John Blaw of Castlehill was sent ^by Duke of
Perth to France to C.Charles P. W. to let him know
the Situation of his affairs in Scotland, &and those
who would espouse his Interest in ytthat Country;
amongst whom the Laird of McLeod was of
the Number. I choose to mention him be-
cause of his behaviour afterwards so not-
tarly known to the world. I left Scotland
the week of Christmas and about 24 days
after I arriv’darrived in Paris, about Candlesmas
N.New S.Style 1745. where I mettmet with the Prince, and
delivered my Credentials. He kept me there
about six weeks, during which time the
then Minister of France having got In-
telligence ytthat yrtheir was a Scots Gentleman
that had come to the Prince, he caus’dcaused SrSir
Hector MacLean write me to come to Ver-
sailles, that he the Minister wanted to See
me. Upon receipt of SrSir Hector’s Letter I
went &and acquainted the Prince of the matter,
who desired me to go, and acquaint him
what pastpassed when I returned. Accordingly I
went at the Hour ytthat was appointed me
by the Minister, which was Seven ao'
Clock at night, this was about the MidleMiddle
of febryFebruary 1745. I had along with me My
Lord Semple, who Introduc’dIntroduced me to the
Minister, &and where weewe had the honour
of at least one hour’s Audience, relating to 1825 (1825)
to all the affairs of Europe as they then
stood, as well as of our own, In the course
of our Conversation, My Lord Semple de-
manded in his Master’s name 10000 work-
men for England, and the Minister ask’dasked
me how many we wanted for Scotland.

I made answer very readily, if the above
number was sent for England, Scotland
would do yrtheir own affairs ymselvesthemselves, but
if they had two or three 1000 to spare
we should take ymthem, but if not we could
do without ymthem. He the Minister ynthen
told Mr Lord &and me that had we made
our demand two monethsmonths sooner we
could have got ymthem, but that at present
yrtheir was not one Regiment in France, but
what had yrtheir operations assign’dassigned ymthem
for the InshewingEnsuing Campaign, upon
which I made answer, ytthat if they an-
swer’d the present demand that they
would have England Immediately upon
yrtheir side, which would enable France
to do with the Empress Queen what
they pleas’dpleased, the Minister was for
some time silent, without ever giving
a return, then I told the Minister,
that I was shortly to set out again
for Scotland, and I wanted to know
what I should say to the King my
Master’s friends, when I returned, how
for his Most Christian Majesty would
do [] in ytthat affair, upon which the
Minister left us a little &and went into the nixtnext 1826 (1826)
nixtnext room were his Most Christian
Majesty was, &and when he return’dreturned, direct-
ing his discourse to me, That I might
assure My Master’s friends in Scotland,
that his Most Christian Majesty should
give the men now demanded agtagainst the
monethmonth of OctrOctober nixtnext, if the Cam-
paign was any way successfullsuccessful to
France, and how successfullsuccessful they were
the Annals of Europe will testify, the
truth of the above Narration I can
go to death with.

Some time about the beginning of March
I left Paris for my return, &and dificultydifficulty
enough I had to get back again to
Holland. having both Armies to go through,
as I had come through them in my going
in to Paris, in time of war, is a task I
would not undertake again; but by the
Providence of God, I in a manner mi-
raculously escap’descaped falling in bad hands,
&and got safe back to Scotland, &and deliver-
ed my Answer to the D.Duke of Perth
about the first of May N.New S.Style but
was unfortunately taken prisoner the
5th of June, along with SrSir Hector,
&and weewe were both carried up to London,
where weewe were detained for nigh
two years &and a half, in different prisons.

Some monethsmonths of that time I was thrown amongst 1827 (1827)
amongst the thivesthieves &and pickpockets in
Newgate in double Irons; the marks
of which I carry about with me to
this day, &and not one farthing I had
from the Government For my sub-
sistance tho’though I was a state priso-
ner all the time; &and was at last
dismiss’ddismissed, without ever bringing me
to any tryaltrial or to tell me for what
they so us’dused me. O the Blest
liberty &and property of
England!