convinced us of their resolution to stand an engagement with the King's
troops. We gave our men a day's halt at Nairn, and on the 16th marched
from thence, between four and five, in four columns. The three lines of
foot (reckoning the reserve for one) were broken into three from the
right, which made the three columns equal, and each of five battalions.
The artillery and baggage followed the first column upon the right, and
the cavalry made the fourth column on the left. After we had marched
about eight miles, our advanced guard, composed of about forty of
Kingston's, and the Highlanders, led by the quarter-master-general,
perceived the rebels at some distance, making a motion towards us on the
left, upon which we immediately formed; but finding the rebels were
still a good way from us, we put ourselves again upon our march in our
former posture, and continued it to within a mile of them, where we
formed in the same order as before. After reconnoitring their situation,
we found them posted behind some old walls and huts, in a line with
Culloden House. As we thought our right entirely secure, General Hawley
and General Bland went to the left with two regiments of dragoons, to
endeavour to fall upon the right flank of the rebels; and Kingston's
horse was ordered to the reserve. The ten pieces of cannon were
disposed, two in each of the intervals of the first line; and all our
Highlanders (except 140, which were upon the left with General Hawley,
and who behaved extremely well) were left to guard the baggage. When we
were advanced within 500 yards of the rebels, we found the morass upon
our right was ended, which left our right flank quite uncovered to them;
his Royal Highness thereupon immediately ordered Kingston's horse from
the reserve, and a little squadron of about sixty of Cobham's, which had
been patrolling, to cover our flank. We spent about half an hour after
that, trying which should gain the flank of the other; and his Royal
Highness having sent Lord Bury forward within a hundred yards of the
rebels, to reconnoitre something that appeared like a battery to us,
they thereupon began firing their cannon, which was extremely
ill-pointed and ill-served; ours answered them, which began their
confusion. They then came running on, in their wild manner, and upon the
right, where his Royal Highness had placed himself, imagining the
greatest push would be there, they came down three several times within
a yard of our men, firing their pistols, and brandishing their swords;
but the Royals and Pulteney's hardly took their firelocks from their
shoulders, so that after those first attempts they made off, and the
little squadrons on our right were sent to pursue them. General Hawley
had, by the help of our Highlanders, beat down two little stone walls,
and came in upon the right flank of their second line. As their whole
body came down to attack at once, their right somewhat outflanked
Burrel's regiment, which was our left; and the greatest part of the
little loss we sustained was there; but Bligh's and Sempil's giving a
fire upon those who had outflanked Burrel's, soon repulsed them; and
Burrel's regiment, and the left of Monro's, fairly beat them with their
bayonets. There was scarce a soldier or officer of Burrel's, and of that
part of Monro's which engaged, who did not kill one or two men each with
their bayonets and spontoons.[8] The cavalry, which had charged from the
right and left, met in the centre, except two squadrons of dragoons,
which we missed, and they were gone in pursuit of the runaways. Lord
Ancram was ordered to pursue with the horse as far as he could; and did
it with so good effect that a very considerable number was killed in the
pursuit. As we were on our march to Inverness, and were nearly arrived
there, Major-General Bland sent the annexed papers, which he received
from the French officers and soldiers, surrendering themselves prisoners
to his Royal Highness. Major-General Bland had also made great
slaughter, and took about fifty French officers and soldiers prisoners
in his pursuit. By the best calculation that can be made, it is thought
the rebels lost two thousand men upon the field of battle and in the
pursuit. We have here one hundred and twenty-two French and three
hundred and twenty-six rebel prisoners. Lieutenant-Colonel Howard killed
an officer, who appeared to be Lord Strathallan, by the seal and
different commissions from the Pretender found in his pocket. It is
