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 Perth, deemed this a mad resolve, but the prince was not to be deterred. He borrowed 180,000 livres, ordered his jewels to be pawned, and, without the knowledge either of his father or the French ministry, embarked at Belleisle in the Doutelle, one of two ships lent to a private individual to cruise on the Scottish coast. The little squadron set sail on 13 Julv 1745, and four oays afterwards fell in with an English man-of-war, the Lion, which immediately engaged the Elizabeth, the consort of the Doutelle. After a contest of six hours each vessel was so shattered that the enemies parted and the Elizabeth, with all the arms and ammunition of the expedition on board, had to bear up for Brest, while the Doutelle held on for Scotland, where on 2 Aug. Charles landed at an islet in the Hebrides, a part of the possessions of Macdonald of Clanranald. He was advised to return to France by those who now welcomed him. 'I am come home,' said Charles, 'and I will not return to France, for I am persuaded that my faithful highlanders wul stand by me.' With the conspicuous exceptions of Macdonald of Sleat and Macleod of Macleod, all the neighbouring chiefs flocked in, though boding no good from the undertaking. His followers soon swelled into a formidable gathering, and on 19 Aug. the royal standard was unfurled at Glenfinnan, and Charles began his march south. As soon as the committee of six, which had then the control of the affairs of the government in Scotland, began to recognise the danger, prompt measures were adopted. A price of 30,000l. was put upon the nead of the prince, troops were levied, and Sir John Cope was ordered to take up the dragoon horses from grass and to secure the forts and garrisons in the highlands. Cope was, however, easily outwitted by the tactics of the rebels, and Charles pressed on to Perth, where he was joined by Lord George Murray. Halting at Perth a week to discipline his forces, the prince marched to Edinburgh, where he was received with the utmost enthusiasm. And now the severe defeat of Cope, who had at last come up with the enemy at Prestonpans, caused matters for the first time to look serious for the government. Their best officer. Marshal Wade, declared that Scotland was lost, and that England would fall a prey to the first comer. Horace Walpole wrote that he should have to leave Arlington Street for some wretched attic in Herrenhausen, and perhaps be reduced to give lessons in Latin to the young princes at Copenhagen. Three battalions of the guards and seven regiments of infantry were recalled from Flanders, under the Duke of Cumberland; Wade was to march north with a large force, including six thousand Dutch auxiliaries; while Cope was ordered to throw himself into Newcastle. The militia was also called out. The prince marched south, resolved upon swiftly reaching London and following up his advantage. By way of Kelso he crossed the border into Cumberland, and laid siege to Carlisle (8 Nov.), which after a few days, disappointed at not receiving relief from Wade, was forced to capitulate. At this time Wade, who had expected the rebels by the east coast, was making his way with much difficulty to Newcastle; but he was now completely out-generalled by Lord George Murray, who gave him the slip at Carlisle, so that the highlanders were soon between him and the metropolis. Marching by Penrith, Shap, Kendal and Lancaster, the rebels reached Preston (27 Nov.), while Wade was toiling after them through Yorkshire. The Duke of Cumberland had landed from Flanders, and was at Lichfield the same day that the highlanders entered Preston, and on their reaching Manchester he was under the impression that they intended passing through Cheshire into Wales. And now he was deluded by Lord George Murray as completely as Marshal Wade had been. By a false attack on Congleton, the duke was induced to leave the route to Derby by Ashbourne open, and thus to their great delight the clans entered Derby two or three days in advance of their antagonists. The news of this fresh move of the prince fell on London like a thunderbolt. The shops were shut up and all business was suspended; there was a run on the bank: the guards were marched to Finchley, and the Duke of Cumberland was requested to hasten up to London. Yet at this very time the question of retreat was seriously discussed by the Jacobites. On 5 Dec. Lord George Murray and other officers high in command waited on the prince to express their conviction that the cause was hopeless, and that their only safety lay in beating an immediate retreat. The French, they said, had not landed, the English had not risen, they were between the duke's and Wade's armies, either of which was equal to their own. The prince remonstrated, but was forced to yield; he had no alternative, and contented himself with declaring that in future he should act on his own discretion.

Shortly after dawn on 6 Dec. the highland army began its retreat northwards. The duke was outmarched, Wade was outwitted, and Hawley, who had succeeded Wade, was defeated at Falkirk. The clans marched rapidly, but the Duke of