wicked this deception, can eafily be ima- gined : he well knew at the time he gave thefe deceitful, or- ders, that iheCe troops, and the officers, who commanded them, and the governor of the town, muft, on the ap- proach of the Englijh army, fall a facrifice for their rebellion, and become an eafy prey to the conqueror. Their deftrucj- tion he confidered as his own fecurity, and therefore pre- ferred it ; though he might as well have brought them with him, and given them the chance with the other unfortunate v*^retches, then devoted to his' banners, to (hun for a while Vol. I. F- longer

[ 34 ]

longer the miferable fate that foon after befel them alU For as foon as the duke's army arrived before the town^ after a very flender refiftance^ the rebel garrifon furrendered at difcretioQ ; moft of them receiving afterwards the punifh- ment which the law in fuch cafes inflidts.

Inftead of making the prefervation and happinefs of thofc, who joined him, the motive of his care and concern, he regarded, only his own intereft and fafcty; nor ever be- moaned the fufferings and misfortunes of any, provided he could accomplish thereby his ambitious views or defperate defigns i believing (tyrant like) that all thofe over whom his dominion or power extended, are born to die at his pleafure or caprice. How unhappy is, then, the ilate of human nature, if thoufands are to be wretched and mifer- able, to aggrandize one man, with wealth and power, at the expence of their liberty and lives, in whom no gra- titude ox juft acknowledgment can be found, and from whom no recompence or fatisfadion can be obtained I De- tefted and abominable muft he be, who would eftablifh his greatnefs in the oppreilion and ruin of his fellpw-creatures ; '£nce all mankind are but one family, difperfed over the whole globe of this earth.

On his return into Scotland^ his friends and followers 'began to complain of their misfortunes and diftrefles, and the dangers they were ftill expofed to ; and that even vic- tory in any new engagement they might be driven to, would only ferve to render their cafe more defperate. They la- mented the loft time wafted at Edinburgh $ ajledgiog, that

if

C 35 1 if he had marched on to England after the battle of Prefton^ Pans, he would have found little or no refiftance^ as there^ were then hut few troops to oppofe him ; that many would have joined him, if the reinforcements from Flanks, and the auxiliary troops, had not arrived fo critically; which was what intimidated thofe who were difpofed to do any thing in his favour : diat, by purfuing fuch a plan, he would have done his bufinefs before the Englijb troops had arrived ; but that the above delay had defeated their hopes, and brou^t on their ruin.

He limned to thoie remonftrances and murmurings with . comj^aiiance and patience s was careful not to ihew his un- . eafinefs or diflktisfaftion at the behaviour of fbme particular . perfons on this occafion, and fubmitted to their advice, and every tiling they faid. EJiniiirgJ^ was not a place of £ii^' now for him* to retire to, ai^d of cowfe h^ took a long and\ lafting adieu of that city. Many o£ the men, who had. marched with him into England, had returned home, >ut mo((V of them with a prqmiie of coming back to jotn^ hin^*. The broken fpirite and droQpi(lg Goq^age of tfaiofe, whaaer . companied him, he i^w with ch&gfin 4nd iadndi, but did^ all in his power to conceal it : his words and a£tions wero courteous and obliging, eafy and, lataiiliar with every oiie, anc^ ibaring with the co^nmoneft nMn t^tvy hardship and. fatigue, jln thfiit mapch«/ This- c&Bdu(^wab the dffefb^edfftap/ alone (foF ia his beairt he- love^ tbeib not) ioatird^b .litryrl ha^gl^f 3r and perverfe behavidUF, ^hich he ihet jvfitb Aomn fever$d| of the chiefs^' who- brought their men* to rjbiir limf* aedi 5«fhp ^2id command over the troops; to whom they

F 2 * frequently

[ 36 3

r • • •

frequently gave fuch orders as they thought fit, and which were often contradiAory to what he liked ordcfircd; not daring to fhew any refentment or open diilike to this treat* ment : and his apprehenfiorts that he might in the end be betrayed and given up^ forced him to difguife his intentions and refentment. It was, however, neceflary, he thought, to remove, as far as poflible, all the difficulties or objedions that might be oppofed to his defigns, and of endeavouring, not only to keep his army from feparating, but to infpire it with fome flattering hopes of future advantages, and better fuccefs, in order to keep them together, and raife their cou* rage : for which purpofe, he aflbres them of his receivihg advice, that troops embarked from France were then at lea, and that he doubted ndt of their being landed by the time he and th6 army fliould crois the Spey ; that he feared not, with thefc fuccours, to drive the Englijh army out of Scot- land, and at leaft to ^eferve that kingdom independent, until he fhould be in sr condition to re-enter England once more, which he woidd not fail to do with fucfa an army of French and Scotch, as would compleat his defign, and fully recompence the loyalty, zeal, and attachment/ they had ihewn, as alfo their hardfhips, fuficrings, and fatigues.

England being then the land of promife, thefe promifes and aflurances had the defired efied;; the army marched pn with more chearfulnefs \ and fome advantages, which they boafted to have gainec} in their retreat, confirmed in fome meaiiire their hopes, arifing from the afifurances, infinua- ttons, and proipifes, he had £> liberally beftowed upon them.

Having

f J7- f

Having crofled the Spey^ councils and confultations were held, w^Trthcr-'^Tr^fltoulS not eppbfe at this place the paffage of the Englijh army : he was ftrongly for this propofition ; but the Scotk) expeAing the French tr06ps to land, according to promife, would not run the rifk alone ; thinking it better to gp:fartSxer nordi, thefboner to meet and join the expedt- ed iiiccoiirs, ror to bernearer the mountains and difficult paf- fages, Ti;Hiefcf» :if any misfortune happened, they might find fiirer retreats, and m6rc affiftance and relief amongft their friends aftd kiiisfblka. Mat^ were the excuies and preten- ces made ufe of for the deli^ of the French troops not ar- riving and kndingf, ti^hich gave the Scotch new caufe of murmuring and complaiht s fomtf of whom were not want- ing openly to pour out bitter ciirfes and imprecations againft that nation, and the worthy anibaffador, who had fo egre- gioufly ftiled in all his pronufes. The Englijh army having crdled the^ Spey without the leaft oppofition, purfued its flMrch; and l^cScatob having got to Culkden^ I fhall in my next touch upon what happened there, and fhortly as poffible piroceed in what relates to this march, and its mi«* Arable confequences, which the adventurer brought by his detjcftable entcrprize^ upon that nation.

t . I

LETTER

( 3^ 1

1 ri ] ■ ■ ■ ■ "*!Ti*mSS35

LETTER THB SEVENTH.

IV^ONEY^ the food and fupport of war, had been &nt from Romcp byhilk on bdnkers at Pans, to be remits- ted to Scotlandl whiUl the. adventurer was cin iik march to England i and though the fum was not yctj confideraUe, it was much wanted, and would have been of great fervice^ and extremely acceptable^ had it arrived accordintg to expec- tation ; but in this, as ifi other ev^tiUf ,tficif e ftemed to be- a fatality or evil genius^ in GOQdu€U&^ his. aflfaira^s for the* negotiating thofe biUs, and remittibg the nieney,r was by O Brien^ then fecretary to the ohevsdter St. George at Rsm^ (and who took upon himfelf the tiek of ^9j\\q£ Ltfinartr o^ the county of JVafprford &a /r^/ii*^) luiider pretence oTIImb) being created (lich by that oM'inaii) committed to the* catV and management of his gay wifi^ tHen refidiilg at Paris aiitf VerJfiUks. This woman was tolerably handibme, of a gen- teel and good figure, of good addvef^, and pc^fediP tnjhln-fi^ of every art of intrigue and diffiriiiiftttiohv wbfidH cfould i6- commend her to that court, where flic adted as agent for her hufband and his mafler, in attending the minifters of France^ remitting to them the difpatches and letters fent to her from Rome^ receiving their anfwcrs, and fending them back ; in a word, tranfading the moft fecret matters which were then • upon the tapis relative to the pretender's afiairs.

»

i

Her

( 39 ]

Her allurements, charms, and gaiety, drew the eyes of many upon her. Though fhe was a native of Ireland p (he ^was brought over ft>. very young into France^ where flie was educated iii a convent,' that (he fcarccly fpoke a word of her native language : fb much was fhe miftrefs of the French tongue.

Amongft the numerous refort of perfons of the firft dif- tinifiioh, who vifited this lady, and who were in return vifitcd by her, there was not one to whom (he (hewed more complaifance and attention, or who had gained (b abfolute a dominion and influence over her mind and affections, as the late afchbifhop of Cambrajy one of the handfomeft men in France^ a fine gentleman, a man of great learning, and the admiration and delight of the fair fex. To fuch a degree did many of that fex carry their ideas, of this ecclefi- aflic, that feveral virtuous matried ladies of the firft rank of the nobility in that court, as foon as they found themfelves pregnant', found means to have his pifture in great or fmall, which they conftantly kept in their bed-chamber or cabinet, in hopes, that by frequently looking pn it, to bring into the world a child refembling fo great a prelate. Nor was this admiration of the fair fex in any wife furpafiing the refpedt and efteem which all men bore him. He was natural fon to the late duke of Orleans^ regent of France during the jninority of the prei/bnt king, which gave him no fmall in- ,fluehce at court. Befides the great accomplifhments, which he pofTefled in the moft eminent degree, he was a fincere friend where he profe(red ; and his generofity and liberality Icnew no bounds. To fuch divine authority, to fuch tern- ' ' " poral

t 40 1

poral intcrefts, to fuch manly charms, feconded by the high- eft profpcdts of \vorldly plcafure and a4vantagc, how many wopen are there not^ who would be proud to become de- votees» or glad to make their facrifice at fuch a (brine? Madam La Comteffe de Li/more^ as then called, with a fen- libility natural to gay and ambitious minds, thiriling after wealth and grandeur, unable to refift fuch a mighty torrent of temptations and benefits, as bore down, overflowed, and even fubmergcd every other confideration, became entirely devoted to his Grace : fhe then, or very foon after, took the lead ; and having at length in her turn, obtained an ab«- folute afcendant and dominion over his perlbn and fortune, ihe almoft difpofed of both, as fhe thought fit : her hotel, her brilliant equipage, and every article neceflary for ren- dering life fplendid and magiaificent, were only equalled by few. Without ipeaking of the elegance, profufenefs, and expence of their tables, fuch pomp and fplendour with thofe t)ewitching delufive amufements, which in Paris are the certain confequence of wealth and greatnefs, blotted out of her mind the thoughts of returning to Romef and almoft extinguifhed the remembrance of every thing that had been dear to her at her departure from thence, tho' Mr. O Brierij the huftjand, did not die till the year 1760; ialways con* tinuing to tranfaft at Rome the affairs of the Chevalier de St. George, as his minifter, to the time of his death.

Tranfadlions fo public, and a condud fo bare-faced, could not efcape the eyes of the public, .nor the knowledge and obfervation of the court, where even the moft trifling of- fences, how artfully foever they may be concealed or dif-

gulled.

r.41 ]

gulfed^ are generally firft known, and much fboner than moft people can imagine : in confequcnce of which, fomc animadverfions being made, and intimations given for a change of manners, and preferving decorum, fo as, at lead, tofave appearances, but without procuring the defired ef- fed, the lady was at length forbid the court, and exiled to refide and remain at Arpajon^ a village about twenty miles

from \Paris9 where ihe retired, ^and went accordingly. ;

J ■

Intereft and power, to the re^oach of authority, may it be faid, too frequently draw a veil over the. moft -hardened crimes, and even gild them with the name of virtues by finefle mod artifice. This baniflnmetit, therefore, did not hold a very long time, and Madame was at liberty to rpturn again to. Paris ', which flie foon did ; * and went afterwards as boldly to FerfaiUeSf with as muth pomp and magnificence, as if ncitdung in her cdndu£k had bccfi reproachable, but rather had merited fame extraordinary favour or reward, or foihe -confiderable penfion. But here again fhe was vdry much deceived, and very greatly miftaken i for, though the court xlid not diredly fhew any refentmeht or dififatisfadtion at this procedure, as bufinefs/ ' froth JSjme fometimes gave occafion for thofe journies, fhe was neverthelefs, at laft, given to underftand, that it would' be beft for her to retire even from Paris: which flie did accordingly, taking a few particular friends with her, in whom fhe could confide, and on whom fhe x:ould depend, to keep her company.

• • •

You will now be furprifed to think where fhe went

to, and you may very rcafonably think, that, in her fitua-

Vol. I. G . tion,

r 4* 3

tiony the place (he choft for her refiidence and retreat was* the only place fhe ought to have declined going to, for rea- fons moft obvious and' infinite. In fhort, away {he goes . with her few friends from- Fans to Camhrny^ takes . poffef- fion of his Graoe'spaiajcc there,, and plants lierfclf and them., therein, to enjoy tliefwcets of that agreeable country; re- ceiving his lordftiip'^ . rents and largp revenues,, confiderable prefents frorn numbers of> the clergy, and vifits from many perfons of diftindlion : to all which the generality added to - her the honourable titl6 of lady btfbop^y his lordfhip ftill re--^ maining. alPiirrx.or F^r/2i^/^x^ .

Paird after three or four months of rural entertainments ' and recreations, fhe xeturas to her hotel at Park^ where the- former condu(^ continued until laft year ;. when his lonL- fhip's death, untverfally, with great reafon, lamented by allr forts and' conditions of peo{de; put a. final end to this inti« macy and acquaintance. Notwithflanding his large revenue, and the income of a good eftate,. all which he difUpated in ads of generofity and bounty, he left debts to the amount of- about two hundred thoufand livres ^ to fatisfy which^ his.^ patrimony inuft.be fold, if not already difpofcd of.

Whether it was owing to this lady's engagements, amufe*^ ments, or occupations, with this reverend prelate, or to the little fhare of intereft which fhe took in his (the adventu-- rer*s) affairs (fts fbe never loved him) that the money wat not fent in time to Scotland^ as direded, is not quite clear; but this . is certain, that it was . delayed for about three q^xonths longer than expe^^di and that, the adventurer laid

r 43 :

the whole blame of the deky upon her, and the ill con&- 'quenccs the want of that money brought on hitn and his 'affairs ; and that his reientmcnt to her is, and has ever fincc been fuch, as that he never could be prevailed on to fee her, or forgive her ; nor can he hear her ipoke of, but with hor- ror and deteftation. There was about thirty thoufand pounds brought in Ibme fhort time before the defeat at Culloden^ faid to be fent from Spain i which came under the hands and management of the before-mentioned Enaas Macdonnel. The circumftances and confequences attending this money being, I think, entertaining, and particular in its own nature* I muft extend the detail of the Scotch voyage longer than I at firfl expedbed;; and ihall, in one or other of my next, write you what relates to that fum of money, which brought one man to an untimely end, and feveral others into the jgreateft pcriL

LETTER THE EIGHTH.

<npHE night before the battle of CuUoden.v^ztfiXtd on by the rebels to attack the duke's camp and army, with a prefumption that they ihould be able to fucceed in the at« tempt, and, in the confufion attending fuch a defperate en- terprize, to take his royal highnefs, and the greatefl part of the Englijh army, Gfr. prifoners, as the only means to re- cover their lofies, and re-eftablifli their broken fortune^

G 2 They

', I

^1 44 1 They had nothinjg left to fave them from the impending: ruin that hourly threatened them, but to make fome rafli. efFort, by ftratagem or coup de defefimrej to free themfelves- from death, and thofe dangers and calamities, with which they were furrounded, and ready to be fwallowed up in. Their army was fomewhat reduced,, and much fatigued,, by long marches ; their provifions fcarce, and almofl ex- haufted ; many of the Highlander Sy who, in the journey to and from England^ had fcraped and raked together ibme trifling matters by plunder and rapine, retreated home with their ill-gotten wealth; which, tho' perhaps in itfelf in- confiderable, yet to them, who had never poflTeffed fo much money before, it was highly eftimablc. To preferve and conceal, therefore, thefe wretched" acquifitions, the bitter fruits, as it afterwards proved to them, of the deiblation and calamities, which they often wantonly and indifcrimi- nately lavished on all fueh perfons, and in all fuch places^ where they thought they could draw profit or advantage,, how little foever it might be, many of them retired i fore- feeing, that fome unlucky hour, which feemed not very re^ mote, might eafily deprive them of what they had fb un<- juftly and rapacibufly obtathedv in cafe they had kept this beggarly wealth, in the field. Some few of them, it is true, returned, and a few more had joined^ the pretender's fi>rce8 ; but no fuch* number as was expected : for, a kind of panic had begun to fpread itfelf, not only throughout the rebel army, but through the very Highlands in, gehei^L The profpeft of gathering like the fnow-ball was now vanifhed. The duke was clofe upon their heels ; and fcarcely was there Viy one ford amongft the Scotch nobility,, who had the. mif-

fortune:

f 45 ] fortune and wcaknefs to join in that unhappy bufincfs, but what now began to fee his error, to think ferioully of thie affair, and of the dreadfurcataftVophe in which they were involved, and from which there was no hope of deliverance, but by fomc accidental or defperate blow, which might fa- vour their caufe; revive their expiring hopes, and open to them* a new road of profperity, after fo many and great dif- appointments, dangers, and fuffcrings, as they had met witii, and then furrounded them.