said Lord Perth, Lords Nairn, Lochiel, Keppock, and Appin Stuart, are
also killed. All their artillery and ammunition were taken, as well as
the Pretender's, and all their baggage. There were also twelve colours
taken. All the generals, officers, and soldiers, did their utmost duty
in his Majesty's service, and showed the greatest zeal and bravery on
this occasion. The Pretender's son, it is said, lay at Lord Lovat's
house at Aird the night after the action. Brigadier Mordaunt is detached
with nine hundred volunteers this morning into the Frasers' country, to
attack all the rebels he may find there. Lord Sutherland's and Lord
Reay's people continue to exert themselves, and have taken upwards of
one hundred rebels, who are sent for; and there is great reason to
believe Lord Cromartie and his son are also taken. The Monroes have
killed fifty of the rebels in their flight. As it is not known where the
greatest bodies of them are, or which way they have taken in their
flight, his Royal Highness has not yet determined which way to march. On
the 17th, as his Royal Highness was at dinner, three officers, and about
sixteen of Fitz-James's regiment, who were mounted, came and surrendered
themselves prisoners. The killed, wounded, and missing, of the King's
troops, amount to above three hundred. The French officers will be all
sent to Carlisle, till his Majesty's pleasure shall be known. The
rebels, by their own accounts, make their loss greater by two thousand
men than we have stated it. Four of their principal ladies are in
custody, viz. Lady Ogilvie, Lady Kinloch, Lady Gordon, and the Laird of
M'Intosh's wife. Major Grant, the governor of Inverness, is retaken, and
the Generals Hawley, Lord Albemarle, Huske, and Bland, have orders to
inquire into the reasons for his surrendering of Fort George. Lord
Cromartie, Lord M'Leod his son, with other prisoners, are just brought
in from Sutherland, by the Hound sloop, which his Royal Highness has
sent for them; and they are just now landing."
Soon after this affair, several other rebel chiefs were taken into
custody; and on the 28th July 1746, at about eight o'clock in the
morning, the rebel lords were taken from the Tower to Westminster Hall,
to be tried by their peers. The Earl of Kilmarnock and the Earl of
Cromartie pleaded guilty; but Lord Balmerino having denied the offence
imputed to him, six witnesses were called, by whom his guilt was clearly
established, and a verdict was returned accordingly. On the 1st August
the peers were brought up for judgment, when the Lord High Steward
pronounced sentence of death, in terms very like those used in the case
of Earl Cowper, after the former rebellion.
Great interest being exerted to save the earls, it was hinted to
Balmerino that his friends ought to exert themselves in his behalf; to
which, with great magnanimity, he only replied: "I am very indifferent
about my own fate; but had the two noble earls been my friends, they
would have squeezed my name in among theirs."
The Countess of Cromartie, who had a very large family of young
children, was incessant in her applications for the pardon of her
husband; to obtain which she took a very plausible method: she procured
herself to be introduced to the late Princess of Wales, attended by her
children in mourning, and urged her suit in the most suppliant terms.
The princess had at that time several children. Such an argument could
scarcely fail to move; and a pardon was granted to Lord Cromartie on the
condition that he should never reside north of the river Trent. This
condition was literally complied with; and his lordship died in
Soho-square in the year 1766.
On the 18th of August 1746, at six o'clock in the morning, a troop of
life-guards, one of horse-grenadiers, and one thousand of the
foot-guards, marched from the parade in St. James's Park, through the
city to Tower-hill, to attend the execution of the Earl of Kilmarnock
and Lord Balmerino; and being arrived there, were posted in lines from
the Tower to the scaffold, and all round it. About eight o'clock the
sheriffs of London, with their under-sheriffs and officers, met at the
Mitre tavern, in Fenchurch-street, where they breakfasted; and went from
thence to the house lately the Transport Office, Tower-hill, where they
remained until the necessary preparations for the execution were made.
At eleven o'clock they demanded the bodies of the peers of the constable
of the Tower, and they were directly brought forth in procession,
followed by mourning-coaches and two hearses.
