ection in Scotland in 1715, by
John, Master of Sinclair_, p. 333. Edited from the original
manuscript by Sir Walter Scott, Bart. (Edinburgh: Abbotsford Club,
1848.)

Before these had come to Huntlie,[54] the King was already landed at
Peterhead, the twenty-seventh day of September[55] [December], and was
in his road to Fetteresso, where he halted. We were not long of hearing
from those who came from the South that a young gentleman had passed
Aberdeen with Captain Allan Cameron; that they had gone straight to
Fetteresso, and it was thought that young man was the King; Cameron was
gone on post to Perth, and the other was left at Fetteresso privately.
This made Huntlie send a gentleman to Aberdeen with orders to go on till
he got the certain account. By the time he got there, he was certainly
informed the King was arrived, and that Mar was already at Fetteresso.
To do Huntlie justice, being present when he received the news, he said,
"Now ther's no help for it, we must all ruin with him: would to God he
had comed sooner." There seem'd still some faint hopes to remain, which
were, that since his Majestie had stopt at Fetteresso, and keept himself
incognito there for two days, till Captain Cameron had informed Mar of
his arrival, his reason for it could only be that he wanted to know the
state of his affairs before he'd go forward to Perth; for what other
reason could have hinder'd him to [have] declared himself at Aberdeen,
or from going straight to Perth? And by all that could be learned since,
we found we judged right; for it's said, that if his affairs were on a
bad foot, he was resolved to return without loss of time, and leave his
poor subjects the freedom of making terms for themselves; a very just
and reasonable thought. Whatever was in it, as his declaring himself at
Fetteresso, and afterwards going up to Perth, put a stop to all thoughts
of terms on our side, so it's not to be doubted that the Government,
however inclinable they might [have] been before, could ever entertain
or allow of any such proposals from those inclined to mercy, or the
moderate people of their own side....

My Lord Mar, who, as we first supposed, would [have] met his Majesty
privately, spread the news at Perth of the King's happy landing, and
brought a numerous train with him to Fetteresso, out of a view, I
believe, to put it out of his Majesty's power to go back, having already
published his being there; and to confirm him of