the Loch Eil, and about five miles from Fort William. On sight of a
warship which lay opposite to the garrison, the Prince crossed a hill,
and went to Moy or Moidh, a village on the river Lochy belonging to
Lochiel. There he stayed till Monday, August 26th, waiting intelligence
about General Cope; and that day he crossed the river Lochy, and lodged
in a village called Leterfinla, on the side of Loch Lochy. At 12 o'clock
at night, being very stormy and boisterous, he learned that General Cope
was at Garvaimor, whereupon the men stood to arms all night. But the
General had altered his route, and by forced marches was making the best
of his way to Inverness, which (as was given out) happened by an express
from President Forbes advising the General not to attempt going up the
country to attack the Highlanders at the Pass of Corierag (very strong
ground) where they had posted themselves, but to make all the haste he
could to Inverness, where he might expect the Monroes, etc., to join
him, whereby he would be considerably reinforced.
Upon notice that the General was marching towards Inverness, about six
hundred of the Highlanders urged the being allowed to follow him under
cloud of night and promised to come up with him, and to give a good
account of him and his command. But the Prince would not hear of such an
attempt, and desired them to wait for a more favourable opportunity. It
was with much difficulty that they could be prevailed upon to lay aside
the thoughts of any such enterprise. This I had from the brave Major
MacDonell.
When the Prince was coming down the Highlands to meet General Cope (as
was supposed) he walked sixteen miles in boots, and one of the heels
happening to come off, the Highlanders said they were unco glad to hear
it, for they hoped the want of the heel would make him march at more
leisure. So speedily he marched that he was like to fatigue them all.
_August 27th._ The Prince slept at Glengary's house, and next night lay
at Aberchallader, a village belonging to Glengary.
_August 30th._ The Prince and his army were at Dalnacardoch, a publick
house in Wade's Road, as appears from a letter writ by the Duke of Athol
to a lady desiring her to repair to Blair Castle to put it in some
order, and to do the honours of that house when the Prince should happen
to come there, which he did the day following, August 31st. I saw the
letter and took the date of it.
When the Prince was at Blair he went into the garden, and taking a walk
upon the bowling-green, he said he had never seen a bowling-green
before. Upon which the above lady called for some bowls that he might
see them; but he told her that he had got a present of some bowls sent
him as a curiosity to Rome from England.
_September 2d._ He left Blair and went to the house of Lude, where he
was very cheerful and took his share in several dances, such as minuets,
Highland reels (the first reel the Prince called for was, "This is not
mine ain house," etc.), and a Strathspey minuet.
_September 3d._ He was at Dunkeld, and next day he dined at Nairn House
where some of the Company happening to observe what a thoughtful state
his father would now be in from the consideration of those dangers and
difficulties he had to encounter with, and that upon this account he was
much to be pitied, because his mind behoved to be much upon the
rack--the Prince replied that he did not half so much pity his
father as his brother. "For," said he, "the king has been inured to
disappointments and distresses and has learnt to bear up easily under
the misfortunes of life. But poor Harry! his young and tender years make
him much to be pitied, for few brothers love as we do!"
_September 4th._ In the evening he made his entrance into Perth upon the
horse that Major MacDonell had presented him with.
_September 11th._ Early in the morning he went on foot attended by few
and took a view of the house of Scoon; and leaving Perth that day, he
took a second breakfast at Gask, dined at Tullibardine, and that night
went towards Dumblain and next day to Down.
_September 14th._ In the morning the Prince after refreshing himself and
his army at the Laird of Leckie's house, marched by Stirling Castle and
through St. Ninians. From Stirling Castle a six-pounder was discharged
four times at him, which determined Lord Nairn, who was bringing up the
second division of the army, to go farther up the country in order to be
out of the reach of the canon of the Castle. When the Prince was in St.
Ninians with the first division, Mr. Christie, provost of Stirling, sent
out to them from Stirling a quantity of bread, cheese, and ale in
abundance, an order having come before by little Andrew Symmer desiring
such a refreshment. Colonel Gardiner and his dragoons had galloped off
towards Edinburgh from their camp near Stirling Castle the night before,
or rather the same morning, when it was dark, September 14th, without
beat of drum.