The lords were conducted into separate apartments in the house, facing
the steps of the scaffold, their friends being admitted to see them. The
Earl of Kilmarnock was attended by the Rev. Mr. Foster, a dissenting
minister, and the Rev. Mr. Hume, a near relation of the Earl of Hume.
The chaplain of the Tower and another clergyman of the church of England
accompanied the Lord Balmerino. The latter, on entering the door of the
house, hearing several of the spectators ask eagerly, "Which is Lord
Balmerino?" answered, smiling, "I am Lord Balmerino, gentlemen, at your
service." The parlour and passage of the house, the rails enclosing the
way from thence to the scaffold, and the rails about it, were all hung
with black at the sheriffs' expense. Lord Kilmarnock, in the apartment
allotted to him, spent about an hour in his devotions with Mr. Foster,
who assisted him with prayer and exhortation. After which, Lord
Balmerino, pursuant to his request, was admitted to confer with the
earl.
After a short conversation relating to some report as to the Pretender's
orders at the battle of Culloden, they separated, the Lord Balmerino
saluting the noble earl with the same high-minded courtesy which had
been before remarked in him. The Earl of Kilmarnock then joined in
prayer with those around him, and afterwards he took some refreshment.
He expressed a wish that Lord Balmerino should go to the scaffold first;
but being informed that this was impossible, as he was named first in
the warrant, he immediately acquiesced in the arrangement which had been
made, and with his friends proceeded to the place of execution. There
was an immense crowd collected, and on their seeing him they exhibited
the greatest commiseration and pity. The earl being struck with the
variety of dreadful objects which presented themselves to him at once,
exclaimed to Mr. Hume, "This is terrible!" but he exhibited no sign of
fear, nor did he even change countenance or tremble in his voice. After
putting up a short prayer, concluding with a petition for his majesty
King George and the royal family, his lordship embraced and took leave
of his friends. The executioner was so affected by the awfulness of the
scene, that on his asking pardon of the prisoner, he burst into tears.
The noble earl, however, bid him take courage, and presenting him with
five guineas, told him that he would drop his handkerchief as a signal
to him to strike. He then proceeded, with the help of his gentlemen, to
make ready for the block, by taking off his coat, and the bag from his
hair, which was then tucked up under a napkin cap. His neck being laid
bare, tucking down the collar of his shirt and waistcoat, he kneeled
down on a black cushion at the block, and drew his cap over his eyes;
and in doing this, as well as in putting up his hair, his hands were
observed to shake. Either to support himself, or for a more convenient
posture of devotion, he happened to lay both his hands upon the block,
which the executioner observing, prayed his lordship to let them fall,
lest they should be mangled or break the blow. He was then told that the
neck of his waistcoat was in the way, upon which he rose, and with the
help of a friend, took it off; and the neck being made bare to the
shoulders, he kneeled down as before. In the mean time, when all things
were ready for the execution, and the black baize which hung over the
rails of the scaffold had, by direction of the colonel of the guard, or
the sheriffs, been turned up, that the people might see all the
circumstances of the execution, in about two minutes after he kneeled
down, his lordship dropped his handkerchief, and the executioner at once
severed his head from his body, except only a small part of the skin,
which was immediately divided by a gentle stroke. The head was received
in a piece of red baize, and, with the body, immediately put into the
coffin. The scaffold was then cleared from the blood, fresh sawdust
strewed, and that no appearance of a former execution might remain, the
executioner changed such of his clothes as appeared bloody.
