your brother' (the devout Duke of York) 'on very nice and delicate
subjects, and that without saying the least thing to me, though we
lived in the same house . . . You were then much younger than you are
now, and therefore could be more easily led by specious arguments and
pretences. . . . It will, to be sure, have been represented to you
that our religion is a great prejudice to our interest, but that it
may in some measure be remedied by a certain free way of thinking and
acting.' {26b}

In 1749 James made a disagreeable discovery, which he communicated to
Lord Lismore. A cassette, or coffer, belonging to Charles, had,
apparently, been left in Paris, and, after many adventures on the
road, was brought to Rome by the French ambassador. James opened it,
and found that it contained letters 'from myself and the Queen.' But
it also offered proof that the Prince had carried on a secret
correspondence with England, long before he left Rome in 1744.
Probably his adherents wished James to resign in his favour. {27a}

As to religion, Dr. King admits that Charles was no bigot, and
d'Argenson contrasted his disengaged way of treating theology with
the exaggerated devoutness of the Duke of York. Even during the
march into England, Lord Elcho told an inquirer that the Prince's
religion 'was still to seek.' Assuredly he would never make
shipwreck on the Stuart fidelity to Catholicism. All this was deeply
distressing to the pious James, and all this dated from 1742, that
is, from the time of Murray of Broughton's visit to Rome.
Indifference to religious strictness was, even then, accompanied by a
love of wine, in some slight degree. Already, too, a little rift in
the friendship of the princely brothers was apparent; there were
secrets between them which Henry must have communicated to James.