How fatal might it then have been, had thofe hopes hccn crowned with-fuccefs, you may eafily divine ; fince that re- bellious war would have been again renewed, with more fpi- . rit and vigour than before ; thofe, who had till then lain by, waitingt only to fee what tirrn affairs mijght take, per- ceiving a happy change in the adventurer's favour, would then with their clans have joined him ; many of their chiefs at that time only watching the occafion, in cafe of his fuc- cefs» ta throw off the mafk immediately, and declare againft their king -, whilfl France, through fhame, or ihtereft and folicitations, might at leafl have aded with fbme fincerity, by fending fuccours to his afliftance, and thereby laying open new icenes of expences, defolatibns, and miferies, which this nation had not before experienced; the confequence of . which no reafonable man can think of without horror.

Providence, however, had Ibng fihcc withdrawn her aid ! from the family of the Stuarts. Had the adventurer but reflected on the dreadful curfe and imprecations announced upwards of 150 years ago, by the firff of his name, againfl

himfelf .

[ 46 3

himfelf and his poftcrity, and confidcred how fcvcrely acid €fFe£tually that curfe (which I fhall have occafion to mention - hereafter) has ever fince, with the juftice and vengeance of heaven, purfued the tyrant race, he might ea&ly have con- cluded, that proiperity can never attend him, or any enter- prize, how fagacioufly and fecretly, or how formidably fo- ever, it may be concerted and fupported, if it fhould be un- dertaken in his favour. Eviljhall hunt the wicked per/on to

' overthrow bim^ is the declaration of one that knows the fc- crets of all hearts. But moral or ferious reflections were never known to occupy one moment a place in his under-

..ftanding. The fweets of Edinburgh were now faded, and the early hopes, which flattered /and deluded him in the morning at Frefton-Fans^ were now become odious to his imagination at Culloden^ where horror, dread, and gloomy darknefs, covered eveiy countenance^ and eveiy heart was filled with terror.

Under fuch a dilemma, and in this dreadful (Ituation, a council was held to think of feme eligible expedient for re- lief ^ when, after much debate and coniideration, it was . thought by many of this council, that coming to an open ; engagement in the field could not fail of giving an entire vidory to the duke, and ending tin the total ruin and de- itrudtion of the rebel army (as it afterwards proved) unlefs to a few that might, and did efcape to their friends and rela- : tions in the Highlands. It was alfo thought, that raifing the • camp, and marching forward into the country, would but augment their diflrefTes, lefTen the army by deiertion, cx- ^|)ofe themfelves to new and greater diflicuUieaj . and at beft

only

r 47 I

cxrly protraft their final dcftrudlion for a few days longer. Thefe arguments and reafons at that time prevailing, it was therefore refolved, that, ,in fuch diftradting circumflan- ces, the beft ftratagem that could be fallen upon, was to break in upon the dike's camp in the dead of the night, and ^ to put all to the fword ; for the doing of which, they never . could meet again with fo favourable an opportunity ; efpe-- cially if they quitted the camp they then pofTeffed, and retired into the hills, without putting this, or fome fuch ftratagem, , in execution » What forwarded their hopes of an unfailing fuccefs in this projed:, was, that it was the night of the an- niverfary of his royal highnefs's birth-day ; at which time they concluded the army, after having been employed in rejoicings for celebrating . this day, many of them perhaps charged with liquor, that they might with greater facility, and lefs fufpicion, than at any other time, furprife the out- ppfts, by killing the guards before the alarm could be given ; . then entering the camp pell-mell, cut down all before them. .

According to this determination, which was kept with the greateft fecrecy, .and which they looked upon as their forlorn hope iand dernier refource, private orders were given . for the troops deftined for this bold attempt to march off in the evening from ^their refpeftive quarters in the- camp, in two columns, by two different roads ; both of which united and terminated at a ground facing, at fome inconfiderable diftance, the out-pofts, where the ccntinels of the duke's camp were on guard. One body of thefe troops was com- manded by lord George Murray, and the other principally under the condua and direftion of SuHhan.

None .

[ 48 ]• None of the fubaltern officers or private men had the leall notion of this defign ; the fcheme being only confided to the commanding officers,^ whofe orders were to conduft the march of the troops (as the diilance or length of the two roads were near equal) in fuch manner^ and with fuch iilence and pre- caution, as to arrive at the fame ground about one and the fame time, unperceived by the Englijh ; and being there united, they were to liften and wait upon that ground, till they found that the better part of the Englijh ibldiers were retired to reft ; and, at the critical minute of repofe, when all fhould appear filent and wrapped . in fleep, to lay hold of that opportunity to detach parties to feize the Englijh cen* tinels, and fo fall on, and enter .the -camp ; which they doubted not to fill with terror and confufion, and thereby gain a.complete vidtory.

The two columns marched from diftant parts of the caj^np, by the 4ifl?erent roads affigned themj and with fo great caution, that neither colunxn did fee or know any thing of the other's mar^h.

The column under Sullivan's diredtions proceeded in its march, and arrived at the ground between eleven and twelve at night, where they quietly and fecretly refted on their armsi waiting the arrival of the other column to come and join them, in order to begin the operations^ and to execute their bloody execrable plan, . .

After waiting a much longer time for the other column's V coming to join him, purfuant to orders, than whatJ^e thotight

abundantly

t 49 ]

dbundantly more than fufficicnt for their arrival and jun^on> ISullivan began to be under fomc uneafinefs : his apprehen* lions increafing, he thought it neceffary to difpatch an ex- prefs immediately to the adventurer, who was with fome of his neareft and moft trufty friends, about three or four miles diftance, in the rear, to acquaint him of this delay and dif- appointment; fuppofing, for fome time, that the former orders might be countermanded. The arrival of this news aftonirtied the adventurer and his friends.

Whilft the courier was gone, Sullivan ordered a few of his advanced guards to march as far forward as they could ven- ture, without being difcovered, and to obferve how things flood with refpefl: to the Englijb camp. This was done ac- cordingly; and feveral of thofe men, lying down oh the ground on they faces, could fee very plainly the lights in the Englijh camp, and hear the inarticulate voices of men Ipeaking. This they did without being perceived by any of the Englijh army.

On this occafion, time was fo precious, that a moment was not to be loft, without manifeft danger and hazard. After a fliort confultation, the courier was fent back with all expedition, with orders for Sullivan to wait about half an hour longer for the arrival of the other column j and, if in that time it (hould not arrive, then to return with thofe troops which accompanied him to their former camp, by the fame road they went. The column under the command of lord George not appearing within the time limited by thefe laft orders, Sullivan's column marched back. And thus

'^°^'I- H finiflied

I so r

fiAidiedthis bold and defp^nte fu'ojed, wherein the hand of ' pf evidence f^ems to have had ^ particular (hare» in diffipating. their councils, confounding thei^r meafures, and rendering, this bloody deiign abortive*

Lord George with bis column met with feveral difficulties ^pd delays, as well from the obftinacy.of feme of the Higb^ landers^ who wanted to kjiow their deftination, or the caufe - of this extraordinary march^ as by the failing of fome car^ riages, . which principally occafioned this difappointmcnt. ^ Notwithftanding thofe difficulties and obilruftions, . which his lordfhip unexpeAedly met with, he never thelefs arrived with his men at the plac^ of deftination above mentioned (as it is affirmed by many who were in this expedition) foon after the departure or the other column ; where he received intelligence of their return tP the Ji^^Iand czmp (by fome who had been left behind to advcrtifc him thereof), occa-. fipned by the fatality, of his delay* which they faid had fa. iHiluckily fruftrated their moft fanguine hopes and cxpcdta- - tions: whereupon he al fa marched diredtly , back to the - camip, with the troops under his command.

Nothing can equaLthe (hock and.tfouble that thisdifap** . ppintment gave the adventurer. Bnt what followed ? He : not only looked upon himfelf and his affairs, as loft beyond i a poffibility of retrievingt but that lord George Murray was . iJBktfole caufe thereof, and of the mifcarriage of this projedt ; in particular; on the fuccefs^ of which hehad built his only . hope and fecurity. Every kind of fufpicion and jealoufy r poflefledhis mindj hj? tbftught. himfelf fold or betrayed by .

tbi&' -

t 5« 1

^this nobleman : but fuch was his art and diffltirahfion, tb^ :nothing of all this at that time appeared : he treaftrred up and concealed his hatred for this nobleman with the ftrongeft ^refentmentand ingratitude againft another opportunity, which :I ihall hereafter mention in its proper place, with the man* -ner in which he treated him. He very well knew that lord George was the life and foul of the Scotch at that time under his command ; and that he was regarded by them, and all who knew him, as a perfon of diftinguiflied courage, ho- nour, and bravery, as well as generofity ; by which he had rgained a powerful afcendant and inffuence over the grcateft part of the whole army : it was, therefore, very dangerous, and might in the end prove of the moft fatal confequence tt> the adventurer, to ihcw thfc kaft difltke to hiis lordftiip> conduft : wherefore he thought it prudent to be fifcnt witTi regard to complaints, and only communicated his fiifpi- cions to one or two perfons of confidence of another nation. The time being fhort, and the hour approaching for put- ting an end to this unlc»tuaate bufineis, I ihall relate it in my next letter.

LETTER THE NINTH.

YEARLY next mornings his royal highneft the duke of

Cimiberland having given orders for the army under his

conmiand to march, they put themfelves in movement, with

all the necefTari^ and appurtenances of war ; conducted with

Hz tht

E 5? J

the moil e?pa6t difcipUne, as well a? with the grcateft ordw and decorum, and fired with a laudable fpirltqf vengeancQ U\ the caufe of their religion, laws, liberties, and their king and country ; where I fliall leave thenj for a. nxoment, ad-» Yancing to the field^ of battle^

Intelligence having arrived, very early the fame momingi in the rebel army, .that the Engli/Ij forces were preparing to march, confultations were qjqickly held,., in order to deter-* mine what was fitted to be done.at fuch a critical conn juncture ; whether it was moft expedient and advifable to ipake a ftand, and to give battle to the Eng/iJ^ztmy,^ or to ftfike their tents, and march farther into the country; where, by the advantages of the hills, the many defiles and paiTages^ attd the narrownefs.of the^ roads through many of the moun-? tains, they might yet put off their .evil day, and more cm-- barrafs the Englijh army in their march, than they had theretpfore been : by which delays and difficulties, fo raifed by this decifjon, they might yet gain time for the arrival of fuccours from France^ on fending over with expedition to inform that court of their, neceffities and ruiqous condition.

Moft of the Scotch lords at this council were inclihed to this laft meafure, as the moft fafe and falutary end, and the only one th^t^pouM affqrd them, bregthing^time tp repair their diftrefled affairs, or give them an opportunity to provide for their future fafety.

There could be no difficulty or delay,, one fhpuld think, ip- the choice on thia. decifion, fince felf-prefervation, ac-

gprding

I 53 1' cording to the then appe?irance of things, would have in-* formed the' rooil ignorant of the neccflity they were in to follow this laft falulary refoluticn : but the adventurer, with his ufual obftinacy and felf-fufficiency, on pcrfuading fome into his opinion, perfifted, that the beft expedient for him and his followers was ta fland and give battle ; urging, that that if th^ Highlanders once camp ia to engage the EngliJIi army fword in hand, they would foon put them to the rout; and that he feared not but it would turn out another Prejion^ Pans affair to them : then he; intimated, that declining to meet ia battle would be looked upon as want of courage. The Scotjcbi rwhQ' generally fhew moil courage in the moft defperate cafes, being piqued at fuch' infinuations, readily determined for a battle; and orders were inftantly given, in confequence thereof,, for the troops to march and form in battalia. Another powerful motive for the adventurers p^ing on^this engagement. with fuch precipitancy, though he trembled for the event, and which he might have avoidr ed, was the. groundlefs apprehenilons he. entertained of lord GeorgeyVfho h^xrouldbave wifhed in any fkirnjifti or adion to be taken of,: that he himfelf might have a(5ted more de* fpptically ;. as. this nobleman was^ often a check, upon many of his rafli-^ai^i inordinate propofiitions^ .

Impatience for a<9:ion.'appeardd /now< on^ all fides; but much , more fo on the fide of the Engli/b army, t whofe ap*- pcarance alone was fufficient to intimidate and ftrike <W of the rebels with fear and dread. The line of battle being formed by each army, the engagement- began,, , and was fiiMPf^ly and bloodily carried oi> by r&oth parties ; featih^ihew^

ing

[ 54 1

ving every proof and demonftration of that courage and fbrti-

.tudc truly natural to both nations; which made a great carnage amongft the Highlanders. Lord 'George^ fo ^tnuch fufpefted as he was by the adventurer, and who had one of

-the principal commands in this dcfperate engagenaent, ' kd on his men witli that intrepidity and bravery, forfwhich he had always been diftinguifhed ; and though rcpolfed by fu-

^perior force, he rallied and attacked feveral times, and had his bonnet twice ftruck off whilft on horfeback, in the heat of the adion, which was each time gathered cup and placed again on his head by one Roinnfon\ his aid-de-camp, and with great difficulty and danger he eicaped being taken prifbner

vtwice during the battle^

Every effort that men could make under Aeir circumftan^ CQ^9 was pHt in pradiee by the HigManders^.zoA their com- manders, to iMreak in on the Englijh vmj, -to coihe to the broad-fword work : but thek eflforts were in vain ; for A« Englijh troops, led by their brave commander, remained like an impregnable bulwark, tearing them to pieces wi& the fire of their artillery and mufquetry ; whilft the horfe coming in upon them, broke them with terror and confufioi^, v^^iich^ after a confiderable daughter, put them to the rout, and gave to the Englijh army, with but an inconfiderable lofs, a complete and entire victory. The purfuit condiAued for fome time, in which many &11, and many more wr^re takcoi j>riibnerfi.

During the battle, the adventurer was placed, with a few oof his i)je«rQi);.fri6iid$, in a convK^nient iitoiitlon^ where he

might

r 55 ]

might without rifk or danger obferve every thing that pafs'dV but feeing at length the fortune of the day, on which he had in the morning with fuch confidence counted, now turned againft hini> the Highlanders on all fides giving way,. and, in a word, the whole rebel army, at one and the fame time, put to the rout, and that all was loft, loaded with every ipecies of trouble, chiagrin, defpair, and aiHidion, that fuch^^ an irretrievable misfortune could bring upon a mind the leaft ienfible to fuch diftreffeSj and in which he had involved fuch numbers of innocent perfons, finking, I may fay, under fuch a weight of forrow and afflidiion at the^ifmal proipedts at each momeijit accumulating and prefenting themfelves to his view, he neverthelefe had fufficient prefence of mind left to provide for his own fafety, by riding oiF as faft as he could : he foon left thofe few friends behind him who had before accompanied him, and in his diilradtioa coiimiitted himfelf to. chance and his horfe, to conduft him to fome afylum,- where he might for fome time continue in. fafety, till he could find means to get over to France. <

In thcfe amcieties and perplexities, wandering about, little money in Jbi&pocket, in a Highland drefs without breeches, he comes up with one Malcolm Mackody: who had efcaped from the battle. This man brought him home with him toi his fift^er's houfe, in a remote part of the Highlands^ where he contimsed fome time; paffing upon the fifter for a young man, that had been in the battle, and who, as a fellow-fuflferer, he had brought home for relief and protec- tion, till he could get to bis friends. The fifter would not admit him to fit at table when at fupper, though they were ihcmfelves. but. poor people. However, after Macleod and

the:.

