On the 16th, the Duke, by forced marches, came up with the rebels, a little on this side Inverness—­by the way, the battle is not christened yet; I only know that neither Prestonpans nor Falkirk are to be godfathers.  The rebels, who fled from him after their victory, and durst not attack him, when so much exposed to them at his passage of the Spey, now stood him, they seven thousand, he ten.  They broke through Barril’s regiment, and killed Lord Robert Kerr, a handsome young gentleman, who was cut to pieces with above thirty wounds; but they were soon repulsed, and fled; the whole engagement not lasting above a quarter of an hour.  The young Pretender escaped; Mr. Conway says, he hears, wounded:  he certainly was in the rear.  They have lost above a thousand men in the engagement and pursuit; and six hundred were already taken; among which latter are their French ambassador and Earl Kilmarnock.  The Duke of Perth and Lord Ogilvie are said to be slain; Lord Elcho was in a salivation, and not there.  Except Lord Robert Kerr, we lost nobody of note:  Sir Robert Rich’s eldest son has lost his hand, and about a hundred and thirty private men fell.  The defeat is reckoned total, and the dispersion general; and all their artillery is taken.  It is a brave young Duke!  The town is all blazing round me, as I write, with fireworks and illuminations:  I have some inclination to wrap up half a dozen sky-rockets, to make you drink the Duke’s health.  Mr. Dodington, on the first report, came out with a very pretty illumination; so pretty, that I believe he had it by him, ready for any occasion....

TRIAL OF THE REBEL LORDS BALMERINO AND KILMARNOCK.

TO SIR HORACE MANN.

ARLINGTON STREET, Aug. 1, 1746.

I am this moment come from the conclusion of the greatest and most melancholy scene I ever yet saw!  You will easily guess it was the Trials of the rebel Lords.  As it was the most interesting sight, it was the most solemn and fine:  a coronation is a puppet-show, and all the splendour of it idle; but this sight at once feasted one’s eyes and engaged all one’s passions.  It began last Monday; three parts of Westminster Hall were inclosed with galleries, and hung with scarlet; and the whole ceremony was conducted with the most awful solemnity and decency, except in the one point of leaving the prisoners at the bar, amidst the idle curiosity of some crowd, and even with the witnesses who had sworn against them, while the Lords adjourned to their own House to consult.  No part of the royal family was there, which was a proper regard to the unhappy men, who were become their victims.  One hundred and thirty-nine Lords were present, and made a noble sight on their benches frequent and full!  The Chancellor [Hardwicke] was Lord High Steward; but though a most comely personage with a fine voice, his behaviour was mean, curiously searching for occasion to bow to the minister [Mr. Pelham] that is no peer, and consequently applying