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HISTORY OF ENGLAND.

chap. Germains was occupied by its present inmates it would be~linr 8 7~ beyond even His Majesty’s power to prevent eternal plot-tingbetwoentliem and tlie malecontents on the other side ofthe Straits of Dover, and that, while such plotting went on,the peace must necessarily be insecure. The question wasreally not one of humanity. It was not asked, it was notwished, that James should be left destitute. Nay, theEnglish government was willing to allow him an incomelarger than that which he derived from the munificence ofFrance. Fifty thousand pounds a year, to which instrictness of law he had no right, awaited his acceptance,if he would only move to a greater distance from thecountry which, while he was near it, could never be at rest.If, in such circumstances, he refused to move, this was thestrongest reason for believing that he could not safely besuffered to stay. The fact that he thought the differencebetween residing at St. Germains and residing at Avignonworth more than fifty thousand a year sufficiently provedthat he had not relinquished the hope of being restored tohis throne by means of a rebellion or of something worse.Lewis answered that on that point his resolution was un-alterable. lie never would compel his guest and kinsmanto depart. “There is another matter,” said Portland,“ about which I have felt it my duty to make representa-tions. I mean the countenance given to the assassins.”“I know nothing about assassins,” said Lewis. “Ofcourse,” answered the Ambassador, “your Majesty knowsnothing about such men. At least your Majesty does not