[ 56 1

«

the fifter had finiftied their poor repaft of bread, butter, and , eggs, fhe condefcended to his taking her place, at her leav- ing it, and partaking of the like fare. There was a young child lying in a kind of cradle, belonging to this woman, which he took up and carried about with him, and the next morning very early amufed himfelf in the fame manner. The fcene was now greatly changed j for he that had but a day or two' before feveral perfons of diftinftion devoted to jplcafe him, and feveral thoufands of men at his orders and commands, faw himfelf at once reduced to the low and mean condition of amufing himfelf with an infant in his arms.

Whiift he continued with Macleody they fpent their Itimc moftly in wandering ibout the hills, where they often lay in the * tether together, and frequently at a diftance beheld parties of horfe or dragoons marching to and fro, fcouring the country ; and from whom he with great cafe, and no little danger, efcaped being difcovered or taken/

Through this man's afliftance, fome accounts were fent and received to and from fome of the moft faithful and prin- cipal friends of the party, in order to concert fome new meafures, if pofiible, to repair their Jofs : but all thefe pro- . pofitions and weak fchemes foon came to nothing ; and moft people thinking it high time to provide for their own fecu- rity, *by leaving the kingdom, numbers from time to time embarked at different ports and harbours, as they beft could, for France^ Hollandj and other places ; amongft whom lord

George

'^ Tether is the heath or long grafly weed growing in the mountains .in the iummer.

[ ^7 ]

George Murray was one ; who having facrificed his life to the laws of his country^ his perfonal interefls> and family conne<9ions^ in fihe^ his all, by the rafli and imprudent en- terprize he was perfuaded to embark in ; yet was he moil unjuftly and bafely charged by the very perfon for whom he did and fuffered all this, as a traitor and betrayer of his m^ terefts ; the conclufion of which with reiped: to this noble lord, we fhall fee in another letter.

LETTER THB TENTH.

npHE adventurer, tired with this fituation, and confi- dering it too dangerous to remain long in one place, which might in the end give fufpicion, or prevent his getting a convenient opportunity of embarking for France^ he takes leave of Macleod^ leaving him a filver clafp flock- buckle, which he ufually wore, as a token of gratitude and remembrance ; and with the bed precautions and in- flruftions he could take for to accomplifh the above de- fign, we mufl leave him wandering and .fculkingi till we find him at Flora MacdonaliPs ; where intelligence being received, that one Captain Macdonald was coming, with the party he commanded, to fearch for him, (he drefled the adventurer in woman's apparel; and fhe had fcarcc placed him on a chair in her room, with a fpinning- wheel before him, before the captain entered the chamber. His Vol. I. I com-

[ 58 ]

complai(ance for his friend and namefake, and the chamber of a young gentlewoman appearing to him fomewhat refpec* table, if not facred, reftraincd that ftridl fearch and inquiry, which otherwife, and in another place, he would no doubt have made, in confequence of the information^ received, and orders given on that fubjeft: wherefore, cafting only his eyes carelefsly about the room, and not feeing any thing that appeared to him as a man, he only a/ked, what woman that was who fat at the wheel ? to which the other replied, it was one Betty Burke, an Irijh woman, who (he had caufed to come over from the North of Ireland, to work for her> as being a remarkable good fpinner. This fatisfied the offi- cer's curiofity and inquiry ; who returning to his men, and reporting, that there was no appearance of the perfon's being in the houfe, who they were in fearch for ; after taking a cup of refrefhment, the capt^n and his party marched off with content, convinced that the information was ground- lefs, and that the trouble which they were compelled to take on this occafion, was altogether unneceftary.

How like a dog look'd Hercules, when to a dijiaff' chain' d I

Dryden.

«

Having, therefore, mentioned fomething of the money, faid to be about ^. 30,000, and to have been fent from Spain, though as probably from France or Rome, you muft know, that Macdonald, the fuppofed banker, under whofc care it had for fome time been, took alfo care of fupplying himfelf with fuch part thereof as he thought proper, to anfwer his prefent and future neceffities. He had alfo ob- tained

r S9 ]

tained from the adventurer his gold fnuiF-box^ a valuable diamond ring^ and other things of value. Scarcely did any man make a more pompous figure in the rebel army* or even in the Englijh camp^ at the time he furrendered him«^ felf priibner, than this man. His ordinary expences v^ere afterwards very confiderable^ till the time of his trial and con« demnation^ which was about OSlober 1747. This money waSy before the battle of Culloden, referved to be laid afide to anfwer any prefiing exigence; and accordingly it was fcnt and depofited in bulk, without examining what M^r- donald had taken to embezzle. Cameron oi Lochiel, chief of a large clan of that name, who died foon after in France^ had given a receipt for this money, which was fecretly bu« ried or depofited in fuch manner, as not to be got or come at without orders from RomCf or from the adventurer 1 and his receipt fell for fome time into the hands of Cluny Mac-^- pberfon, it was thought, who was chief of another confi- derable clan of his name, (Sc. who was obliged to abfcond on account of his rebellion.

Labouring under many wants and difiireidTes, as the adv.en-^ venturer was, whilft fculking and wandering in the hills and mountains, he neverthplefs found means to iend to his faid banker for money, and advice what^ to do in this his great diftrefs,

A difinal banker mufi that banker be^ Who gives no bills but of mortality^

Swirr.

Z 2 This,

t 6o ]

This, in efFcdt, was the anfwcr he received to his mefTage ; that is to fay, Macdonald fent him word, that money he had none to fend him, and that, in fuch common danger, every body was to take care for himfelf, and to do the beft he could.

Grief and refentment immediately followed the unex- pected anfwer : but as the adventurer, after his arrival in France^ and even whilft Macdonald was in Newgate^ forgave this offence and negled, it ought not to be brought in charge againfl him afterwards, nor confidered as one of the caufe^ for his prevailing on Marfhal Belleijte to deprive him of his penfion^ as formerly related.

Amongfl the many ufeful good qualities that money has^ it 18 generally allowed to have one very bad one, in being the root of all evil. The avidity, which feveral of the rebels^ who got over to France^ had for laying hold of this money, or fuch part of it as they could difcover and find out, put fome of them on the mofi: dangerous projedb to obtain it.

Locbgarry, formerly in the EngBJh fcrvice, with fome ethers, who, as well as he, were profcribed by adt of par- liament, and fure to fuffer, if taken, had the boldnefs to venture over incog, in fearch of this prey; but returned with- out it. Some time juft before, or foon after. Dr. Cameron^ brother to the above Locbiel, fent his wife over> and another perfon, on the fame errand. About fix hundred or a thoo- fand poonds, as others faid, were got in this expedition; but the dodorj defirous of getting the whole into his hands»

Uft

[ 6i 3

left France^ and ventured over into Scotland himfelf^ chiefly with that view and defign ; where, before he had brought his fcheme to any degree of perfedion, he was difcovered, taken, brought prifoner to London, tried, condemned for his rebellion and treafon, and finiihed this difmal voyage with his body hang'd and quartered at Tyburn.

It is not my intention, and indeed I think it totally unnc- ceiTary, to give a detail or journal of all the doublings, wind- ings, turnings, wanderings, and fculkings of the adventurer through the hills and mountains ; or of his watchings and waitings, his wants and diftreflfes, to avoid the purfuit that was made to intercept him, or take him by land or by iea, from the time of his defeat at Culloden. It is only worth remembrance, that the minifters of France, having fuffi- ciently played their game with him, and thereby gained all they then wanted, they, began to think a little feri^ oufly for his prcfcrvation. For which purpofe, they dis- patched fome perfons of truft and confidence to Scotland, to find him out, and. to endeavour, by ftratagem and dif- guife, to condud him fafe to France. Bat this had not the defired effiedt. .

f

In the variety of projects then on foot for the accomplrfh- ment of this defign, few had the appearance of more fuccefs than the following. The court of France had ordered one Captain Di^/m/r/, d£ Dunkirk, to fail upon this commifiion.

< \ ^

This man, a bold and enterprising fea-officer, who fpoke Englijb tolerably well, and wiis perfectly acquainted with the

coaft

{ 62 ]

coaft of England^ was no ftrangcr to that of Scotland, in the many cruifes he had niade, whilft captain and commander of feveral French privateers, prepared for this expedition. He fitted out a fmall veflcl immediately, that was a prime failor, of Englijh trim, not drawing much water ; and ha- ving got his proyifipns and all materials on board neccflary for the execution of his commiflion, amongft which provi- sions he laid in Englijh porter and Cbejhire cheefe, (which were at that time in great plenty at Dunkirk^ from the cap- tures made by the privateers of that place on the Englijh during diat war) he ordered his crew on board, . amongft whom he placed a Scotchman and an Englijhmanj who had been a long time before in that town prifonisrs at large, as ranfomers, and in that time had given fome little proofs of their good difpofition to what they called the old cauie (which feemed to be fo very old, as to be then jufl worn out) pretending he would carry theie peribns home a$ pai^ fengers, to get the owners to pay the ranfom-money, for which they had fo long ftood engaged, without any fteps being taken by thefe people for the fatisfadtion of the de- mand. The ranfomers having fwallowed the bait with the greateft thanks to Dumont, for having procured them this liberty from the governor, chearfully embraced the offer, and to fea they went.

Arriving on the coaft of Scotland^ Dumont goes on (horc, at a creek in the Highlands^ as near the place as he could judge he was to make inquiry for the adventurer, according to fuch inftru^ons as he had received for that purpofe. He had left the veffel at an anchor a little off fliore, and landed

I 63 1

in his fmall l)oat, taking the Scotd ranfomer with him* They had not got above a mile into the country, when turning into a field near the road, he was flruck with great furprife on feeing above fifty men in arms, with their offi- cers, marching towards him, in order, as he apprehended, to furround him, and take him and his companion prifoners* Thefe were part of the militia, fcouring the country, and fearching after rebels ; few of whom ipoke Englijh.

He, who commanded, came up to Dumonf, afking him who he was ? where he was going ? and the like queflions, Dumont readily anfwered, he wds 2in Eng/i/hman ; that he was captain of a veffcl loaded with wine for the fleet, and wanted a pilot, who knew the coaft better than himfelf (having never before been that way) that by his afliftance he might get fafc to the fleet, for which he w6uld pay him what he could reafonably demand. The Scotci ranfomer continuing ih the fame tale, the militia officer ordfered an old man then <v<rith them, a fifherman by profeflion, and like- wife another young fellow, who fliewed a great defire to be of the party, to go and pilot the honeft captain to the fleet, which they doubted not to fall in with in the evening. Du^ monty in return for fuch kindnefs, invites the officer, and who he pleafed to take with him, to come to the water-fide, and taftc his Englijh porter and Chejhire cheefe. On coming down, he invites them on board; but they refufed to go: he therefore iends for porter and cheefe, and n>akes a pre- fent of them t6 the militia captain and his friends ; and ta- king hi^ pilots and ranibmer on board, bidding, a kind fare- wcl, weighed anchor, anld got under fail diredly, ordering

the

[ 64 ]

the pilots to go under deck to eat and drink ; but it was ra«* ther to keep them out of fight, left they fhould attempt to give any fignal or alarm.

No fooner were the pilots feated, and ferved with fome- thing to drink, but the old man difcovered his miftake, and tells his young companion, what he had reafon to apprehend ] and believe, namely, that the captain and crew were French^ and that they themfelves were made prifoners; that this veflel was a privateer on a cruife, and that they fhould be carried into France : which gave the old man great afflic- tion, and made him very melancholy, to be thus kidnapp'd in his old age, and taken into a ftrange country, leaving his poor family in diftrefff.

Dumont foon perceiving the old man's forrow and di/con- tent, feparated his pilots, by calling the young man into his own cabbin, who, after fome difcourfe, did not fail to re- late to Dumont all that the old man had faid to him, and his extraordinary fears on this occafion. The captain threatened inflantly to caufe a large weight, that lay upon deck, to be faflencd to the old pilot's neck, and to throw him over- board ; alledging. that he did not doubt but the old man would endeavour to betray him in the courfe they were to fleer, and in his turn get him taken 5 but behaved with more kindnefs and freedom to the young man, defiring him not to be afraid, and to behave well and with fidelity, and that nothing fhould hurt him ; but that, on the contrary, he would reconipence his fervices. The young pilot promifed faithfully to behave we}l and with fidelity, begging, at the

fame

[ 65 ]

fame time^ to ipare the old man^ with whom he had fome relation or conne&ion. The captain feemed not fo deter- mined, and becanie more mild and condercen4ing, on the other's affurancc of his engagements to anfwer with his own life for the other's condudt. To which the captain replied, all depended on his good behaviour. Then difcouriing of the coafti and Dumonfs afking fome particular queftions, the young man told him, he believed he knew what he wanted, and could guefs at the bufinefs he was upon ; and that if it was fuch as he imagined, he could be of great fer- vice to him. Dumont encouraged him to fpeak his mind, with promifes of friendfhip and reward, if he did him any fervice ; and infifted on his explaining himfelf, and telling him his fufpicions and imaginations. The other at length told him plainly, he fuppofed he might be looking for Cbarly. What then, replies the captain ; do you know any thing of him ? if you do, tell me iincerely : fpeak, here is none but ourfelves in the cabin : if you can give me any intelligence pi him, your fortune is made. I will then bring you where he is, fays the other, before twelve o'clock at night. As it is now drawing to the hour of reft, I /hall finifh this rela- tion, which will afford you more amufcment, in my next.

Vol. !• K LETTER

t 65 ]

^11 ■ '

-^ ■ ■ — ^— "^^^^M^^^^^^M.^

»■ '•

H

LETTER THE ELEVENTR

O W great Dumonf^ fecret fatisfadion might be on the profpeft of finding the pcrfon, whom he was in fcarch for, by fuch an unexpeded aift of providence In his iavour, in throwing this young p^ot in his way, thefuqcefs of which, he doubted not, would raife his own merit confiderably, and procure him great honour and profit, is very eafy tp be imagined.

A promife fo plainty atid peremptorily made him^ left him .no room to doubt of the perfon's veracity and knowledge of what he was about to undertake, e^ecially knowing, that» if he deceived the captain in the fmalleft article on fo delicate <an affair, he would meet with a fevere punishment and re- sentment ; of which the young man was but too fenfible. Dumtmt therefore defires him to open his mind freely to him, and to tell him diredJy, and without mincing the matter, which way they ought to proceed^ and where to find him.

The young man, wliom we may now call his guide, told him he muft ftand farther out to fea, to prevent his being obferved or Aiipedted by thcfe, who might be on the hills ; •and that as the weather was very fine and favourable, they would make a tack or two, and ib come in with the land, at fucbaplace^ as he theft samed, at&cgoin|;dowAof the£in;

[ «7 1 by which they might land when dark, uiiperceived, and that he would then condu€l: him to a little houfe in the hill$» a few mikd from the landiag^-placei where the adventurer and another peribn» who accompanied himj, then lay con-* cealed.

This advice and in^nidlions c£ the young guide was ex- aAly followed^ and dtily executed. When coming in with the land, at a coBvenient c&ftance from the coaft, all pre* cautions arranged^ Dumont took his guide, and fuch others as he thought proper to affift him in the expedition ; and being well armed, they marched up to the hills, by favour of the darknefs, m queft of the loft fheep.

Arriving at the houfe» which flood like a centry-box, in this remote and unfrequented place, no habitation for man or beaft near it, they knocked at the door ; but no anfwer being made, they repeated the knocking with violence, but with as little efied. At length Dwmfti, roaring out with a loud and refblute voice, and in the French language, fwore, if ibme one would not anfwer, and open the door, he would fet fire to die miferable hovel, and find his way in by the light of ^ flames.

Menaces of this kind, repeated two or three times, at laft produced a noife of fome perfon's ftimng in the houfe ; and the threats being made in French ^ a man, who had thru ft his head through a round hc^e in the wall above, which ferved as the only vrindow of the upper room, afked with a weak and timid voice, who they were, and their bufinefs ?

K 2 Dumont

C 68 ]

m

Dumont anfwering in French^ that they were friends, true and iincere friends ; that he had nothing to fear ; that he was come from France \ defired him to order the door ta be opened immediately, and to come down in hafte, for there was no time to be loft.

