WILLIAM AND MART.

45

but not to his flag; and, even in becoming a Jacobite, he had chapnot ceased to be a Whig. In truth, he was a Jacobite only 1C —because he was the most intolerant and acrimonious of Whigs.

He thought himself and his faction ungratefully neglected byWilliam, and was for a time too much blinded by resentment toperceive that it would be mere madness in the old Itoundheads,the old Exclusionists, to punish William by recalling James.

The near prospect of an invasion, and the Declaration in whichEnglishmen were plainly told what they had to expect if thatinvasion should be successful, produced, it should seem, asudden and entire change in Russell’s feelings; and that changehe distinctly avowed. “I wish,” he said to Lloyd, “to serveKing James. The thing might be done, if it were not his ownfault. But he takes the wrong way with us. Let him forget allthe past: let him grant a general pardon; and then I will seewhat I can do for him.” Lloyd hinted something about thehonours and rewards designed for Russell himself. But theAdmiral, with a spirit worthy of a better man, cut him short.

“ I do not wish to hear anything on that subject. My solicitudeis for the public. And do not think that I will let the Frenchtriumph over us in our own sea. Understand this, that if Imeet them I fight them, ay, though His Majesty himself shouldbe on board.”

This conversation was truly reported to James; but it doesnot appear to have alarmed him. He was, indeed, possessedwith a belief that Russell, even if willing, would not be ableto induce the officers and sailors of the English navy to fightagainst their old King, who was also their old Admiral.

The hopes which James felt, he and his favourite Melfortsucceeded in imparting to Lewis and to Lewis’s ministers.*

But for those hopes, indeed, it is probable that all thoughts ofinvading England in the course of that year would have been* Sheridan MS.; Mtfmoires de Dangcau.