Earls of Middleton, Lords of Clermont and of Fettercairn

272 The Earls of Middleton.
To the Nuncio. Sends him Lord Lovafs account of
his journey to Scotland, and questions to be put to
him.
"January 20th, 1704.
" I could not send your Eminence sooner this
report, because the translation of it was not finished
till this day. I have the honour of communicating to
you likewise a copy of the questions which I have
given to Mons. de Torcy. If there is anything to be
added, or anything further to be done, I entreat you
to acquaint the queen ; and, to do me justice, to be
persuaded that there is no one who honours you more
than," etc.
Lovat replied to these questions, that "one and all
had engaged him to promise not to tell their names
to any one but the queen, to whom he was ready to
declare them in private audience ; and then only on
her Majesty giving her royal word not to reveal them
to the members of her Council, because they had
experienced how little they regarded secrecy."
He wrote long letters to the queen and Middleton
on the same subject, January 19th. Mary Beatrice
was so delighted with his report, that she was again
foolish enough to act on her own responsibility, and
to return a gracious reply without consulting Middle-
ton on the subject. His hurt feelings at this treat-
ment are shown in the following letter : —