14 February 1744: The British government learned through its intelligence services of an imminent French invasion aimed at knocking Britain out of the War of the Austrian Succession and restoring the senior line of the House of Stuart on the British throne. Parliament was informed the next day. Mass arrests took place and military preparations to resist an invasion began.
14 February 1747: The Earl of Albemarle, commander-in-chief in Scotland, informed the Duke of Newcastle that ‘A Noted Rebel’ planned to gather intelligence that would lead to the capture of Ewan Macpherson of Cluny and provide information “of the steps taken at this juncture by the Rebels in the Hills”.
14 February 1747: The Duke of Newcastle sent instructions to the legal and military authorities in Scotland regarding the French prisoners held in Scottish prisons stating that “The names of French Officers in Scotland, natural-born subjects of His Majesty, to be sent up that they may be pardoned. Clanranald to be excepted.”
