CHAPTER XXVIII. LETTERS FOR ST. GERMAINS.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume III, Issue 145, 11 February 1876, Page 6

CHAPTER XXVIII. LETTERS FOR ST. GERMAINS.

Between the illness caused by his wounds and anxiety, St. John was, indeed a very different person to the Sir Reginald, who, two years ' since had visited Sir Charles at Morville Grange. His eyes sparkled witn pleasure when he saw the bulky packet in the hands'of th<- king. ills gieatest torture consisted in his inability to release Florence from j Her state of bondage; for he argued, and with reason, if the king and ' queen tried to force her into marrying once, the scheme might be repeated, and in the end -with success. "lut, man," said the king, good-humouredlj, trying to rouse mm out oi hie depression ; "go and read your letter. The thought a ur . betrotQ ed lady's constancy to you ought to make you happy." As the king spoke he held forth the packet, delicately giving, at the same time, the sum of fifieon pistole,, folded in a small piece of paper. It was thus the fallen king used to relieve the indigent Jacobites whose modesty prevented them from applying to him for pecuniary m D r ai ," kcr and more Bad grew the fortunes of the hapless exiles. ' lhey felt no trial which had befallen them, alter the usurpation of ' \v uimm, more than witnessing the sufferings of the devoted Jacobites, who, with unswerving loyalty had given up their estates and fortunes, B « «, W^ e> m • ' starviu # m a foreign land for their sales, the town ol bt. Qermains being filled with Scotch, English, and Irish families. _ JNot only did James and his contort practice themsdvi-s the most rigorous sell-denial, but also their children, as soon as they could be niaae to understand the miseries of these poor people, devoted all ' then- pocket-money to their relief, the little princess even paying for the education of several of the daughters of the emigrants, and steadily resisting all persuasion to lessen her little fund by the purchase of toys for herself. l T .M?. M ?? I t , 1 > 8 pas6ed on> a " d hrou S^ with them such buffering that Louis XIV. pointed out to James the necessity of disbanding his household troops. The French king was the arbiter of bib destiny ; to him the unfortunate James owed whatever he possessed. A lareo number of these unfortunate gentlemen then pawed into the service or Louis. "A desolating reform" Mary Beatrice had truly termed this ' reduction oi the military establishment of St. Germains, and an affecting scene Look place between James and the remainder of the foil .vers ot .Dundee j hese gentlemen counted oi a hundred and iilty officers. ' all men ot honorable birth. They knew themselves to be a burden on , James, and begged leave to lorm themselves into a company of private sentinels, abkm P only purmi^ion to choose their own officers. James ' assented, and they vent to St. Germains to be reviewed by him before they were incorporated wii], the French army. A few days later they dressed themselves in aceoulrenientb i borrowed of a French rogment, and drew up in order, in a place through vhich he was to p^s as he went to the chase. Ihe kmg inquired who they were, and Mas astouibhed to find them mo same men whom, in garb more becoming their rank, he had received at his levee, and struck Awth the levity of his own amusement, | compared with the misery of those who were suffering for him, instead oi going forward to the chase he returned to the palace, full of sad ' and sorrowful thoughts. When the day arrived on which he was lo review them, he put*ed ' along their ranks, and wrote in his pocket-book, w ith hib own hand '' » name oi every one of these gentlemen, returning hib thanks to .i ol then, m particular. Then he removed to the front, and taking ' oli. hu> kul, bowed to the whole body.

The poor king's intention was to withdraw, but he returned, bowed to them again, and then burst into a passionate fit of tears. The regiment knelt, bent then.' eyes downwards, then rose, and passed the king with the usual honors of war. The speech which the king made to them ended with these words :— " Should it be the will of God ever to restore me to my throne, it would be impossible for me ever to forget your sufferings. There is no rank in the army to which you might not pretend. As to the prince, my son, ho is of your blood. He is already susceptible of every impression. Brought up amongst you, he can never forget your merit. I. have taken care that you should be provided with money shoes and stockings. Fear God, love one another. Write your wants particularly to me, and be assured that you will find in me always a parent as well as a king." Poor, disinherited prince ! True, indeed, was his father's assertion that nib heart was susceptible. One day, some time later, when unable to endure the life of common soldiers, fourteen of these genflP men had permission, through King James having written to their commander to return to Scotland, they came to St. Gerinains to tuank the king, lour of them, who weie in ill health, remained there. 1 hey m ere wandering near the palace, and saw a little boy of six yeara ( i . .i 1 .out to enter a coach emblazoned with the royal arms of Great Jsn.ai-i. This child was the son of the exiled king, and was eoiuc to Mar y. ° He recognized the emigrants, and made a sign for them to come to him. They advanced, and, kneeling down, kissed his hands and bathed them with their tears. The little prince bade them rise, and with that peculiar sensitiveness early developed by misfortune, told them " he had often heard of their bravery ; he had wept over their misfortunes as much as those of his parents ; but he hoped a day would come when they would find they had not made such sacrifices for ungrateful princes." Then, .living them his little purse, containing about a dozen pistoles, he ("quested them to drink the king's health. The child had been virtuously trained; in fact, some of the ntes were heard to lament " that the queen, liia mother, had ,ht the prince up more for heaven than for earth."