Lives of the last four princesses of the royal house of Stuart

1711.] BEST PLEASED TO REMAIN IN IGNORANCE. 361
of more." He goes on to relate an adventure that had
happened in the camp. " An Irishman seeing a guard du
corps, who was intoxicated, beating and ill-treating his
wife, interfered to take her part, on which the other drew
his sword and ran him through the body. "When the
garde du corps came to himself, he was struck with horror
at what he had done, and begged the Irishman's pardon,
who, with great magnanimity, returned him his sword,
saying, 'I pardon thee, and restore thee thy sword,
although thou art unworthy of wearing it.'
"The brave Irishman was, however, so dangerously
wounded, that he was desirous of making his con-
fession, and receiving the last sacraments of his church,
for he was a Roman Catholic; but was in some trouble
about it, for he did not understand French, and there
was no priest, in the camp, who could speak English."
The Chevalier St. George, regarding this hero in humble
life as his natural subject, sent a messenger to St. Ger-
mains to procure a Jesuit priest, with whom he might be
able to hold intelligible communication. The Dauphin,
hearing of the gallant and generous conduct of the Irish-
man, sent him pecuniary relief. When he made his con-
fession, he said, " he forgave the man his death with all
his heart." Contrary to all expectations, however, he
recovered, and wished to be removed to Fontainebleau.
Mary Beatrice immediately sent money for his relief, and
cheerfully contributed to his support.
Once, when the prospects of the restoration of the royal
Stuarts to the throne of Great Britain were discussed, the
Princess Louisa said that " she was best pleased to remain
in ignorance of the future."
" It is one of the greatest mercies of God that it is hidden
from our sight," observed the Queen, her mother. " When
I first passed over to France, if any one had told me I should