and were sure of some particular assistances, and of a general
connivance; that the same men, I say, should press for making it now
without any other preparation, when we had neither money, arms,
ammunition, nor a single company of foot; when the Government of
England was on its guard, national troops were raised, foreign
forces sent for, and France, like all the rest of the Continent,
against us. I could not conceive such a strange combination of
accidents as should make the necessity of acting increase gradually
upon us as the means of doing so were taken from us.

Upon the whole matter, my opinion was, and I did not observe the
Duke of Ormond to differ from me, that we should wait till we heard
from you in such a manner as might assure us of what you intended to
do yourselves, and of what you expected from us; and that in the
meanwhile we should go as far as the little money which we had, and
the little favour which was shown us would allow, in getting some
embarkations ready on the coast.

Sir George Byng had come into the road of Havre, and had demanded by
name several ships which belonged to us to be given up to him. The
Regent did not think fit to let him have the ships; but he ordered
them to be unloaded, and their cargoes were put into the King's
magazines. We were in no condition to repair the loss; and
therefore when I mention embarkations, you will please to understand
nothing more than vessels to transport the Pretender's person and
the persons of those who should go over with him. This was all we
could do, and this was not neglected.

We were thus employed when a gentleman arrived from Scotland to
represent the state of that country, and to require a definitive