Charles, as we shall see, was for a short time at Venice in May 1749.
Meanwhile the game of hide and seek through Europe went on as merrily
as ever. Lord Hyndford, so well known to readers of Mr. Carlyle's
'Frederick,' now opens in full cry from Moscow, but really on a
hopelessly wrong scent. As illustrating Hyndford's opinion of
Frederick, who had invested him with the Order of the Thistle, we
quote this worthy diplomatist:


Lord Hyndford to the Duke of Newcastle. {58a}
'Moscow: June 19, 1749.

' . . . I must acquaint your Grace of what I have learnt, through a
private canal, from the last relation of Mr. Gross, the Russian
minister at Berlin, although I dare say it is no news to your Grace.
Mr. Gross writes that, some days before the date of his letter, the
Pretender's eldest son arrived at Potsdam, and had been very well
received by the King of Prussia, General Keith, and his brother, the
late Earl Marshal; and all the other English, Scotch, and Irish
Jacobites in the Prussian service were to wait upon him. This does
not at all surprise me; but Mons. Valony, the French minister, went
likewise to make his compliments at a country house, hired on purpose
for this young vagabond. This is all that I know as yet of this
affair in general, for the Chancellor has not thought proper as yet
to inform me of the particulars. However, this public, incontestable
proof of the little friendship and regard the King of Prussia has for
His Majesty and His Royal Family, and for the whole British nation,
will, I hope, open the eyes of the people who are blind to that
Prince's monstrous faults, if any such are still left amongst us, and
I doubt not but it will save His Majesty the trouble of sending Sir