Chapter V: Part 5

Since I had the pleasure of receiving your last letter the Duke
of P[erth] returned from York after having gott a very possitive
and harsh Refusall from the Lady to whom he was making his
addresses, during his stay there he had some commissions from the
Mayer and Aldermen to the King with which I had the honour to
acquaint the King by the enclosed amongst others they begged he
might offer their humble Duty and assure him of their unalterable
Regard to his Interest. They intended to send his Highness the
Duke[166] the freedom of their toun in a Gold Box as the highest
mark of their regard for his Highness who does them the honour to
bear the Name of their Town but being afraid least a discovery
should be made by Workmen or others who would render them the
less usefull to his Majesty they must humbly beg his Highness
would look upon the Compliment as real and Honour them with his
Acceptance.

L[ochie]l and I spoke to the Duke upon the supposition we should
obtain no assistance from France how far he thought it would be
prudent at this juncture to undertake the King’s Restoration
ourselves. Upon his Grace’s approving of the scheme, I proposed
when he went to the Country he should talk to Sir A[lexander]
M[acdonal]d upon the same, which he accordingly did, and sent an
answer to L[ochie]l wherin he says that found him entirely of the
same Opinion, that he seemed to think there was a necessity for
it, and that it ought to be done as soon as possible and that
in place of 700 men his Uncle brought with him in the year 1715
he would engage to bring 1200. I could not fail to acquaint you
with his Opinion, he being the most reserved cautious man I ever
knew, and the least apt to say or do anything rashly, everybody
is of Opinion the Government designs by all methods to Ruin the
Highlands which to be sure makes the Gentlemen fond to have
something done before it be out of their power to be of service,
especially as there are some of them whose Estates are so low
such as G[lengar]ry C[lanranal]d A[p]p[i]n C[ap]p[oc]h that they
will be obliged either to sell their lands or conform to the
Government through necessity; and am very credibly[167] informed
that Ca[p]p[oc]h was this Winter at London on a Scheme of raising
an independent Company. Since Mr. Smith came to this place he
has insisted with Lo[chie]l to go over to see Lord Marshall who
he tells him has had several different accounts of the State of
the Highlands so that he is very anxious to talk to him upon
that head. L[ochie]l excuses himself from going but told me Mr.
Smith supposed his Lordship was informed of everything by the
King and that the State given in by Mr. Drummond was just he is
certain; but now things are much better and that Mr. Drummond
rather erred in making the number too small[168] being determined
to advance nothing but what he could answer for. I had a letter
lately from my L[ord] T[ra]q[uai]r wherein he seems to hint that
his Majesty’s friends in England are in a way of acting with more
vigour and unanimity than they have hitherto done. I hope they
are now become sensible of their weak and groundless prejudices
against Lord Semple (a Catalogue of which I sent you in my last)
as well as of the necessity there is to act Vigorously and
Resolutely for his Majesty’s Restoration. It would seem L[ord]
T[ra]q[uai]r and Mr. Drummond have not judged it fitt to send
my letter to L[ord] Marshall (a Copy of which I sent you in my
last) for I have never had the smallest hint of it from Mr. Smith
neither has L[ord] T[ra]q[uai]r taken occasion to mention it in
any of his Letters to me. Upon Bishop Rattrae’s coming to town
I went immediately to the Country for the Cypher when I found
it did not in the least correspond to that Coll. Urquhart must
certainly have been mistaken. I nevertheless resolved to deliver
the letters att the same time showing him the paragraph in mine
relative to him and to tell him the cause of the mistake, but
this day I sent one of his Brethern to acquaint him that I would
wait on him in the afternoon, he was abroad and the next day
when I sent again found he was taken ill of a Pluirisy of which
he died two days after[169] which to be sure is a very great
misfortune and not the less so that Mr. Keith is now Senior
Bishop, what they are now doing or intend to do I don’t know I
have sent you the Cypher inclosed but retained the Letter till
further Orders.