While this was doing, the Lord Balmerino, after having solemnly
recommended himself to the mercy of the Almighty, conversed cheerfully
with his friends, refreshed himself twice with a bit of bread and a
glass of wine, and desired the company to drink to him, acquainting them
that "he had prepared a speech, which he should read on the scaffold,
and therefore should now say nothing of its contents." The under-sheriff
coming into his lordship's apartment to let him know the stage was
ready, he prevented him by immediately asking if the affair was over
with the Lord Kilmarnock; and being answered, "It is," he inquired how
the executioner had performed his office. Upon receiving the account, he
said it was well done; and then, addressing himself to the company,
said, "Gentlemen, I shall detain you no longer;" and with an easy
unaffected cheerfulness, saluted his friends, and hastened to the
scaffold, which he mounted with so unconstrained an air as astonished
the spectators. His lordship was dressed in his regimentals, (a blue
coat turned up with red, trimmed with brass buttons,) the same which he
wore at the battle of Culloden. No circumstance in his whole deportment
showed the least sign of fear or regret; and he frequently reproved his
friends for discovering either upon his account. He walked several times
round the scaffold, bowed to the people, went to his coffin, read the
inscription, and, with a nod, said, "It is right." He then examined the
block, which he called his "pillow of rest." His lordship, putting on
his spectacles, and taking a paper out of his pocket, read it with an
audible voice: but so far from its being filled with passionate
invectives, it mentioned his majesty as a prince of the greatest
magnanimity and mercy, at the same time that, through erroneous
political principles, it denied him a right to the allegiance of his
people. Having delivered this paper to the sheriff, he called for the
executioner, and on his being about to ask his lordship's pardon, he
said, "Friend, you need not ask me forgiveness, the execution of your
duty is commendable." Upon this his lordship gave him three guineas,
saying. "I never was rich; this is all the money I have now; I wish it
was more, and I am sorry I can add nothing to it but my coat and
waistcoat;" which he then took off, together with his neckcloth, and
threw them on his coffin, putting on a flannel waistcoat which had been
provided for the purpose; and then taking a plaid cap out of his pocket,
he put it on his head, saying he died a Scotchman. After kneeling down
at the block to adjust his posture, and show the executioner the signal
for the stroke, which was dropping his arms, he once more gave a
farewell look to his friends, and turning round on the crowd, said,
"Perhaps some may think my behaviour too bold; but remember, sir, (to a
gentleman who stood near him,) that I now declare it is the effect of a
confidence in God, and a good conscience; and I should dissemble if I
showed any signs of fear."
Having observed the axe in the executioner's hand as he passed him, he
now took it from him, felt the edge, and, returning it, clapped the
executioner on the shoulder to encourage him; he even tucked down the
collar of his shirt and waistcoat, and showed him where to strike,
desiring him to do it resolutely, "for in that," says his lordship,
"will consist your kindness."
He afterwards went to the side of the stage and called up the warder, of
whom he inquired which was his hearse, and ordered the man to drive
near, which was instantly done.
Immediately, without trembling or changing countenance, he again kneeled
down at the block, and having, with his arms stretched out, said, "O
Lord, reward my friends, forgive my enemies, and receive my soul," he
gave the signal by letting them fall. But his uncommon firmness and
intrepidity, with the unexpected suddenness of the signal, so surprised
the executioner, that though he struck the part directed, the blow was
not given with strength enough to wound him very deeply. It was observed
that he moved as if he made an effort to turn his head towards the
executioner, and the under jaw fell, and returned very quick, like anger
and gnashing the teeth; but this arose from the parts being convulsed,
and a second blow immediately succeeding the first, rendered him quite
insensible and a third finished the work.
His head was received in a piece of red baize, and, with his body, put
into a coffin, which, at his particular request, together with that of
the Earl of Kilmarnock, was placed on that of the late Marquis of
Tullibardine (who died during his imprisonment,) in St. Peter's church
in the Tower all three lords lying in one grave.
MATTHEW HENDERSON.
EXECUTED FOR THE MURDER OF HIS MISTRESS, LADY DALRYMPLE.
This offender was the son of honest parents, and was born at North
Berwick, in Scotland, where he was educated in the liberal manner
customary in that country.
