The letter was sealed: the bearer, strange to say, was not furnished with a copy for the information of the heads of the Jacobite party; nor did he bring any message, written or verbal, to either of James's agents.

Balcarras and Dundee were mortified by finding that so little confidence was reposed in them, and were harassed by painful doubts touching the contents of the document on which so much depended.

They were willing, however, to hope for the best.

King James could not, situated as he was, be so ill advised as to act in direct opposition to the counsel and entreaties of his friends.

His letter, when opened, must be found to contain such gracious assurances as would animate the royalists and conciliate the moderate Whigs.