Chapter 8

PICKLE AND THE ELIBANK PLOT

The Elibank plot--George II. to be kidnapped--Murray and Young Glengarry--As Pickle, Glengarry betrays the plot--His revelations--Pickle and Lord Elibank--Pickle meets Charles--Charles has been in Berlin--Glengarry writes to James's secretary--Regrets failure of plot--Speaks of his illness--Laments for Archy Cameron--Hanbury Williams seeks Charles in Silesia--Pickle's 'fit of sickness'--His dealings with the Earl Marischal--Meets the Prince at the masked ball--'A little piqued'--Marischal criticises the plot to kidnap George II.--'A night attack'--Other schemes--Charles's poverty--'The prophet's clothes'--Mr. Carlyle on Frederick the Great--Alleges his innocence of Jacobite intrigues--Contradicts statesmen--Mr. Carlyle in error--Correspondence of Frederick with Earl Marischal--The Earl's account of English plotters--Frederick's advice--Encouragement underhand--Arrest of Archy Cameron--His early history--Plea for clemency--Cameron is hanged--His testimony to Charles's virtues--His forgiveness of his enemies--Samuel Cameron the spy--His fate--Young Edgar on the hidden treasure--The last of the treasure--A salmo ferox.

The Stuart Papers, we have said, contain no hints as to the Elibank plot of November 1752, unless Goring's scruples were aroused by it. It was suggested and arranged by Alexander Murray, younger brother of Lord Elibank, whom young Edgar describes as 'having a very light head; he has drunk deep of the Garron' (Garonne?). {169} With a set of officers in the French service, aided by Young Glengarry (who had betrayed the scheme) and 400 Highlanders, Murray was to attack St. James's Palace, and seize the King. If we may believe Young Glengarry (writing to Edgar in Rome), Charles was 'on the coast,' but NOT in London. Pickle's letters to his English employers show that the design was abandoned, much to his chagrin. As Glengarry, he expresses the same regret in a letter to Edgar. We now offer Pickle's letters. He is at Boulogne, November 2, 1752.

Add. B.M. MSS. 32,730.

'Boulogne: November 2, 1752.

My dear Sir,--My friends will be most certainly greatly surprised at my silence, but I have such reasons that I can clear all at meeting. I have been so hurried, what with posting, what with Drinking, and other matters of greater weight than they dream of, that I have not had a moment, as the french says, Sans temoigne, till now; thus rendered my writing impracticable. Next Post brings a letter to my friend, and I hope he will not grudge to send Credit to this place, for I am to take a trip for ten days, the Jurny is of importance, it's likewise very expencive, and I must give mony. After this trip, my stay here will be short, for I dare not be explicite on a certain point. I can answer for myself--but how soon my letter is received, I beg remittance. You'll think all this very strange, and confus'd, but I assure you, THERE YOU'L SOON HEAR OF A HURLY BURLY; but I