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"at first what would be the consequence. The people "in the streets ran backwards and forwards, only asking news, and inquiring of one another what was to be "done. The sudden coming of the Prince and Princess "to town, and calling of the Council, immediately turned "the expectation of the mob, on seeing the ceremony of a proclamation that night; who are always fond of any "show or new thing. They waited till midnight, and were then told it was put off till next day, when all "things were performed without the least disorder. The "torrent is too strong for your friends to resist, so they "thought it their best way to join with the rest to hinder "distinctions, that their party may be the stronger "whenever dissatisfaction breaks out again, which it is "generally thought will not be long. I am con"vinced the same violent and corrupt measures taken by "the father will be pursued by the son, who is pas"sionate, proud, and peevish; and though he talks of "ruling by himself, will just be governed as his father But his declarations that he will make no dis"tinction of parties, and turning off the Germans, make "him popular at present. I find your friends "already desponding and complaining that they have "ruined their fortunes, and are not able to resist this "last effort of the Whigs." With still more bitterness does Lord Orrery, a few weeks later, inveigh against the incapacity, stubbornness, and haughtiness of the pre"sent King,"- "the universal corruption of our Parlia"ment," "the servility, ignorance, and poor spirit of our nobility and gentry, striving who shall sell them"selves at the best price to this Court, but resolved to "sell themselves at any!" Yet, with all this, he is obliged to own that, " there do not yet appear many discontented people!"*

"was.

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When the Pretender received the news of the King's death, he was residing at Bologna. He had for a long time obstinately refused to conciliate his consort, by dismissing the titular Earl of Inverness, and turned a deaf ear to the unanimous representations of his friends, both at home and abroad. But his stubbornness being at

* Lord Orrery to James, August, 1727. Appendix.

length partly vanquished, he accepted Inverness's resignation, though with such marks and declarations of high regard*, as made it plain that his favour was fixed, and that he would ere long recal him. Nevertheless Clementina agreed to quit her convent at Rome, and to join her husband; and she was already on her road, when the tidings of the great event in Germany arrived. Perceiving the value of time, and the necessity of being near his friends at such a crisis, James the very next day set out from Bologna on pretence of meeting his Queen on her journey, and thus in concealment of his object; but turning short, at a little distance, he posted with all speed to Lorraine.

On arriving near Nancy, James despatched a messenger to Bishop Atterbury at Paris, and one also to Lord Orrery in London, while another of his most trusty servants, Allan Cameron, was sent to confer with Mr. Lockhart, who had been obliged to leave Scotland on account of some discoveries, and who was then at Liege. "Cameron told me," says Lockhart, "that the King, "notwithstanding the certainty he had of no foreign aid, "and that there was no scheme nor preparations at "home, inclined, and seemed resolved to repair to the "Highlands, and make the best stand he could with "such as repaired to him; and this measure was ap"proved by Lord Inverness, and his other subjects attending him, with whom he advised. Upon my inquiring if that Lord was with the King, he shifted 'giving a direct answer; but being put to it, he said he was not actually present with him, but kept at a little "distance, so as His Majesty could send often to him, "and have him when he pleased." When asked for his opinion in this momentous affair, Lockhart desired to consult Colonel Clephane, a zealous Jacobite, who had

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* 66 You know the great and good opinion I have long had of that Lord, and it is now, with reason, augmented by the sacrifice he will "make of himself for the good of my family in this conjuncture, which ought to increase his merit with all honest men, and I hope to have "yet soon occasion to show in his person that I am incapable of "abandoning my faithful servants.' ." Circular Letter of James; Lockhart, vol. ii. p. 347.

† Memoirs, vol. ii. p. 359.

taken an active part in the Rebellion of 1715*, and was now living in exile. The answer of Cameron is another strong proof how rife were cabals and jealousies even at so small a Court as James's. He declined to send for Clephane, who he said was "of the Marrian faction;" and he did not yield till Lockhart had pledged himself for Clephane's honour and fidelity, and inveighed against the folly of keeping up divisions at a crisis when all hands were needed. Both Clephane and Lockhart agreed, that the project of going over to Scotland, without either a settled scheme or foreign succour, was utterly hopeless, and could serve only to lose the cause and ruin its adherents altogether. It appeared that Inverness and Dunbar, who advised the scheme, meant themselves to stay abroad, the one attending the Prince, and the other managing affairs with foreign Powers; and Lockhart could not forbear remarking, that he should have had a much better opinion of these two gentlemen, if they had thought fit to run equal hazard with their King, in a project they so much approved.

