te, "several things, as I thought, with a design to try
whether there was any hopes of treating." Lord Stair, not liking to give
an old friend false hopes, declined "dipping into particulars;" adding
at the same time, in his account of the interview, "he would not have
dealt so with me: but in conversation of that kind there is always
something curious to be learned."

They parted without explanation, and Lord Mar proceeded to Rome. The
correspondence between these two noblemen ceased for nearly two
years.[157] During that interval, James had married the Princess
Clementina Maria, a daughter of Prince Sobieski, elder son of John King
of Poland. The marriage could scarcely have been solemnized, since it
took place early in May 1719, before we find Lord Mar at Geneva, on his
way from Italy, resuming his negotiations with Lord Stair.

LORD MAR TO LORD STAIR.

"May 6th, 1719.

"Good Captain Brown will not, I hope, take amiss his old
acquaintance Jo. Murraye's writing to him at this time; and when he
knows the occasion, I am persuaded he will forgive him, and comply,
as far as he can, with what he is to ask him. My health is not so
good just now nor for some time past, as you would wish it; and I am
advised to drink the waters of Bourbon for it, as being the likest
to those of the Bath of any this side the sea, of which I formerly
found so much good. The hot climate where I have been for some time
past, by no means agrees with my health; and I am persuaded that
where some of our company is gone will still do worse with me.

"The affair in which it might be thought my Captain would employ me
being now, I suppose, over for this bout, there needs be, I should
think, no objection to what I should ask.

"I am come part of the way already; but I would not go much further,
without acquainting you with it. And now I beg that on the
consideration of the health of an old friend, you will give me
allowance or furlo to go to the waters of Bourbon, and to continue
there so long as I may have occasion for them during the two seasons
this year; and I promise to you I shall do nothing in any way, the
time of my being there, but as you would have me; so that this
allowance can be of no prejudice to the service. If you cannot give
me the furlo yourself, I imagine your Colonel will not refuse it,