_Upon Kennington Common, Wednesday, July 30, 1746._
THE SPEECH of the Right Honourable ARTHUR,
LORD BALMERINO.[37]
[37] Arthur Elphinstone, sixth and last Lord Balmerino and fourth
Lord Coupar, only succeeded his half-brother in these peerages on
5th January 1746. As he indicates in his speech, he forsook the
service of King George the First in 1715, and joined the Earl of Mar,
escaping abroad after the battle of Sheriffmuir. His father secured
his pardon, and returning home he married Margaret, daughter of
Captain John Chalmers (or Chambers) of Gogar, in Midlothian, but by
her had no issue. An account of his trial and execution, with some
notice of his life and family, and a portrait of him at the time of
his death, was published in pamphlet form (12mo, pp. 50) at London
in 1746. A fuller report of the above speech is given at f. 108,
some panegyrical verses at ff. 112 and 403 _et seq._; and a singular
letter addressed to Lord Balmerino three days before his death with a
later reference to Lady Balmerino in connection therewith at f. 561
_et seq._ Lady Balmerino died at Restalrig, near Edinburgh, on 24th
August 1765.
[Sidenote: 18 Aug. 1746.]
[Sidenote: _fol._ 58.] I was bred in Anti-Revolution principles
which I have ever persevered in, from a sincere persuasion that
the restoration of the royal family and the good of my country are
inseparable.
The action of my life which now stares me most in the face is my
having accepted a company of foot from the late Princess Anne, who I
know had no more right to the crown than her predecessor, the Prince
of Orange, whom I ever consider'd as an usurper.
In the year 1715 as soon as the King landed in Scotland I thought it
my indispensible duty to join his standard, tho' his affairs were
then in a desperate condition.
I was in Switzerland in the year 1734, where I received a letter
from my father, acquainting me of his having procured me a remission
and desiring me to return home. Not thinking [Sidenote: _fol._ 59.]
myself at liberty to comply with my father's desire without the
King's approbation, I wrote to Rome to know his Majesty's pleasure,
and was directed by him to return home; and at the same time I
received a letter of credit upon his banker at Paris, who furnished
me with money to defray the expense of my journey and put me in
proper repair.
I think myself bound upon this occasion to contradict a report which
has been industriously spread and which I never heard of till I was
a prisoner, 'That orders were given to the Prince's army to give no
quarters at the battle of Culloden.' With my eye upon the block
(which will soon bring me before the highest of all tribunals) I do
declare that it is without all manner of foundation; both because
it is impossible it could have escap'd the knowledge of me, who was
Captain of the Prince's Life-guards, or of Lord Kilmarnock, who was
Colonel of his own regiment; but still much more so because it is
entirely inconsistent with the mild and generous nature of [Sidenote:
_fol._ 60.] that brave Prince, whose patience, fortitude, intrepidity
and humanity, I must declare upon this solemn occasion, are qualities
in which he excells all men I ever knew, and which it ever was his
greatest desire to employ for the relief and preservation of his
father's subjects. I believe rather that this report was spread to
palliate and excuse the murders they themselves committed in cold
blood after the battle of Culloden.
I think it my duty to return my sincere acknowledgments to Major
White and Mr. Fowler for their human and complaisant behaviour to
me during my confinement. I wish I could pay the same compliment to
Governor Williamson who used me with the greatest inhumanity and
cruelty. But having taken the sacrament this day I forgive him as I
do all my enemies.
I die in the religion of the Church of England which I look
[Sidenote: _fol._ 61.] upon as the same with the Episcopal Church of
Scotland in which I was brought up.
When he laid his head upon the block, he said: God reward my friends
and forgive my enemies! Bless and restore the King, the Prince, and
the Duke, and receive my soul. Amen!
_Upon Towerhill, Monday, August 18th, 1746, in the 58th year of his
age._
From the _Constitutional Journal_, September 27th, 1746.
[Sidenote: 1746 18 Aug.]
[Sidenote: 27 Sept.]
Lord Balmerino taking leave of his fellow-sufferer, Lord Kilmarnock,
generously said: He was sorry to have his company in such an
expedition, and that he wished he alone might pay the whole
reckoning. He was himself asked by one of the spectators, Where
Lord Balmerino was. To whom he answered, 'I am here, Sir, at your
service'. His manner of undressing occasion'd most to say of him with
Shakespear--
'He was
A bridegroom in his death, and run into 't
As to a lover's bed.'
He gave something to one who had behaved well to him in his
confinement, whom he singled out of the crowd. He laid himself on the
wrong side of the block, but on information immediately rectified it
without the smallest appearance of disorder or confusion.
