9
to proceed to the metropolis without hazarding a battle, and a defeat would have been attended with inevitable ruin, both to himself and his followers. Besides this, he had received in- formation, that his friends and officers had assem- bled a body of forees in the northern parts, su- perior in number to those by whom he was at- tended.
Having called a couneil at Derby, and pro-
posed to advanee towards London, this plan was very strongly supported by Lord Nairn; but af- ter violent disputes, the majority determined that they should return to Seotland with all possible expedition. They abandoned Derby, therefore, on the 6th of December, early in the morning, and retreated the same way by which they had advanced. On the 9th, their advanced guard reached Manchester, and entering Preston on the 12th. they continued their mareh northwards. The Duke of Cumberland, who was eneamped at Meriden, when informed of their return, de- taehed some horse and dragoons in pursuit of them while General Wade began his mareh from Ferry- bridge into Lancashire, with a view of intercept- ing them in their way; but at Wakefield he un- derstood they had already reached Wigan; he therefore repaired to his old post at Neweastle, after detaching General Oglethorpe, with his
