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

APPENDIX. -139
Kelly, had first considered whether it might be proper to give such iiifoimation
— The Duke of Ormond's death is a very sensible loss at this critical juncture
and will be particularly regretted by Lord Banymore, in as much as the
Duke's age and rank set him above all jealousies and envy, an advantage that
no other subject can pretend to.
From the Chevalier de St George.
4th /IprU, 1746.
I AM sensible I cannot send you any particular directions for your present con-
duct, without falling into some inconveniences which I would willingly avoid.
Should 1 encourage you treating with Count D'Argenson, exclusive of the other
ministers, I might rini the risk of disgusting these last, and especially his bro-
ther, with whom I have all reason to be satisfied. Should I authorize you to
act independent of the Duke, I should fail to him, oi ralher to myself, ana
might authorize a conduct which might be liable to great inconveniences on
many occasions ; and should I, on t'other side, send you any directions which
might anyways cool and disgust the Count D'Argenson and tlie Due de Riclie-
lieu, whom 1 look upon to be both my friends, and for whom I have a particu-
lar value, it might be of very ill consequence at a time it is our business to do
all in our power to unite that ministry in our favor, and to induce them to give
each of them their helping liand towards what we want in giving them all the
lights and encouragements we can for that effect.
From the Same.
•2Jth AprU. 1746.
The letter from England, of which you send me a copy, tho' good in the
main, will, I fear, be far from hastening an expedition into England from
France, and on that you know all depends, tho' I make little doubt now of the
Prince's being able to maintain himself in Scotland at least for sometime longer;
and till the expedition into England can be undertaken, the more the Prince
can be assisted in Scotland the better.
From the Same.
23d Mgij, 1746.
The Prince's affairs in Scotland certainly go better than could have been ex-
pected, and should encourage the French not to delay doing all in their power
to assist him, especially in the case of his marching a second time into England.
It is natural for my friends, in the present juncture, to wish I were near at
hand; but tho' I were, I dont see what great influence that would have either
in relation to the French Court or my own subjects, except I were to be pub-
lickly at the Court of France, in a situation of treating personally with the
King, and all those ministers, and I see no appearance of that being allowed
till the Prince's affairs should be much more advanced than they are at present.
Whether I am m Italy or ni France, the French will, to be sure, equally pursue
their own interest, which is now so closely united to mine, and it would be, I
hope, wronging my own subjects, to suppose they would have more ^eal and
defeieoce for me when near than at a disutnce ; but it is very useless to enlarge