_P.S._--I sent for a Presbyterian minister to have administred the
sacrament to me; but he refused. Lord forgive him; for I do.
_Kennington Common, Friday, November 28th, 1746._
[Sidenote: _fol._ 126.] A genuine and full Account of the Battle of
Culloden, with what happened the two preceeding days, together
with the young Prince's miraculous escape at, from and after
the battle, fought on April 16th, 1746; to his return to the
continent of Scotland from the Western Islands on the 6th of
the succeeding July. Taken from the mouths of the old Laird of
MacKinnon, Mr. Malcolm MacLeod, etc., and of Lady Clanronald and
Miss Flora MacDonald, by John Walkingshaw of London or Dr. John
Burton.
[Sidenote: 1746 14 April]
[Sidenote: 15 April]
[Sidenote: 16 April]
Upon April 14th (afternoon) the Prince marched from Inverness on
foot at the head of his guards to Culloden House, where the clans
and others met him, and stayed thereabouts under arms. He himself
did not go to bed. Upon the 15th by daybreak he marched the men up
to Culloden Muir about a mile south-east of the house, and review'd
them drawn up in two lines of battle. About eleven o'clock he ordered
them to refresh themselves by sleep or otherwise just in the field,
during which time he walked about cajoling the different chiefs,
and proposed to all of them separately to march off the men towards
the evening and attack the enemy by daybreak; but finding the bulk
of them against the proposal (reckoning it rather too desperate an
attempt untill they were joined by [Sidenote: _fol._ 127.] Keppoch
and his men with others that were soon expected), he drop'd the
project. About 4 afternoon Keppoch arrived with 200 men. Then it was
said Lord George Murray proposed the night march, and undertook to
manage the attack, which was agreed to. And when near dark, the men
were marched off, the front of the second line following the rear
of the first. About 2 o'clock of the morning of the 16th the Duke
of Perth came galloping up from aside to the front of the second
line, and ordered the officers to wheel about and march back to
Culloden. They had not gone above one hundred yards back when they
met the Prince, who called out himself, 'Where the devil are the
men a-going?' It was answered, 'We are ordered by the Duke of Perth
to return to Culloden House.' 'Where is the Duke of Perth?' says the
Prince. 'Call him here.' Instantly the Duke came up, and the Prince,
in an angry tone, asked what he meant by ordering the men back. The
Duke answered that Lord George with the first line was gone back
three-quarters of an hour agoe. 'Good God!' said the Prince, 'what
can be the matter? What does he mean? We were equal in number, and
would have blown them to the devil. Pray, Perth, can't you call them
back yet? Perhaps [Sidenote: _fol._ 128.] he is not gone far yet.'
Upon which the Duke begg'd to speak with his royal highness. They
went aside a very short space. The Prince returned and call'd out,
'There is no help for it, my lads; march back to Culloden House.'
Back they marched to Culloden House (the Prince bringing up the
rear) where the bulk of them arrived about 6 in the morning. The
Prince after ordering and earnestly recommending to everybody to do
their utmost to get provisions to his men went into the house, threw
himself upon the top of a bed, boots, etc., upon him; but in a few
hours, being alarmed with the approach of the enemy he hurried to
the field, and endeavoured to put his men in order by drawing them
up in two lines. But they, being some fatigued and others dispersed
about seeking victuals, could not be all got together; so that when
the cannonading began there were not 3000 men in the field, and these
not in the best order. At that time the Prince was in the rear of
all, ordering some men to replace some others that he had sent from
the second line to the left of the first. He immediately [Sidenote:
_fol._ 129.] sent off an aid-de-camp with orders to the generals in
the front to make the attack, and, moving forwards beyond the second
line, sent off a second and a third aid-de-camp with positive orders
to attack. It seems the first aid-de-camp happened to be killed with
a cannon shot just at setting out, which 'tis thought was the reason
the attack was not made soon enough.
Upon the right the attack was made with great bravery by the Athol
brigade, Stewarts, Camerons, and part of the MacDonalds; but the
left was so soon flanked by a great body of the enemy's horse that
from the centre to the left they never got up to give their fire.
The right broke in upon the enemy, sword in hand, and did great
execution, but were likewise soon flanked and very much galled by the
grape-shot. And Lochiel and Keppoch, being both soon wounded in the
advancing, were carried off, which their men observing, immediately
they fled; which so alarmed all the corps to the left that they gave
way in confusion.