_September 16th._ The Prince and his army were at Gray's Mill upon the
Water of Leith, when he sent a summons to the Provost and Town Council
of Edinburgh to receive him quietly and peacably into the city. Two
several deputations were sent from Edinburgh to the Prince begging a
delay till they should deliberate upon what was fittest to be done.
Meantime eight or nine hundred Highlanders under the command of Keppoch,
young Lochiel, and O'Sullivan, marched in between the Long Dykes without
a hush of noise, under the favour of a dark night, and lurked at the
head of the Canongate about the Nether Bow Port till they should find a
favourable opportunity for their design, which soon happened. The
hackney coach, which brought back the second deputation, entered at the
West Port, and after setting down the deputies at their proper place
upon the street, drove down the street towards the Canongate, and when
the Nether Bow Port was made open to let out the coach, the lurking
Highlanders rushed in (it being then peep of day) and made themselves
masters of the city without any opposition, or the smallest noise.
II.
TREATMENT OF THE VANQUISHED.
1. _After Preston Pans._
+Source.+--_Lockhart Papers._ Quoted in Jesse, _Memoirs of the
Pretenders_, p. 187.
(_a_) After the battle of Preston Pans,--when one of the Prince's
followers congratulated him on the victory which he had obtained, and,
pointing to the field of battle, exclaimed, "Sir, there are your enemies
at your feet!"--Charles is said not only to have refrained from joining
in the exultation of the moment, but to have warmly expressed the
sincerest compassion for those whom he termed "his father's deluded
subjects." Previous to the battle, he had strongly exhorted his
followers to adopt the side of mercy; and when the victory was gained,
his first thoughts were for the unhappy sufferers, and his first hours
employed in providing for the comfort of his wounded adversaries as well
as his friends. His exhortations and example produced the happiest
effects. In the words of one of his gallant followers,--"Not only did I
often hear our common clansmen ask the soldiers if they wanted quarter,
and not only did we, the officers, exert our utmost pains to save those
who were stubborn or who could not make themselves understood, but I saw
some of our private men, after the battle, run to Port Seton for ale and
other liquors to support the wounded. As one proof for all, of my own
particular observation, I saw a Highlander, carefully and with patient
kindness, carry a poor wounded soldier on his back into a house, where
he left him with a sixpence to pay his charges. In all this we followed
not only the dictates of humanity, but also the orders of our Prince,
who acted in everything as the true father of his country."
+Source.+--_The MS. of Lord George Murray, Commander-in-Chief._ Printed
by Bishop Forbes in his _Jacobite Memoirs_, Edinburgh, 1834, p. 29.
(_b_) His Royal Highness caused take the same care of their wounded as
of his own.... In the evening I went with the officer prisoners to a
house in Musselburgh, that was allotted for them. Those who were worst
wounded, were left at Colonel Gardner's house, where surgeons attended
them; the others walked, as I did alongst with them, without a guard,
(as they had given me their parole;) and to some, who were not well able
to walk, I gave my own horses. It was a new finished house that was got
for them, where there was neither table, bed, chair, or chimney grate. I
caused buy some new thrashed straw, and had, by good fortune, as much
cold provisions and liquor of my own, as made a tolerable meal to them
all; and when I was going to retire, they entreated me not to leave
them, for, as they had no guard, they were afraid that some of the
Highlanders who had got liquor, might come in upon them, and insult or
plunder them. I lay on a floor by them all night. Some of them, who were
valetudinary, went to the minister's house, and I sent an officer with
them, and they got beds: this was the quarter designed for myself. Next
morning, after his Royal Highness went for Edinburgh, I carried these
gentlemen to the house of Pinkey, where they were tolerably well
accommodated. After I had returned to the field of battle, and given
directions about the cannon, and seen about the wounded prisoners, to
get all the care possible taken of them, and given other necessary
orders, I returned to Pinkey, where I stayed all night. I got what
provisions could possibly be had to the common men prisoners, who were
that night in the gardens of Pinkey; and the night before, I had got
some of their own biscuit carried from Cokenny to Colonel Gardner's
courts and gardens, for their use.
2. _After Culloden._
+Source.+--Forbes: _Jacobite Memoirs_. Pp. 232, 233, 251, 252, 296-298.
