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

APPENDIX. 433
till he should arrive and let them hnow what He should want, they could dn
vnthing hut make the preparations /mentioned to your Majesty. They are
now dehberating on tiie measures that it is proper to take. / have insisted
that the arms, ammunition, and money, prepared in Holland and Hamburg,
be forthwitli sent off for Scotland. The two brothers, 31. de Maurepas and
Mr Orry, seemed to approve of that step, and promised to advise it. The
Duke de NoaiUes was not yesterday arrived from a circuit he is making along
tile coast of Flanders.
Mr Carte, while he was in this country, contracted a friendship with one
Bachalier, an antient valet de cliambre of the King's, to whom he explained
the present state of things in England. This person, wlio remembers your
Majesty, and is zealous for your cause, talked of it to tlie late Cardinal
Fleury, but witliout making any impression : he attempted it with Mr Amelot,
to as little purpose, and again with the present minister of foreign affairs: at
last he had recourse to the Due de Richelieu, who promised to forward the
matter witli all liis influence, and even to propose it to the King of France —
which he accordingly did ; and finding the King strongly inclined to do the
work, he said, that if any person of consideration would come over, he would
cause that person speak with the King upon tliis subject : this being transmit-
ted to Mr Carte, he talked of tlie affair as determined, and went about asking
who sliould be the person tliat would have the honor to transact it with ye King
of France: his discourse, and tlie letters of his friend, made an impression
upon Lord Clancarty, who undertook to come over, provided the Lady Me-
zieres sliould know nothing of ye matter. Mr Carte promised what he pleased,
and accordingly that Lord, who is a very brave and worthy man, went about
the King's friends, that he might be authorised to speak in their behalf: he \i
personally acquainted with them all; and tlio' the wise men amongst them
would neither trust his nor 3Ir Cac^e'i discretion in any scheme of business,
yet they could not refuse their approbation of the step proposed, which our
friends of the concert were particularly glad of, because Lord Clancarty is a
very able seaman. When he was expected on this side, the Duke mentioned
thought fit to talk to the 3Iarguis D'Argenson of him. The 3Iarquis and
his brother both asked me his character, to which I did ample justice: he ar-
rived at the army while Lord 3Iarischal was there, with whom he conversed;
I saw in Flanders an intimate confident of Lord Clancarty, who told me the
whole transaction with Mr Carte, and all that passed in England : the rest I
had from Bachelier, who was with the King in the army, and desired to be
acquainted with me. Lord Clancarty ashed 14,000 men for England, and
Lord 3Iat ischal demands 6000 ^or Scotland; whereas, all this summer the
King's friends have only asked 6000 landed near London, to undertake and
secure the restoration. I return to-morrow night to Versailles, where I hope
to find an immediate supply ordered for the Prince, which I trust shall soon
be followed with greater, and even with troops eilher for England or Scotland.
From the Chevalier de St Ceurge.
■21lh Srijttmber, 1745.
The having so imperfect accounts ot the Prince is a subject of no small
anxeity to me, tho' I really think as for his landing there can be no dispute of
it. But that is but the first step — the point now is, how he was received, and
what progress he is making, of which surely we must receive soon some account.
in 3 1 '