Just at this time the Prince called out to stop and he would light
from his horse and return to the charge at their head. [Sidenote:
_fol._ 130.] But a number of his officers got about him, and assured
him that it was improbable for them to do any good at present. For
since the clans had turned their backs they would not rally, and it
was but exposing his person without any probability of success; and
therefore intreated he would retire, and really forced him out of the
field.
The retreat was made with the utmost regularity. Not above 500 of
the Low-country men, having detached themselves from the main body,
kept together till they received the Prince's orders to shift for
themselves.
* * * * *
_N.B._--There was a battery of canon that played very smartly for a
considerable time just upon the place where the Prince was, and one
of his grooms was killed about two hundred yards straight in his rear.
* * * * *
After the forces were entirely defeated he retired to a house of a
factor or steward of Lord Lovat, about ten miles from Inverness,
where meeting with that lord, he stayed supper.
After supper was over he set out for Fort Augustus (where a
musket-bullet was taken out of the counter of his horse), and pursued
his journey for Invergary where he proposed to have dined. But
finding no victuals he set a boy a fishing, who caught two salmon
on which he made a dinner, and continued [Sidenote: _fol._ 131.]
waiting there for some of his troops, who had promised to rendezvous
at that place; and being disappointed he resolved [Sidenote: 18
April] to proceed to Locharkaig. He arrived there on the 18th at two
in the morning and went to sleep, which he had not done for five
days and nights, his forces having been under arms, marching and
counter-marching without meat for 48 hours before the battle. He
remained there till 5 o'clock in the afternoon in hopes of obtaining
some intelligence; but gaining none, he set out from thence on
foot, and travell'd to the Glens of Morar, over almost inaccessible
mountains, where he arrived on the 19th at 4 in the morning. He set
out about noon the same day for Arrisaig, through as bad ways as
before, where he arrived at 4 in the afternoon.
[Sidenote: 27 April]
He remained there seven days waiting for Captain O'Neil, who
joined him on the 27th, and informed him, as did many others from
all quarters, that there were not any hopes of drawing his troops
together again in a body. Upon which he resolved to go to Stornway
in the Island of Lewis, a town at the head of a loch of that name,
in order to hire a ship to go [Sidenote: _fol._ 132.] to France. The
person employed for this purpose was one Donald MacLeod, who had an
interest there.
[Sidenote: 28 April]
On the 28th he went on board in an eight-oar'd boat, in company with
O'Sullivan, O'Neil, and some others, ordering the people to whom
the boat belonged to make the best haste they could to Stornway.
The night proved very tempestuous, and they all begg'd of him to go
back, which he would not do. But seeing the people timorous, he, to
keep up their spirits, sung them a Highland song. The weather proving
worse and worse, on the 29th, about 7 in the morning they were driven
ashore on a point of land called Rushness, in the north-east part of
the island of Benbecula, which lies betwixt the islands of North and
South Ost or Uist, being about 5 miles long from east to west, and
3 miles broad from north to south, where as soon as they had got on
shore, the Prince helped to make a fire to warm the crew, who were
almost starved to death with cold.
[Sidenote: 30 April]
On the 30th, at 6 in the evening, they set sail again from Stornway,
but meeting with another storm were obliged to put into the island
Selpa (Scalpa) in the Harris. This island [Sidenote: _fol._ 133.] is
about one mile long and half a mile broad. There they all went ashore
to a farmer's house, passing for merchants that were shipwrecked in
their voyage to the Orkneys, the Prince and O'Sullivan going by the
name of Sinclair, the latter passing for the father, the former for
the son.
Thence they thought proper to send Donald MacLeod (who had been with
them all the time) to Stornway, with instructions to freight a ship
for the Orkneys.
[Sidenote: 3 May]
On the 3d of May they received a message from him that a ship was
ready. On the 4th they made the mainland and set out on foot for that
place, and arrived on the 5th about noon at the point of Arynish, two
miles southeast from Stornway, having travelled 18 hours on the hills
without any kind of refreshment, and were misled by their guide,
either thro' ignorance or design. There a messenger from Stornway
met him, and told him that Donald MacLeod, having got drunk, had
told one of his acquaintances for whom he hired the ship; upon which
there were soon 200 people in arms at Stornway upon a report that
the Prince was landed with 500 men, and was coming to burn the town;
so that he and his company were obliged to lie all night on the muir
with no other refreshment than bisket and brandy.
