Horace Walpole to Sir Horace Mann-Scotch Rebellion in 1745.

comes and pulls the boy by the sleeve: "Prince, here is another mon taken!" Then, with all the dignity in the world, the boy hopes nobody was killed in the action! Lord Bath has made a piece of a ballad, the Duke of Newcastle's speech to the Regency; I have heard but these two lines of it:

"Pray consider, my Lord, how disastrous a thing,

To have two Princes of Wales and never a King!"

The merchants are very zealous, and are opening a great subscription for raising troops. The other day, at the city meeting to draw up the address, Alderman Heathcote proposed a petition for a redress of grievances, but not one man seconded him. In the midst of all this, no Parliament is called? The Ministers say they have nothing ready to offer; but they have nothing to notify!

I must tell you a ridiculous incident: when the magistrates of Edinburgh were searching houses for arms, they came to Mr. Maule's, brother of Lord Panmure, and a great friend of the Duke of Argyle. The maid would not let them go into one room, which was locked, and, as she said, full of arms. They now thought they had found what they looked for, and had the door broke open-where they found an ample collection of coats of

arms!

The Deputy Governor of Edinburgh Castle has threatened the magistrates to beat their town about their ears if they admit the rebels. Perth is twenty-four miles from Edinburgh, so we must soon know whether they will go thither, or leave it and come into England. We have great hopes that the Highlanders will not follow him so far. Very few of them could be persuaded, the last time, to go to Preston, and several refused to attend King Charles II. when he marched to Worcester.

Horace Walpole to Sir Horace Mann-Trial of the Rebel Lords.

The Caledonian "Mercury" never calls them "the rebels,”

but "the Highlanders."

Adieu, my dear child.

Thank Mr. Chute for his letter,

which I will answer soon. I don't know how to define my feel

ings I don't despair, and yet I expect nothing but bad.

:

Yours, etc.

P. S. Is not my Princess very happy with the hopes of the restoration of her old tenant?

VII.-TRIAL OF THE REBEL LORDS.

Horace Walpole to Sir Horace Mann.

ARLINGTON STREET, August 1st, 1746.

I am this moment come from the conclusion of the greatest and most melancholy scene I ever yet saw. You will easily guess it was the trials of the rebel lords. As it was the most interesting sight, it was the most solemn and fine; a coronation is a puppet-show, and all the splendor of it idle; but this sight at once feasted one's eyes and engaged all one's passions. It began last Monday. Three parts of Westminster Hall were enclosed with galleries, and hung with scarlet; and the whole ceremony was conducted with the most awful solemnity and decency, except in the one point of leaving the prisoners at the bar amidst the idle curiosity of some crowd, and even with the witnesses who had sworn against them, while the Lords adjourned to their own House to consult. No part of the royal family was there, which was a proper regard to the unhappy men, who were become their victims. One hundred and thirty-nine Lords were present, and made a noble sight on their benches

Horace Walpole to Sir Horace Mann-Trial of the Rebel Lords.

frequent and full! The Chancellor was Lord High Steward; but though a most comely personage with a fine voice, his behavior was mean, curiously searching for occasion to bow to the minister that is no peer, and consequently applying to the other ministers in a manner for their orders; and not even ready at the ceremonial. To the prisoners he was peevish; and instead of keeping up to the humane dignity of the law of England, whose character it is to point out favor to the criminal, he crossed them, and almost scolded at any offer they made toward defence. I had armed myself with all the resolution I could with the thought of their crimes and of the danger past, and was assisted by the sight of the Marquis of Lothian in weepers for his son who fell at Culloden. But the first appearance of the prisoners shocked me; their behavior melted me; Lord Kilmarnock and Lord Cromartie are both past forty, but look Lord Kilmarnock is tall and slender, with an extreme fine person; his behavior a most just mixture between dignity and submission; if in any thing to be reprehended, a little affected, and his hair too exactly dressed for a man in his situation. But when I say this, it is not to find fault with him, but to show how little fault there was to be found. Lord Cromartie is an indifferent figure, appeared much dejected, and rather sullen; he dropped a few tears the first day, and swooned as soon as he got back to his cell. For Lord Balmerino, he is the most natural brave old fellow I ever saw; the highest intrepidity, even to indifference. At the bar, he behaved like a soldier and a man; in the intervals of form, with carelessness and humor. He pressed extremely to have his wife, his pretty Peggy, with him in the Tower. Lady Cromartie only sees her husband through the grate-not choosing to be shut up with

younger.

Horace Walpole to Sir Horace Mann-Trial of the Rebel Lords.

him, as she thinks she can serve him better by her intercession without; she is big with child, and very handsome, so are their daughters. When they were to be brought from the Tower in separate coaches, there was some dispute in which the axe must go; old Balmerino cried, "Come, come, put it with me!" At the bar he plays with his fingers upon the axe, while he talks to the gentleman gaoler; and one day, somebody coming up to listen, he took the blade and held it, like a fan, between their faces. During the trial a little boy was near him, but not tall enough to see; he made room for the child, and placed him near himself.

When the trial began, the two Earls pleaded guilty: Balmerino not guilty, saying he could prove his not being at the taking of the castle of Carlisle, as was laid in the indictment. Then the King's counsel opened, and Sergeant Skinner pronounced the most absurd speech imaginable; and mentioned the Duke of Perth, "who," said he, "I see, by the papers, is dead." Then some witnesses were examined, whom, afterwards, the old hero shook cordially by the hand. The Lords withdrew to their House, and returning, demanded of the judges whether, one point not being proved, though all the rest were, the indictment was false? To which they unanimously answered in the negative. Then the Lord High Steward asked the Peers severally whether Lord Balmerino was guilty! All said, "Guilty upon honor," and then adjourned, the prisoner having begged pardon for giving them so much trouble. While the Lords were withdrawn, the Solicitor General Murray (brother of the Pretender's Minister) officiously and insolently went up to Lord Balmerino and asked him how he could give the Lords so much trouble, when his solicitor had informed him that his plea could

Horace Walpole to Sir Horace Mann-Trial of the Rebel Lords.

be of no use to him? Balmerino asked the bystanders who this person was; and being told, he said, "Oh, Mr. Murray! I am extremely glad to see you; I have been with several of your relations; the good lady, your mother, was of great use to us at Perth." Are not you charmed with this speech? How just it was! As he went away, he said, "They call me Jacobite; I am no more a Jacobite than any that tried me; but if the Great Mogul had set up his standard, I should have followed it, for I could not starve." The worst of his case is that, after the battle of Dumblain, having a company in the Duke of Argyle's regiment, he deserted with it to the rebels, and has since been pardoned. Lord Kilmarnock is a Presbyterian with four earldoms in him, but so poor, since Lord Wilmington's stopping a pension that my father had given him, that he often wanted a dinner. Lord Cromartie was receiver of the rents of the King's second son in Scotland, which, it was understood, he should not account for, and by that means had six hundred a year from the government; Lord Elibank, a very prating, impertinent Jacobite, was bound for him in nine hundred pounds, for which the Duke is determined to sue him.

When the Peers were going to vote Lord Foley withdrew, as too well a wisher; Lord Moray, as nephew of Lord Balmerino-and Lord Stair-as I believe, uncle to his great-grandfather. Lord Windsor very affectionately said: "I am sorry I must say, Guilty upon my honor." Lord Stamford would not answer to the name of Henry, having been christened Harry. What a great way of thinking on such an occasion! I was diverted, too, with old Norsa, the father of my brother's concubine, an old Jew that kept a tavern; my brother as auditor of the exchequer has a gallery along one whole side of the court.