Quickly then was the door opened. A light being got, they entered into a poor little place at the foot of the wretch- ed flairs^ and this perfon, who appeared at the window, came down in his night-cap, with a kind of night-gown on his fhoulders, his breeches in his hand, a pair of flippers on his feet, but no ftockings on his legs. Dumont imme-^ diately informs him, that he was come by order of the court of France to fearch for the prince, and to carry, him off in his veflel, which lay at hand for that purpofe. The fears, which had till then prevailed over the other, began to ceafe ; who telling Dumont that his name was Sullivan^ and that the prince had left him early that morning, without letting him know where he was going, or when he would return, faying at his departure only, that he fhould foon hear froiif him, nothing with certainty could be faid or expected with regard to his return, or being found in time, fo as to get him on board, and to carry him off without fufpicion, or perhaps being difcovered and taken by the delay of waiting : wherefore Dumont deiiring SuUivan to get ready immediately^ and to come away, the other prepared with the utmoft di« ligence ; and fetting out together from this miferable retreat, they arrived on the coaft, embarked, and got under fail again> a little before day-*light.

Suffivan

r «9 ]

Sullwan was now on board fettled^ in a proper place in the fliip ; and fo diiguiied, as to be thought unworthy of notice, in cafe of being vifited or taken by an enemy : his fears, however, were far fronni being at an end*

Inconftancy of wind and weather is common at all times, and in all places, bat more fo on the watery element, than elfewhere : the wind being now not fo favourable as they could wifli, and, in truth, as the ncceflities of their cafe required, retarded their pafTage, and at the fame time they perceived a man of war under fail upon a cruife, and feemed difpofed to fpeak to them, by the courfe fhe fleered, and perhaps to examine thetni and fend her boat on board* D^- tnont concluded very judicioufly, that it might raifc fufpi- cion, if he appeared to ihun them, by endeavouring to run away ; and therefore rather flood towards them : the gale frefhened ; it then began to blow hard. But it is an ill wind that blows no body good, as will appear in the prcfcnt cafe; for coming within hail, the man of war's people hailed him, aiking him from whence he came ? and where bound ? to which the anfwcr given was, from London^ and that they were bound for the Englijh fleet with wine, and fome other provifions, for the admiral. This being reported to the captain of the man of war, who -was then in his cabin, he ordered that fDumontJ the captain of the vefTel fhould bring to, and take a letter to the admiral, which he had to fend. Dumonfs people defired the captain of the man of war to fend his boat on board with the ' letter, and it fhould be pundually delivered. The captain refufed to put . out his boat, becaofe it blew too bard, and the fea ran high ; and

therefore

[ 70 I therefore called to Dumont to come under the qoarter of the man of war, in order to Come on board. You may eafily judge oi Sullivan % terrors and feats at this timCi *

Dumont for the fariie reafons refnfed, sledging his mod plaufible excufes, and the danger of the veflel's being da« in aged, in laying her on board the man of war. He there-> fore begged and defircd they would fend the ktter on board him. But all this would not do ; the captain's orden muft be obeyed, and Dumont muft come on board the great (hip, notwithAanding his arts and finefle : which at laft he faid he would do ; but for the doing of that with fafety, he muft make a tack ; which he did immediately $ and making a long flretch away, on putting about* he took care to fteer fo as to mifs the £bip : it then became neceflary to make another tack, in which be ftretch'd away fo far as to think himfclf out of the roan o( war's power to catch him, and then had the audacioufnefs to hatvl down his EngKJh colours, under which he had till then fkiled* and to hoift a French pendant. Judge again, Sir, if you pleaie, of the dread and panic of Sullivan^ who was dying with the apprehenfion of being purfued and taken : and judge alfo of the provoca- tion this gave the gentleman, who commanded the king*s {hip« He inftantly gave orders to crowd all fail, and give chace, as fad as pofIible« Dumont knew his own fhip's going, and took his meafures accordingly.

Purfued that day and night, and next day, he at length got over on the coaft of Flanders ; and the man of war, having gained upon him from timie to time, fired feveral

fliot.

C 7« 3

fliot, fome of whilh hurt his rigging : whereupon, to pre- vent his being taken, he was forced to run on fhore at Blackendwk^ near OJiend. Roth's regiment of the L^yb bri- gade^ dien in that place^ marcked up to the middle in the fea, to cover the (mall veiTel, till fhe landed her paflengers. Which being done, Sullivan was carried dircdly away to the governor's hoofe,. and report was fjpread abroad diredly, that the young pretender had landed with him at the fame time, and was gone poft sncqg. to Puris : and that report gaining credit, and induftrioufly fpread abroad, ibon arrived at Lon^ dofit and, it was thought, cooled the fearcfa and purfuit of the pretender and his attendants in Scotland \ it being taken for granted, that the adventurer had really eibaped with Sullivan^ and faicly arrived in France.

On Sullivan* % arrival, a detail of thisgaffair, and other particulars, were immediateljr diipatchcd to court, whither he went hixnfelf ibon after. Dmmont received a handibme . gratification from the king, with a prefent of a fword with this infcription, ^* for the faithful fervices he had rendered ** his ms^efty \' and he and his family were ennobled^ My next letter will iofbrai you of the farther confequence of dus bufinefi.

LETTER

C ^^ 3

LETTER THE TWELFTH.

^npHE court being infbrmed by Sullhan of what had ^ pafs*d in the late affair of Dumontf it was judged highly ncceflary to make ufe of fome better expedient, than what had been tried before, in order to get the adventurer away from Scotland^ and to deliver him from the dangers and miferies, under which he was then hourly langui(hing.

Want, diflrefs of every kind, with a continual apprehen- fion of being at laft betrayed, or at leaft furprifed, and taken, were the continual companions of his folitude. ,

Several of his fecret and moft faithful friends Were from time to time difcovered, purfued, and apprehended, in their own habitations. This was hourly cutting off his refour- ces for fubfiftence, or longer concealing himfelf ; which increafed the peril of his condition, and began to render it truly infupportable. One . glimmering hope was yet how- ever left ; which was Sul/ivan's efcaping, and landing fafc in France ; from which he thought fome better fortune foon might follow.

One might imagine, that he, who had fo long and fo fen- (ibly felt thofe fufFerings, would ever after have retained fuch a remembrance of them, as might prevent him from loading even an offender, much lefs an innocent perfon, with want,

diftreis.

' [ 73 ]

diftrefsy oppreffion, and unjuft imprironment ; or at leaft inipire him with a feeling and compafHon for thofe^ who^ through misfortune, might fall under the like afflicting cir- cumftances. But how hardened his humanity, how con* trary his difpofition, is to every- thing of that nature, will be fufficiently feen in the fequel.

Letters were continually feht, and applications daily ma* king, to the court of France from Rome^ to prefs that court to take ibme efficacious meafure to extricate him out of thofe dangers, and to releafe him from thofe diftrefies, which they themfelves could not but feel for him.

The court of France, touched with fuch remonftrances, and other coniiderations, but fearing, moft probably, that their own intereft might be hurt or prejudiced in his lofs, by not having him to play off againft England on any future occafion, at laft fent over two fhips, to hover about that part of the coaft oi Scotland^ which they fuppofed (from the information now received) he moft frequented ; and where they could not fail to be diftinguifhed and known from the tops of the lofty mountains in the Highlands^ whither he and his then trufty confidents (fome fifhermen) at times reforted.

Thofe (hips at length arriving, were foon perceived and known to be French^ and intelligence thereof was foon conveyed to him. The profpedt of being redeemed from his miferies ; the appearance and expeftations of being delivered out of the jaws of the lion, which he had fo unjuftly pro- voked and enraged to deftroy him, for fclf-defcnce ; and

Vol. I. L - feeing

t 74 1

feeing then that he had but one danger more to encounter^ which he thought not very hazardous^ after thofe he had before efcaped^ and which was only that of the paflage ; his heart was filled with every tranfport of joy, which hama& nature was capable of, ih a perfon under fuch circumflances, and in his doleful fituation.

Taking leave thercfone of his trufty friefxk the fiflncmlen, called Macimnons, he ibon embarked on board one of theie {hips, without any kind of baggage, almoft naked, and with a conflitution greatly impaired; and with a body loaded with poverty and difeafe.

Matiy of the principal officers and chiefs of the Hi^hianders^ and many of the commonalty, had got ^v^r ioto Frcnce her fore he laiKied, and &vcral others arrived foon after : they Vfttc at firft di^ofed of in hotols, till fomething (hould be arranged for their future fupport by the miniftry«

The oddity of their drefs (that is to fay, the bonnet on the head, plaid, and kelt, without breeches, fide piflol and dirk by the £de, with broad-'fword under the arm) being a<i equipment for men, that was not lefs new, than furprifing, to the French gentlemen and ladies, who are generally al- lowed to be the bed ikilled and moft elegant in fine, as well as decent drefs, of any nation whatfoever, and who never had feen or heard of fuch wild and ronoantic drefles and figures before, excited great numbers of both iexes to go to fee them ; but particularly the fair iex, who on fuch occafions, notwithftanding their inimitable politonefs and j;neateft deli-

qacy.

r 75 ]

cacy^ could not refrain from much npufth and laugl^ter at^ hehokUng theiPf though many behaved with great kindnefs and geaerofity afterwards to Jfeveral of thofe diftrefTed fugi* lives. In fhorfj th/e ciiriofity of fteing their drcfs, and wild, but warlike appearance^ drew fuch numbers of the Pari/ians to fte the middling ibrti which made a fhocking figure in that fplondid gay metropoUsj that it may well be compared to the eagernefs and avidity with which the Londoners bur-* riftd to fee the Qh^rokei kings.

You will ea^y be convinced, that the news of the ad* venturer's fafe landing and arrival at Parity was well received by his friends at court, and that exprefles were diredlly dif- patched to PAme^ ta inform his friends (here of this favour* able events AU necdTaries were immediately provided for bud \ but the greateft concern was abo«t his heaUb«. which wa^ lb much injured and impaireds that it wa9 a Wng tiu9ie before it coiild be rfi-eftabliihod*

His refidence was now at the magnificent chateau* he** longing to the duke de Charters^ eldeft fon of the duke of Orleans^ about three fbaall miles from Paris ; where he way furrounded with all die Scotch and Iri^^ who had fled from Bc^tland into France^ after their defeat at Cuihden. Here he recdved jdie news of his brother's being made a cardinalf whkh was abtout "^ufy or A^Ji ^7^7*

The pope's nuncio, fending that day compliments of con-

^atulaficMi on tbat occafion, intimated l^ia intention of

coming in the afternoon to make him a perfonai vifit. As*

' L 2 gainft

[ 76 ] gainft the time of tiis coming, whatever priefts were in and about the houfc and gardens, which were large and fump« tuous, were ordered away ; the gates were made faft, ex- cept that by which the fervants entered ; the Swifs porter was ordered to wait in the out-court facing the road, and, on the arrival of the nuncio, to acquaint his fervants that his mafter was gone from home early in the morning, before his meffage was delivered. This was a pretence to fhew his difapprobation of the brother's choice and condud, in at-* taching himfelf to the fee of Rome^ and openly declaring himfelf a Roman Catholic, and by confcquence an enemy to the church of England.

The nuncio coming, in fome (hort time after, received the anfwer, as above directed to be given ; on which he Ire- turned to Paris^ not at all fatisfied with the difappointment he had met with, and perfuaded that it was a mere excufe, concerted and advifed by fome of his evil counfellors. But to carry on the joke, an article was immediately drawn up, by way of news, fetting forth the matter above related, or fomewhat to that purpofe ; which, after being handed about, perufed, and confidered, was difpatched by pofl: to London^ and foon after it appeared, as an article of important news, in fome of the Englijh news-papers, to propagate a favour- able opinion of the elder brother's zeal for the Englijh church, and the proteftant religion, ^j^lle politic^ quelle grimace^ quelle bipocrifie.

Some fsw days after lord George Murray arrived at Faris^ where it may be prefumcd he expected to be well received,

after

r n 1.

after the dangers^ fufFerings, lofTes, and fatigues, he had gone throQgh and fuftained, by his taking part in that un- happy curfed bufinefs \ having then made his lafl; voyage from Swiizerlandy where he had been concealed^ to Paris^ as it was then faid, not doubting but to meet with or find at leaft as much protection, gratitude, and civility, as thofe had done, who had not half his pretention and merit.

The adventurer being fbon made acquainted with lord George* s arrival, he, without much hefitation, fends' one Stafford^ a gentleman of his bed-chamber, as he was called (but who, iot a long time^ had his own bed-chamber in the cells of Newgate^ at London^ after the defeat at CullodenJ to tell lord George^ that he would not fee him, nor hear from him, and ordered him to leave France as foon as pof- fible, and Paris in twenty-four hours"; which if he did not comply with, the Bajiile was annexed. Difputing or repre- fentations of paft fervices were totally ufelefs to an ungrate- ful mind; thecamblote had taken its plie; and of two great evils, it being bed to chufe the leaft, lord George thpught fit to order his horfes for next morning, and fo decamped for Holland or Germany. AH the Scotch at that time at Paris were highly exaiperated at this bafc ufage of lord George ; and as many of them had been eye-witnefTcs of his conduft and bravery, in the greatefl perils, and in the mofl difHcult a£fairSj they were not wanting in loudly vindicating him, and complaining of the injuflice done his lordfhip : but thofe complaints were fruitlefs, and without remedy. Had he ferved under a Caligula or a Nero^ he could not bave been worfe treated ; thofe could only, by ibme inhu- man

man a6t of cruelty and butchery, h^ve deprnred him of his life ; but this tyrant, by falfehood, deceit, and treachery, endeavoured to deprive him of what was more dear taa man, and ought to be fo to every nobld mind, viis. his honour and his reputation.

My next letter will inform you of fomething not lefs in- terefting than what I have wrote in this letter, but which my time will not at prefent permit me to particulariy relate.

* If

mmmmmmm'mmmmmmmm^

LETTER THE THIRTEENTH,

npHE different facSs and tranfa^ions in the preceding let- •^ ters are purely and fimply related and fet fortb^ a< they were known, told, and pftca repeated, by the very perfons themfelyes, whofe employ and connedtions made them principal aftors thj^rein; and I hope the (impUcity, with which they are written,, will in fomc roe^fure. vouch for their veracity, fupported by a chain of circuniAancea and events, which render the whole clear and felf-evidcnt.

Negotiations were now on the tapis at Aix^la^Cbapellcp where the right honourable the earl of San^i^icbj at that time his late majefty's ambaiTadoi: to the $t9,tes.'-Qener9l of the United Provinces^ was great^ omplpyed^ as ipinifter of

Englandp

t 79 ^3

^Bn^ndf for iettl^ng the prelimiaarles of a peace. The difpofitions of the contending pQwers towards an accommo* dktion^ fo much wanted^ and fo much to be defired, were .xieverthdefs adtuated and governed by the hopes* of fuccefs, or firars of lofs and mifcarriage in the proje^ and events of war, neareft at haodi add moft ready ^o be difplayed, ac- cording to which tlie'terms^ )ikd this (locks» muft ri^ and fall, amongft t)ie pcditici^ ftockjobbei'Si or contending powers. .

Befgeof-op^Twom^ tuatii that thse. loi&ed liipon as isipreg- nable, was beiic^d by the French^ under the conjmand 6i Marfhal Lcuendall, and taicpn ; and Maeftricht^ in a few months ^StJtx^ met with the fame fate frocn a Fremcb army^ under the command of Marihal &axe^

Such was the fituation of affairs in Flanders duriqg this campaign, that the French^ having by their fucceflcs in that country got the ball at their toe, they might have kick'd it Its they pleaied, and marched into HoUand^ and taken it with no great' lofs or difficulty. Bruffels^. Bridges^ Ofiend^ Lou^ Hsaifif MecAlki, GMt, I'ongres, Tir/emanf^ Centrvn, Matjlricht^ Antm&erpy «iid feveral other jplaces, being then imder their dominion, there was but Breda^ and a few other places of as little confequence, to oppofe their arms. It is more than probable, that their poflponing the defign of pushing their Axrcefles to the laft extremity, was to . render thcrnfel ves more formidable, and to acqiaipe more ftrength for carrying tbcm into execution, at the time they fhould find it moft

- convenient

C 80 •]

convenient and confiftent with their other views. In cafe the negotiation fljiould come to nothing.

Di(patch was now abfolutely neccffary to bring the nego- tiations to a conclufion by a peace, and thereby ward off the blow, which the continuance of a bloody and expenfive war, not very propitious to Englandi-^nd her neareft allies, might render more fatal in another campaign, than any thing that had before happened. The Englijh minifter well forefaw thofe dangers, and went earneiUy to work, in conjundlion with thofe. of the allies, to give the finiihing ftroke.to this bufmefs. He carried his demands in as high a ftrain, as if on the vi<3;orious fide of the queftion. As for the French, they had gained what they had at that time principally in view ; to which the rebellion in Scotland did not a little con- tribute ; and therefore they were the more difpofed to pa- cific meafures.

