DIGITISED MANUSCRIPTS

(3a) would never repay a considerable sum of money he borrowed from him in Scotland. Lord Elcho kept his vow and would never see him again, but made repeated application for the money through a friend, without avail. It is said that Prince Charles visited England three times, and was even present at the coronation of George III. in Westminster Abbey; but on hear- ing of his father’s death in 1766, he set out for Rome. He expected to be received with the distinction due to royalty, and to reign in a little court‘as his father had reigned before him in his. But he was disappointed. No one of any consequence would meet him but his brother. Neither the Pope nor any European sovereign ever recognised his claims or his rights. Much of his time was spent in the neigh- pourhood of Rome hunting and shooting. Of society he saw little. Drink had so fastened itself upon him, that it estranged his friends, and wrecked his life. His own people were not safe from him. Ina drunken fit he once pursued them with a drawn sword, so that they narrowly escaped with their lives. ‘The Pretender,’ writes one who saw him at this time, ‘appears bloated and red in the face, his countenance is heavy and sleepy ; but he is by no means thin, has a noble person and a peaceful manner, but on the whole he has a melan-