[Sidenote: 6 May]
[Sidenote: _fol._ 134.] On the sixth they resolved to go in the
eight-oar'd boat to the Orkneys, but the crew refused to venture; so
that they were obliged to steer south along the coast side, where
they met with two English ships which compell'd them to put to a
desart island called Seafort or Iffurt, being about half a mile long
and near as much broad. There they remained till the 10th, and must
have famished, had they not providently found some salt fish upon the
island.
[Sidenote: 10 May]
[Sidenote: 8 June]
About ten o'clock in the morning that day they embarked for the
Harris, and at break of day on the 11th they were chased by an
English ship, but made their escape among the rocks. About 4 in the
afternoon they arrived at Benbecula, where they stayed till the 14th,
and then set out on foot for the mountain of Corradell, in South Ost
or Uist, being about 16 miles distant. There they stayed till about
the 8th of June, living upon fish and other kind of game, which the
Prince daily killed himself, and had no other kind of drink than the
water they found there.
[Sidenote: 11 June]
The Militia at this time coming to the island of Irsky (Eriska),
(which lies betwixt the island of Barra and South Ost [Sidenote:
_fol._ 135.] or Uist, is about three miles long and one broad, and is
the very first British ground the Prince landed upon at his coming
on the late expedition); the militia, I say, coming to the island,
obliged the Prince and his company to disperse; and he, with two or
three others, sailed for the island Uia or Ouaya, lying betwixt
South Uist and Benbecula. There he remained three nights, till having
intelligence that the militia were coming towards Benbecula, he
immediately got into the boat and sailed for Loch Boysdale, but being
met by some ships of war he was obliged to return to Loch Karnon,
which is about a league and a half west southwest from the island Uia.
There he remained all day, and at night sailed for Loch Boysdale,
which is about 30 miles south of Loch Karnon, and belongs to the
MacDonalds. There he arrived safe, and stayed 8 days upon a rock,
making a tent of the sail of the boat, and lived upon fish and fowl
of his own killing.
[Sidenote: 18 June]
There he found himself in the most terrible situation, for having
intelligence on June 18th that Captain Caroline Scott [Sidenote:
_fol._ 136.] had landed at Killbride within less than two miles of
them, he was obliged to dismiss the boat's crew, and taking only
O'Neil with him, he went to the mountains, where he remained all
night, and soon after was informed that General Campbell was at
Barnare (an island lying between North Uist and Harris), being about
two miles long and one broad. It belongs to the MacLeods. So that now
he had forces not far from him on both sides, and was absolutely at a
loss to know which way to move, having forces on both the land sides
of him, and the sea on the other, without any vessel to venture into
securely.
In this perplexity Captain O'Neil accidentally met with Miss
Funivella or Flora MacDonald, to whom he proposed assisting the
Prince to make his escape, which she at last consented to, on
condition the Prince would put on women's cloaths, which he complied
with. She then desired they would goe to the mountain of Corradale
and stay there till they heard from her, which should be soon.
There they arrived, and accordingly remained two days in great
distress, and then hearing nothing from the young lady, [Sidenote:
_fol._ 137.] the Prince concluded she would not keep her word. But
about 5 o'clock in the evening a message came from her desiring to
meet her at Rushness, being afraid to pass the Ford, which was the
shortest passage, because of the militia. They luckily found a boat
which carried them to the other side Uia, where they remained part of
the day afraid of being seen of the country people.
[Sidenote: June]
In the evening they set out in the same boat for Rushness, and
arrived there at 12 o'clock at night, but not finding the young
lady, and being alarmed by a boat full of militia they were obliged
to return back two miles, where the Prince remained on a muir till
O'Neil went to the young lady, and brought her with him to the place
appointed about sunset next evening.
About an hour after they had got to the Prince they got an account
of General Campbell's arrival at Benbecula, which obliged them to
move to another part of the island, where, as the day broke, they
discovered four vessels full of armed men close on the shore. They
having seen the fire on the land, made directly up to the place where
they were,[58] so that there was nothing left for them to do but to
throw themselves among [Sidenote: _fol._ 138.] the heath, by which
means they escaped being found.
[58] See f. 528.