We had great rejoicings some days ago on account of a Battle
said to be gained by the Allies in Germany,[170] but by latter
Accounts, the Case seems to have been that the Army of the
Allies had gott too far into the Country and finding a Scarcity
of provisions (especially amongst the English) they resolved to
return from whence they came when they were attacked by a body
of French to the number of 25,000 or thereabouts, some write
they intended to attack their rear and harrass them on their
march, others they proposed intercepting 12,000 Hannoverians
and Hessians that were on their march to join the Army, but
whatever was their Intention they attacked our foot. Whereupon a
very smart engagement ensued, wherein both partys seem to have
suffered severely. The French repassed the river and we continued
our march and are now gott near to frankfort where its said the
Emperor is and talks of a Suspension of Arms I wish too good a
peace may not ensue. You certainly cant help laughing when you
consider with what Vigour and Success we carry on our war with
Spain. Never was a poor Country in so miserable a Condition as
we are in att present, neither Money nor Trade nor Credit, nay
nor so much as the smallest degree of honour or Character left
us. The Duke of P[erth]’s Stay here was so short that I could
not gett him to explain his Scheme of Seizing Stirlling Castle,
but I wont neglect the first opportunity to have it from him. I
am Still obliged to continue the old Cannal of Correspondence
not being able while att London to find any Safe Conveyance from
thence, but I hope Lord T[ra]q[uai]r will have effectuated that
before his return; I have now write everything that occurrs to me
I wish may not already have tired you.--So with hearty prayers
for the familys wellfare and all friends with you and that we
may soon meet on a Solid and happy footing, I beg that you would
believe that I ever am, etc.

Dated _July 5th, 1743_.

_P.S._--I had almost neglected to tell you that while I was att
London I ordered a Countryman of ours to work Six pair of the
finest Silk-Stockens he could possibly make, which as they are
home manufactory and finest I believe were mad in the Island I
have ventured to send them by Mr. Smith to Rome hoping the Prince
will do his Country and me the honour to accept of them.

My Lord T[ra]q[uai]r having now been three months att London and we all that time receiving no Material accounts of Success things looked as if this Summer would be Spent as well as the former without any Resolution taken of coming to Blows in the Autumn or Winter which made all those of the concert very uneasy but particularly my Lord L[ova]t, so that he seemed to give up all hopes of the Schemes ever succeeding and wrote to L[ochie]l several Letters wherein he resolved to settle his affairs and go to London where, after he had sollicited an appeal he intended to lodge against Chisholm, he would then go over to France with his son. L[ochie]l was so good as show me the most of his Letters and from some things he said, but particularly a paragraph in one of them we had reason to conjecture he proposed to end his days in a Religious house; this we were the more easily induced to believe as his Lordship had now lived to a great age during the most of which he had acted a part in the world not looked upon by the Generality of Mankind in a favourable light. We therefore agreed that L[ochie]l Should write him dissuading him from his design but at the same time he seemed so positive that it was thought Necessary to acquaint the King of it as his Majesty’s orders appeared to us the only mean whereby to prevent his journey, knowing that his leaving the Country would be of the worst Consequence as there was not a man in that part of the Country capable to manage it but himself and in general that his appearing publickly in Arms for the King must be of great Service, for which Reasons the first Occasion that occurred I wrote to the King dated September 5th 1743:

[Sidenote: Murray to the Chevalier]

SIR,--I had the honour to write to your majesty the 5th of July
last which I hope is come Safe. I have of late seen several
Letters from Lord L[ovat] to L[ochie]l wherein he Express great
Anxiety and impatience that things are not like to come to a
conclusion. I take it to be upon that account that he has settled
his affairs att home and is now taking leave of his friends with
a Resolution of going this Winter to London there to solicite
an appeal and from thence to France with his Son. Your Majesty
will see at first View all the inconveniencys that may attend
such a procedure more readily than I can express, he being the
only man in the Country capable to manage that part of the
Country alloted him, and indeed I am afraid from a paragraph in
one of his Letters that he has some thoughts of Ending his days
in a monastry Since he thinks he cannot do it in your Majestys
Service. Affairs abroad seem now to tend more and more to a War
with france which Should it happen will I hope putt a Stop to his
journey, but failing that I am apt to believe nothing will do
save your Majestys orders, etc.

To Mr. Edgar.

_September 5, 1743._

[Sidenote: Murray to Edgar]

