Manuscripts and Special Collections
Ne C 1677 : Letter from General T[homas] Wentworth, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, to Henry Pelham; 10 Nov. 1745
artillery. Most of the accounts we receive of the Rebells,
are, I think, not altogether to be depended
upon, as they are but too often dictated
by the fears of those who are employ'd to
observe their motions; a Clergyman upon
the Western border, lately signify'd by
letter that he had himself seen 2000
upon their march, which number a second
letter writ by the same person a few hours
after, reduc'd to sixty.
From what I can judge (as I mention'd
in my last) their numbers can not ex
ceed 8000 in Arms; allowing them to
be all Highlanders (which is not the case) and
even such formidŽable Heros, as they are
describ'd by certain persons on almost every
occasion, I shou'd not be under the least
apprehensions on that account; cou'd we but
bring our people fairly up to them in
health and in vigour - our greatest difficulty