When the wherries were gone they resolved to go to Clanranold's
house. But when they were within a mile of it they heard that General
Campbell was there, which obliged them to retreat again to Rushness;
from whence they set out in a little yawl or boat for the isle of Sky
about the end of June, and were at sea all night. The next day as
they were passing the point of Watternish, in the west corner of Sky,
the wind being contrary, and the female frighted at turning back,
they thought to have landed there, but found it possess'd by a body
of forces; which obliged them immediately to put to sea again after
having received several shots from the land.[59]
[59] See ff. 530-534.
From hence they went and landed at Killbride, in Troternish in Sky,
about twelve miles north from the above mentioned point. There they
also found a body of troops within less than two miles of them, whose
commanding officer rode as far as Moystod or Mougestot, not far from
Sir Alexander MacDonald's seat, near which place they landed. He
there enquired of Miss Flora MacDonald who she was, and who was with
her, which she answered as she thought proper. [The [Sidenote: _fol._
139.] officer, however, would not be satisfied untill he had searched
the boat. In the mean time the Prince was hid on shore, so near as to
hear what passed].[60]
[60] Stated in the sequel to be incorrect.
Immediately after this scene was over the Prince parted with his
female guide, and took to the hills, and travelled without rest 15
long miles[61] south south-east in women's cloaths till he came to
Mr. MacDonald of Kingsburgh's house, where his female guide met him
again, having gone a nearer way.[62] There the Prince got his first
refreshment, and stayed till next day, towards the evening; when he
set out from Kingsburgh's house, but would not, on any account, let
the consequence be what it would, consent to put on women's cloaths
again, having found them so cumbersome the day before. He went 15
long miles[63] to a place called Portree or Purtry, where again he
met his female preserver, who had gone a different route, and which
was the last time they saw each other.
[61] Should be 7. See f. 144.
[62] See ff. 145, 532, 533.
[63] Should be 7. See f. 144.
At Portree the Prince met Young MacLeod of Raaza or Raasa, and with
him went directly to the island of Raaza, being [Sidenote: _fol._
140.] about ten (or 6) miles in a small yawl or boat, being the only
one to be got at that time.
[Sidenote: 1 July]
On the 1st of July he landed at a place called Glam, in Raasa, where
he remained two nights in a miserable hutt, so low that he could
neither sitt nor stand, but was obliged to lie on the bare ground,
having only a bundle of heath for his pillow.
[Sidenote: 3 July]
On the 3d of July he proposed going to Troternish, in the Isle of
Sky, notwithstanding it blew very hard, and that he had but the small
yawl above mentioned, scarce capable of carrying six people. However,
he set forward about 7 o'clock in the evening, having with him Mr.
Malcolm MacLeod. He had not gone far before the wind blew harder, and
the crew, being timorous, begg'd to turn back again. But he refused,
and to encourage them sung a merry Highland song. About eleven
the same night he landed at a place in the island of Sky called
Nicolson's Rock, near Scorobry (Scorobreck), in Troternish, being
about ten miles from Glam. He remained there all night without any
kind of refreshment, not even so much as a [Sidenote: _fol._ 141.]
fire to dry his cloathes, being quite wet. In this wet condition he
was for the space of 48 hours.
[Sidenote: 4 July]
The next day about 7 o'clock in the evening he left this rock,
being accompanied by Mr. Malcolm MacLeod, the latter passing for
the master, the former for the man, who always carried the little
baggage[64] whenever they saw any person or came near any place.
They marched all night through the worst of roads in Europe, and did
not halt till they arrived at Ellagol or Ellighuil, near Kilvory or
Kilmaree, in Strath, not far from a place in some maps called Ord or
Aird, in the Laird of MacIntosh's[65] country, being full 24 miles
long.
[64] Two shirts, one pair of stockings, one pair of brogs, a bottle
of brandy, some scrapes of mouldy bread and cheese, and a three-pint
stone bottle for water.--F.
[65] Altered to MacKinnon's. See f. 144.
After two hours rest and some little refreshment the Prince seem'd
quite alert and as ready for fatigue as ever, and diverted himself
with a young child in the house, carrying him in his arms and singing
to him, and said that perhaps that child may be a captain in my
service [or] might live to be of great use to him hereafter.