SIR,--I gave you the trouble of a pretty long Letter the fifth
of July last, since which I have not had the pleasure of hearing
from you. Lord T[ra]q[uai]r is still att London but proposes to
be soon down here, which I heartily wish, some folks being vastly
anxious for his return expecting upon that Event to be intirely
satisfied as to what may be hoped for from the Kings friends in
England. Upon the Highland deserters being shott att London,[171]
which has greatly disobliged their Countrymen, I took it upon
me to acquaint some of the Gentlemen that it was his Majestys
pleasure they should endeavour to prevent as much as possible
any of their followers from inlisting in the Service of the
present Government. This I thought the more necessary as a great
many of them have been carried out of the Country for some years
past, the Dutch having gott several hundreds upon their last
Augmentation.[172] My Lord K[e]n[mur]e is returned from Portugall
perfectly recovered. I said some obliging things to him in his
Majestys Name of gaining the Cameronians (amongst whom he lived)
to his Majestys Interest. I am very sensible what a fickle Sett
of people they are and how difficult an undertaking of this kind
may prove. Yett as Sir Th[oma]s G[ord][o]n of E[arls]t[o]n,[173]
a leading man amongst them two years ago, spoke to the late Lord
of the precarious Situation of the present Government, and in
case of a Restoration begged his protection, this Lord seemed
the fitter person to learn his present Sentiments. Your Friend
Sir J[ames] S[tewar]t[174] who deservedly well liked by all his
acquaintances is to be married to Lord W[emy]ss eldest daughter,
a Match made by Lord E[lcho][175] who left this the beginning of
Summer and I understand, is now at Boulogne, so that I had no
opportunity to deliver the Compliments his Majesty and the Prince
honour him with. I beg you will believe me, etc.

Some time in the month of August the Laird of Mc[Leo]d[176] came
to Edinburgh and told L[ochie]l on his way here, who desired he
might see him, and that he had several Commissions to us, so
desired he would make an appointment with me. When L[ochie]l
spoke to me of it I agreed to ride out with him on the Saturday
to Peggie Vints where he proposed to dine and see a son of Lord
L[ovat]s who was then at the School of Preston,[177] but we were
both afraid from his saying that he had several Commissions
that his Lordship had been too open with him, contrary to the
engagement all these of the Concert had come under to one
another; for which reason we resolved to be very cautious
and determined, in case we found it as we suspected, to say
nothing of it to him. We according mett, dined in the Country
and adjurned to the Tavern in Edinburgh where we resolved to
give him leave to say or ask as few questions as possible and
took occasion to speak a good deal on the present miserable
Situation of the Country, and tell him that we thought him one
of the fittest Persons we knew to instigate the English to join
heartily for promoting the Kings interest, being both a highland
man and one of power in the Country; and at the same time told
him it was his Majestys pleasure that the Chiefs of the Clans
should allow none of their men to leave the Country. To which
he answered that he and Sir A[lexander] Mc[Donal]d had taken
care to let none of theirs inlist, and said a good deal of his
readiness to serve the King so soon as an occasion should offer,
and that he had already during his being att London made it his
business to incite and encourage the English to every thing that
cou’d conduce to his Majestys interest; and as to Lord L[ova]ts
commissions, they turned out only to inquiring about Lord
T[ra]q[uai]r and what news or good hopes he had. From this time
nothing passed worthy the noticeing, I had some compliments from
Lord L[ova]t in his letters to L[ochie]l wherein he acquainted
him with the success he had in a Circuit he made over the Country
and then gott a Letter or two from himself on these subjects and
desiring his Majesty might be acquainted with it and at the same
time saying he was resolved to continue at Home in expectation of
something satisfactory upon my Lord T[ra]q[uai]r’s return. Upon
this I wrote the following Letter to Mr. Edgar, dated October
28th, 1743.

[Sidenote: Murray to Edgar]