At the age of fourteen years he was taken into the employment of Sir
Hugh Dalrymple, a member of the British parliament, whom he accompanied
to London; and it was while in his service that he was guilty of the
murder of his mistress. It appears that at the time at which he
committed this offence he was in his twentieth year, and having
accidentally given offence to his lady, by treading on her toe, she
rebuked him in no very gentle manner. Offended by the insult which he
conceived he had received, he determined to obtain a deep revenge; and
seeking an opportunity, during the absence of his master from London, he
proceeded to put his intention into execution by murdering his mistress.
For this offence he was brought to trial at the Old Bailey, on the 22d
April 1746, when he pleaded guilty, and was sentenced to be hanged on
the following Monday, the 25th of the same month. On the night before
his execution he made a confession of his crime, from which the
following particulars are taken:--Having called the Almighty to witness
the truth of his assertion, he proceeded to enter into a history of his
early life, alleging that he had always been well treated by his master
and mistress, for whom he entertained the most sincere respect. On the
evening of the 25th March 1746, all the other servants having quitted
the house, he proceeded to bed in the apartment which was appropriated
to his use. He had pulled off his shoes, and had tied up his hair with
his garter, when suddenly the thought came into his head that he would
kill his mistress. He directly went into the kitchen in search of an
instrument to effect his object, and he took a small iron cleaver; but,
returning to his chamber, he sat during a period of twenty minutes,
considering whether he should commit the murder or not. His heart
relented when he remembered that his mistress had been so kind to him;
but then he thought that there was no one in the house who could hear
him, and he determined upon perpetrating the deed. Impelled by a feeling
which he could not control, he rushed up stairs as far as the first
landing-place, but there he tarried, and in his alarm returned to his
bed-room. Again he felt determined upon the course which he had
originally proposed, and again he had ascended the stairs on his way to
his mistress's room, but once more he felt irresolute. To use his own
expression, he had now determined not to commit the murder, but "the
devil was so busy within him," that, in an agony of emotion, he was
unable to prevail against an inward feeling, which drove him again
towards his lady's room. Once he retired,--but once again he
advanced,--and he had now reached the door, by which only he was
separated from the object upon which he was about to commit the foul
crime, of which in the sequel he was guilty. Had that door been locked
all would have been well,--but no, the latch turned easily in his hand,
and he stood within a yard of his victim. Still he could not kill her,
and in trepidation and alarm he crept back as far as the stair-head.
Again he felt the devil at work, and once more he was driven onwards to
his fate. He entered the room a second time, and could distinctly hear
the respirations of the unfortunate lady; he opened the curtains softly,
and fancied he could see the outline of her figure. Had he had a light,
he was convinced he could never have killed her. At length, however,
urged by an irresistible impulse, he raised the cleaver, and yet,
hesitating, he made as many as thirteen or fourteen motions in the air
before he could determine to strike her,--but then he let the murderous
instrument fall with redoubled force upon her head. The unhappy lady
attempted to escape, but without effect, for he followed up the
frightful wound which he had first inflicted with others still more
dreadful, until at last she sunk exhausted on the floor and died. The
only words which he heard her utter were--"Oh Lord! what is this?" And
when she died, she rattled very much in the throat. He was so alarmed at
this that he ran down stairs, and threw the chopper in the privy; and
when he had returned to his own room, the thought struck him that he
would rob the house. The idea had no sooner entered his head than he
resolved to put it into execution, and, striking a light, he returned to
his mistress's room. He took away some articles of jewellery from the
drawers; but while he was occupied in finding them, he fancied that he
heard the death-rattle still in his lady's throat, and he would have
given the world to have been able to recal what had passed.
When he had purloined all that he thought was of any value, he ran out
of the house; and as he passed through Holborn, he heard the watchman
cry "Past one o'clock," from which he knew that it was more than an hour
since he had first contemplated the murder. He concealed the articles
which he had stolen in the lodgings of a female of his acquaintance, and
returned home; but on his arrival at the door he found that he had shut
himself out. He waited until the maid-servant came at six o'clock in the
morning, and then, on their entering the house, appearances were
perceptible, which induced the girl to suppose that there had been some
strangers in the house. On her going up stairs she found that her
mistress had been murdered, and she directly conveyed information of the
circumstance to the police, when Henderson being at once suspected, he
was taken into custody, and confessed his guilt.
