Descendants of the Stuarts

OF THE STUARTS. 117
for it now appears from the writings of Lord
Mahon and others that had Charles marched on
from Derby, London would have fallen into his
power, as six thousand men only, posted on Finchley
Common, were prepared to defend the metropolis
and crown of George II., — that the ministers were
in consternation — it being reported that the Duke
of Newcastle shut himself up for a day, debating
whether he should not be the first to proffer his
allegiance to the expected victor ; that the crown
jewels were packed up in a vessel lying in the
Thames, awaiting the word of command to sail
for the shores of Hanover ; and that a large number,
if not a majority of the Londoners, not excluding
even the mayor and aldermen, were Jacobites,
and only tarrying the advent of their chief to de-
clare for "bonnie Prince Charlie;" the "Prince
Regent," as he signed himself in his proclamations
to his intended subjects.* Whether Charles's suc-
cess would have proved as complete as has been
confidently predicted, it is now impossible to decide,
for, as he did not march on to London, but on the
contrary (although from no fault of his' own), re-
traced his steps into Scotland, all these successes,
if such they would have proved, were lost to him ;
and thus for ever vanished from the hapless Stuarts
the chance of recovering their ancient kingdoms.
Prince Charles married late in life (1773) the
* Vide Lord Mahon's History of England, and Klose's Memoirs of
Prince Charles Stuart.