SIR,[178]--I has the pleasure of writing to you the fifth of
last moneth with one inclosed to his Majesty, which makes me give
you the trouble of this to acquaint you that upon L[ochie]ls
repeated Letters to Lord L[ovat] together with Copys of my Lord
T[ra]q[uai]rs from London which I sent him, he is determined not
to stir from home this Winter. I should be greatly to blame did I
neglect to inform you that his Lordship has been most assiduous
this Summer to promote his Majestys Interest in his district so
that I have great reason to believe that he is sure of all those
he engaged for. He seems to be in great spirits upon account of
his success in his Circuit he lately made over the Country when
he gained most of the Monroes,[179] a people as little to have
been expected as any in the Highlands. He keeps an open table by
which means he is become very popular, and I believe, generally
speaking, has more to say than any in that Country. L[ochie]l is
still here expecting every day Lord T[ra]q[uai]rs arrival etc.
His Lordship, to the best of my Remmembrance, came to Scotland
sometime in the moneth when L[ochie]l and I immediately mett with
him. He acquainted us that Mr. Drummond had left London a great
while before him and promised so soon as he gott to Paris that
the King of France and his ministers should be acquainted with
the favourable accounts he had to give of his Success and that
he would forthwith inform Lord T[ra]q[uai]r of every Resolution
that was taken. His Lordship likewise told us what had passed
during his Stay at London, which I shall not pretend to give
a particular detail of, having no authority to intermeddle
with, nor ever had, any particular concern in what regarded the
English; so shall leave it to his Lordship to give a particular
account of his Negotiations in that Country, if he shall think it
necessary. I shall only mention here that his Lordship informed
us that he had talk’d with the principal people of the Tory
party some of which were very timerous, others such as Lord
Bar[rymo]re very ready to join in any thing that could conduce to
forward the Restoration, and that he had frankly offered, when
they proposed a sum of Money to be ready to the Value of £12,000
which was scrupled at by some, to provide it himself. That Lord
O[rre]ry[180] I had made two several apointments with him and
Mr. Drummond, neither of which he keept, but Stept out of Town
without Seeing of them. But I must observe that from all I can
Remmember of the Story no particular Concert was formed nor was
their any appearance given the french of meeting with provisions,
Carriages and horses att their landing, as Mr. Amalet proposed at
Versails; for to the contrary when was spoke to who lived
in the neighbourhood of where they proposed to land, concerning
the providing of these several Necessary he said he had no Idea
that any thing had been so suddenly designed for the King, so
could make no promises. Mr. Butler, the Gentleman sent over by
the King of France to enquire into the Situation of the Country,
was introduced by his Lordship to the most of the people. He
knew and was sent to the Country to a meeting at Litchfield
Races there to meet with Lord B[arrymor]e, Sir W[atkin Williams]
W[ynn][181] where he was with about 80 or more gentlemen all of
them but one reckoned honest people, which to be sure gave a
good aspect to the party in general; but nevertheless I don’t
see he went away with such a satisfactory account as Mr. Amalet
seemed to require. He assured my Lord he had several Instructions
from the King himself, but I wish his principall Errand may not
have been to purchase horses with a View to the Kings equipage
for the insuing Campaign, he having bought to the value of 3 or
4000£. This reflection may seem harsh but I cannot reconcile
their bestowing that sum upon horses for which he said they had
no Occasion only by a way of blind and not allowing the prince
not above one half of it for a whole years expences, and I don’t
think it would be just to argue in opposition to it that they
then knew nothing of the Campaign his Majesty intended to make.
The french are rather too far sighted not to allow them to design
so short a while as some moneths before hand. In short from his
Lordships return till the moneth of february we had no Letters
from france. In the interim L[ochie]l went to the Highlands when
he acquainted Sir J[ames] C[ampbell] and Lord L[ova]t with all
yt had passed and that we soon expected the french would come to
a final determination one or tother. We spent the time greatly
shagerin’d, vex’d to have no Accounts of any kind considering
that Mr. Drummond promised at his leaving London in Company with
Mr. Butler to write over immediately. Att last we received two
letters, one inclosing another Copy, of which I shall insert Copy
of Mr. Drummonds Letter to the Earl of T[ra]q[uai]r, dated ...

* * * * *

After I had made this answer with the Consent and advice of the Duke of P[erth] and was signed by them, the nixt day being Ash Wedensday[182] his Grace resolved to leave the place being apprehensive that as the newspapers were there very full of the french preparations he might be suspected and seized and so not in his power to appear when any thing came to be done. My Lord T[ra]q[uai]r, att whose Lodgings I had the Honour to meet his Grace that mourning, was very much against his leaving the place in such a hurry, and on that day especially. I likewise took the Liberty to remonstrate to him a little against it but all to no purpose and he accordingly sett out about Eleven O Clock and went that night the Length of Dumblain. This was immediately looked upon by the people of the Government with a very jealous Eye and the more so that his Brother Lord J[oh]n had come to Scotland some little time before upon a Scheme of raising a Scots Regiment for the french Service, stayed only ten days or little more at Edinburgh and went from that to the Highlands to solicite the Gentlemen there to be assisting to him in making his Levies. It unluckily hapened for the Duke that upon the back of Lord J[oh]ns going to the Country the Government began to be alarmed with the Accounts of the Princes being come to france and the intended invasion in his Majestys interest which made our little Ministers conjecture that Lord J[oh]n had been sent over with the accounts of it to the Highlands and consequently that the Duke had left the town with an intention to foment an insurrection in the Country. This was made no secret of, being publickly talked of immediately upon the Duke disappearing two days, so after his leaving the town a servant of his was dispatched to London with the Letter I had wrote to Mr. Drummond their being no other means of conveiying one to him but by express, we not having any settled Cannal of Correspondence from hence there. This I think was about the 8th or 10th of february [1744]. My Lord T[ra]q[uai]r stayed some days in town after, designedly to create no suspicion.

