■vnU-IAir AND MARY.

35

third bottle, when drawn on by artful companions, express his crap.regret for the good old times, curse the new government, and-^^p-curse himself for being such a fool as to fight for that govern-ment, and yet might be by no means prepared to go over to theFrench on the day of battle. Of the malecontent officers, who,as James believed, were impatient to desert, the great majorityhad probably given no pledge of their attachment to him exceptan idle W’ord hiccoughed out when they were drunk, and for-gotten when they were sober. One of those from whom heexpected support, Rear Admiral Carter, had indeed heard andperfectly understood what the Jacobite agents had to say, hadgiven them fair words, and had reported the whole to the Queenand her ministers.*

But the chief dependence of James was on Russell. That Conductfalse, arrogant and wayward politician was to command the sell.Channel Fleet. He had never ceased to assure the Jacobiteemissaries that he was bent on effecting a Restoration. Thoseemissaries fully reckoned, if not on his entire cooperation, yetat least on his connivance; and there could be no doubt that,with his connivance, a French fleet might easily convey anarmy to our shores. James flattered himself that, as soon ashe had landed, he should be master of the island. But intruth,, when the voyage had ended, the difficulties of his en-terprise would have been only beginning. Two years before hehad received a lesson by which he should have profited. Hehad then deceived himself and others into the belief that theEnglish were regretting him, were pining for him, were eagerto rise in arms by tens of thousands to welcome him. Williamwas then, as now, at a distance. Then, as now, the adminis-tration was entrusted to a woman. Then, as now, there werefew regular troops in England. Torrington had then done asmuch to injure the government which he served as Russell could* History of the late Conspiracy, 1693,

3 *