+Source.+--_The History of the Rebellion in the year 1745_, p. 86,
by John Home, Esq. (London: 1802.)
The night between the 15^th and 16^th of September passed without
disturbance. Six or seven hundred men, consisting of the Trained Bands,
the Edinburgh volunteers, and some volunteers who came in from the
towns of Musselburgh and Dalkeith, were upon guard at the different
gates of the city. On Monday the 16^th the rebels advanced slowly
towards Edinburgh, giving time for the terror of their approach to
operate upon the minds of unwarlike citizens, in a divided city. Between
ten and eleven o'clock in the forenoon, a message was delivered from the
young Pretender to the people of Edinburgh, acquainting them that if
they would admit him peaceably into the city, they should be civilly
dealt with, if not they must lay their account with military execution.
Instantly the clamour rose, and crowds of people ran about the streets
crying out, that it was madness to think of resistance, since the
dragoons were fled; and some of them meeting Provost Stuart, as he
returned from the West Port (where he had gone to give orders after the
retreat of the dragoons), followed him to the Parliament Square,
beseeching him not to persist in defending the town, for if he did they
should all be murdered. The Provost reprimanded them; and went to the
Goldsmiths' Hall, where the Magistrates and Town Council were assembled,
with a good many of the inhabitants. A deputation was sent to the
Justice Clerk, the Advocate, and the Solicitor, to entreat that they
would come and assist the Council with their advice. The deputies
returned, and reported that all these gentlemen had left the town.
Provost Stuart then sent for the captains of the volunteers, and the
Trained Bands, and desired to have their opinion concerning the defence
of the town. The officers said very little, and seemed to be at a loss
what opinion to give; other people in the meeting made speeches for and
against the defence of the town, not without reproach and abuse on both
sides. The crowd encreased to such a degree, that it became necessary to
adjourn to a larger place, and the meeting adjourned to the New Church
Aisle, which was immediately filled with people, the most part of whom
called to give up the town; that it was impossible to defend it. Those
who attempted to speak against the general opinion, were borne down with
noise and clamour....
About ten o'clock at night the deputies[86] returned, and brought a
letter in answer to the message sent by them.
"His Royal Highness the Prince Regent thinks his Manifesto, and the King
his father's declaration already published, a sufficient capitulation
for all His Majesty's subjects to accept of with joy. His present
demands are to be received into the city, as the son and representative
of the King his father, and obeyed as such when there, His Royal
Highness supposes, that since the receipt of his letter to the Provost,
no arms or ammunition have been suffered to be carried off or concealed,
and will expect a particular account of all things of that nature.
Lastly, he expects a positive answer, before two o'clock in the morning,
otherwise he will think himself obliged to take measures conform.
"At Gray's Mill, 16^th September, 1745. By his Highness's command.
"(Signed) J. Murray."
When this letter was read, Provost Stuart said, there was one condition
in it, which he would die rather than submit to, which was receiving the
son of the Pretender as Prince Regent; for he was bound by oath to
another master. After long deliberation it was determined to send out
deputies once more, to beg a suspension of hostilities till nine o'clock
in the morning, that the Magistrates might have an opportunity of
conversing with the citizens, most of whom were gone to bed. The
deputies were also instructed to receive an explanation of what was
meant by receiving Charles as Prince Regent.
About two o'clock in the morning the deputies set out in a hackney coach
for Gray's Mill; when they arrived there they prevailed upon Lord George
Murray to second their application for a delay; but Charles refused to
grant it; and the deputies were ordered in his name to get them gone.
The coach brought them back to Edinburgh, set them down in the
High-Street, and then drove towards the Canongate. When the Nether Bow
port was opened to let out the coach, 800 Highlanders, led by Cameron of
Locheil, rushed in and took possession of the city.
It was about five o'clock in the morning when the rebels entered
Edinburgh. They immediately sent parties to all the other gates, and to
the town guard, who making the soldiers upon duty prisoners, occupied
their posts as quietly as one guard relieves another. When the
inhabitants of Edinburgh awakened in the morning, they found that the
Highlanders were masters of the city.