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

•J3-J HISTORY OF THE HIOHLANDS.
In the meantime the dispositions of the French Court and ministry are so far ol
satisfaction to me, altho' I shall never think myself sure of anything till I see
something actually executed ; I mean troops actually sent to the Prince's as-
sistance. If, as 1 hope, a considerable body is sent into England, a few will he
sufficient for Scotland ; but my great fear is the French delaying too long to
send these last, for the Prince will certainly want speedy succour; and should
that delay, the project may have failed before it comes ; so that all our efforts
must be now directed towards dispatch.
From the Same.
4(4 October, 1743.
The certainty of the Prince's safe arrival in Scotland, and my having received
a letter from himself, is, no doubt, a subject of comfort to me ; but my anxiety
cannot cease till I know that some troops are actually landed in ye island : arms
and money may enable him to wait sometime for tliem ; but without those are
sent and soon, I own I shall fear the worst. It was perfectly right in vou to
do justice with the French ministers to Lord Clancarty's character. I remark
what you say in relation to him and to that branch of business. What Clan-
carty says cannot but make impression on the French Court, and, all things
considered, I am really persuaded they will do what they can to assist us. The
chief point now is to solicit dispatch, and with that, I hope in God, all will go
well. I see Lord Clancarty asks a more considerable body of men than what
was demanded before, yet I own I should be contented if the French gave a
smaller number than he proposes, tho', for their own sakes, they will, to be
S'lre, endeavour to make as sure a game of it as they can.
From Sempil.
'2Ulh September, 1743.
The present Government having laid an embargo on all the Ports of f'cot-
land soon after they were apprized of the Prince's arrival in that kingdom, and
every traveller from thence being strictly examined, our friends at London had
no direct accounts from His Royal Highness on the 7tii current, and knew no-
tliing certain of his progress, but what the Usurper's ministers were pleased to
own, which was, tliat a considerable body had joined His Royal Highness, and
that the most part of the Higlilanders were in motion, with a design, as was
apprehended, to favor him. The Prince had summoned Fort William, in
which there was but 200 men, and threatened to attack it ; a party of High-
landers had seized on a Captain and some men, near Fort Augustus, in Lord
Lovat's country ; another party of Loyalists had intercepted an entire company
of foot, who were marching from their quarters to join the rest of their battal-
ions. . . . The Kinff of France \s so stTon2,]y mcWnedlo promote the King's
cause, and the French ministc7'S are so thorouglily convinced that it is his in'
lerest to do so in the present state of Europe, that, /believe, ive shall attain
the assistance ive ivant : they say they are not sure enough of the persons thev
df'al with in Holland and Hajnburg to trust them with monei/, but they pro-
pose to supply the Prince as plentifully and as quickly as they can. The
money is ready at Lille in Flanders, and there are arms and ammunition pre-
pared in several places, which they resolve to send over by degrees, becpuse