Chapter 13

THE LAST HOPE.

1759

Charles asks Louis for money--Idea of employing him in 1757--Letter from Frederick--Chances in 1759--French friends--Murray and 'the Pills'--Charles at Bouillon--Madame de Pompadour--Charles on Lord George Murray--The night march to Nairn--Manifestoes--Charles will only land in England--Murray wishes to repudiate the National Debt--Choiseul's promises--Andrew Lumisden--The marshal's old boots--Clancarty--Internal feuds of Jacobites--Scotch and Irish quarrels--The five of diamonds--Lord Elibank's views--The expedition starting--Routed in Quiberon Bay--New hopes--Charles will not land in Scotland or Ireland--'False subjects'--Pickle waits on events--His last letter--His ardent patriotism--Still in touch with the Prince--Offers to sell a regiment of Macdonalds--Spy or colonel?--Signs his real name--'Alexander Macdonnell of Glengarry'--Death of Pickle--His services recognised.

After the fatal 10th of December, 1748, Charles had entertained a bitter hatred of France, though he was always careful to blame the Ministers of Louis, not the King himself. He even refused a French pension, but this was an attitude which he could not maintain. In 1756 (July 1) he actually wrote to Louis, asking for money.

'Monsieur Mon Frere et Cousin,' he said. 'With the whole of Europe I admire your virtues . . . and the benefits with which you daily load your subjects . . . Since 1744, when I left Rome, I have run many risks, encountered many perils, and endured many vicissitudes of fortune, unaided by those from whom I had the right to expect assistance, unsuccoured even by My Father. In truth such of his subjects as espoused my cause have given me many proofs of zeal, and of good will, but, since open war broke out between France and England, I have not the same support. I know not what Destiny prepares for me, but I shall put it to the touch.'

For this purpose, then, he needs money.

'If I knew a Prince more virtuous than you, to him I would appeal.'

Whether Louis was good-natured, and gave some money for Charles to O'Hagarty and Elliot, his envoys, does not appear. {301}

In these dispositions, Charles hoped much from the French project of invading England in 1759. Though he never wholly despaired, and was soliciting Louis XVI. even in the dawn of the Revolution, we may call the invasion of 1759 his last faint chance. Hints had been thrown out of employing him in 1757. Frederick then wrote from Dresden to Mitchell, the English Ambassador at Berlin:

'I want to let you know that yesterday a person of distinguished rank told me that a friend of his at Court, under promise of the utmost secrecy, told him this: The French intend to make a diversion in Ireland in spring. They will disembark at Cork and at Waterford. They are negotiating with the Young Pretender to put himself at the head of the Expedition, but he will do nothing, unless the Courts of Vienna