In about a week or so after I went on a Sunday Evening to see Mr. H[a]y[183][184] who, when I was talking in a ludicrous way of the paragraph in the papers about the manner in which his Highness had left Italy, he told me in a very serious way that it was no Joke and said that the sooner I went to the Country the better as my living quietly at home would give no suspicion to the Government, but if I stayed any time in town he did not know what might happen, that upon his honour he had not heard me mentioned, which perhaps was owing to my near Relation with him, but that att that same time I was suspected to correspond with Rome. I told him I intended to stay some days longer in Town and would so soon as I had formerly proposed, that I had no cause of fear and so would not run away, and as to their suspecting my corresponding with Rome, that I laughed at but thanked him for his kind concern. I was not at all sorry to find they were so alarmed and afraid, which to me appeared a sure sign of their weakness, and indeed their fear for some days after increased to the most abject pusilanimity. His saying that he had not heard me mentioned was telling plainly that they had been consulting of who were the persons first to be laid hands; and I am apt to believe had the management of affairs been left to Lord Arniston,[185] Sir John Inglis,[186] Commissioner Arthburthnet[187] and the rest of the present Ministry there would have been little lenity shown any Body they had the least reason to suspect. But affairs were afterwards taken out of their hands and putt into these of Justice Clerks,[188] who tho’ as Violent a Whig yet not so hott and Violent a Man. I went next day, being Munday, in the morning to wait of General Guest, who then Commanded in Chief in Scotland[189] with a View to hear what a Notion or Idea he had of matters. He told me that the Repeal of the Habeas Corpus Act was expected that night by the Post, but added that, was it come, upon his honour he did not know a man he suspected enough to lay up, which I was exceedingly well pleased with. Also att the same time I could have marked out a great many and the general seemed not in the least to be affraid and laughed att the hurry and confusion the other folks were. I was taken very ill that day after dinner and gave up thoughts of going to Mr. Hunters of Poolmood’s Burrial[190] which was to be on the Thursday, and I was desired out by the Widow on the tuesday, which evening about six O Clock Mr. Mc[Douga]ll[191] brought me a Letter directed to the Countess of T[ra]q[uai]r. As I was then expecting one every day from Mr. Drummond, as he had promised in his last, I began to suspect a little notwithstanding it had come by the Common Post, a very odd method of Conveyance. In such a critical juncture I opened it when I found a blank Cover and Still directed as before. This confirmed me in my suspicion and under that I found a Letter for my Lord which I immediately opened and tho’ partly in Cypher, could easily understand that things were directly to be putt in execution. This struck me a good deal as I said I would not go to the Country. However, I sent Mr. Mc[Douga]ll with directions immediately to sent the Letter off to Lord T[ra]q[uai]r and to desire D. C[ ]n[192] to come down as of no design and tell me I might go to the Country next day if I pleased, which he accordingly did and hyrred a Chaise, not being able to ride. In the mean while Sir J. S[tewar]t came to see me, who I acquainted of it and att the same time wrote a Letter to Lord K[enmu]re who I had spoke to the Munday before, desiring him to meet me at T[ra]q[uai]r the thursday night as likewise one to Mr. J[oh]n Mc[leo]d[193] telling him I thought it would be fitt to send Sir J[ames] C[ampbe]lls son to the Highlands, who his father designed should serve him therein being assistant to raise the Country. I accordingly sett out next mourning for the Country and the day following Lord T[ra]q[uai]r mett me at Polmood and shewed me the Letter when decyphered which I shall here give a Copy off, and att the same time a Letter he had received the night before by express from Edinburgh telling him that their was a Warrant out to apprehend him which determined his Lordship to go immediately to the D[uke] of P[erth]. Upon which so soon as the Burrial was over we came to my house, where I wrote a Letter to Lord K[enmu]re desiring he would follow us next mourning to Hartrie[194] where we intended to sleep that night and sent it Express to T[ra]q[uai]r with other Letters of my Lords, expecting Lord K[enmo]re would be there that night, but he nevertheless continued the whole time in Edinburgh. We set out next day from Hartrie which was the fryday, that the french fleet was dispersed and the Transports run a Shore,[195] and the night after gott to Drummond Castle, from whence his Grace sent immediately an express with the Copy of the last Letter we received to L[ochie]l. We continued som weeks there always in Expectation to hear of a landing and in the mean time heard that several informations was given in against the Duke of Perth as having numbers of armed men about his house which was absolutely false. At last a party of 150 foot and 30 Horse were sent from Stirling to make him Prisoner, but he had intelligence of it and went out of the way.[196] All this time Lord T[ra]q[uai]r was sculking about the Country having returned from the jaunt he had made over the Highlands.