It is a fact undeniable, and known to almost everybody, that upon Friday
the 18th of April, which was the second day after the battle, a party
was regularly detached to put to death all the wounded men that were
found in and about the field of battle. That such men were accordingly
put to death is also undeniable, for it is declared by creditable
people, who were eye-witnesses to that most miserable and bloody scene.
I myself was told by William Ross, who was then grieve[20] to my Lord
President, that twelve wounded men were carried out of his house, and
shot in a hollow, which is within very short distance of the place of
action.... Orders were given, on the Friday, to an officer, Hobbie, or
such a name, that he should go to the field of battle, and cause carry
there all the wounded in the neighbouring houses, at a mile's distance,
some more, some less, and kill them upon the field, which orders were
obeyed accordingly. When these orders were given at the knee, an officer
who was well pleased told it to his comrades; one of them replied,
"D----n him who had taken that order! He could not do an inhuman thing;
though no mercy should be shewn to the rebels."
An officer was heard more than once say, that he saw seventy-two killed,
and, as he termed it, knocked on the head. He was a young captain.... A
little house into which a good many of the wounded had been carried, was
set on fire about their ears, and every soul in it burnt alive, of which
number was Colonel Orelli, a brave old gentleman, who was either in the
French or Spanish service.... The Presbyterian minister at Petty, Mr.
Laughlan Shaw, being a cousin of this Kinrara's,[21] had obtained leave
of the Duke of Cumberland to carry off his friend, in return for the
good services the said Mr. Laughlan had done the government; for he had
been very active in dissuading his parishioners and clan from joining
the Prince, and had likewise, as I am told, sent the Duke very pointed
intelligence of all the Prince's motions. In consequence of this, on the
Saturday after the battle, he went to the place where his friend was,
designing to carry him to his own house. But as he came near, he saw an
officer's Command, with the officer at their head, fire a platoon at
fourteen of the wounded Highlanders, whom they had taken all out of that
house, and bring them all down at once; and when he came up, he found
his cousin and his servant were two of that unfortunate number. I
questioned Mr. Shaw himself about this story, who plainly acknowledged
the fact, and was indeed the person who informed me of the precise
number; and when I asked him if he knew of any more that were murdered
in that manner on the same day, he told me that he believed there were
in all two-and-twenty.
* * * * *
[The next extract is one of the less sickening accounts of the treatment
of the prisoners whose lives were spared:]
+Source.+--A paper read by Mr. James Bradshaw, and delivered by him to
the Sheriff of Surrey, just before his execution on Friday, November 28,
1746. Quoted by Jesse, _Memoirs of the Pretenders_. Pp. 270, 274, 275.
Bohn's edition.
I was put into one of the Scotch kirks, together with a great number of
wounded prisoners, who were stripped naked, and then left to die of
their wounds without the least assistance; and though we had a surgeon
of our own, a prisoner in the same place, yet he was not permitted to
dress their wounds, but his instruments were taken from him on purpose
to prevent it, and in consequence of this many expired in the utmost
agonies. Several of the wounded were put on board the "Jean" of Leith,
and there died in lingering tortures. Our general allowance, while we
were prisoners there, was half a pound of meal a-day, which was
sometimes increased to a pound, but never exceeded it; and I myself was
an eyewitness, that great numbers were starved to death. Their barbarity
extended so far as not to suffer the men who were put on board the
"Jean" to lie down even on planks, but they were obliged to sit on large
stones, by which means their legs swelled as big almost as their bodies.
These are some few of the cruelties exercised, which being almost
incredible in a Christian country, I am obliged to add an asseveration
to the truth of them; and I do assure you, upon the word of a dying man,
as I hope for mercy at the day of judgment, I assert nothing but what I
know to be true.
III.
_ODE WRITTEN IN THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR 1746._
+Source.+--_The Poetical Works of William Collins; with the Commentary
of Langhorne._ London. Printed by Charles Whittingham for John Sharpe,
1804.
How sleep the brave, who sink to rest,
By all their country's wishes blest!
When Spring, with dewy fingers cold,
Returns to deck their hallow'd mould,
She there shall dress a sweeter sod
Than Fancy's feet have ever trod.
By fairy hands their knell is rung;
By forms unseen their dirge is sung;
There Honour comes, a pilgrim grey,
To bless the turf that wraps their clay;
And Freedom shall a while repair,
To dwell a weeping hermit there!
