For these two days we have been expecting news of a battle.  Wade marched last Saturday from Newcastle, and must have got up with the rebels, if they stayed for him, though the roads are exceedingly bad and great quantities of snow have fallen.  But last night there was some notice of a body of rebels being advanced to Penryth.  We were put into great spirits by an heroic letter from the mayor of Carlisle, who had fired on the rebels and made them retire; he concluded with saying, “And so I think the town of Carlisle has done his Majesty more service than the great city of Edinburgh, or than all Scotland together.”  But this hero, who was crown the whole fashion for four-and-twenty hours, had chosen to stop all other letters.  The King spoke of him at his levee with great encomiums; Lord Stair said, “Yes, sir, Mr. Patterson has behaved very bravely.”  The Duke of Bedford interrupted him; “My lord, his name is not Paterson; that is a Scotch name; his name is Patinson.”  But, alack! the next day the rebels returned, having placed the women and children of the country in wagons in front of their army, and forcing the peasants to fix the scaling-ladders.  The great Mr. Pattinson, or Patterson (for now his name may be which one pleases,) instantly surrendered the town and agreed to pay two thousand pounds to save it from pillage.  Well! then we were assured that the citadel could hold out seven or eight days but did not so many hours.  On mustering the militia, there were not found above four men in a company; and for two companies, which the ministry, on a report of Lord Albemarle, who said they were to be sent from Wade’s army, thought were there, and did not know were not there, there was nothing but two of invalids.  Colonel Durand, the governor, fled, because he would not sign the capitulation, by which the garrison, it is said, has sworn never to bear arms against the house of Stuart.  The Colonel sent two expresses, one to Wade, and another to Ligonier at Preston; but the latter was playing at whist with Lord Harrington at Petersham.  Such is our diligence and attention!  All my hopes are in Wade, who was so sensible of the ignorance of our governors that he refused to accept the command, till they consented that he should be subject to no kind of orders from hence.  The rebels are reckoned up to thirteen thousand; Wade marches with about twelve; but if they come southward, the other army will probably be to fight them; the Duke is to command it, and sets out next week with another brigade of Guards, and Ligonier under him.  There are great apprehensions for Chester from the Flintshire-men, who are ready to rise.  A quartermaster, first sent to Carlisle, was seized and carried to Wade; he behaved most insolently; and being asked by the General, how many the rebels were, replied, “enough to beat any army you have in England.”  A Mackintosh has been taken, who reduces their formidability, by being sent to raise two clans, and with orders, if they would not rise, at least to give out they had risen, for that three clans would leave the Pretender, unless joined by those two.  Five hundred new rebels are arrived at Perth, where our prisoners are kept.