[Sidenote: 5 July]
At that place the old Laird of MacKinnon came to him, and they set
out together that day, being July 5th, for the [Sidenote: _fol._
142.] mainland in a small boat, tho' the night was very tempestuous
and the coast very bad. The next day, July 6th, they landed safe in
Knoidart, which is 30 miles from the place they set out from. At that
place he left the Laird of Mackinnon, who was the next day taken
prisoner. In their passage they met with a boat in which were some
militia, with whom they spoke. As they did not much exceed their own
number, they were resolved to make all the head they could, and to
fight them in case they had been attack'd.
What method the Prince took to conceal himself on the mainland of
Scotland, or what route he took till the 20th of September, being the
time he embarked for France, will be made publick at another time.
_Citadel of Leith, Saturday, July 11th, 1747._
[Sidenote: 1747 11 July]
Mr. Alexander MacDonald of Kingsburgh and his lady were paying
their compliments to my Lady Bruce, when it was proposed to
read the above Account or Journal in the hearing of Kingsburgh,
that so he might give his observations, or rather corrections
upon it. He and the whole company (about 14 in number) declared
their satisfaction in the proposal. There were present, John
Fullarton, senior of Dudwick; James MacDonald, joiner in Leith;
Lady Lude, with her eldest son and her daughter; Mrs. Graham and
her son; Mrs. Rattray, Mrs. Jean and Rachel Houstons, etc.
The Account was accordingly read, and Kingsburgh made [Sidenote:
_fol._ 143.] the following observations:
Page[66] 130, near the foot. Instead of Invergar, it should be
Invergarry; a place belonging to the Laird of Glengarry.
[66] These pages will be found by the marginal folios.
Page 132, near the foot. Instead of Selpa, it should be Scalpa,
commonly called the Island Glass.
Page 134, at the foot. Instead of Irsky, it should be Eriska.
Page 139, at the top. Kingsburgh said it was not fact that the boat
was searched, and that the Prince should have heard what passed.
_Ibid._ Instead of 15 long miles south south-east, it should be 7
long miles.
_Ibid._ Kingsburgh was at pains to represent to the Prince the
inconveniency and danger of his being in a female dress, particularly
from his airs being all so man-like, and told him that he was very
bad at acting the part of a dissembler. He advised him therefore to
take from him a suite of Highland cloaths with a broadsword in his
hand, which would become him much better. But in the meantime that
he should go out of his house in the female dress, lest the servants
should be making their observations, and stop at the edge of a wood
upon the side of a hill, not far from the house, where he and others
should come to him with the Highland cloathes, broadsword, etc.
Mrs. MacDonald said that she behoved to employ her daughter as
handmaid to the Prince for putting on his womens [Sidenote: _fol._
144.] cloaths, 'For,' said she, 'the deel a preen he could put in.'
When Miss MacDonald (_alias_ Mrs. MacAllastar[67]) was a dressing
of him, he was like to fall over with laughing. After the peeness,
gown, hood, mantle, etc., were put on, he said, 'O, Miss, you have
forgot my apron. Where is my apron? Pray get me my apron here, for
that is a principal part of my dress.'
[67] This is interlined in the manuscript. See f. 216. She married
Ronald MacAlister, of the family of Loup.
Kingsburgh and his lady both declared that the Prince behaved not
like one that was in danger, but as chearfully and merrily as if he
had been putting on women's cloathes merely for a piece of diversion.
Agreeable to Kingsburgh's advice they met at the edge of the wood,
where the Prince laid aside his female rags, which were deposited in
the heart of a bush till a proper opportunity should offer of taking
them up; for these that were present resolved to preserve them all as
valuable tokens of distress. After the Prince had got himself equipt
in the Highland cloathes with the claymore in his hand, the mournful
parting with Kingsburgh ensued. Away he went to struggle through a
series of fresh dangers, the faithful MacKechan still attending him.
_Ibid._ Instead of 15 long miles to Portree or Purtry, it should be 7
long miles.
Page 140, line 1. Instead of 10 miles, it should be 6.
_Ibid_, near the foot. Instead of Scorobry, it should be Scorobreck.
Page 141. Kingsburgh said that MacIntosh's country there named
behoved to be an error in the writer, for that MacIntosh had no
property in Sky, and it ought to be named MacKinnon's country.
[Sidenote: _fol._ 145.] Page 142. Kingsburgh said that he thought the
Prince with old MacKinnon had landed in Moror and not in Knoidart;
but he own'd MacKinnon behov'd to know best. He said he was pretty
sure that old MacKinnon was made prisoner in Moror, which might
happen after his coming from Knoidart.
