capitulated, I do not purpose to be a Scots or Englishman if they
would let me, and all that I wou'd ask for myself is liberty to go
abroad, for in that case I wou'd rather live in Siberia than
Britain. If the King does not come soon, I find people will not hold
out long; but if he does, there are honest men enough to stand by
him and not see him perish. Pray let me hear from you as often as
you can, and when you write to Mrs. Miller[118] make my compliments
to her. I wish some of our men here had her spirit. I hope you are
now perfectly recover'd, but pray take care that you fall not ill
again. Adieu.

"Pray cause give the enclosed to my brother as soon as it comes to
your handes. I beg you may apprise our friends at London and Parise
of what has been done hear to-day; the sending to Argle at Stirling
a message about articles of treaty, as appears from other papers,
which I tel you I was forced to go into;--that they may not be
surprised at it and think we have given all over, which might have
very bad consequences in both places. Do this by the first post. All
will come right again if the King come soon to Britain."

The answer returned by the Duke of Argyle to Lord Mar's overture was
this: that "he had no sufficient powers to treat with the Earl of Mar
and his Council as a body, but that he would write to Court about it."

To this reply, which was sent with much courtesy by the Duke, a
rejoinder was made, "That when the Duke should let the Earl of Mar and
his Council know that he had sufficient power, then they would make
their proposition." The proposal was sent up to St. James's, but no
further notice was taken of it, nor were the powers of the Duke of
Argyle extended to enable him to come to any terms with Lord Mar. But
although the negotiation thus died away, the weakness it betrayed among
the Jacobite party was highly prejudicial to their cause.

James, during all the recent events, had been engaged in making several
attempts to leave St. Maloes. He had gone openly on board ships which
were laden with arms and ammunition for his use, but had withdrawn when
he found that his embarkation was known. He therefore changed his plans,
and crossing to Normandy, resolved to embark at Dunkirk. Having lurked
for several days, disguised as a mariner, on the coast of Brittany, he
went privately to Dunkirk, where he embarked, attended by the Marquis o