After staying in that Country till the beginning of Aprile, without receiving any Accounts from abroad and giving up all hopes of a Landing, I left my Lord T[ra]q[uai]r there and came to Stirlingshire where I stayed about three weeks and so came to Edinburgh, and from that went to the Country the 11th of May. In the beginning of June, when Lord T[ra]q[uai]r returned, I went to wait of him, and being very uneasy to think we had received no accounts from Abroad, I said if I could afford the expence I would go over on pretence of seeing the Army in flanders and so see the Prince myself and learn distinctly what situation things were in. This his Lordship was well pleased with but I did not say anything positively, but upon Reflexion by the Road, I thought it was hard that people who had been for so long concerned in the Kings affairs and putt to so great Charge about it with the hazard of their Lives and fortunes should now be left in the dark as to every thing. Wherefore I resolved to do it, and next day wrote a Letter to my Lord telling him that if the Duke of P[erth] would give me a 100£ I would be att the rest of the expence myself and go over and in case his Lordship approved of it, he would be so good as meet me at Peebles on Saturday, which he did, and after talking with him I came home and sett out the same night about O Clock and gott to Drummond [Castle] next afternoon. The Duke immediately agreed to the thing and gave me an order for the money. About this time came a letter from Lord Semple to Lord T[ra]q[uai]r by way of an account of their precedure in the Spring, which I went to T[ra]q[uai]r and assisted his Lordship to decypher, but was so little to our satisfaction that my Lord still thought my going over more necessary than before. About this time I received a letter from St[uar]t of Ard[shie]ll,[197] telling me that he would have come to the Country to wait of me but his dress made him remarkable, being in Highland Cloaths, but as he had comed to Town purposely to meet with me, he hoped I would give him a meeting, and yt he had seen L[ochie]l lately. I went to town in a day or two after and dined with him. His Errand was to know of me if I had gott any Accounts lately, and what hopes I had. I did not think it att all proper to let him know any thing of my having seen such a letter as Lord Semple had wrote, nor indeed that any Accounts had come; for in that case he would have expected something positive. But I put him off by telling him I imagined the french were resolved to renew the Expedition soon and so friends did not care to write least any discovery should ensue, but could easily see that the Answer was not att all satisfactory. I returned that same night to the Country, and during a few days that I stayed, prepared for my journey.

N.B.--_This is a fragment of a letter written by Mr. Murray to the Pretender soon after the miscarriage of the French Expedition._

[Sidenote: Murray to the Chevalier]

