ch is far from being
of a melancholy description. The difficulty of procuring the right sort
of ribbon for the decoration of the Garter, is altogether a new feature
among the adversities of royal personages. It seems strange that James
should not have provided himself, before quitting France, with all that
was necessary to preserve the external semblance of majesty.

"January 20th, 1715-16.

"Sir,

"I wrote to you the eighteenth, and sent severall others enclosed,
which I hope will come safe to you. The inclosed, markt D. F., is
from the King to Davie Floid at London, which he desires you may
take care to gett conveid to him safly and soon, it being of
consequence. The other is for my wife, which I beg you may forward
as usewall.

"We are told that ther's some foot come to Dumblain, and that ther's
more expected there. And they still talk as if they designed to
march their whole armie against us nixt week. Perhaps they intend
it, but with this weather I see not how 'tis in their power. If they
do tho', upon their expecting we are to abandon Perth upon their
aproach, as I'm told they believe, they will find themselves
mistaken, for all here are resolved to stand it to the last, and
perhaps we will not wait their comeing the lenth, but meet them by
the way. We might have left it indeed, some time ago; but that time
is past, and the King's being with us alters the case in every
respect. After all, I cannot get myself to belive that they will
actually come to us in haste, and if they do they may mistake their
reckning. Sure I am, it were impossible for us to march to them in
this snow, and our folks are as good at that as they. The snow puts
me in mind of the children of Israel's pillar of smoke and pillar of
fire; and to say truth, ther's something in the weather very odd
and singular; I never saw such.

"My cloathes are almost all worn out, haveing left some at the
battle: I know not if you could get me any made and sent from
Edinburgh; but if you could, I should be glad of it. Ther's one Bird
was my tayler and I belive has my measur, or some old cloathes of
mine, that he could make them by. Perhaps he's a whig tho', and will
not do it. I would have them deep blew, laced with gold, but not on
the seams. I have but one starr and no riban, but 'tis no