IV.
AN ADVENTURE OF CHARLES EDWARD.
+Source.+--_The Young Chevalier; or a General Narrative of all that
befel that Unfortunate Adventurer, from his Fatal Defeat to His final
Escape._ By a gentleman (1746). Pp. 75-78.
Here it was [upon the coast of Glenelg] that the _Chevalier_ went
through one of the oddest Adventures, that perhaps ever happened to any
Man; for at this place a Company of Militia (the _Monroe's_, if I
mistake not) were waiting, in hopes the unhappy Fugitive might fall into
their Hands: To make the more sure of their Prize, they had with them a
Blood-hound, to trace him out. The Dog was within a Stone's throw of
them, and the Man not much farther off, when _McKinnon_ observed them,
and particularly suspected the Animal. Whereupon he advised his
Passenger instantly to pull off all his Cloaths, and enter the Water up
to the Neck: "For," said he, "if you go in with your Cloaths on, you may
catch your Death. In the mean time I will divert the smell of the Dog,
with these Fishes," he having some on a string in his hand. The
affrighted _Chevalier_ instantly did as he was directed, and _McKinnon_
having hid the _Chevalier's_ Cloaths in a Clift of a Rock, began to
amuse the Dog with his Fish. The Artifice succeeded so well, as
effectually to secure the _Chevalier_; but the Animal would not quit the
Fisherman till he was secured by the Militia-Men, who kept him all
Night, and Part of the next Day. They examined him, but to no Purpose;
and upon his telling his true Name, _viz._ McLeod, they became
indifferent about him; and he representing that his Family was starving,
having nothing to subsist on but the Product of his Industry as a
Fisherman, they dismissed him. When he left them, he set out, as if he
intended a very different Course to that he really intended, and
afterwards struck into; for when he judged himself out of their Reach,
he turned into the Road leading to the Place where he supposed the
_Chevalier_ yet was. He found him there indeed, and employ'd in such a
Manner, as could not but strike even the rough Heart of the hardy
Fisherman, innur'd to all the Extremities of Wind and Weather, Hunger
and Cold. He found him seeking out Muscles and other small Shell-Fish,
upon the Craigs, and breaking them between two Stones, eating the Fish
as he opened them, to satisfy the Cravings of an Appetite, never in all
Probability so Keen before. He told _McKinnon_ "that he had continued in
the Water for several Hours, after he left him; but at last ventured
out, and put on his Cloaths; but durst not offer to remove from that
desert spot, judging it too hazardous to go up into the Country, to
which he was an utter Stranger."... As soon as he set Eyes on
_M'Kinnon_, he fell down on his Knees, and with up-lifted Hands, thank'd
Heaven for returning him his Friend; which he did in these Words, as
near as could possibly be remember'd by the Fisherman, who heard him,
and who repeated them to the Person from whom I had my Information. "O
God," said he, "I thank thee that I have not fallen into the Hands of my
Enemies; and _surely thou hast still something for me to do_, since in
this strange Place thou hast sent me back my Guide."
[18] Superstition.
[19] A turf seat.
[20] Bailiff.
[21] A wounded Jacobite whose servant had refused to abandon him, and
had therefore been taken prisoner along with his master.
TRIAL OF THE REBEL LORDS, 1746.
+Source.+--Walpole's _Letters_. Vol. i., p. 133. Bohn's edition.
_Horace Walpole to Sir Horace Mann, Aug. 1, 1746._
ARLINGTON STREET,
_Aug. 1, 1746_.