All difiTerences and ceremonies being at length adjufted, a peace was concluded ; for the performance of the articles of which, fo far as related to Great Britain , two * hoftages were by France demanded, and were actually fent to Paris; on this particular condition. That the adventurer (hould be ordered to depart out of his moft Chriftian majefiy's domi« nions.

His agents and emifiaries attended at. jiix^/a-Ciapel/e du- ring the conferences y and finding matters concluding con- trary

^ Lord Catbcart and Lord M^ntpn.

r 8i 1

trary to their expcAations and wifhes^ a formal protefl was drawn up and prefented by the pretender againft this peace, and in fupport of his pretended rights and claim to the crown of GreMt Britain ; in which he expe^ed the French minifter would have concurred : but the French court ha- ving then no further occafion for him, that minifter gave himfelf no trouUe on the fubjed; ; unlefs to flatter and cajole him, with new promiies of dotng fomething for his iervice at a more favourable opportunity.

Certain it is, that he never could be brought to believe, that France^ carried on by fiich a Current df jHrofperity in this war in FJanders, and having all Holland in a manner open at that time to her arms, or little capable to reiift them, would have ib readily made a peace, until he found that the peace was actually concluded. He rather hoped and expeded to fee Holland brought down by the war, in a campaign or two nMre i and that the Dutch or Hollanders^ three parts of which are aheady Frenchified, being reduced or brought under ibme degree of dominion or obedience to the crowii of France^ (hips, men, and money, might have been always found there, with more facility than elfewhere; in which view he had entertained that England would have fallen a prey to his ambition and vengeance. The conclu- fiout therefore, of this peace, was to him the greateft mor- tification and difappointment that could pofiibly happen to fuch an adventurer.

Moft people imagined, that, after this turn of ill fortqn?^

he would have returned to Romt j which was the advice of

Vol. I. M hia

C 82 ]

his moft fincer« and intimate friends. Tliere he might have contemplated, and at leifure have repented of his fruitlefs attempts and rafli defigns. But this was in no wife agree- able to his own inclinations ; always on the wing in purfuit of what might offer to kindle new troubles, and promote his defigns. For this purpofe he remained at Paris, fre- quently walking with his particular friends in the ThuillerieSf frequently at mafs at the Cordeliers, and often at the comedy and opera, contrary to promiie, and treaty of friendihip and peace.

Notice of this condud and indulgence to the common difturber being communicated to the court of England, his Britannic majefty's diipleafure at this nuifance and breach of faith, was intimated to the French minifters, who made no difii/:ulty in finding excufes, and giving promifes to apply a proper remedy, pretending that he had been ordered to withdraw, but was obftinate. A projed: was, therefore, formed between the minifters and the adventurer, that he ihould be publickly arretted by the proper officers of diftinc- tion, and a large body of troops, under the command of the inarfhal Due de Biron^ coming out of the opera-houfe on a certaip evening fixed for that purpofe, and that they ihould carry him prifoner to St. Vincennes, a royal prifbn, about two fmall miles from Paris ; a moft delightful walk, with plea- fant avenues leading diredtly to it from the fuburbs of that city ; and in which are moil noble apartments. Here the young gentleman was lodged ; and fome of his partizans, in the fecret, were conducted to the Bq/ii/e, having been pre- vioufly advertifed to hold themfelves ready to be fent as pri-

foners

[ «3 J fdners to thlat placc^ as foon as the proper officers fhoufd come to their reipedtive lodgings or habitations^ to condudl them thither.

Had the minifters been in earneft in this bufinefs, and' not determined to amufe the nation with a farce after the opera, he, and all thofe of his party, who could have been fuppofed obnoxious to the court, on account of their con* dud: or attachment to his perfon and intereft, or on any other account whatfoever, might have, been with lefs noife and expence, more cafe and readinefs, taken at their refpedtive places of abode^ or in the public gardens, or in the ftreets^ cofFee-houles, or taverns, as is common in all fuch cafes, and fo carried to prifon, without parade or buftle. But this was not to be the cafe : the Frencb^ in all their amufements, are fond of expence, (hew, and parade : it was, therefore^ on this extraordinary occafion, neceflary to difplay folemnity and magnificence, to give an air of reality, and remove any fufpicion of infincerity, which the Englijh nation had reafon to entertain of theii^, about that condition, which they never intended to fulfil.

r

. Orders Were, therefi^re, given early in the morning, for the troops to hold themfelves in readinefs to march at a cer- tain hour in the evening, and inftruftions were given to the rclpeftive officers, who were to act the principal parts in this political farce. 3everal of thofe, who were in the fe« cret, and who were dejftined for thp Bafiile^ were vfixh the adventurer in the forenoon pf the day : after dinner he walked in the Tbuif/eries, with a few particular friends, and - •. Ma fire-

I H 1

fir^-arms In his pockets ; from thence he went to the opera; the troopsi to the number of ten thoufand, according to the Paris account, but which might have been about half the number, marched, according to orders, to their rcfpedbive deft i nations ; the flreets and pafTages leading to the opera- houfe were immediately blocked up orftopt by parties of the guards : moft of the avenues leading to that part of the city, and other places, particularly that leading to St. Vincenne^f were likewife fecured in the fanM manner, by feveral de- tachments from the main body. All Paris began to be filled with confternation $ nor has any uproar been iince equal to it, unlefs that which happened on £)^i^;?'^ attempt to aft faffinate the king.

<

No fboner was the opera finiAed, but thfc adventurer (coming out from the lodge or box where he fet) was naet in the paflage, leading towards the ftreet, by the (rfficera and gentlemen, who were appointed to arreft him, and wha waited for him there for that purpofe.

They flopped him in this paflage, and inftantly acquainted

him with their orders, and that he was then arretted by

them de la part du roy. This he knew as well a$ them-

felves. However, he made a feint, as if he would make

refiftance, by firfl: putting his hands to his pocket, to take

out his piftols, then to lay hold of bis fword s both which

were prevented, and the arms were^ by perfuafion and po*'-

litenefs, furrendered* A filken cord was then made ufe of*

He was conduced, in a coach with ibme officers of dif«

tindlion, to St. Vincennes^ followed by a large body of horfe

wdt

t ,

r ^5 r

and £oot, and attended by the Marihal Due Je Binm id peribn;

. i&/^> Sir He^r Maehan^ GiltJbMagbf his maitre d'h6tel, formerly butler to lord Clare^ and a few others, were fent to the Bafiik ; where they liirod welU and in no fort of feaV cur pain of making any great ftay i S0V9 a little time after^ they were all diicharged* Sullivan^ who was to be of the B^Jiik party» not jxnich liking the expedition, wrote a let-> ter a day or two before to the minifter, fignifying, that as he was an officer of rank in the French fervice, he defired to be excufed^ left it might be a prejudice to him hereafter, aoton^ the Frenci ofScers in the army, ignorant of the motive : which exru£b was admitted by the French mini^ ftry ; but this drew the adventurer's difpleafure upon him fbr a iong time : and Kelfy^ who hated him in his heart, improved diis to his own advantage. Sullivan having one diay toU Kelfy^ before the adventurer's face, and in his own apartments,^ that he was one of the greateft rogues living, was the caufe of Kelfy'^ averfion to Sullivan.

Two or three days after this arreft, the adventurer having given his parole (as reported) to retire out of France^ he was nobly attended and conducted from St. Vincermes^ for a few miles, by officers appointed for that purpofe. He thea took fuch courie as he pleafed; fuppofed to have gone di- ire€kly to his ancle's, the d%ike ie Bouillonf at Sedan ; from whence his correspondence and vifits at court incog, were as frequent, as he liked. It could not be for any complaifance towards the Englijb nation that the French minifters entered

into

[ 86 I

intp this affair ; for certainly there is not a people on earthy whom they fo much deteft. The true motives of this droll policy, for it was nothing elfe, I could never clearly under- ftand. Some were of opinion, that as the French (notwith- flanding the adventurer's then late misfortunes and mifcar- riages in Scotland) had, and ever will have, defigns of in- vafion on this kingdom, whenever they are in a condition to carry them into execution, they perfuaded him into this method of a feeming compuliion on him to retire a while from Faris^ to remove, as far as poflible, every fuppofition of fuch intent.

Others believed it was a political fcheme to favour his de« iigns of vifiting fome foreign courts incog, to engage them^ by fuch unkindnefs fhewn him in France^ privately to efpoufe and intereft themfelves in his affairs, in any future ev^nt, which the breaking out of a new war might, and alw;ay8 will, give birth to ; and that in cafe fuch vifits and appli- cations fhould be difcovered, the French might appear to have no hand or part therein, and exche fome of thofc powers to enter into his meafures, and to ferve him with more fpirit.

Be it as it may, all reafonable people faw, that the whole cf this affair was nothing but a piece of ufelefs finefle ; a refined piece of French policy, fans querefans tetCy and what we call in plain Engltflj, a hum< upon our nation : for it nei- ther leifened his interefl, nor diminiihed his correipondence ; or prevented his vifit at that court, when^er he was plea- fed to make ufe of eithen

His

\

[ 87 J %

His travels^ as above mentioned^ being long before deter* mined, he, in purfuance thereof, fet out fome time after ; in the profecution of which, we ihall leave him for fome time, purfued through Europe by a perfon, who followed him fome years, and, as he confeiTed, was hired to airafli- nate the adventurer, by a confpiracy entered into and carried on for that purpofe, as that perfon has fince informed me, between perfons of great diftinftion in dilBFerent parts of Europe, and the Jefuits : which brought on the late ex- pulfion and diflblution of that fociety in France^ with the confifcation of their effects, to the amount of above fix mil« lions Stirling, according to the computation made thereof i the particulars of which you may expert to find in fome fu-^ ture letters s whilfl *ln the interim I take notice, as I pro- mifed in a former letter, of the curfe James I. imprecated upon himfelf and his poflerity s after touching on fome thing$ relating to that family in general, which I hope you will find worthy your obfervation and attention, before I enter on the adventurer's true character, or the late intended invafion of this kingdom, with the motives of the late peace*

LETTER THE FOURTEENTH.

T N my laft letter, I told you I fhould take fome notice of the curfe James L of England imprecated upon himfelf and his pofterity, with fome particulars of that family,

which

[ «« T

which are taken from the beft authorities. This, in my opinion, is a proper interval for that bofinefs, until we find the adventurer returned from the journies he made, and again in atftion in France^ though incog, forwarding the de- figns that were for fome time hatching in his favour, and the greateft and moft expenfive ever entered into by that nation.

»

The defign of fuch digreffion is tihiefly to inform thofe, who have not, in the coUrfe of their reading, met with thefc particulars, with a knowledge of the wickednefs and tyranny of the deteflable race of Stuarts i and to revive and preferve in the minds and memory of thofe^ who have perufcd them, the remembrance of their lawiefs and abominable aftions, in violation of all juftice, and the moil facred oaths : which cannot fail to infpirc every fubjcft with horror and dctefta- tion of fuch a family, who will give himfelf leave to refleft on the happinefs and liberty he enjoys, under the mild and aufpicious reign of his prefent majefty i and what he may promife to be enjoyed by his poflerity, under the royal line in the houfe of Hanover.

Looking into a book, in titled. The Secret Hiftory of White* halU printed and publiflied at London many years ago, you will find, that the firlt of that family, who mounted the throne oi Scotland^ obtained that fovcreign authority by mur- der, robbery, and adultery. If the tree is known by its fruit, and that the leaves of each branch refisiiiblc each * other, what lefs could a nation cxpcd from fuch a root,

than what they have experienced ? Scarcely has there be^

one

I ^9 1

ont of .the wretched offspring who died a natural death, or without fuipicion of poifon or the poinard. Moft of them fupported themfelves on the throne by the utmofl violence and moft atrocious aflaflinations, poifonings, and murders, -even of their neareft relations, friends, and confidents ; but this, inftead of fecuring to them that fafety and defpotic power they fought after, placed them in a more dangerous iituation, and at laft brought on the exelufion of the Stuarts family from the crown. What brought on the hatred of the people, and the ruin of that family, was their avarice, tricking, lying, and perfidy i fuch as great and virtuous minds abhor. The thirft of wealth, for which the fubje(5ls were fleeced, to lavifh on panders and favourites, contri- buted not a little to their downfal, perfonal misfortunes and punifhments, which heaven infli£fced upon them, for their de-> ceit and falfehbod. No promife could ever be relied on, which they made, if the fmalleft advantage refulted from their violation.; as if they held by patent or inheritance the right of being perfidious. And as perfidy and falfehood are a ma- nifeil evidence of a mean and difhonefl mind, fo in a prince it brings on him contempt and impotence,

. .

• • r

I^ence it is next to an impoffibility he fhould be long free from war at home, or war with his neighbours abroad. For inftance, James V. of Scotland^ who had a fair opportunity of eftablifhing a lading peace with England^ lofl by deceit and falfehood that blcfling to himfelf and his people, toge- ther with his life ; as you will find by the following ac- count, given to us by a learned author on that fubjedl i who relates, that

Vol. I. N Henry

t 90 1 Henry Vlll. his uncle> theo at variance with the. pope, the emperor^ and Spain, willing to ftrengthen himfelf at home, even defirotis to fettle the fueceiflicm upon his nephew, courted him to an aIHaiice> nay to an interview and - con^^ ference at Tork. Nothing could promiife fairer for Scotland^ for many ages harra£S:d and defokted by ^ars with Enghmdi nothing prove more honourable and beneficial to die Scotch king, than the entail of the ^n^l^h crown, and the fupport oflfered by his uncle.

»

Henry VIII. had then on)y one datightet, and (he was de^^ clared illegitimate. King yames, therefore, by the advice of his council, accepted the prbpofal. The En^fh ambaf- fadors returned highly fatisfied ) and dieit royal niafter was as highly pleafed, who made great preparations at Tark for the reception of his nephew*

But the Scotch king had minions about him, whofe in- fluence was more powerful than his councils, or his honOur, or bis intereft, if thefe two can be parted. To thefe mi- nions the clergy apply, and with bribes engage them to di& fuade the king from keeping his word« Some of the fa« vourites too were clergymen, and in the name of alt thejr laboured to debauch and deceive the king. They frightened and cheated him widi the word bere^-, and whatever of- fended die clergy in thofe days, were it man, or thing, was fure to be declared an enemy to God and the king^ and con-* fequently to be very bad and terrible^

f 9t )

Th^feld. hfif^f vas gfQwing up in England, and grw^ ing ^ft m Scotland I m4 i>retcnd«d to fljcw him what no^ tJ^^ profit tfottld acccue to his majcfty by fupprcflxng it^ and eQripbing himfelf with the eftates of fuch as profeiTed, and of fuch as favoured it. With this they gave him a lift of their names, encouraging him. to plunder and burn the bfiil: Md xkheft of Kis fubjea$.

Tke king liflen^ to the propo^d too greedily, and com- ttuaiirated it to the laird of Gra/qpt, his treafurer. This wflB in honeft and hold man, who freely ihewed his mafter the ^n'cmftrous iniquity and mifchief o{ fuch cbfiniel ; cx« pofed d^e entfl ami i^acious hearts of the bi(hops, their €or» x^xpi praflSccs, infufferaUe pride, ambitious defigns, * and ungodly livM, with thdr utter unfitneis to be tmfted io council, or with any civil concerns ; reprefented how raihly and pernicioufly one of his predeceflbrs, king David, had ftript the crown <^ its paitrimoiiy to endow bishoprics and ftbbios ; vfience his majefly was now become fo poor, the pidalBS fi» jidi, foppodigdi and afiumii^, that they ^nbve to he piafters and.diirfe&xs in idl thingis.

Thus be convinoed the king, and recovered him fo his fydk neafooable purpo£b, of dofing with the king of Eng^ Jindr, in fb.ttuidb, that his haq^fty, die next $kxie the pre^ Jates appcoachedr him, ^11 upon theni with gseot bitternei^ for having endeavoured to miHaad him into iuch cruelties againft fo many noblemen and barons, to the danger of his jhwji «%il^eftate. " Wherefore,^' (aid hp, ^* gMc my pre- M ileeffflTws ^, many land^ and rents tOithe idrk ? Was it>^ ,. 1 . , - N 2 ^* maintain

[ 9« 1

^ maintain hawks, dogs, and whores, to a number of idle *^ priefts ? The king of England burns, the king of Den* ^^ mark beheads yqu : I fliall flrike you with this winyard/' Whereupon he drew his dagger, and they fled with great fear.

