LETTER FROM ANTHONY WALSH TO JAMES III. (VIII

ANNOUNCING PrINCE ChARLES'S SAFE ARRIVAL IN SCOTLAND^

SniE, — I hâve been happy enough to land H.R.H. the Prince of Wales in perfect health at Borodile, off the coast of Scotland, on August Ist. I owe thls happiness to divine Providence and to the great firmness of His Royal Highness himself which the greatest dangers and most unfortunate occurrences were unable to disturb.

I left His Royal Highness on August 19th with a small number of faithful subjects of Your Majesty's, taking every step to increase the number of his ti'oops, which will apparently become considérable, especially if the people of Scotland see that they can rely upon the help of France.

I hâve the honour of despatching the Abbé Butler to Your Majesty, and of entrusting him with ail the Prince's despatches. This ' Abbé ' has had the honour of accompanying His Royal Highness to Scotland, and is therefore in a position to inform Your Majesty what were the risks we ran during the journey as well as what were the difficulties His Royal Highness had to face on his arrivai.

' [' V.S.'— Vieux Style.— Tr.]

^ [Supplied by Mr. Hussey Walsh, 1903, from the archives of Serrant. — Tr.]

But nothing could either overcome or equal the firmness with which His Royal Highness persisted in following up his greatproject.

I will do al] I can to procure ail possible help from the Court of France, and if the Minister only entrusts me with its conduct nothing will prevent me from carrying it out in face of every danger. AU seems easy and nothing impossible to the passionate zeal which inspires me in the service of so glorious an undertaking. — I am, with the most profound respect, Sire, Your Majesty's most devoted Servant, Antoine Walsh.

Paris, 14ihSepber. 1745.