to consider of the
plan suggested by Lord George. By this council the detachments proposed
by Lord George for the relief of the battery were refused, upon the plea
that those corps had lately encountered all the fatigue of the blockade
at Edinburgh, and that it would not be fair to put them again upon that
service. On the day after receiving this decision, in the hand-writing
of Secretary Murray, Lord George addressed the following letter to the
Prince. His conduct upon this occasion shows the proud and fiery spirit
of this able commander.

"15th November, 1745.

"Sir,

"I cannot but observe how little my advice as a General officer has
any weight with your Royal Highness, ever since I had the honour of
a commission from your hands. I therefore take leave to give up my
commission. But as I ever had a firm attachment to the royal family,
and in particular to the King my master, I shall go on as a
volunteer, and design to be this night in the trenches as such, with
any others that will please to follow me, though I own I think there
are full few on this post already. Your Royal Highness will please
order whom you think fit to command on this post, and the other
parts of the blockade. I have the honour to be, sir, your Royal
Highness's most faithful and most humble servant,

(Signed) "GEORGE MURRAY.[83]

"Lord Elcho has the command till you please to appoint it
otherwise."

To his brother, the Marquis of Tullibardine, Lord George wrote still
more fully. In this letter, after informing the Marquis that he had
given up his commission of Lieutenant-General, Lord George complains of
a want of confidence on the part of the Prince, in regard to the terms
which were to be accepted or rejected in the surrender of Carlisle.
Touching these, Charles Edward, who was now almost completely under the
controul of Secretary Murray, acted in a weak and vacillating manner.
When pressed by Lord George Murray to give him full instructions, he
hesitated; Lord George entreated him, if he could not decide during his
presence in the camp, that the Prince would send instructions after
him.[84] "When he would not come to any fixed resolution before I came
away, I begged his Royal Highness would send his intentions and
instructions after me, that I might conduct myself by them; but his
secretary told m