He now fully refolved to keep his promife with his uncle oi England^ as tending both to his advancement and honour; but his refolution held not. The bifhops were not eafily baulk'd nor afham'd, nor wont to relax, when intereft or dominion, or revenge, was in view. Again they af&il die minions, particularly Oliver Sinclair^ with ftore of gold, promifed him high honour by their weight and procure- ment, efpecially the command of the army.againft England, could he bring his mafter to violate his faith, and break with his uncle.

■

The next ftep was to undo the treafurer, by defaming him to the king. ^^ He was proud, he was a heretic, (an <^ imputation always powerful, however ftale and fodifh) «« he carried an Englijb New Teftament in his pouch ; nay, ^' he was fo arrogant, that he would not procure women for '^^ the king, nor proftitute his ion's wife to his majefty's plea- '' fure :" for this was one article of the charge againft him, and urged by a venerable prelate. It was ufual foir theie favourites to fumifli the young king with women, married m unmarried, in order to maintain his favour*

When die king vindicated his minifter, as a plain frank gentleman, whom he loved weli> and to whom he be«

grudged

c 9s r

grudged no reirardi the prior of Pittemoeem replied, and faid, '* Sir, the hcircfs of Kelfy is a lufty fair lafs ; and I «* dare pledge my life, that if your majcfty will fend for her •* prefendy, he (hall refufe tp fend her to you :" (the lady was betrothed to the treafurer's fon). A godly propofal, from a relikgious m^ ! And it took.

» '

. The kin^ Qgned aij^-j^rder for t|iQ lady to be brought to him ; nay, the prelates and their fadion contrived, that a brother prelate, the prior of Pittenweemy fhould carry it, 9nd bring with him; the Cfiripri^e. * TJbe treafurer refui<rd to comply, for goojd ; re^ififna : among|l othe/s, tl^ reyerend envoy was his knoieiFii .f^ei^y, :«nd a l^^nown , deb^chee. The prior, however, v9ho had gained the main pqint, re«- joiced in the denial, apd ^}( it engaged the king ; in fo much^ that they obtained froQi.,hifn ^ w^rrapt to feizp the trea«- furer, and con^nq^t^h;^^ toth^e pail^oi^^^

He was aware of their mifchievous devices, and haftened to court. The :lcing lowered^ and would not ipeak to him. He boldlyi afited bi«.niai«ftyv why,^ * TOUch

difple^ure,^ prefently, ; aftprii^ igpcK; jfavour^ §r4; ^^Xl w^' offence ? The king rcipliedr ^VWhy did(l j(hpu refufe to fpnd ^^ n^e the n^aiden, whom i wrote for, and give a defpiteful ?* langvi^ge t<;^ - hliA I 'ient fqr her ? " The ^treafurer faid, he jthought hin^felf ; meeteft to bripg hjer^ ; nor vfquld he truft the prior, as he knew hinii^fbe oq^ jfnfanious for ;x>(pe§j a man the mofl: notorious in Scotland for debauching ot wo- men, whether wives or y^rgins. • Such failings, it feem^,

tKe

ii.

tli«1ioly am\ h&d, but v^s"«elIbUk Ibr'thelii^rArdiy/i^tti^

hercttcff and his country. '' •;,'•.

V « Hafl thou ih6n bitotight the gendeWom^ with Aec ?*

* ■ • ■

faid the king. *' Yes, Sir;" faid the trcaftirer^ This foft- encd him- " Alas ! " faith the king, '^ they haw ft* ^Bt fo *' many leafipgs againft thee, that they have obtained from ^* me a warrant ^ td '^lit ^tiiee ih wJbrd*: fctft J (b^l^mind it *'Vith a contrary orderi**' *^ ' • :

' The treafurer ^hfWered witk.laniefit&tioti» '^ My life. Sir, or Warding, is a fmaU mattef-; hut it -breaks my .hearty that the- World Aotild hear of your iiiajtSfty's fiicHicy/' , For lie had Itarnt, ^at in hid abftnte they had made die king fend t6 England to xomiradt^ his |Mt)mife, -and fefufb to meet ^i^ tmde. His lamentations avafied not : thie worft councils had fwayedhtm: the prelates, and otherminiofis corrupted by them, and fubiervient to them, ruled the kingf

£4

44

.♦ t

;- Henry V'Ul. ra^s, tows to revenge lb ^aitich conK^Bptt dttd iettds' away in* airaiy, <:i6 lay i^Affci' «leJR)l«te bgr "fire ani fwof-d. The Scotch king td6 raifts'loroes ; but forces with- out heart, -as -in a 'caufe vndeftaken tei ^-lAcafureof th6 -prelates -againft titeir country. This damped tiie ipirtts of the<anny^ but t^iat quke 4rii(hed ^irdej^aioa aad de- fpair, was to fee Other Stttckin a minion and hii^Kog of thepfdates, declared genefAl in chief.

•Hie loitlsand principal officers, Enough indignatfoft th^ «he court and country ihould be governed by fuch vile in-

ftrumentSy

I « 1

ftramenti^ i» iSae hUhops^ and ditir creatutcs, r^ufed to fighf linddr f|i(& a'wor^i^ Qommtadbr; nay* th«y fuf* ftredithem&lvetfJto be All tiik«n ptiAmeeiv* Tht whok army nras overdiseyFn* the kiligdom reddcrbd ;defeacelie&, and czpoftdttd ^ skvtjga of the oketn/, ahd the poor king to

' r * . • * "f • f

^Agaoiuft llvei hiOiqfi^ ^ mboths w«m open; al^ men: en^ raged to fee the country perifhing, to fatiate Aifir fury and ambition. The king heard die general outcry^ his eyes -vpvre opthtd, aAdi6 Ih^ -fiilmsA <^ hie ntert he dcopt ibme «x|>rsffloi^'df<ir6fentm^&C itpa^'hW gfabftlf and execrable adViibt«;<i^'#feadi expitffioni.'fhey iben n&tt tdok levere Veiifeeahcfc.' ■ ■ <- :- .•■■.-.:

Such men never retra^ never for^ve. Tlie realm was Juader the. jpoiling hand- f)f encmiet and invaders, Ac -army routed, the nobility provoked, the people mirerable and murmuring, the king diftrefled, and his honour loft. Did all this i(bfl^'4ie3>3h^s7^a: to.accompiIi(h their malice, and good fervices to the public, and their fovereign, they teurdtif him:%.fti^ f jfor noffithi their: ^dtifax ahd whiilit' iBame.kiftntiM:dcidvtdificta^ictme^ tbcji had kamt tbs art of snaking an ligfistt J^ s.iiid mtb. this* *adaun>aciied by ibme of cheicAkkail irilla^ .fcboift him, fbey ifimt lup the .^days and MggAt«r>aier ,Y; ; : (IlByficfti/icptiteAliimjitf his annopeno*, then) td\ }dar. iMuuafttooaufafcttMsjdnhea M Im jpndttvf tnilid^aad ]nliQDMk>J.«idaaftlvWikiif>t!fe: .

^ .• . i .

• « t

Were

ff

Were not thefo notable <iif edors of a monarch*^ power and confcience ? Nayi ev^ii dying and '^lekd^ they^^ibufed him^ as Well as they hid :whililalivcJ ^Qne' of them at- tending him at hi^>death» ^ vdien the poor king, was expiring» didaied a willfbr bim^ which he boldly dedared to be the king's will afterwards. To fuch an amazing power in wick<- ednefsy and want of (hame^ had the clergy then grown,

ty their dhormaos increaic of pifopeaiy t mBut tfctfy Were popifh clergy.

Thus you fee in. a ibvereign an example of avarice, falfe-* hood, jand folly, who might and ought to have livec|, and died, ^.example ^f iincerity, hooour^ geouofity, .. and vir^ tue ; by which his own life, and the happinefs of his pep** pie, had been effedually preferved.

^— — I — I—— ^w—— —————— —Jib^ii^—pi<i^—i——pi^

■ ',.•> ■ . . . ■ ■ ..::•.

LETTER THE FIFTEENTH.

. • ■•■(,.

"yjn I T H rc^rd to the m^odi^kion of yams I, of Etigiatul, .meationed in the firil part of my former letter, tbcy vrho have read the hiftocies df that reigii, remember, I doubt not, that Sir Thomas O^rburyy by the plots and infernal praaicos of . the cOuhteft. of ^Jf, Sir tt>mas Mohjim, and others, and through .di&aonnivance of the earl of .^^* then one of' the ! king's . principal -favoantBS» was fffft ^ifimed, and the poifon not taking its delired effe^ fo foon as the;

coni^iiUtors

i 97 1 conipirators expeded, then flified, whilft he was prifoner in the Tower of London.

«

' On this occafion^ an author of great authority, an eye and ear witnefs to moft of the fecret tranfadtions of that courts and who at times fupped with the ^ king, has tranf- mitted the following particulars of the king's imprecation on account of this execrable murder, which I will take the li* berty to give at large.

" The king/* fays he, " went from Whitehall to Tbeo^ ^* balds t and fo to Royjion. The king fent for all the judges " (his lords and fervants incircling him) ; where kneeling ^* down in the midft of them, he ufed thefe words.

The King's Curfe and Imprecation on himfelf and his pofierity.

• My lord? the judges, it is lately come to my bearing, ^ that ydu have now in examination a bufinefs of poifoning^ *'Lttrd*! in what a moft mifcrable condition fhall this king-

* dcm be (the only famous nation for hofpitality in the world) ^ if our tables (hoald become fuch a foare^ as noqe (;ould eat

* withdut danger of life> aadihat /fn/it^.cuftom.fhould be

* introduced amongft us. Therefore, my lords, I charge

* you, as you will anfwcr it at that great and dreadful day

* of judgment, that you examine it ftriftly, without favour^ ^ aftcftibh, ^6r parfiittfyj and if you fhall fpare.'aoy'^perfon ^ g^iliy of this bf ibie; Q^its iufje KgLt upon ypw and; your

* pofterity ; and if I fpare any that are found guilty, *God'§

* cuRSB lighten ME and my to%T'b,kity for ever.\ •Vol. L O " How

i 9« J •« Sow'krng Ramies foiled in this Jbojfinefs," fays ihisftoie ^uthor^ << as well by his own death, hy Jihe hlack powders ** and plafter, (thought to be given and applied to him by the duke of Buckingham, or by his dire&ion, «viioin the king had rai&d from obfcurity to be his greateft favou« ^ rite, and loaded with honours and «ches) is iofficitntly *' known. That this fearful imprecation "broisg^ down, this ^ juflicc of God upon himfelf^ by his.dca:di by poifcm, and " the fufferings of his pofterity ever fin^re, acejib mantfbft; ** that it feems to have been the purpofe of God, doubtlefs, ^^ to lay afide that family, and to make it an example to *' pofterity, according to this imprecation, and others of :.die ^< like nature^ both of king Jtmes and king Chuties^^'

yameSf unfortunately for himfelf, as well as for his peo- pie, was full of every fpecies of diffimulaiion^ ftau4> and oppreffion, he dared to pradife ; and though his reign was peace, and his motto. Bead pacifich he waa. ^Fiiflnic> and in his natpre cruelt even comuving at' the <^pceffi9P6 cxer« ci&d on his people by his favourites, and thole in authority under htm. Hence it may he tmly iaid> that he who hfi* power, and permits oppreffion and cruelty^ ie erattliapd Cj^ preffive, though he knows it not ; for he onf^t to :»know iU ought to inquiret and ought to prcsBcnt it, if hQ««otiet;pQ-' niih k.

Ckurk* 1* having afbeodcd the fcbcone c» 4e 4eath «f -bis Uxh^tt tnftead of making that inquiry into the.c^aie&>of his lather's death, and 4jf the deafA ftUb of hi& c^der brother* prince Henry, -as it was his doty, as a^ «i4<bK>tbcar> to

40f

[ 99 1 doi gave hiniftlf no eoncern about either^ though all the \ybrld declSaired, that both of them had foul play ; and not- wlth£baAding his ikft parliament feemed intent upon that inquiry^ and to have been defirous to probe to the bottom of the wound, and that an examination had been taken, with regard to thft deadi of the prince, to bring the paricide tojttiticet who was poUickty faid to have perpetrated thefe atitxioua. Crimes ; y^t was this bufineis ftiiled in its birrh> by diifelving that parCament; and the perfon moft fttfpe<£fced of the guilt, not only continned in royd favour and autho* rity, but was again promoted to greater wealth and power than what he had before enjoyed (if greater he poflibly could en^y) uotil< the aven^g hand of juftice overtook him, and cut hka ofF by the knife of i Fenton^ in the zenith of his %lc!ndid, hot abomiivable caKtfr.

Sedung tonefliablifli the Qnconftioitional maxim of govern- MtktsAf, imhH)ed from hca Bahet, fo^ take from his fubjeds mctnc^ without hm,^ and contpary M aff law, and ready to ^^fkfc^^tcJtk2tMan.aB its li&erty; by l^ing upeih it the yoke oi Atfyoti£ax) uaA> Akvuytf ciiril' v^airs^ dnfued, and extended th^pftftlvi^r^thrduglioustji^^ atid Scotfoftd. Maf^

&crdi, defiiatbnai. b^ntlasr murdef«» eHeeutions, with al! the fadnorsi and; oafixnikicS' of a. Moed^ and inteifhie war^ wcnc d» dtfnifll redbO^'cf tl»^; hf» Uh)^^ and tnoif^Hi judged politics, which clofed the fcene with hik own fatal tragedy.

Mbffi natk>86 dTMmdpi^ oAeA oitc againA' th^ Holiner and cruelty of the Englijh and Scotch^ after this tragedy was

O z over:;

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over ; but none fo loud in exaggerating all fuch charges and complaints as could be made on the fubjedt, as the French. This was to take away all fufpicion of the part they had aded therein. Monf. Louvois, minifter of ftate to Louis XIV. loading the Englijh with infamy and reproach on this occa« lion, writes to the king his mafter, how neceflary and pru- dent it was in the queen, his mother, to have conveyed him out oi Paris ^ when the differences between him and his parliaments were at their greateft height, left his then rebel fubjedts fhould have followed the example fet before them by the Englijh nation.

When the French have done all the mifchief they can, to ferve their purpofe, they turn all the ill, by' which the mifchief was accomplifhed, upon others, and are ,the firft to blame them. Louvois could hot but know, that cardinal Richlieu had firft laid the plan of this lidhappy king's de-« ftruftion ; and had, by his ambaffadons and emiiTaries, which he fent over for that purpofe, fomented the troubles during his life, in which he faw the king and his kingdoms fo dangeroufty involved ; and that at his deceaie cardinal Ma^ zarin finifhed the plan the other had begun, by contributing all in his fkill and power to bring that monarch to the death he fuffered, on the 30th of January 1648-9; v^Yuch Mazarin brought about under the fpecious preteince of endeavouring to prevent it. . ' '

The fame kind of perfidy had been pradifed againft Mary queen of Stots : for ^my III. or his mmifters, lent BeOuvre

i t ^

[ '01 J

to England^ under pretence of getting her fentence of death revoked y but he had fecrct orders to folicit her execution.

T

The politics and maxims of Ricblieu and Mazartn have been too much followed ever fince in France^ and their in- fedion fpread in other courts. Upon the death of Charles, the outcryings and complaints raifed againft the Englijb fub* fidedt except as above, and thofe fubfidcd. only through the prefs i nor was there one of thofe powers who fhewcd the leaft refentment, by any noble ad):iQn, in favour of his fon ; on the contrary, thofe who were loudeft in their clamours were the firft to approve of the rebellious meafures, by enter- ing into treaties of peace and friend£hip with the protestor, as foon zi opportunity ferved, and reaibnable pretences of- fered. In my next, I (hall mention to you only a few paf- fa^es and anecdotes of two of the fucceiTors of this unfortu-* nate king ; and then return to the principal fubjedl, where we fhall find the adventurer returned to France.

