I waited upon his Royal
Highness immediately on my arrival, and found him in no very good humour
for my purpose. Three or four Scotch gentlemen were just leaving his
levee. After he had expressed himself to me very courteously; "Would
you think it," he said, "Talbot? here have been half a dozen of the
most respectable gentlemen, and best friends to Government north of
the Forth,--Major Melville of Cairnvreckan, Rubrick of Duchran, and
others,--who have fairly wrung from me, by their downright importunity,
a present protection, and the promise of a future pardon, for that
stubborn old rebel whom they call Baron of Bradwardine. They allege that
his high personal character, and the clemency which he showed to such of
our people as fell into the rebels' hands, should weigh in his favour;
especially as the loss of his estate is likely to be a severe enough
punishment. Rubrick has undertaken to keep him at his own house till
things are settled in the country; but it's a little hard to be forced
in a manner to pardon such a mortal enemy to the House of Brunswick."
This was no favourable moment for opening my business:--however, I said
I was rejoiced to learn that his Royal Highness was in the course of
granting such requests, as it emboldened me to present one of the like
nature in my own name.
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