When all the Journal was read over, Kingsburgh observed that the
persons from whose mouths it had been taken had not medled with his
part of the story; 'and,' said he, 'they were indeed right, for they
know very little about it.'
Then particular questions were put to him with respect to that
pamphlet called 'ALEXIS, Part 1st.' To give some instances, it was
asked him, Whether or not it was true that he took along with him
out of Sir Alexander MacDonald's house a bottle of wine and some
bread in his pocket for the refreshment of the Prince; that he had
great difficulty to find him, and that it was owing to the accidental
running of a flock of sheep that at last he found him sitting upon a
rock? He answered, 'All these things are exactly true as related in
that small pamphlet.' Then it was asked, Whether or not the Prince
made briskly up to him with a thick short cudgel in his hand, and
asked, If he was Mr. MacDonald of Kingsburgh? He said, 'It was really
so, and that the Prince very pleasantly said, Then all is well; come,
let us be jogging on;' but that he told him he had brought some
refreshment along with him, which he behoved to take before they set
out; [Sidenote: _fol._ 146.] which accordingly was done, they sitting
upon the top of the rock.
Asked further. If it was true that the Prince lifted the petticoats
too high in wading the rivulet when going to Kingsburgh, and that
honest MacKechan[68] hastily called to him to beware? He said, 'It is
fact; and that MacKechan cried, "For God's sake, Sir, take care what
you are doing, for you will certainly discover yourself;" and that
the Prince laughed heartily, and thanked him kindly for his great
concern.'
[68] Neil MacEachan or MacKechan, the attendant of Flora MacDonald,
was a descendant of the MacDonalds of Howbeag in South Uist. He
followed the Prince to France, and settled there. One of his sons
was Marshal MacDonald, Duke of Tarentum, one of Napoleon's most
distinguished generals.--MacGregor's _Flora MacDonald_, p. 64.
Asked further. If the cursing and blasphemous speech of the Duke of
Cumberland was such as represented in 'ALEXIS, Part 1st.' 'Exactly
so,' said he, for I had it almost in the very same words from the
mouth of Sir Alexander MacDonald, who was witness to the Duke's
expressing himself in that rough way. 'Whom,' added he, 'I indeed
never saw in the face.' Then he said that 'ALEXIS' was exactly
and literally true in every ace (not only as to facts but even
circumstances) that concerned his management of and conversation with
the Prince, the _brogs_ not excepted, and that he looked upon the
recovery of Cœlestius[69] as a great blunder, for that he had reason
to think that he fell (as design'd) in the attempt. 'This is not to
say,' added he, 'that I know anything certain of that affair, as if
I had been an eye-witness or conversed with those that had seen the
fact. But when I was prisoner in Fort Augustus, an officer came to
me and very seriously asked if I would know [Sidenote: _fol._ 147.]
the head of the young Pretender if I saw it. I told him I would know
the head very well, provided it were upon the body. But the officer
said, What, if the head be not upon the body? Do you think you could
know it in that case? To which I replied, In that case, Sir, I will
not pretend to know anything about it.' Kingsburgh told the company
that he was resolved if any head should have been brought before him
that he would not have made them a whit the wiser, even though he
should have known it. But he owned no head was brought to him. He
left it to the company to draw what inferences they pleased from this
conversation betwixt him and the officer.[70]
[69] This was Roderick Mackenzie, who was killed by Cumberland's
soldiers near Fort Augustus, and in dying tried to put an end to the
pursuit of the Prince by pretending that it was he whom they had
slain. See ff. 482, 1800.
[70] There is a printed copy of 'ALEXIS, Part 1st,' bound up in the
end of volume eighth of this collection.
Kingsburgh informed us that when at Fort Augustus, he happened to
be released one evening in mistake for another man of the same
name. When the irons were taken off him he went to Sir Alexander
MacDonald's lodgings to ask his commands for Sky. Sir Alexander
happened to be abroad, but when he came in he was quite amazed when
he saw Kingsburgh, and said, 'Sanders, what has brought you here?'