•

LETTER THE SIXTEENTH.

f^HAR LES II. being reftored, betrayed the fame pif- - fion for defpotic power, the fame' defire' of oppreiling his fubjeds,^ and violating the conflitution and its laws, as had appeared in any of his predecefibrs and progenitors, or ■ i ever

ever had been pradifed b^ them* Thefe fads are fi> ncto-> riouily known and confirmed^ that I own I fiiould not re?* cite them here, but to perpetuate the remembrance of them, and to anfwer thofe purpofeo as may be neceffary in the courfe of thefe letters^

Regal power was not long poi&fl«d by CAarks IT. but, with all his boafted geneiofit^ aiut affability, he difcoreretf his extreme defire of ruling independent, and liberally to» beflow on himfelf and has favoarices the public wealth, with-^ out confent of parltameitc. He fecretly tlioug^ht and fefle^-^' ed on the power and autlioriey of padiameive, what Crom^ ivell faid he thought of regaf jower^ when he trampled i« under foot, viz. that it was ufilois,. burtia«nfe«ie^ and dan^ gerou&> and would have been inl this fen& (for taking thd people*s money^ and in every other &ti&) a CrofMvetts if ho had thought hd could hav6 fucoecdcd^ without rifk of hi^ crown and his bead. He thirfled after unlimited pcwery tho*' he made a wretched ufe of what he had ; and was ufed to fay, " that a crown was not worth having, if he that wore «• it muft be. thus controulcd by 2f pareel- ^ JtHtms:' Hc^ meant the parliament ; who muft have been fellows indeed, fays an hiftorian, and bad ones too, if the worft amongft them had been as bad as himfelf. However, being prefled, upon a certain occafion^ by «fte-o# hii* pamfitear, on the fbbjcft of money, to raife a fum by laying on a tax without confent of parliament, to anfwer an emergency, uffw- j^flfiftf. 4nd he- fitafing fpr fome thne, Qbarles dediaed the propofai). fay- ing* '" %^ had travelled enough, and. did not cafe to f^ *' abroad again f ' fear alom reftrftiiM^ z% that time thii

meafure.

I »3 1 Aeftfure. In Biihop Bumefs hiftory, we find a ftrange and ihockiQg)diralaGRtioa of Cbarks H. concerning cbe duke o£ i4aud^,dalei that !<he duke had indeed done many damn'd things in Scotland 4 ** ibut I cannot fee," fays his majefty, ^^ -th^ ixe has idonsccany thing ajainftanyintereft :'' a fpoecht upon iwbich I make jio.r^e(9ton ; iior ce.n any imagination fumiih ^oxie, :lhat can )poflU;dy heighten its hoccor. His word or |)rottife 5e>s Jittk .to he relied on, thss hreafih of ]»^hjqh h^ «xci|f«d ^hyv^k.fusdipleafftntry^ and he wa^i in his hwiXt more (tffeudb^d to Frame, than jnras confident with his:hoDWM:» or Jbis i&temftr iss^a Britijh king. He ptofefled iumfidf )a ^otefiatnt iducing bis life, rbot di«d apapift^ ac-» £otdti^ to thf .heft acpoupts, ^ His i death happened moch feanerthaDLCould be realonablyfiippofcd or eacpe^d from ft) hefllthy and vigoirous a con^itotion, as that which he was foflefiediof; *whu^, withother «more powerful circumftan- ces, coovbice^bat his life was dispatched by foiftm. Me detciled paflittments^ *and was not beloved ^by them; eon-- fequently he flood but fli^ly in the a0t:3ion of the people^ and the city of London had as few obligations to him, as to any ibvecc^n.tfaat seigned before him, if not many lefs.

ytuoesH. afiieiidifig the throne oh the demtfe of his bro-^ tittT CibarJes, poflefied his family's talents for eftablKhing ty« rasifiy ja&d oppreffion in the moft eminent degree : and as he openly profefled himfelf a papift^ it is not to bif wondered at^ that he was governed • by pbpiih |>rie(ls ; * and that the tyranny and cruelties of liis ibon, but f^toarkable reign, are ft) incredible. The ^leoutions df ^he duke of Monmouth and of the earl of Ar^yktA Edinhif-gh^ wefc^-examples of^iis ty-. . ^i ranny;

[ I04 ]

ranny ; and the barbarities, which he permitted judge 'jef- Jries and colonel Kirk to exercife againft his fubjeds in the fFeJi^ are bloody fpccimens of his cruelty and perfecuting ipirit, Thefc are but a few. Having ihore courage than his brother, and fupported by the promifes and aiTurances of fuccefs by the popifli clergy, who daily furrounded him, he undertook two things equally difficult and dangerous ; the firft, to fet himfelf abwe the laws^ and the ieCond, to change the eftablijhed religion. He had violated the laws, and would rule by mere will ; which is violence, and violence is war. He had no confidence in his people, whom he had draiaed and oppreiTed : he had taken an oath to govern by the laws, but kept it not : the people, therefore; oppofed not their prince, but their enemy and tyrant : he wanted to do what he pleafed with his kingdoms, and to bring his fub- je€t& into a flate of flavery ; but his people, to fave his king« doms and themfelves from the galling yoke' of his boodage# drove both hitn and his farnily from the governn^ent and

fucceilion t6 the Britijh dominions.

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Thus the nation was delivered froni a tyrant and oppref-* for, and king James 11. was obliged to fly his country, to il*ek an afylum in a foreign ftate, and to depend on the be- nevolence of anotlier monarch for fupport, protedlion, and fubiiilenqe. But this was not all the evil this king had done his country. He left behind him at his death a pretended fuccf0br to the crown. A perfidious prince is one of the heavieft cucfes God can fend upon a people; for when he finds his perfidy and pernicious fchemes difcovered, his an- juil de^gps-pn the liberties, wealth, and properties of the

people.

J

'people^ difappolnted or refifted» his refource is generally to tyranny and bloodfhed.

Who then can reflect on the reigns of the family of the Stuarts^ without dread and horror, feeing that a fucceffion of eight crowned heads of that unhappy race, in a direft line, by their own ill conduft, and the tyranny and oppref- fion of their fubjeds, ihould iinifh their days by violent deaths, by murder, poifon, and the ax^ except the lafl, who, to avoid the fate of thofe who went before him, aban- doned his crown, his kingdoms, and his people, forced to take arms in their own defence, and to fave themfelves from his oppreffion, tyranny, and cruelties. Therefore you will not doubt, but that the curfe of the father has fallen upon the children to the third and fourth generation, and that in this family that malediction has been exemplified in the moft ftria and literal fenfe-

LETTER THE SEVENTEENTH.

IVyf Y private affairs having brought me, in 1755, to Dun^^ kirk^ I was obliged to flay there a confiderable time; and the buiinefs not anfwering expectation, I returned to London^ and after fome time I prepared to go back to Dun^ kirky to finifh this aifair : in which voyage our fliip was by contrary winds forced into Sbeernefs.

Vol. I. P The

[ io6 ]

The very next day, goihg afliore to dine in the fortifica- tion, I was apprehended, and clofely confined in an apart- ment in the tavern where I was found, and a guard was or- dered to lie in rny bied-chamber. This proceeding was founded on a falfe and malicious ififormation given againft me to the governor (a worthy man), fetting forth, that I. was employed by, or in the fervice of the court oi France-, that I had fome connexions with the minifters of that court, and that I was upon fome dangerous ent^rprize ', or to that purpofe (as I was. then irtformed) : which information was given by a man, who faw me in that tavern, and whom I had fome years before faved almoft from ftarving at Chcjier; where I fo far interefted myfelf for him in his diftrefs, as to recommend him into good bufinefs. But this abandoned wretch, havmg at this time got employment under the crown, vainly imagined, no doubt, that he could not re- commend himfelf better to his employers, than by fome officious ftep of this nature, how injurious foever it mighty in its confequences, prove to his benefadlor.

About^five or fix days after, I was brought to town, in- cuftody of a meflfenger of flate, upon a warrant from the right honourable Henry Fox y Efq; (now lord Holland) at that time oae of his majefty*«i^principal fecretaries of ftate,. and clofely confined at the meflfenger's houfc. About one month after> I went through a long and ftridt examination at the fecretary of ftate's oj9ke j when it fully and clearly appeared, that there was not the leaft colour or foundation for my being thus arrefted and detained. On which that miaiftcr, convinced of the iniquity of the charge againfl

[ 107 ]

me^ was pleafed to order my enlargement forthwith : and indeed it would have been the higheil aft of injuftice if he had .not ; for in truth, at that time, direftly or indiredly, I had no more connedtion with the affairs of France^ or the minifters of that court, or with any politics whatfoever, than you have with the Grand Mogul, or his miniflers and their politics : nor did I at that time underftand a word of the French language, and, by confequence, I was a very unfit perfon to be employed in their fchemes or fervice.

Thus enlarged by the minifter, but without any fatisfac- tion for the injuftice and damages I fuflained, I returned to Dunkirk^ where (after many difappointments) I was ftill obliged to wait, on account of my particular ajffairs, which I could not get fettled.

During the time I refided at Dunkirk^ an intimacy of acquaintance arofe between the earl of Clancarty and my- felf, which, by the honour he ^id me, in admitting me frequently to dine and fup with him, fo increafed, and from time to time improved, that at laft he openly profefTed the grenteft friendfhip for me, in all companies, and on all oc- cafions : in fhort, he honoured me with more of his com- pany and converfation, than he did any other perfon whom- foever ; and would always flbcw an uneafinefs, and fort of jealouiy, if any other engagement prevented my pafling the evenings with him, though there were ever fo many other perfons of his party. We frequently went abroad together to take the air : fometimes we walked over the Downs, ob- ferving the fhips pafling the Channel^ fome coming into port,

P 2 others

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others going outtofea; at other times wc rambled' along: the port, viewing the works, or along the canals ; enjoy- itig that kind of exercife that contributes to health; On all! which occafions, as well as at home in private, our conver- sation generally turned on politics^ and public affairs. The rcafon for mentioning this will*foon be obvious^, .

The late earl of Clare, in Ffa?ice c^Yltd Le MarechaV Comte de Tbomond, having come to Dunkirk, at this time> in . quality of infpedtor-gencral of the armies of France, in order - not only to review and infpefl: the feveral regiments of hbrfe, foot, and dragoons, then in garrifon there, . but alfo all the other troops of that country, all along the coaft ; I had the honour to be made known to his lordfhip, to fhare in his efteem, and to be invited by him to Paris i but I had no-» thoughts at that time of fuch a journey.

Lord Cidncarty, who was born at Altena, near Hamburgh^ ^ never liked the mar(hal, who was born in France i nor would he ever vifit him^ but on fome public or particular occa- fions, and when it \ns not to be avoided; His reafon for this diflike, as^ he himfelf often fa:id, was, that the mar- shal was too- great a courtier, and too much a Frenchman i for, fays he, as he was only dropt in France of J/-^ parents, he ought not fo- rauch^ to afffecft the French cuftom«. It is not (continued he) a reafon, becaufe a- man is born in a ftable, that he ihould become a horfe. Thefe little, but bitter invcdlives, were not unknown to> or kept fecret from the marfhal, as the other made no fcruplc to fpeak thfem in pyblic company, and frequently even before fome. of the

ojQiceis .

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ofEccrt of tBe-inarfhal's own regiment, which oftentrmcr ereated warmdifputes and ill blood ; where nothing but lord Glancariys rank could have prevented them from being at>- tended with fatal confequences, though the marihal himfelf only fmiled at them*

The marfhal was in his perfbn* of a fine (bape and figure, very handfome, and in his converfation obliging, polite, and of great affability. He was much eftcemed by the French king, beloved by the minifters, nobility, and army. All this gave fome jcalouly to the other lord ; which, together with feeing the marflial, on the feveral journies he made to Dunkirk, fo highly honoured and efleemed, as he ufually was (though there was nothing more in this, than what was due to his rank as a marfhal of France) were the caufes of his dillike to that nobleman,, more than any thing elfe.

Hoflilities were now, and had for fome time before, com- menced, by the military operations and tranfadions carry- ing on in North America. This gave a fecret joy to the adventurer's party, in what place foever they were. The Englijh men. of war having taken, and. continued, from time to time, to feize all fuch French ihips or vefTels as they fell in with, either going to,, or coming from that part of the weftern world, I might, I think, have faid, or almoft dfewhere, and the aflTair of general Br^z/^i^^i (who had fome years before unfortunately deprived lord' Chncarty of the fight of one of hfs eyes, by the unlucky throwing a glafs bottle, whilft they were at fupper together at the King's Arms mPall-MaUJ began to awake the hopes of that party, ,

and.;

hi*

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^nd to kindle thofe fpirits, which had been for eight pre- ceding years fmothered in their own aflies : thefe hoftili- ties, I therefore fay, occaiioned many complaints from the merchants, and created great murmurings amongft the trading people in France of all forts, and did not fail to give a good deal of umbrage and uneafmefs to the French mini- ftry.' From all which, and from the heavy lofTes thofe mer- chants daily fuftained, and were ftill continually expofed to, without any redrefs, notwithflanding their reiterated repre- fentations to the court on that fubjeft, a rupture between the two powers feemed abfolutely unavoidable.

France^ on her part, though filent to the complaints of her people on their lofles, forefeeing that the ftorm raifed in the weiftern world was ftill increafing, and likely to Ipread itfelf all over Europe^ as well as in the eaftern world, ne- gleftcd nothing that fhe thought might be neceffary to avert from herfelf the ill efFedts thereof, and fecure herfelf from the dangers to be imparted by its influence, Confidering then, that, according to the old phrafe, it is an ill wind that blows no body good, fhe feared not to make her ad- vantages in the hurry and confufion, which it mieht ^read in its progrefs. It was now, therefore, time to ftrengthen herfelf in all events, according to her ufual politics and in- trigues. For which purpofe, a fecr^t negotiation and treaty were fet on foot, and concluded, between her and the houfe Q^ Aujlriuy before the other powers of £j^ro/!^, could, get any intelligence or certain knowledge of the matter; by which Aiijlria abandoned her engagements with England^ her beft /ricnd, and moft faithful ally ; who had for a long feries of

time.

time, I may fay an age before, lavilhed her moft: valuable blood and treafures in her fupport and defence.

What part the adventurer had in getting this treaty againft: England advanced and concluded, w^liilft on his fecret jour- nies> is more fufpedled than afcertained, as it was conducted with the gr^ateft fecrecy. I have been told by a gentleman very iatimatc with the duke of Nivernm, and oftejn in feCret with hitx^s whilft at Berlin as ambaffador from France ta^ that court, during the fecret negotiation of this treaty, that his majefty of Pr/^/2; who had at the fame time executed a private treaty with his late majefty the king of Great Bri^ tainy ipeaking a day or two after the courier arrived at Bcr^ liny with the news of the ratification of this treaty with his relation and ally the king of England, he afked Nivernoisy if he had heard any news'? to which the other anfwered in the negative : whereupon the king faid, I will then tell you fome news» and then told him, he bad concluded a treaty with his couiin the king of England i to which the other anfwered. Sire, that is no news to me ; I knew it before : but, continues he, I will tell your majjefty a greater piece of news, which I believe you have not as yet heard. The king afking'what it was, the ambaflador told him, that the king of Franccy his mafler, had a few days before concluded a fecret treaty with the emprefs queen ; which did not . fail to furpriie and much ailcnifii the king^ according to what was judged, from his.majcfty*s countenance, and. from the whole of .his' bdaaviour; though few princes* m Europe know better how to guard againft. any furprife, or to conceal i^s difagrceable effefis^ than the king oiPruf^.

L E T •

[ "2 ]

^mmmmm^i'^i^''mm^mm^^mmi

LETTER THE EIGHTEENTH.

XT7 H I L S T France was negotiating in Germany, flic was . not lefs attentive to her interefts elfewherc, and par- ticularly to thofe at home ; and though flie received frefli accounts every day of new loffes and infults by fea, fhevyet remained quiet in all appearance ; nor would flic be pro^- voked to be the firft to declare war, flic was determined. The reafons for this policy, it feems, were, that as England had begun hoftilities in North America (without any juft caufe, as the miniflcrs of France pretended) and was daily making captures of her fliips and feamen, without the for- mality of any declaration of war, flic would throw the blame of the war upon England^ as flic thought, with a better face ; feduce thereby other powers to her intereft, or at Icaft into neutralities, and gain more time to make thofe prepa^ rations and armaments, which were neccflary for carrying her fchemes into execution, both at hoftie and abroad.

