cestors. But although they exaggerated the number of their
adherents, and expatiated on the internal divisions of Great
Britain, Louis had not hitherto listened to their applications;
either because he found sufficient employment for his forces
in other quarters, or because an unsuccessful attempt might
ruin the interest of the Stuarts. At this period, however,
circumstances seemed to favour the long-meditated project;
while the humbled state of the French monarch induced
him to make a desperate effort, in order to create, at least,
a diversion in the country on which the fate of the war
depended.

The recent disagreement between the ministers and the
principal Whigs, the influence of the Tories among the
country gentlemen and clergy, the number of those who
were really devoted to the Stuart line, the clamours excited
against the burdens of the war, and the cry of peace which
began to be raised in every quarter, proved an increase of
disaffection towards the government, which was readily mis-
taken by the exiled prince for a proof of attachment to his
cause; this opinion was also corroborated by the number of
every rank and station, who had carried on, or affected to
carry on, a secret correspondence with his emissaries.

It was, however, in Scotland, where the principal leaven
of disaffection existed. The warlike clans of the Highlands,
secluded among their mountains, nurtured in their prejudices,
inured to danger and hardship, and passively obedient to
their feudal lords, fostered an ardent and zealous attachment
to the descendants of their ancient kings; and this attach-
ment derived new force from the events which had recently
occurred. In the first part of the reign of Anne, the Scots
had succeeded in extorting, the Act of Security, which was
calculated to render them a separate and independent nation
on her death; and, therefore, they witnessed, with indigna-
tion and horror, the union of the two countries, which de-
stroyed their darling hopes, by not only incorporating them
with a people against whom they still felt all their ancient
rivalry, but even by settling, the eventual transfer of their
crown on a foreign family. These prejudices were height-
ened by the alarms wilfully spread among them, that the
union with England would be no less detrimental to their
commerce and landed property, than to their freedom. Be-

-196-