Chapter 6

INTRIGUES, POLITICAL AND AMATORY.

DEATH OF MADEMOISELLE LUCI, 1752

Hopes from Prussia--The Murrays of Elibank--Imprisonment of Alexander Murray--Recommended to Charles--The Elibank plot--Prussia and the Earl Marischal--His early history--Ambassador of Frederick at Versailles--His odd household--Voltaire--The Duke of Newcastle's resentment--Charles's view of Frederick's policy--His alleged avarice--Lady Montagu--His money-box--Goring and the Earl Marischal--Secret meetings--The lace shop--Albemarle's information--Charles at Ghent--Hanbury Williams's mares' nests--Charles and 'La Grandemain'--She and Goring refuse to take his orders--Appearance of Miss Walkinshaw--Her history--Remonstrances of Goring--'Commissions for the worst of men'--'The little man'--Lady Primrose--Death of Mademoiselle Luci--November 10, date of postponed Elibank plot--Danger of dismissing an agent.

We have seen that Charles's hopes, in July 1751, were turned towards Prussia and Sweden. To these Courts he had sent Goring in June. Meanwhile a new and strange prospect was opening to him in England. On the right bank of Tweed, just above Ashiesteil, is the ruined shell of the old tower of Elibank, the home of the Murrays. A famous lady of that family was Muckle Mou'd Meg, whom young Harden, when caught while driving Elibank's kye, preferred to the gallows as a bride. In 1751 the owner of the tower on Tweed was Lord Elibank; to all appearance a douce, learned Scots laird, the friend of David Hume, and a customer for the wines of Montesquieu's vineyards at La Brede. He had a younger brother, Alexander Murray, and the politics of the pair, says Horace Walpole, were of the sort which at once kept the party alive, and made it incapable of succeeding. Their measures were so taken that they did not go out in the Forty-five, yet could have proved their loyalty had Charles reached St. James's in triumph. Walpole calls Lord Elibank 'a very prating, impertinent Jacobite.' {125} As for the younger brother, Alexander Murray, Sir Walter Scott writes, in his introduction to 'Redgauntlet,' 'a young Scotchman of rank is said to have stooped so low as to plot the surprisal of St. James's Palace and the assassination of the Royal family.'

This was the Elibank plot, which we shall elucidate later.

In the spring and summer of 1751, Alexander Murray had lain in Newgate, on a charge of brawling at the Westminster election. He was kept in durance because he would not beg the pardon of the House on his knees: he only kneeled to God, he said. He was released by the sheriffs at the close of the session, and was escorted by the populace to Lord Elibank's house in Henrietta Street. He then crossed to France, and, in July 1751, 'Dixon' (Dr. King?) thus reports of him to Charles:

'My lady [Lady Montagu or Lady Primrose?] says that M. [Murray] is most zealously attached to you, and that he is upon all occasions ready to obey your commands, and