'Why, Sir,' said he, 'I am released.' 'Released,' says Sir Alexander,
'how has this come about? I have heard nothing of the matter. I do
not understand it.' 'As little do I know,' says Kingsburgh, 'how
it has come about. But so it is that I have got free.' Then Sir
Alexander ordered a bed to be made [Sidenote: _fol._ 148.] up for
Kingsburgh in the same room with himself, and when Kingsburgh (about
11 o'clock) was beginning to undress in order to go to bed an officer
came to the door of the room, and asked if MacDonald of Kingsburgh
was there. 'Yes, Sir,' said Kingsburgh, 'I am here. What want you
with me?' 'Why,' replied the officer, 'you must goe with me to Lord
Albemarle, who wants to speak with you.' 'Then,' said Kingsburgh, 'I
began to think within myself all was wrong with me. I begged that I
might be allowed to take my rest all night in the place where I then
was, and that in the morning I should wait upon Lord Albemarle as
soon as he pleased; and that I would give my word of honour to do as
I promised; and besides, that Sir Alexander would engage for me.'
'No, no,' said the officer, 'that will not do, Sir. These are not my
orders. You must come along with me quickly.' When Kingsburgh came
to the door and saw ten or 12 sogers with screwed bayonets waiting
to receive him, he did not like that piece of ceremony at all. They
had not gone many paces from Sir Alexander's lodgings till they met
Lord Albemarle running himself out of breath, foaming at the mouth,
and crying out, 'Have ye got the villain? Have ye got the villain?'
Kingsburgh mildly answered, 'O why all this hurry? Where is the man
that will refuse freedom when it is offered him? I am here, my Lord,
at your service. I had no intention of being in a haste to leave the
place, and though I had left it you would have easily found me again,
for I would have gone to my own [Sidenote: _fol._ 149.] house. I
had no fear about any thing.' 'However,' says Albemarle, still in a
passion, 'it is well, Sir, you are not gone; I had rather by G----
have given anything before this mistake had happened.' 'Go,' added
he, 'and throw the dog into irons.' Instantly the orders were obeyed.
But to do Albemarle justice, Kingsburgh said that in a day or two he
ordered him into a better place and the irons to be taken away from
him; and every day after this that his lordship sent to him at dinner
time, three dish of meat from his own table, with two bottles of
wine. By this time the Duke of Cumberland had left Fort Augustus in
great haste to London.
It was represented to Kingsburgh that his lady during his confinement
had been telling some folks that upon conversing with him (her
husband) about the pamphlet 'ALEXIS,' he should have said that he
knew no body who could be the author of it but Neil MacKechan, so
pointed and exact it was in giving the narrative. Kingsburgh, looking
to his lady, said, 'Goodwife, you may remember, I said that I knew
nobody who could be the author of that pamphlet but either Neil
MacKechan or myself.' When it was suggested that Neil MacKechan (a
low man) could not be thought capable of drawing up any thing of that
sort, Kingsburgh and his lady informed the company that MacKechan
had been educated in the Scots College in Paris with the view of
commencing clergyman, but that after [Sidenote: _fol._ 150.] getting
his education he had dropt the design; that therefore he was capable
enough, and that he had proved a great comfort to the Prince in his
wanderings by talking to him in the French language about matters of
importance in their difficulties, when perhaps it was not so prudent
or convenient that those who were present should know what they were
conversing about. They told likewise that they had never been so much
afraid of any person's conduct as that of MacKechan, because he was
a good-natured man and very timorous in his temper. But they frankly
owned they had done him great injustice by entertaining any suspicion
about him; for that he had behaved to admiration, and had got abroad
with the Prince, the great wish of his soul; for he could never think
of parting with him at any time but upon condition of meeting again,
which MacKechan was so lucky as frequently to accomplish even when at
parting they could scarce condescend upon a time or place when and
where to meet.
Kingsburgh said that he asked particularly at the Prince about Lord
George Murray, whether or not he could lay treachery or any such
thing to his charge. The Prince answered that he never would allow
anything of treachery or villainy to be laid to the charge of Lord
George Murray. But he could not help owning that he had much to bear
of him from his temper.
[Sidenote: _fol._ 151.] The Prince asked Kingsburgh if he could
inform him anything about the heads of the clans, what they were
doing in the present confusion. Kingsburgh answered that MacDonald
of Glencoe had surrendred himself, and that Cameron of Dungallan had
done the same. The Prince made no remark at all upon Glencoe; but
as to the other, said: 'Cameron of Dungallan! Is not that Lochiel's
major?' 'Yes,' said Kingsburgh, 'he is the same.' 'Why,' replied the
Prince, 'I always looked upon Dungallan to be a man of sense.'