I am this moment come from the conclusion of the greatest and most
melancholy scene I ever yet saw. You will easily guess it was the trials
of the rebel Lords. As it was the most interesting sight, it was the
most solemn and fine: a coronation is a puppet-show, and all the
splendour of it idle; but this sight at once feasted one's eyes, and
engaged all one's passions. It began last Monday; three-quarters of
Westminster Hall were enclosed with galleries, and hung with scarlet;
and the whole ceremony was concluded with the most awful solemnity and
decency, except in the one point of leaving the prisoners at the bar,
amidst the idle curiosity of some crowd, and even with the witnesses who
had sworn against them, while the Lords adjourned to their own House to
consult. No part of the royal family was there, which was a proper
regard to the unhappy men, who were become their victims. One hundred
and thirty-nine Lords were present, and made a noble sight on their
benches _frequent and full_! The Chancellor [Hardwicke] was Lord High
Steward; but though a most comely personage, with a fine voice, his
behaviour was mean, curiously searching for occasion to bow to the
Minister that is no peer [Pelham], and consequently applying to the
other Ministers, in a manner, for their orders; and not even ready at
the ceremonial. To the prisoners he was peevish; and instead of keeping
up the humane dignity of the law of England, whose character is to point
out favour to the criminal, he crossed them, and almost scolded at any
offer they made towards defence. I had armed myself with all the
resolution I could, with the thought of their crimes and of the danger
past, and was assisted by the sight of the Marquis of Lothian, in
weepers for his son, who fell at Culloden; but the first appearance of
the prisoners shocked me!--their behaviour melted me! Lord Kilmarnock
and Lord Cromartie are both past forty, but look younger. Lord
Kilmarnock is tall and slender, with an extreme fine person: his
behaviour a most just mixture between dispute and submission; if in
anything to be reprehended, a little affected, and his hair too exactly
dressed for a man in his situation; but when I say this, it is not to
find fault with him, but to show how little fault there was to be found.
Lord Cromartie is an indifferent figure, appeared much dejected and
rather sullen: he dropped a few tears the first day, and swooned as soon
as he got back to his cell.
For Lord Balmerino, he is the most natural brave old fellow I ever saw;
the highest intrepidity, even to indifference. At the bar he behaved
like a soldier and a man; in the intervals of form, with carelessness
and humour. He pressed extremely to have his wife--his pretty
Peggy--with him in the Tower. Lady Cromartie only sees her husband
through the grate, not choosing to be shut up with him, as she thinks
she can serve him better by her intercession without; she is big with
child, and very handsome; so are her daughters. When they were to be
brought from the Tower in separate coaches, there was some dispute in
which the axe must go. Old Balmerino cried, "Come, come, put it with
me." At the bar, he plays with his fingers upon the axe, while he talks
to the gentleman-gaoler; and one day, somebody coming up to listen, he
took the blade and held it like a fan between their faces. During the
trial a little boy was near him, but not tall enough to see; he made
room for the child, and placed him near himself. When the trial begun,
the two Earls pleaded guilty; Balmerino not guilty, saying he would
prove his not being at the taking of the castle of Carlisle, as laid in
the indictment. Then the King's counsel opened, and Sergeant Skinner
pronounced the most absurd speech imaginable; and mentioned the Duke of
Perth, _who_, said he, _I see by the papers is dead_. Then some
witnesses were examined, whom afterwards the old hero shook cordially by
the hand. The Lords withdrew to their House, and returning, demanded of
the Judges, whether, one point not being proved, though all the rest
were, the indictment was false? to which they unanimously answered in
the negative. Then the Lord High Steward asked the Peers severally,
whether Lord Balmerino was guilty! All said, _Guilty upon honour_, and
then adjourned, the prisoner having begged pardon for giving them so
much trouble. While the Lords were withdrawn, the Solicitor-General
Murray [afterwards Lord Mansfield] (brother of the Pretender's minister)
officiously and insolently went up to Lord Balmerino, and asked him, how
he could give the Lords so much trouble, when his Solicitor had informed
him, that his plea could be of no use to him? Balmerino asked the
bystanders, who this person was? and being told, he said, "Oh, Mr.
Murray! I am extremely glad to see you; I have been with several of your
relations; the good lady, your mother, was of great use to us at Perth."
Are you not charmed with this speech? how just it was! As he went away,
he said, "They call me Jacobite; I am no more a Jacobite than any that
tried me; but if the Great Mogul had set up his standard, I should have
followed it, for I could not starve."
[Gray, in a letter to Wharton, gives the last sentence as follows: "My
Lord (says he) for the two Kings and their Rights I cared not a Farthing
which prevailed; but I was starving; and by God if Mahomet had set up
his Standard in the Highlands, I had been a good Musselman for Bread,
and stuck close to the Party, for I must eat."]
TREATY OF AIX-LA-CHAPELLE (1748).
I.
LORD BOLINGBROKE ON THE PRELIMINARIES.
+Source.+--_The Marchmont Papers_, 1831. Vol. ii., pp. 314-319.