It was looked upon by some as certain, and thought necessary
by all, that Mr. Watson[198] should come over, as he was the
person who had gone through the whole Highlands and gott the
engagements of the Several Gentlemen at his first leaving
Scotland, and surely had any of them been so little as to flinch
from what they engaged to him, he was the natural and indeed
the only person that could have upbraided them into their Duty.
My Lord says he could trust to no conveyance, and so could not
soonner give us any information your Majestys friend is here,
upon Mr. D[rummond] not coming, expected immediately after the
Embargo was taken of in france that some one or other would
have been dispatched to our Coasts with an account of what had
passed, and what was to be hoped for, that so we might have
regulate our fortunes Conduct accordingly. The neglect of this,
Sir, greatly surprises your Majestys friends in generall, and
gives the Gentlemen in the concert a good deal of Umbrage, as
they thereby think themselves slighted and neglected, whereas,
they being the first promoters of the whole scheme, they humbly
think entitled them to have the most expidetious information.
His Lordship next supposes that we are fully satisfied of the
french sincerity, which indeed is entirely otherwise, especially
from the Reasons he assigns that it was owing to the commandants
neglect or disobedience to his Instructions. We never can bring
ourselves to believe that any man (especially a french subject)
grown old with an untainted and great Reputation, durst have
disobeyed what seems to have been the only Material part of his
Instructions to block up Portsmouth, and surely, if not for
this one Errand his Voyage to the Chunnel must rather do harm
than good, which was evidently seen by the Government being put
timeously upon their Guard. As to his next paragraph relating to
the frenches cautious delay purposely to see what Influence the
powers of the Court would have upon your Majestys friends here,
and that the above cautious delay was grating to the Prince;
no wonder indeed his Royal Highness had too penetrating an Eye
not to see that it would be impossible to recover this Time and
opportunity he was losing. But what really quite astonishes us
is his Lordships saying that from the light it was represented
in, their caution seemed to be well grounded. We cant pretend to
take their Reasons to [heart] as they are not told us, but we are
affraid they consist more in plausible pretences, dressed up with
a little french Rhetorick, than in strong and solid Arguments.
We are in this Climate generally accustomed to the plainer sort
of speach, and we cannot help thinking ourselves judges of it.
Did not the french Court know of Comns.?[199] Did they not know
that that Majority would pass all Bills that might seem their
Master? Did they not know that the repeal of the Habeas Corpus
act would naturally be the first step and that by that Repeal
they were enabled to take up every person they suspected? Did
they not know that the principal men in England, of your Majestys
friends, were in the house and that not one of them durst object
to any method that was proposed as their offering. Such would
have been an open declaration of their principles, and must
consequently have caused their confinement. Did they not know
that the English are a fickle sort of people, and that they had
a natural abhorence of the french nation, and thay could not
be ignorant that this was giving them time to frighten them by
the fear of a french Influence that State pretence and thereby
to make friends in the City of London. If they were Ignorant of
all these they ought surely to have been told, and we must be of
opinion that these as such Indisputable Reasons that no Sound
Arguments could be adduced to confute them, which, when rightly
observed, makes their Schemes of delaying it for a little time
appear vain and frivolous pretences and absolutely contradictory
to all Right Reason. We are convinced that his Royal Highness,
keeping so quiet has effectually deceived the Government, that it
is entirely owing to his own matchless address, and indeed upon
decyphering the Letter My Lord T[ra]q[uai]r and I thought that we
was in the next line to have had orders to keep in readyness to
favour a discent to be made, upon the D[uke] of H[amilton] and
the Dutch troops going over; but to our unexpressible Surprise
he proposes new assurances to be given both from Scotland and
England. In the name of Wonder what can all this mean? Where
are the Grounds? Where the Reasons, where the necessity leading
to such a demand? The assurances from Scotland were thought
sufficient by the K[ing], by C[ardinal] F[leury] and by Mr.
Amalot. From the first moment the assurances carried over by Mr.
Butler last year from England were thought sufficient, otherwise
the french would not have carried the Expidition so far. If this
is the case (which we have all along been made believe) what is
the necessity for any Renewal of them? What a horrid and Gloomy
prospect must such a Scheme carry along with it, things have been
carried on for some years with great Secrecy and caution, tho’
with danger of Life and fortune to those concerned, and must they
now recommence such another tedious and dangerous Negotiation?
I am afraid, Sir, if your Majesty should find it necessary it
will be next to impossible, at lest my Lord T[ra]q[uai]r never
can take a hand doing any thing in England, he is already
strongly suspected and it wanted but little he was not taken up
some moneths ago. The express he sent to London with a Letter
to Watson[200] was seized, which was occasioned by one from him
which left us quite in the dark as to what assistance we were to
have, and that within 3 weeks of the Expidition, but not till he
had delivered his Packet; and had he not luckyly said he believed
it Related to a marriage which was then the talk of the town,
his Lordship had surely been arested. But if the English are so
well satisfied with the procedure of the french, and the open
discovery of any plot, why cant they find one amongst themselves
to do the Business? I shall be sorry to think they have only a
view to gain time till they see whither they are able to carry
on the War in spite of Brittain, and then tell us that the Zeal
shown for the present Government in the time of the Expidition
contradicts all the assurances we advanced to the contrary, which
will be the Result of their Cautious and well delay for a little
