these five days at the Court of his
Royal Highness, told a mistress he has there, that when he leaves
her now, he will take his leave of her perhaps for the last
time:--in short, it is certain that everything here seems
sufficiently to announce preparations for a journey. It is said,
likewise, in private, that the Chevalier has had letters that the
Queen is very ill. I have done everything I could to discover
something of his designs. I supped last night with several of his
attendants, thinking to learn something; but they avoid to explain
themselves. They only say that the Chevalier did not find himself
the better for drinking the waters; that he would now go to repose
himself for some time at Bar, until he goes, the beginning of next
month, to the Prince De Vandemont's, at Commercie, where their Royal
Highnesses will come likewise. They say they do not know yet if they
will remain in this country or not; that they will follow the
destiny of the Chevalier, and that it is not known yet what it shall
be."[194]

When Lord Lovat thus precipitately threw himself once more on the mercy
of his country, he could not have been ignorant that the cabals which
had long been carried on against the Hanoverian succession, were now
shortly to break out in open rebellion; and it was, without doubt, in
the hope of profiting in some measure during the confusion of the coming
troubles, that he had hastened, at the risk of his life, to England.

He entrusted the secret of his arrival immediately to the Duke of
Argyle, whom he met in London. That nobleman, one of the few
disinterested men whose virtues might almost obtain the name of
patriotism in those days, saw the danger which Lord Lovat would incur if
he returned to Scotland. Sentence of death had been passed upon him; it
might be acted upon by an adverse judge at any moment. He besought Lovat
to remain in England until a remission of that sentence could be
obtained; and for this purpose addresses to the Court for mercy were
circulated for signature throughout the northern counties of
Scotland.[195] To further the success of this scheme, Lord Lovat had
recourse to his neighbour and early friend, John Forbes, laird of
Culloden, whose after-services in the royal cause, and whose strict
alliance of friendship with the Duke of Argyle, secured to him a
considerable influence in that part of Scotland in which he resided.