The SPEECH of DONALD MACDONELL of Tiendrish,
of the Family of Keppoch.[38]
[38] He was the son of Ronald Mor of Tir-na-dris, second son of
Archibald MacDonald of Keppoch, and so nephew to the famous 'Coll of
the Cows.'--_History of the MacDonalds_, p. 490. He suffered death
at Carlisle. See f. 106. He is said to be the original of Sir Walter
Scott's Fergus MacIvor in _Waverley_. His sword, a genuine _Andrew
Ferrara_, afterwards came into the possession of the Howards of Corby
Castle.
[Sidenote: 1746 18 Oct.]
[Sidenote: _fol._ 62.]
As I am now to suffer a publick, cruel, barbarous and (in the eyes of
the world) an ignominious and shameful death, I think myself obliged
to acknowledge to the world that it was principle and a thorough
conviction of its being my duty to God, my injured king and oppressed
country, which engaged me to take up arms under the standard and
magnanimous conduct of his royal highness, Charles, Prince of Wales,
etc. It was always my strongest inclination as to worldly concerns to
have our ancient and only rightful royal family restored, and even
(if God would) to lose my life chearfully in promoting the same. I
solemnly declare I had no by-views in drawing my sword in that just
and honourable cause, but the restoration of my king and prince to
the throne, the recovery of [Sidenote: _fol._ 63.] our liberties to
this unhappy island which has been so long loaded with usurpation,
corruption, treachery and bribery; being sensible that nothing but
the king's restoration could make our country flourish, all ranks and
degrees of men happy, and free both Church and State from the many
evil consequences of Revolution principles.
I must here let the world know that the whole evidences, to the
number of six or seven, brought against me at my trial by the
Elector's council were perjured. What they aim'd to prove was only
relative to the battle of Gladesmuir, and in this they swore the
greatest untruths, and did not declare one word of truth. I earnestly
pray for their repentance that God may forgive them, as I sincerely
do, not only them but all other my enemies in general.
I own indeed I was engaged in said battle and saw a great [Sidenote:
_fol._ 64.] slaughter on all hands where I was posted. But sure I am
the evidences that appeared against me did not see one step of my
behaviour that day.
I thank God ever since I drew my sword in that just and honourable
cause, I acted not only in obedience to the merciful commands of my
glorious prince but in compliance with my own natural disposition,
with charity and humanity to my enemies, the Elector's troops, when
prisoners and in my power, without receding at the same time from
that duty and faithfulness I owed to my prince and the common cause.
My being taken prisoner at the battle of Falkirk[39] was more owing
to my own folly or rashness than the bravery or valour of the enemy,
whom I saw before I was taken entirely routed [Sidenote: _fol._ 65.]
and chased off from the field of battle. I fell into their hands
by supposing them at a distance, and in the twilight, to be Lord
John Drummond's regiment and French picquets; but too late, to my
sad experience, found out my fatal mistake. And here I refer to my
enemies to declare my behaviour on that occasion.
[39] See ff. 979-982.
Now though I am presently to die a cruel death, yet when I consider
the justice of the cause for which I suffer, it puts a stop to every
murmuring reflection; and I thank Almighty God I resign my life to
Him, the giver, with chearfulness and submission to his Divine and
all-wise providence.
I here declare I die an unworthy member of the Roman Catholick
Church, in the communion of which I have lived, however much her
tenets be spoken against and misrepresented [Sidenote: _fol._ 66.]
by many; and in that I now expect salvation through the sufferings
and merits and mediation of my only Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
But I hereby declare upon the word of a dying man that it was with
no view to establish or force that religion upon this nation that
made me join my Prince's standard, but purely owing to that duty and
allegiance which was due to our only rightful, lawful and natural
sovereign, had even he or his family been heathen, Mahometan, or
Quaker.
I am hopeful and am persuaded that my valorous prince, by the
blessing of God, will at last be successful, and when in his power,
will, under God, take care of my poor wife and family. And as I have
no worldly fortune to leave my dear son, I recommend him to the
blessing and protection of Almighty God, as the best legacy I can
give him, and earnestly require his [Sidenote: _fol._ 67.] obedience
to my last and dying command, which is to draw his sword in his
King's, his Prince's and his country's service, as often as occasion
offers and his lawful sovereign requires. As I have the honour to
die a Major in our King's service, I am hopeful, if my dear child
deserves it, he will succeed me at least in the same office, and
serve his Prince with the same honour, integrity and faithfulness
I have all along endeavoured, to which his royal highness is no
stranger.
I conclude with my blessing to my dearest wife and all my relations
and friends, and humbly beg of my God to restore the King, to grant
success to the Prince's arms, to forgive my enemies and receive my
soul. Come, Lord Jesus, come quickly! Into thy hands I resign my
spirit!