time. This is harsh, but other people have seen, and I have read
of france doing the like in other cases. As to the troops to
be landed in Scotland, suppose it to be impossible to converse
with all the concert on it att any time in two moneths, and all
present not to be done at all, yett I can take upon me to affirm
that they still continue in the same mind as to every Article.
3000 men landed, one half near Sir J[ames] Cam[pbe]ll to command
Argyle Shire, the other half near Inverness, a L[ochie]l may join
them to command the north, or if the one half can’t reach near
to Sir J[ames] C[ampbell], lett them be all landed together with
4 feild pieces, 15 or 20,000 Stand of Arms, Gones, Pistoles and
broad Swords, yett from the inquiry I have made I am satisfied
10,000 Guns or less, 10,000 Broad Swords and as many Pistoles
will sufficiently do the Business, as all the Isles are lately
Armed with Guns and most of them Swords, Likewise, as for the
Inland Country, they want Swords and Pistoles very much. It
gives us great uneasiness that my Lord M[arischal] should be so
unhappy as to fly in the face of every Scheme, if he himself
does not project. _Sed quos Deus vult perdere dementit prius_,
but we cannot help thinking oddnt, when the money was had to
pay Sir J[ames] Mr. Watson did not care to remit it. This to be
sure required no Conveyance, a Bill was sufficient. He knows the
miserable Situation he is in, and tho’ the rest of the Concert
are in no such Indigent Situation, yett their Circumstances are
not so opulent as to assist him. The Gentlemen in the Highlands
were so desirous to know if any accounts were come that Locheal
gave a Commission to St[ewart] of A[rdshiel] who came expressly
to meet with me and indeed I was so Anxious for the Situation of
your Majestys friends, that I resolved upon a journey abroad to
inform myself of every thing, upon the pretence of going to see
the Army to some who had a title to be a little more Curious upon
pretence of making more interest for a Company in the Dutch in
case of any new levies, so that it was an accident I either mett
with that Gentleman or saw my Lord S[emple] letter. He complained
heavily that we had no Accounts from abroad, and indeed I never
had more difficulty to excuse our friends. However, I told that
our having none looked well as it portended that the expidition
had surely suffered some short delay from the bad weather that
had happened at the time, and as it was soon to be resumed,
they thought it needless to send us any information in case of
discoveries, which nevertheless cou’d observe did not entirely
Satisfie him. My Lord T[raquair] desired me to assure your
Majesty that there is nothing he would not undertake which
might further your Majestys interest but that he cannot come
from his own house to Edinburgh without being suspected, which
renders it impossible for him to negotiate any thing in England,
and at the same time desires me to observe that he cannot
reconceal that part of my Lord S[emple’s] Letter, where he tells
him that nothing will be fixed with relation to the expidition
till he hear from him with his proposals of fresh assurances
from your Majestys friends here. In short, Sir, I must say that
this letter is of such a nature that I do not take it upon me to
intimate it to the Gentlemen in the Concert as in the present
Situation Your Majestys Wisdom, the inexpressible Character the
Prince has acquired as being of so brave and enterprising a
Spirit, together with their own Suspence and hopes are what keep
up their Spirits, but was I to make it knowen to them I am afraid
it would throw them into a fatal Despondency, so till I have your
Majestys orders am resolved to keep it private. Never was there
a people more anxiously concerned about a princes happiness and
welfare than this nation when she heard of Highness imbarkation,
nor do I believe Scotland ever made a more unanimous Appearance
than they would have done then, provided the Conditions promised
them had been performed, but we have been told here, how justly
I won’t say, that there was only 3000 Muskets designed for us
without any troops, indeed, we are able, at any time, to command
our own Country with Arms and officers, especially now when there
is only four Regiments of foot and two of Dragoons, and each of
these 100 Men draughted to flanders. I am sorry to be obliged
to trouble your Majesty with so long a paper, but I am hopefull
your Majesty will be of opinion our present Situation required
it especially after receiving the inclosed, nor do I fear your
Majestys being angry upon that account as I most humbly beg
leave to say that an honest and loyal Subject can never explain
himself too fully and Clearly to a wise Prince, and since the
Receipt of Lord S[emple] letter I am more fully resolved to make
my journey abroad as I think there is more Reason for full and
pointed explications on every Article, and if I don’t thereby
hurt your Majestys affairs of what at present I have no idea I
shall be quite indifferent as what may be the consequence with
regard to myself, being Void of all other Views but that of
promoting your Majestys Interest, which I shall ever endeavour
to do att all hazard. I most humbly beg this letter may not
be made known to my Lord S[emple] and Mr. W[atson][201] least
it unreasonably make differences amongst those concerned in
your Majestys affairs, but if sending them a Copy will in your
Majestys opinion be of any Service, I can with great Satisfaction
sacrifice the private Regard of any man to the trueth and to my
King and Country.

_This seems to be a Copy of a Letter which Mr. Murray wrote after his return from France and Flanders in the Moneths of September or October, 1744, To the young Pretender, then in France._[202]

[Sidenote: Murray to Prince Charles]

SIR,--It gives me the most Concern I should have been so long
in this Country without having it in my power to acquaint your
Royal Highness with what has passed since I left France, except
in the short Letter I was necessitate to write from London under
Cover to Mr. Lumly or Maxwell.[203] I dont now remember whilst
being then able to find no other conveyance and since my Arrival
here, there has been no Occasion till the present tho’ I have
laid myself out to find one, as I might not so distinctly as I
incline, acquaint your Royal Highness of every thing by way of
letter. I have taken the Liberty to write in form of a journal
with opinions of the several Persons I have had occasion to talk
to.