But before proceeding to the new reign, there remains to be chronicled how the ordinary London Jacobites obtained news of their King, James, and their Prince of Wales, Charles Edward.
CHAPTER XIII.
(1751 to 1761.)
THE OLD CHEVALIER AND THE CARDINAL.
uring this decade, there was great anxiety, on the part of the Jacobites in London, to have news of their Prince. Of their ‘King’s’ whereabout they knew as much as the papers could tell them. These anxious Jacobites who eagerly opened the London journals for news from Rome, of ‘the King’ or ‘Prince of Wales,’ were not often rewarded for their pains. The ‘London Gazette,’ which chronicled the veriest small beer, had not a word to say as to the Chevalier or his sons. The other papers recorded, for the comfort or diversion of readers, such paragraphs as these; namely, that Cardinal York, on his brother’s birthday, had given a grand entertainment to a brilliant company of Cardinals and Ladies; and that Rome was more crowded with English nobility than Hanover, even when King George was in his electoral dominions. Some sympathy was excited in Jacobite company, at the intelligence that the Cardinal was recovering from ‘an attack of Small Pocks,’ which had carried off thousands of victims. As for Prince Edward, as the Cardinal’s brother is often called in the papers, ‘his place of residence is not known, there being no other proof of his being alive but the rejoicings of his father on his son’s birthday.’ Next, ‘Read’ announced, no doubt for the pleasure of some of its readers, ‘We hear from Rome, by authentick hand, that Henderson has been formally excommunicated for his “History of the Rebellion.”’ ‘No one can tell in what place Prince Edward resides,’ says another ‘authentick hand,’ ‘it is currently reported that he is actually in Italy;’ and again, ‘Some are ready to believe he is still incog. in France.’ Then came ‘authentick’ news to London, of ignoble quarrels between the Chevalier and his younger son, squabbles about money, squabbles among their friends in trying to reconcile them;—the Pope himself being mixed up in the turmoil, and getting such grateful return as usually falls to mortal mediators. The father and son were at vulgar loggerheads on the vulgar but important subject of money. Living together, each wished that the other should contribute more towards keeping up the household in as much royal state as could be had for the money. Each also wished the other to send away the confidential servants that other most wished to keep, and neither would yield. Subsequently, the London papers tell how the Cardinal went off in a great huff and princely state, and how he was received in the ‘Italian cities with guns, like a king’s son,’ as he was held to be. The ‘King,’ his father, is described as ‘greatly distressed, having always counted on the affection of his son.’ At another time came one of those scraps of news which always kept alive a feeling of hope in the bosoms of Jacobites. ‘The Grand Pretender’ had been for two hours in conference with the Pope, ‘on receipt of important despatches from his Eldest Son and Heir, Edward. The despatches are at present kept a secret.’ They were supposed to be favourable to something, for the younger son had promised to return. Probably some tears fell from soft Jacobite eyes in London, at reading that, as ‘the son tarried, the father stood patiently waiting for him, in the Hall of his House, and wept over him when he came.’ The good-natured Pope was almost as much touched.
ROMAN NEWS IN LONDON PAPERS.
All the honours conferred on the Cardinal of York in Rome, and all the royal and solemn ceremonies which took place on the occasion, were duly reported in the London papers. The father seems to have been warmly desirous that dignities should be heaped on the younger son’s head. The cardinal affected, perhaps felt, reluctance. On his gracefully yielding, the ‘Grand Pretender’ made him a present of a set of horses.
Reports of the death of Charles Edward had been ripe enough. The suspense was relieved when, in March, 1753, news reached London from Rome that the old Pretender had received letters from his son, with the information that the writer was well; but, says the ‘Weekly Journal,’ ‘the Chevalier de St. George don’t absolutely discover where his son is.’ That he had known of his son’s whereabout, from the first, is most certain; but he didn’t absolutely discover it to every enquirer.