The sentence was carried out in its terms; and the body of the wretched
young man, after execution, was hung in chains in the Edgeware-road.
CHARLES RATCLIFFE, ESQ.
EXECUTED FOR HIGH TREASON.
This gentleman was a party to the designs of the Jacobinical lords whose
execution we have detailed, and was taken by the Sea-horse frigate on
his passage to Scotland to join the rebel forces. He had been concerned
in the rebellion of 1715, and would then have been pardoned, but with
fifteen others he escaped out of Newgate, and went to France. He
afterwards lived in London, but was not molested; but subsequently again
joining the design of the Pretender, and being seized, he was tried
whether he was the same person who had been before convicted, and was
found to be the same. He therefore received sentence of death, and was
beheaded on Tower-hill, on the 8th of December 1746. This prisoner was
one of the brothers of the Earl of Derwentwater, who was executed in
1716, as before detailed; and they were the sons of Sir Francis
Ratcliffe, by Lady Mary Tudor, natural daughter of Charles the Second,
by Mrs. Mary Davis.
LORD LOVAT.
BEHEADED FOR HIGH TREASON.
This lord, who in 1715 had been a supporter of the House of Hanover, in
1745 changed sides, and became a friend of the party which he had before
opposed.
His career in life began in the year 1692, when he was appointed a
captain in Lord Tullibardine's regiment, but he resigned his commission
in order to prosecute his claim to be the Chief of the Frasers; in order
to effect which, he laid a scheme to get possession of the heiress of
Lovat, who was about to be married to a son of Lord Salton. He raised a
clan, who violently seized the young lord, and, erecting a gibbet,
showed it to him and his father, threatening their instant death unless
they relinquished the contract made for the heiress of Lovat. To this,
fearing for their lives, they consented; but still unable to get
possession of the young lady, he seized the dowager Lady Lovat in her
own house, caused a priest to marry them against her consent, cut her
stays open with his dirk, and, assisted by his ruffians, tore off her
clothes, forced her into bed, to which he followed her, and then called
his companions to witness the consummation of the outrageous marriage.
For this breach of the peace he was indicted, but fled from justice; but
he was, nevertheless, tried for a rape, and for treason, in opposing the
laws with an armed force; and sentence of outlawry was pronounced
against him. Having fled to France, he turned papist, ingratiated
himself with the Pretender, and was rewarded by him with a commission;
but he was apprehended on the remonstrance of the English ambassador in
Paris, and lodged in the Bastile, where having remained some years, he
procured his liberty by taking priest's orders, under colour of which he
became a Jesuit in the college of St. Omer's.
In the first rebellion of 1715 he returned to Scotland, and joining the
king's troops, assisted them in seizing Inverness from the rebels; for
which service he got the title of Lovat, was appointed to command, and
had other favours conferred upon him. In the rebellion of which we are
now treating, he turned sides, and joined the Pretender; a step
treacherous in the extreme. When taken, he was old, unwieldy, and almost
helpless; although in that condition he had been possessed of infinite
resources to assist the rebellion. He petitioned the Duke of Cumberland
for mercy; and, hoping to work upon his feelings, recapitulated his
former services, the favours that he had received from the duke's
grandfather, King George I., and dwelt much upon his access to court,
saying "he had carried him to whom he now sued for life in his arms,
and, when a baby, held him up, while his grandsire fondled upon him."
On the 9th March 1747, however, he was taken from the Tower to
Westminster Hall for trial, and the evidence adduced clearly proving his
guilt to be of no ordinary character, he was convicted. He was next day
brought up for judgment, and sentence of death was pronounced.