that it was thought they must have meant it for the duke's portrait.

Once, when Mr. Dicconson, Comptroller of the Household, was seized with the ague, the whole Court went on a pilgrimage to a chapel dedicated to St. Thibaut, to pray for his recovery. While enjoying their repast under a tree, on the conclusion of their devotions, the invalid suddenly appeared amongst them. A cry arose-"A miracle! a miracle!" and they were quite convinced that their prayers had cured him.1

1

Alas! these innocent amusements were soon to be interrupted by an ill-fated expedition, which brought misfortune especially upon the Middleton family.

1 Euvres du Count Antoine Hamilton.

CHAPTER V.

Letters concerning Colonel Hooke's visit to Scotland-The attempted invasion of 1708--The Salisbury captured by Sir George Byng, and Middleton's two sons made prisoners-The Queen tries ineffectually to obtain their release-Renewed propositions for peaceThe Chevalier offers to leave France-War continued.

IN 1705 Colonel Hooke, who had been formerly chaplain to the Duke of Monmouth, but had afterwards entered the French service, was sent by the Court of St. Germains to Scotland, to ascertain the number and power of the prince's friends in that country. Unfortunately, he was a mere creature of the Duke of Perth, determined to support the members of the party who wished to restore James without conditions, and to neglect those faithful upholders of royalty who favoured Middleton's moderate principles. During this visit he succeeded only in obtaining general promises from the prince's adherents of their readiness to support his cause. A short time after his return, however, the Scotch

nation sent Mr. Charles Fleming, brother of the Earl of Wigton, to France, with a memorial informing the French king that they had abundance of provisions to supply a body of troops, having the harvests of two years in their granaries, and plenty of meat, drink, and clothes. Arms and money were what they chiefly required. In 1707 it was proposed to send Hooke a second time; and Louis XIV., having met with losses at Ramillies and Turin, seemed inclined to approve of the project-his real hope being to hinder Queen Anne from opposing his arms on the Continent, by embroiling Great Britain in a civil war.1

Middleton's letters do not show any distrust of

Hooke.

From Earl Middleton to Colonel Hooke. He is uncertain about the intentions of the Court of France. "8th February, 1707.

"Their Majesties have commanded me to tell you, sir, that the letters you propose should be written as soon as can be. The queen's to the great man will be sent to-morrow. The only difficulty was lest it be ill taken, which is hard to foresee; and in this case you will endeavour to set them right.

"Their Majesties desire that you would make 1 Secret History of Colonel Hooke's Negotiation in Scotland.

draughts of the commissions and instructions, as being the shortest way and the most conformable to what the Court of France designs, which we are not apprized of. I have marked the articles in your paper, which I send you back, lest you have kept no copy of it. It is certain that the king can give no declaration but in his own name; the other way can only be an instruction to be exacted, by the advice of his friends in the place."

He

The Earl of Middleton to M. de Chamillard. endeavours to reconcile him to the intended expedition into Scotland.

[Translation.]

"February 11th, 1707.

"I have given an account to their Britannic Majesties of what you did me the honour to tell me. They are highly satisfied with it, and have commanded me to thank you in their name; and although they will not urge you further on the subject, they think it proper to propose to you these doubts by way of explanation, of which you will be the best judge, and they refer themselves entirely to you.

"First. If the person who receives instructions from you finds all the dispositions in the country which are favourable to your design, would it not be better to set them in motion immediately, in order

to gain time to take advantage of their first fervour, and to prevent the exportation of corn, since without that a great part of the summer may pass in performing certain expeditions at sea, and delays often cause discoveries?

"Secondly. If this is agreed to, would it not be necessary to send some money-not as much as will be necessary to support the war, but to be distributed among the leaders of the parties—in order to put them in a condition of acting, which money might be brought back to you in case things are not circumstanced as one could wish?

"Thirdly. But in case that cannot be done, would it not be better not to send any warlike stores till the treaty is finished, because that might alarm the enemies and give umbrage to the well-affected, who would fear, perhaps, that they had nothing further to expect?

"In the mean time the king, my master, is at work with despatches, which will be ready in a few days."

The French king being desirous to ascertain the exact situation of affairs in Scotland, M. de Chamillard, Minister of War, furnished Hooke with a paper of questions, to which he was required to obtain decisive answers.1

1 Secret History of Hooke's Negotiation.