The miniflcrs of England were not to be deceived or gull- ed, however, with thofe deluiions and falacious politics* They very well faw into the defigns of the French miniflcrs, and they very well knew, that France, under the fliam pretexts of fending troops to recruit thofe in her own colo- nics, and provifions for their fupport, ' had fent, and was continually fending, fuch forces, ammunition, and ftores ^thither, as indicated the moft formidable defigns upon thaf

country.

["3 1 cCuntryf and threatened the abfolute and entire redudion of it under the French dominion : which was the principal ob- ItGt in reality of her political views ; imagining alfo, that by provoking and carrying on a war abroad, at fuch a great diftance, fhe might be the better able to do wKat (he pleafed at home^ or in places not fo far remote.

War not being declared by France after fo many provo- cations, as (he pretended to have received, was a matter of much fpeculation to moft of the courts of Europe ; but more efpecially amongft thofe of her allies, or thofe flie thought to make fuch. This policy likewife was to raife the merit of her defiring, in appearance, the confervation of the peace, though (he fincerely wiihed the contrary.

Dunkirk now began to appear in her natural colours ; every thing feemed there to put on and carry a warlike air. Many regiments both of horfe, foot, and dragoons, were newly arrived. Numbers of thofe troops, to the amount of fix or feven thoufand men, were conftantly employed f Sundays not excepted) in erecting new batteries along the fea-fide, and repairing the old fort and battery called the Rifebank. This is that battery that gave Lewis XIV. fo much uneafi- nefs and afflidtion^ when he was obliged to confcnt to have it demolUhed by the peace of Utrecht, that he was heard to fay, that when he died, and was opened, they would find RiSEBANK wrote upon his heart.

Great numbers of the army were alfo employed in the

works of the grand fluice, for deepening the harbour,, which

Vol. I. Q^ empties

empties itfelf into the fea ; the force and rapidity of wBkh was incredible. Others were deftined for cleanfitig iand fe-* pairing the bafon for the reception of men of war : a moft grand and curious piece of isoik 1

As the feveral regiments were employed to work by tums^ ©n the days that fuch regiments were not in the works, they were every morning in the field under arms by fix o'clock,. and there exercifed and reviewed by the geuend officers*^ Camps were formed, and iham battles frequently fbught oa the Downs bfetween Dunkirk and Graveline, where the prince. Je Sou&j/e, and the count St. Germain, generally appeared and commanded in chief..

Cannon were brought to the other Downs on the eaft fide ef the town, and the engineers and officers of the train and artillery exercifed in their department, by fifing at marks erected for that purpofe by the fea-fide. Th«L marine Was- not in the leaft neglefted : privateers were fitting out with all diligence, and numbers of veflels repairing ; an infinite- number of carriages of fix and four horfes fcarcely ceafbd going and coming through the town day and night, carrying; cannon, timber, fafcines, gabions, and all facts of military ftores and impliments of war, from one place to another*

In a word, from the hurry that continually appeared, and the various movements of every thing in the military way^ you would have concluded, that France was going to fdl upon all her neighbours at one and the fame time^ or that flic fiuidefily expedled to be attacked by all of them toge- ther ^

. r "5 ]

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^r; and that flie was providing lor her fafety^ as far as (he could« as if to prevent her 14ft day«

Thoie military preparations were not limited to Dunkirk alone j for ^ the towns and fea-pof ts along the coaft^ and throughout France, were not lefs occupied and employed in thofe military works and operations, in proportion to their grande^r^ and according to their fituation, in order to pre- pare Ipr war^ which was expeded to be declared by France every day. But amongft all the evolutions and movements, in which the French army had ever before been trained or pradifed^ there was one of a new ipecies to them at this critical dme introduced, as a necefiary excrcife and difci- pline, in which they were to be intruded, and which they never had feen or learned before.

This was to learn a readinefs and facility to embark and difembark themselves on or ftoxxi on board fhips, in order \o familiarize th« troops to this kind of marine fcience. Se*** veral fliips lay at C«[4f/V» Boulogne, and other fea-ports, where fever^ regiments, Iq fke i:ourfe of theii" other ezercj^s, were for a long time d^ily obliged to praffcife that of embarking and difembarking. It frequently happened, that many of the troops remained fbme nights and days on board ^ fo that ViHhen it blew ibmewhat hard, by which the fhips were tofled or put in motion by the furges and a^tations of the iea, moft of thofe frefli water foldiers became fo fick, as to make them curfe the element as foon as they got on fliore, $U)d the ierviee alfo ; deplaring they would rather die in the field pf battle, than bear the ficknefs of a voyage by fea.

0^2 Moft

[ ii6 ]

Moft of them, however, began at length by degrees to get the better of this kind of fea^ficknefs, as alfb of the pre- judices, which they had conceived againft this new marine difcipline ; which, with the hope of feeing in a little time the land of wealth and plenty, for which that nation ever thirds, and which now began ftrongly to poflefs their minds,* extenuated their fatigue, and every inconyenience they had met with in this duty. But with all this, no war was, as yet, proclaimed ; which ftill continued to heighten the inw patience even of the common foldiers; a ipecimen of whicb you will fee in the following relation.

One day I was walking on the fands, near the harbour*^ mouth, towards the place where the new batteries were erefted ; when looking a little to the right, I perceived prince Saubife, attended by a great number of officers, who had aecompanied him from his levee, walking towards thbfe batteries, in a direft line with me. The prince, who had often before feen and met roe, walking with other company, fent a peribn to me, who touching mc on the fhoulder, un- perceived, and on turning myfelf about, finding him to be an officer of fome diftindtion, who in very broken Englifb told me the prince wanted to fpeak to me, I was not a little furprifed, being unable to conceive what he could have to fay to me, who fpoke no French at that time, and knowing the prince fpoke no Englijh, as I had learned from many. I knew indeed, that I had conduced myfelf in fuch a manner whilfl I had remained at Dunkirk^ as never to have given o€Fence to any perfbn whatibever, and that I was well cfleemed and beloved by all my ac^u^iatance there, and

that

f "7 ]

that 1 had not meddled dircftly or indire<Sly in any public affairs. Thefe (hart and fudden reflc<ftiohs diffipated my furprife in fome meafure, and I walked with the colonel, for fuch I afterwards found he was, and a German.

On coming to the prince, he did me the honour to fajute roe in a very obliging manner, and defired me to Ictok at a little vefle], then off at fea, but which was crowding to get into the harbour, and to tell him what veifel 1 thought it was. The weather was very fine, but it blew frefli', ' I know riot what he faid ^ but the colonel, who ftood. inter- preter between us, witli diOieulty made ntc undcrftand Mm. Upon which I told him, I thought it waa'ari Engiifh cwtttt ^ which the colonel explained to him in French. iThc prince fmiled, and nodded hi^ head a little at fome of the officers that flood round us (the number of which might have be^ii about eighty) by way of a marlc of his approbation of njy opinion ^ and then defiring me to walk on with him, we advanced, the cavalcadealong with us.

The little vefiel, that was under great- way, -^at the rate of, I believe, nine or tea knots an hour, about half an hour after, flie got within. the piers, and was mnning up the channel towards the town, which is but very harrow ; at which time we walked over the ba^, which confines the channel on that fide, in order to fpeak to the captain of the cuttef as he pafled ; foir fiidb the little vcficd proved to be. We had juft got near enough to call to the captain, when the colonel to]id me, the prince defired I would be &y good as ^o haU, hina tq hri^g 40$ whkh I did: but as it ble^

very

I "8 ]

very frefb, and die veflel going very h(k^ the captain did not at firft comprehend what I faid or meanfV

With k)ud repetitioi:LS and figoals^ howerer^ from hands and hats, he icon became fenfible of what we wanted, and brought to« He got forthwith into his little 1x>at, and came on (hore at the bank where we ftood. The poor man, whofe name was GMie, ad I heard afterwards^ looked frightened and terrified, as if he was going to be put to death. He thought war had been declared in France^ that his all (his cutter J was loft, and that a priibn was to be his habitation. He ipoke a Uttl^ French i and the prince dik- ing him, if war was declared in Bngtand^ he told him it was not ^ but that when he cdnobe away from thence, they were preparing for it, and that it was .certainly to be de- ^l^red in a few days. .

Being then aiked by die prince,, if he was not afraid to venture to Dunkirk^ as* the war was fo fbon to be declared againft France f he anfwered, he hoped to be away in a day or two; and that as he camie frequently there, he did not doubt but that his friends^ would make iotereft for him, in cafe of accident, and procure him fome protections as he had but a fliort time to ftay, had ufed that trade a long ttme^ and always behaved well.

His fright, however, was ftitt very great, and &e man continued pale and trembling ; which the prince, as well as every body elfe, obferving, he toW Wm not to be afraid, for thttt tto harni ihotild be done to him or his veflel; that

he

he ihovM be Mt and five ; adding. We do not do like the ■Ef^Ufh, And thereupon he put his hand in his pocket, and gave liim ft Sol Evtt piece.

Tlic ptinee Teemed very inqtiffithre and oneafy to know tviiat delayed the EngUJb from deckring war ; but this man» imaibk to fatisfy bim in that refpeS, returned to his cutter> wry iappy, and irec from any apprehenfion of danger ; the interpreting colonel faying, Da^m Engtijb dogs, ie dar nt>t declar de war. I then walked fome little way with this company, and ialirtifig fiie prince, took leave tind decamped.

Oa my zii^fig zthotht to dme,. I conH not avoid telling twd ^iMcarty ^a adwnttrffc,. The cxtmvagant generofity cf At fix Irvre piece afforded matter of mirth and converfk- tion. GfiftWf, halving added as mnch more to it, as I heard fome few days after, eirtectidned that night hi^ crew^ and fome of his acquaintance, for joy of his good reception ^ whereby^ though ihe prcfent in Qiccic was but very fmall, from a perfon of his high rank and exceffive fortune, the poor man found what wa& more valuable to him, freedom and fafe1ty%.i

About a week or teft days after thia incident, news ar*- ^ived, that war ogatnft France was proclainied at London, to> the great joy of the militafyandr. marine of Dimkirk f except of thofe poor people,, whofe huibands, fons, . a^d r^lalionSj had been taken at fea> and were then prifoners in England: s£ wlikb tkeic was ^ ifio^^eMtbksBUBd^eiU

Thft

[ 120 ]e

The adventurer's . affairs now began, to have a moit fa- vourable afpc<ft, than they had wore for fomc years before : and it began to be whifpered, and fecretly hinted, that the French were determined to aft now with fincerity in his caufe, and that a defcent would be made in his favour ; but tliat it would be fome time before the projcdk could be car« ried into execution. I £i.w the party fpirit rifing, and that nothing but the greateft expectations flowed from that joy* ous event, as they termed it;

Determined, for my own part, to purfue the fame kind of behaviour th Jt I had all along obferved, in not communis eating my fecret thoughts to any man, I doubted not but, by a political and prudent condud, iboner or later to be able to render the moft efTential fervices to my king and country, (which I hope you will think I have efFedtually done) as you will foon. find in the fequel of my letters.

■pi

LETTER THE NINETEENTH.

TI^ AR being now declared by England^ the miniflers of France delayed not to anfwer this, challenge, and to improve upon to event, which they both fccrctly and ar- dently defired.

War againft England was, therefore, immediately de* clared by France^ who redoubled her preparations and her

diligence.

[ 121 ]

diligence, in her military and marine departments, to carry it on with all imaginable fuccefs both by Tea and land ; ilot doubting, in cafe they (hould meet with fome few mifcar- riages in their operations on the watery element (notwith* ftandingf^ their precautions and endeavours to avoid as much as pofOble all naval engagements, for a purpofe to be here- after mentioned) but that the advantages, which fhe might gain by land, would in the end abundantly more than com* penfate for fuch lofles, as they might in fuch unwi(h*d*for rencounters unfortunately fuftain.

Already the French looked upon themfelves vidoriou^, before the fword was drawn. For, fuch is the vanity and folly of that people (among many others) that they imagine their prowefs, their art of befieging and defending towns, the bravery of their troops, with the profound knowledge of their generals and officers in every branch of military icience, furpafs by far thofe of all other nations. But this is not all ; for, with this they infatuatedly are brought up to think, that tKe politics of their minifters are not to be equalled ; (which laft opinion, in one fenfe, may well be faid to be accounted for as true, fince none have been much worfe, it is evident) concluding, that all mankind are made to be the dupes of their politics, whilft, it is moft evident, they have been on many occafions the greateft dupes thereof themfelves.

Full of thefe romantic, or r*ther Don ^ixote prepoffef- fiOns, what people like them can ever be fuppofed to doubt of conqueft, where, for the ceremony only of fccuring to

Vol. I. R t;hem

C 122 ]

them this trifling bagatelle, already in idea their ovnXf every thing was fet in motion, however, and every thing in hurry to receive it, as the fure and certain fruits, ripe and ready to fall, for the trouble of gathering. The determined fcheme of the minifters themselves was to coomienct their operations, and carry on this war, as far from homie as they could, even in the moil diftant and remiote parts of the world* hi order to divide and draw the Britijb troops out of England^ and render their return » in cafe of any fudden neceffity or emergency, more tedious and difficult. Which in cStdi thejr did, and for which they dearly paid, in the progrcffion of their defigns, as they themfelves, and all the world, know.

An event, however, now happened^ which might have given a very great change to the face af all the af&irs in Europe. The king getting into his coach to go to Triarmoft (which is a beautiful palace, only about one mile from Fer^ failles J and in thofe celebrated gardens to fee the dames of France 9 .his daughters, who then were there, was, before the doors of his palace, in the midft of his guards, and at- tended by the noblemen and others of his retinue, ftabbecl hy a paricide, one Damiens i whole punii^bment, great and unheard c^ as it was, exceeded not the wickednefs of hi& crime,, but yet exceeded all law and juftice, if he was fuch^ as on his trial he was pretended to be found; tlkat is to £iy> a madman. Be that as it may, k is not to be doubted, but that, in the long courfe of his confinement, examinations,, and trial> the court got to the bottom of the bufioefs, dif- covered every flep taken, and every perfbn's name and cont^- •diiion^ who had in any refpe£b been concenacd in tlutf afh^

nifting

[ "3 ]

nifhing attempt ; tbe fecrets of which (for political reaioA^) I fuppofe) are ftill with the greateft care concealed.

About this period it was, that lord dancarty began, at different times and occafions, to break out againft the old chevalier de St. George and his two ions, whenever we were in private together, and often, even before fome particulars, to fay fuch things, as furprifed me to come from him» I even began to apprehend and fear, that he had a defign to lead me into fome naisjR>rtune, by opening himielf in fuch a manner to me» contrary to what might be expedted from one of his reputed attachment to a family, for whofe intereit and fupport his lordfhip's father had loft one of the moft confidcrable eftates of any fubjeft in Europe^ and died an exile, after his taking tinknown leave of the Tower. I therefore thought it pradent and fafe, in fuch a dangerous critical fituation, for ny own prefervation, in cafe I ftiould be queftioned by any perfbn upon the fubjed, as well as for othM juft and poweifal reaibns, to keep a kind of journal c^ what he faid and conununicated to me, relative to that famHyi by which you wiU fee the charafter he gives of draad, and tite opinion he fecredy entertained of them (who was beft acquainted with their pradices, fentiments, and p^&clj^les) in a fuller view, and" clearer light, than by any tfain^ diat has ever been made known or communicated to the pubfic oa that head before; and which I never (hould c^ couM have known, otherwiie than from himielf.

It was to bring in this {Hece in this place, which I thought the nof^ftppoper place, in which it ought to be intitduced,

R 2 that

[ 124 ]

that I otnittcd and declined in my former letters continuing the fubjeft, after the death oi James II. of faying any tHing touching the particular charadlers of the late chevalier St. George, or his fons. But here you will now find them in. the following detail together, with a few anecdotes, as they were delivered from the mouth of that nobleman i fotne oF which are not lefs furprifing, than interefting and amufing^»

DISC OURS

Mr. M A c ^ A-

oC Lord Clancartv with at Dunkirk^ m feveral

•

Meetings and Conferences between them.

1

Tuesday, January ii, 1757.

C IT TING with him in his room in the morning/ he began to talk of the young pretender with great indif- ference, as he did two or three times before. When we had drank hard after fupper> he broke out, faying. By G-d^ dear Mac, I'll tell you a fecret you don't know ; there is not a greater fcoundrel on the face of the earth than that fame prince : he is