Ossian Collection > History of the Highlands and of the Highland clans > Volume 3

430 HISTORY OF THE IIIGHLANnS.
No. Ill,
Extracts froTn the Letters of Correspondence between the C/ievalier de St
(ieorge and Mr Sempil, his arjent at Paris, from Juli/, I74j, to "JSi/
May, 174G.
[Note — The extracts from Scmpil's letters are from the originals among the Srii:irt
Papers ; those from the Chevalier, are talfen from the original copies, or draugliU,
in the same colleflion.j
From Sempil.
bit, Juli/, 1 743.
When I wrote last week to Edgar, 1 began to fear that the Prince's coun-
sellors* had something extraordinary in view. I was astonished that the P.
had not come to Town, as he had written to me he would, nor sent me orders
to meet him, before I should set out for the armt/, tho' 1 had informed H.lt. H.
tliat I was ready, and only waited for that great honour and satisfaction, which
I also took to be proper for i/our Majesty's and his affairs. This made me
doubt there was some mystery in the case ; but when to understand that lie had
ordered all his letters, even your Majesty's, to be kept in Waters' hands, when
I found this, and several other circimistances, 1 plainly saw that Sir Thomas
Sheridan and Kelly had taken advantage of the Prince's ardent and lively
temper, and led him into a tneusure that might prove fatal to the Boyat Family
and your three kingdoms, if things were not so happily disposed that any at-
tempt can hardly fail to succeed in the end. Your Majesty's letters from the P.
will certainly explain the whole scheme, which to me seems to be formed with
no more than Jive or six young men, some of whom are much liked but have
very little influence in their country. I have reason to believe that George
Waters is in the secret. I have interrogated him '.n a peremptory man-
ner ; but all 1 can draw from him is, that I sliall certainly hear from the P.
in very few days. I shall not trouble your Majesty with reflections on this
matter. The ferment 1 have been and am stiU in, renders it improper for me
to enter on such a subject.
From the Chevalier de St George.
\ithji,hj, 174j.
What takes me up wiiolly at present is the resolution the P. has taken and
executed without my knowledge. I know not particularly the grounds he goes
upon, but 1 am afraid there is little room to hope he will succeed, except lie be
vigorously supported by the Court of France, and therefore we must all of us,
in our different spheres, leave nothing undone for that effect. I now write my-
self to the King and all the ministers, and we must be all of us more than ever
solely and wholly intent on the great object. The question now is to look for-
ward, and not to blame what is past. It is true I never should have ordered the
P. to have taken such a step, but since it is taken it must be supported, and
whatever be the event, it will certainly turn much to the P.'s personal honour;
• Tiic words in italics in this and ull the subsequent numbers in the .•\ppcndix, unli»
otherwise indicated, are interlineations written above the ciohers in the originals.