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The answers which James received from Paris and from London were equally discouraging, and urged him in the strongest manner to forbear so desperate an enterprise. "You will observe, Sir," writes Atterbury, "what a spirit of caution and fear possesses your friends at "home, and how they dread any alarm being given to "the Government, or taken by it. . . . . It appears that "nothing is to be expected from them, without a foreign, "and a very considerable assistance. . . . . It is plain that "the Tories at this turn hoped to get into place, if not "into power; and though they resolved to keep their prin"ciples and inclinations if they had done so, I much "question whether they really would, or rather I am. "satisfied that the bulk of them would not; and therefore "it is a happiness to you, Sir, that their aims have hitherto "been and will probably continue to be defeated." †

Nor was the Pretender left quiet and undisturbed to mature his plans; on the contrary the French government, urged by the English, sent positive directions to

See the first volume of this history, p. 156.

† Bishop Atterbury to James, August 20. 1727. Appendix.

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the Duke of Lorraine to compel James to quit his territories. The Duke, who was little more than the vassal of France, durst not disobey, and wrote to James in his own hand, pressing him in the strongest manner to go out of his country in three days. "Thus,” says James, "in my "present situation, I cannot pretend to do any thing "essential for my interest, so that all that remains is the world should see that I have done my part." "* He determined, however, by the advice of Atterbury, instead of crossing the Alps, to repair to the Papal State of Avignon. But even there the French influence was exerted to dislodge him. In the ensuing spring he was compelled to return to Italy, where he rejoined his consort, and seems to have become gradually reconciled with her. A German traveller who was at Rome in 1731, saw them living, to all appearance, in perfect harmony together, and speaks with high praise (as indeed all parties do) of Clementina's grace and goodness, her quick talents, and her never-failing charity. It is even said, but on no good authority, that she used to express her sorrow at having left her husband and retired to a convent. The chief object of their contention, Inverness, was sent to a kind of exile at Avignon; but Dunbar still retained the chief influence at the little Court of the Pretender.

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Meanwhile events in England were proceeding very far from favourably to his cause. The new Parliament, which met in January, 1728, displayed a Ministerial majority even greater than the last. "On the first day," says Horace Walpole, we had 427 members in the House, most of them sincere and hearty friends, and in "perfect good humour."§ Their choice for Speaker (Sir Spencer Compton being now a Peer) fell unanimously upon Mr. Arthur Onslow, sprung from a family which had already twice filled the Chair, and endowed with high personal qualifications for that office. During three and thirty years did this accomplished man continue to

* James to Atterbury, August 9. 1727. Appendix. † Polnitz Memoirs, vol. ii. p. 60. ed. 1737.

Account of the Funeral Ceremonies of the Princess Clementine Sobieski. Preface.

§ To Earl Waldegrave, January 24. 1728. Coxe's Walpole. See Parliamentary History, vol. i. p. 703.; and vol. vi. p. 744.

preside over the House of Commons, with thorough knowledge of forms, and perfect impartiality of judgment; and even after his retirement he still contributed to the public service, by his ready advice and guidance to younger politicians.*

The King's Speech on opening the Session lamented the tedious and still unsettled negotiations with Spain, and the consequent necessity of continuing warlike preparations; but did not omit the usual professions of economy, and willingness to reduce the national expenses. Such professions, in fact, are frequently the most ardent where the supplies to be demanded are largest. To the Address, in answer, Shippen moved an amendment, and inveighed against Hosier's expedition as useless and insignificant; for that we might have rifled the galleons at Carthagena, and plundered Porto Bello, and have had those riches in our hands to dispute with the Spaniards. † He was seconded by Wyndham; but their observations were so ill received by the House, that they did not venture on a division. Almost the first occasion when the Opposition made a stand was when they had reason and justice completely on their side. It was proposed by Horace Walpole that the sum of 230,000l. should be granted for maintaining, during this year, 12,000 Hessians in the British pay - a measure quite unworthy the King of England, but very advantageous to the Elector of Hanover. If troops were wanted, could we not raise them at home? Or, if a similar step had been taken in the rebellion of 1715, amidst pressing and fearful dangers, can it be urged that the precedent applied to orderly and settled times; and might we not quote against this motion the very words of its mover on another occasion, when he said that "little, low, partial, Electoral notions are able to stop or confound the best conducted project "for the public?" Nevertheless, so strong was the

"It was permitted to the compiler of this work to visit that "excellent man in his retirement, and to hear those observations on "the law and constitution, which, particularly in the company of "young persons, Mr. Onslow was fond of communicating." Hatsell's Precedents, vol. ii. Preface, p. ix. ed. 1785.

† Mr. Tilson to Earl Waldegrave, February 2. 1728. Horace Walpole to Sir Robert, September 1. 1739.