Edinbr. 10. Octr. 1754.
(Pickle to G. V.) (Gwynne Vaughan)
Add. 32,736. f. 525.
Edinbr. 14 Septr. 1754.
Dr. Sir,—I am vastly uneasy not to receive the least answer to either of my letters from Newcastle, or that which I wrote immediately upon my Father’s death;[203] but, as I have the greatest confidence in your friendship, I perswade myself that nothing prevents my receiving apointed answer to every article in both my last, but the multiplicity of weighty Affairs daily crouding upon the Duke of Newcastle; therefore without any suspicion or diffidence I am determined to continue firm to our Concert, untill you acquaint me if he agrees to my Proposals, which if he does, he may safely rely upon everything in my power, and I think I can’t give stronger proof of my sincerity than by this offer, in the confusion of my Family affairs, which in its present situation, demands all my attention. I have heard fully from Lochgary, who acquaints me that the Young Pretender’s affairs take a very good turn, and that he has lately sent two expresses to Lochgary earnestly intreating a meeting with Pickle, and upon Lochgary’s acquainting him of the great distance Pickle was off, he commanded Lochgary to a rendezvous, and he set out to meet me the 4th. Instant, and is actually now with me.
I shall very soon have a particular account of the present plan of operation. I have now the ball at my foot, and may give it what tune I please, as I am to be allowed largely, if I fairly enter in co-partnership. The French King is in a very peaceable humour, but very ready to take fire if the Jacobites renew their address, which the Young Pretender assures him of, and he will the readier bestirr himself, as the English Jacobites hourly torment him. Troops, Scotch and Irish, are daily offered to be smuggled over: but I have positively yet refused to admit any. The King of Spain has lately promised to add greatly to the Young Pretender’s patrimony, and English Contributors are not wanting on their parts.
I suspect that my letters of late to my friends abroad are stopt, pray enquire, for I think it very unfair dealings. I am in a few weeks to go north to put some order to my affairs. I should have been put to the greatest inconveniency if 21 (Bruce) had not lent his friendly assistance; but as I have been greatly out of pocket by the Jants I took for Mr. Pelham, I shan’t be in condition to continue trade, if I am not soon enabled to pay off the Debts then contracted. I have said on former occasions so much upon this head to no effect that I must now be more explicit, and I beg your friendly assistance in properly representing it to the Duke of Newcastle. If he thinks that my services, of which I have given convincing proofs, will answer to his advancing directly eight hundred Pounds, which is the least that can clear the Debts of my former Jants, and fix me to the Certain payment yearly of Five hundred at two several terms, he may command anything in my power upon all occasions. I am sorry to be forced to this explanation, in which I always expected to be prevented. I am so far from thinking this extravagant, that I am perswaded it will save them as many thousands, by discarding that swarm of Videts, which never was in the least trusted. If the Duke of Newcastle’s Constituent (the King) was acquainted with this, I dare say he would esteem the demand reasonable, considering what he throws away upon others of no interest or power on either side. I beg you’ll acquaint me with the soonest of the Duke of Newcastle’s answer, and assure him of my ready obedience to his commands. I have referred to 21 to enlarge further upon this, and other subjects I have been conversing with him some days ago, as he can inform you of my great hurry and confusion for this fortnight past,[204] which will be all the apology I will make for this hurried scrawl, and I beg you’ll be fully convinced of the great esteem etc. etc. etc.
P.S. Pray let me not be denied the Arms I wanted, and I hope in case of accidents, you’ll take care of young Lochgary. I am just this instant informed that Mr. Nordly has left the King of France for the summer season, and is residing now in England, but can’t learn in what particular place—21 is supposed to be the Watchman: whose letter will explain what he hints of Lochgary.
Mr. Nordly is not deciphered yet.