be the state of things with respect to England when I arrived at
Commercy.

The Scots had long pressed the Chevalier to come amongst them, and
had of late sent frequent messages to quicken his departure, some of
which were delivered in terms much more zealous than respectful.
The truth is, they seemed in as much haste to begin as if they had
thought themselves able to do the work alone; as if they had been
apprehensive of no danger but that of seeing it taken out of their
hands and of having the honour of it shared by others. However,
that which was wanting on the part of England was not wanting in
Scotland; the Scots talked aloud, but they were in a condition to
rise. They took little care to keep their intentions secret, but
they were disposed to put those intentions into immediate execution,
and thereby to render the secret no longer necessary. They knew
upon whom to depend for every part of the work, and they had
concerted with the Chevalier even to the place of his landing.

There was need of no great sagacity to perceive how unequal such
foundations were to the weight of the building designed to be raised
on them. The Scots, with all their zeal and all their valour, could
bring no revolution about unless in concurrence with the English;
and among the latter nothing was ripe for such an undertaking but
the temper of the people, if that was so. I thought, therefore,
that the Pretender's friends in the North should be kept from rising
till those in the South had put themselves in a condition to act;
and that in the meanwhile the utmost endeavours ought to be used
with the King of France to espouse the cause; and that a plan of the
design, with a more particular specification of the succours
desired, as well as of the time when and the place to which they