Page 159 - A Jacobite Exile

"You are not asking them to organize any public movement, the time has
not yet come for that; but simply to throw the weight of their example and

influence against the party of the Saxons. Of course our friends in Warsaw
have been doing their best to bring round public opinion in the capital to

this direction, but the country is so torn by perpetual intrigues, that the
trading classes hold aloof altogether from quarrels in which they have no
personal interest, and are slow to believe that they can be seriously affected

by any changes which will take place.

"Our envoy will start tomorrow morning. His mission is an open one. He
goes to lay certain complaints, to propose an exchange of prisoners, and to
open negotiations for peace. All these are but pretences. His real object is to

enter into personal communication with two or three powerful personages,
well disposed towards us.

"Come again to me this evening, when you have thought the matter over. I
shall then be glad to hear any suggestion you may like to make."

"There is one thing, sir, that I should like to ask you. It will evidently be of

great advantage to me, if I can obtain private letters of introduction to
Scotch traders in the city. This I cannot do, unless by mentioning the fact
that I am bound for Warsaw. Have I your permission to do so, or is it to be

kept a close secret?"

"No. I see no objection to your naming it to anyone you can implicitly trust,
and who may, as you think, be able to give you such introductions, but you
must impress upon them that the matter must be kept a secret. Doubtless

the Saxons have in their pay people in our camp, just as we have in theirs,
and were word of your going sent, you would find yourself watched, and

perhaps arrested. We should, of course wish you to be zealous in your
mission, but I would say, do not be over anxious. We are not trying to get
up a revolution in Warsaw, but seeking to ensure that the feeling in the city

should be in our favour; and this, we think, may be brought about, to some
extent, by such assurances as you can give of the king's friendship, and by

such expressions of a belief in the justice of our cause, and in the
advantages there would be in getting rid of this foreign prince, as might be