When the Prince was going out of Kingsburgh's house he turned
about and said, 'Can none of you give me a snuff?' Upon which Mrs.
MacDonald made up to him and offered him a snuff out of a little
silver-mill with two hands clasped together upon the lid of it, and
the common motto, Rob Gib. Kingsburgh begged the Prince to put the
mill into his pocket, and, said Kingsburgh, 'He accordingly put it
into a woman's muckle poutch he had hanging by his side.' After the
Prince had met with Malcolm MacLeod, Kingsburgh said he had heard
that the Prince spying the carving and the motto asked MacLeod
what it meant. 'Why,' said MacLeod, 'that is the [Sidenote: _fol._
152.] emblem we use in Scotland to represent a firm and strong
friendship, and the common saying is Rob Gib's contract, stark love
and kindness.' 'Well, MacLeod,' says the Prince, 'for that very same
cause shall I endeavour to keep the mill all my life.'
'All the female rags and bucklings,' said Kingsburgh and his lady,
'that were left in the heart of the bush, were taken up and carried
to our house in order to be carefully preserved. But when we had got
notice that the troops had such exact intelligence about the Prince
that they particularized the several bucklings of women's cloathes he
had upon him, even to the nicety of specifying colours, etc., (and
Kingsburgh and Miss MacDonald being by this time made prisoners)
word was sent to Mrs. MacDonald and her daughter to throw all the
female dress into the flames to prevent any discovery in case of a
search.' When the rags were a destroying the daughter insisted upon
preserving the gown (which was stamped linen with a purple sprig),
saying that 'They might easily keep it safe, and give out that it
belonged to one of the family.' The gown was accordingly preserved,
and Kingsburgh and his lady promised to send a swatch of it to Mr.
Stewart Carmichael at Bonnyhaugh as a pattern to stamp other gowns
from.
Kingsburgh rose from his seat, and coming about to one of [Sidenote:
_fol._ 153.] the company whispered in his ear, 'Sir, since you seem
to know a good deal of these affairs, pray will you inform me what
you know of Barrisdales case?'[71] What do you think of that point?'
It was answered, 'It is certain enough that Barrisdale entred into
terms with the Duke of Cumberland, that he received a protection for
a certain limited time, and that he touched money; but whether or not
he was sincere in the design of seizing the Prince, or if he intended
to make use of these stratagems for consulting the safety and
preservation of the Prince, was what that person could not pretend to
determine. But one thing was constantly affirmed by all the accounts
from abroad that Barrisdale was still in some sort of confinement in
France, _i.e._ a prisoner at large.' Kingsburgh shook his head and
said, 'I am sorry to hear that he is a prisoner in any shape, for
that says ill for him.' When Kingsburgh was seated again this subject
happened to be spoken of publickly in the company, and all agreed
that they had heard that Barrisdale still continued to be in some
sort of confinement in France. Kingsburgh insisted upon its being a
very bad sign, and again declared his concern to have such an account
of him.
[71] For some interesting particulars about the MacDonalds of
Barrisdale, see the _Scottish Antiquary_, vol. viii. p. 163, and vol.
ix. p. 30.
[Sidenote: _fol._ 154.] When some of the company happened to be
talking of Major Lockheart's cruelties in the Highlands, particularly
that of his having thrust his sword through the body of a child aged
four years, in at the belly and out at the back, Kingsburgh's lady
said, 'That was no rarity among them, for that several old men,
women, and children had been butchered by them in the Highlands.'
Dudwick was exceedingly much delighted with the interview, and said
he had never before entertained any notion of that little thing
'ALEXIS'; but that now it should be _a_ favourite of his, as he well
knew the veracity of it, and what to say in its behalf.
* * * * *
[Sidenote: 14 July]
_N.B._--After a confinement of twelve long months for one
night's hospitality, Kingsburgh was at last set at liberty upon
Saturday, July 4th, 1747, upon his preferring a petition to the
Justiciary Lords, wherein he pled the benefit of the Indemnity.
Before transcribing the above conversation into this book I went
to Edinburgh upon Tuesday's morning, July 14th, 1747, and read
my _prima cura_ in the hearing of Dudwick, in order to know of
him if I had been exact enough. He told me it was very right,
and exactly written according to the terms of the conversation.
That day Kingsburgh and his lady had left Edinburgh, so that
I could not have the opportunity of reading it over in their
hearing.