MR. CAMERON of Glenevis[99] gave the following NARRATIVE to
several persons in Edinburgh after his liberation out of the
Castle of Edinburgh, which happened some time in the beginning
of July 1747. He said--
[99] Alexander Cameron of Glenevis personally took no part in the
Rebellion, but was imprisoned for nearly a year on suspicion of
befriending his relatives who did. He was released on 7th July
1747. His lady and family suffered considerably at the hands of the
government troops, and his house was burned. See f. 552.
[Sidenote: August 1646]
[Sidenote: _fol._ 219.] LORD GEORGE SACKVILLE with a command of 400
men was ordered from Fort Augustus to gather up the gleanings of the
cattle that might happen to be left in the countries that had been
plundered and pillaged. When he was at Locharkaig the Prince and
his small retinue had been thirty or forty hours without any meat.
One evening they spied Lord George and his command driving away the
cattle they had pick'd up here and there. They were then consulting
with one another what was fittest to be done to procure themselves
some provisions in this extremity, and it was proposed that they
should go to a place at the distance of sixteen miles from them.
The Prince objected against this measure alleging that the journey
was too long for them in their present distressed condition, and
that perhaps they might be disappointed of their intention when they
should come to the place spoken of. 'What would ye think, gentlemen,'
said he, 'of lifting some of the cattle we [Sidenote: _fol._ 220.]
spied under a command this evening? They are not far from us, and I
hope we will succeed in the design, for the gloom of the night will
favour us in the attempt.' His companions looked upon the enterprize
as too hazardous, and could not think at all of running such a
risque. But the Prince still insisted upon it as the best expedient
they could pitch upon in the present difficulty, and said, 'If the
dangers attending this expedition be all that can be said against it,
I myself will be one of the number that will made the attempt.' Upon
this four of the company declared they would gladly go along with him
and try what they could do. Away they went, and (as the Prince had
suggested) by the favour of the dark night they brought off six cows
without being in the least discovered--a most lucky and plentiful
supply in such necessitous circumstances.
* * * * *
[Sidenote: July]
_N.B._--Though Glenevis had never join'd the Prince, but had lived
peaceably at home, and though no overt act could be proved against
him, yet his conduct could not screen him from cruel treatment.
All his effects were plundered and pillaged, his houses burnt down
to the ground, and he himself suffered imprisonment for eleven or
twelve months, and was [Sidenote: _fol._ 221.] not released till by a
petition presented before the lords of justiciary he pled the benefit
of the indemnity.
* * * * *
_N.B._--Among the several remarkable and lesser circumstances of
Kingsburgh's history I have forgot to mention some which are well
worth remarking, and are as follows:--
When Kingsburgh came to Fort Augustus he was immediately ordered into
the provo's guard, where the common fellows took the buckles out of
his shoes, the garters from his legs, and his watch and money out of
his pockets, a ceremony, it seems, preparatory to one's being taken
out to be hang'd; at least Kingsburgh looked upon it as such. 'For,'
said he, 'I expected every moment to be ordered out to end my life
on a gibbet, and I laid my account with it.' After staying there for
some hours he was then ordered to be thrown into a dungeon with heavy
irons upon him, which he looked upon as a change to the better by
reason of the insults, the opprobrious and blasphemous language, he
behoved to endure from the common fellows.
When Kingsburgh was removed from Fort Augustus he was brought to
Edinburgh under a guard of Kingston's Light horse, who entered the
city with sound of trumpet and beat of kettle-drums, a circumstance
very much noticed by everybody as a [Sidenote: _fol._ 222.] form
of procession quite unusual for the bringing a prisoner into a
metropolis. The command halted a considerable time upon the street
of Edinburgh till further orders should be got, when the mob came
flocking about them, and some of them said, 'What can be the matter
with this honest-like, well-looking man that he is brought here a
prisoner? Show your face, honest man, to the world, for, faith, you
may be seen as well as the best of them all.' Then Kingsburgh was
put into the same room of the Castle with Major MacDonell, George
Moir, the Laird of Leckie, Mr. Thomas Ogilvie, etc., where he thought
himself very happy indeed; but that happiness did not last long.
One day when I was visiting him and his fellow-prisoners, one of
them happened to be complaining of the hardships of their situation,
saying, 'Is not this a dull and uncomfortable state to be pacing
up and down this room, waiting the freak and humour of an officer
to let us out when he thinks fit to walk for an hour or so within
the narrow bounds of the Half-moon?' Kingsburgh gently check'd him
for his complaining, and said, 'Do not complain, Sir, for there
are many situations far worse than ours. Had you been only in my
condition at Fort Augustus you would have experienc'd a very great
odds. [Sidenote: _fol._ 223.] When I was taken out of the provo's
guard and put into the dungeon with irons upon me, I thought myself
happy; but when I was removed to a room and the irons taken off me,
though I was not allowed to step over the threshold, I thought myself
in a kind of paradise. And now that I am here and in exceeding good
company (a happiness I had not before) I think myself still more
and more in a paradise. I am really content. I am quite satisfied
with my condition, if they will only allow me to stay with this good
company. And what do you think, Sir, of the liberty of walking upon
the Half-moon, tho' it were but for an hour or two at a time? I do
assure you this is no small happiness in a state of confinement. What
would I have given for such a liberty at Fort Augustus?' Kingsburgh
was not allowed to make a long abode with his agreeable companions,
for he was soon removed to a room by himself under a strict and close
confinement, not having the liberty to step over the threshold of his
door, and no person being allowed to come near him but the officer
upon guard, the serjeant, and the keeper that was appointed to attend
him as a servant.
When his lady came to Edinburgh she was not allowed access [Sidenote:
_fol._ 224.] to him, but only to stand upon the parade and see her
husband looking down to her through the grate of a window, the
officers and sogers witnessing their enquiring about ane another's
welfare. At last Kingsburgh fell so ill in his health that a
physician and surgeon behoved to have access to him, but always
in presence of an officer. Then his lady after many and earnest
solicitations obtained the privilege of being with him throughout the
day, but was obliged to leave him upon the approach of the evening.
When he was recovering he was allowed to step out, only once or
twice a week, with an officer attending him, to take a walk in the
garden or any other by-place of the Castle, not being indulged the
pleasure of seeing the other prisoners or of walking on the same
spot with them; till some short time before his releasement that he
was permitted now and then to be on the Half-moon with them. All the
reason that ever could be discovered for this severity and strictness
upon Kingsburgh was this. When he was in the same room with Major
MacDonell, Leckie, etc., many persons came to pay their respects to
him, and to hear his story, which he very plainly and honestly gave,
at the same time never [Sidenote: _fol._ 225.] failing to give an
exact account of the Prince's adventures and chearful conduct in the
course of his wanderings, as far as he had got any intelligence about
them. This reaching the ears of those in power it proved not a little
disgusting to them to hear such things as served to form a great and
glorious character of the Prince, and therefore Kingsburgh behoved
to suffer for narrating some stubborn, ill-manner'd truths, and to
feel the effects of being a plain, honest man. Truth, tho' never so
glaring, when it runs cross to the partial notions and inclinations
of poor frail mortals, grates very hard and becomes a very uneasy and
painful thing.
One day a gentleman happening to visit the lady prisoners upon the
same stair where Kingsburgh endured his strict and close confinement,
and spying Kingsburgh's room door to be open, he made a stop. Upon
this the sentry, knowing the gentleman, whispered to him that as the
keeper was employed in bringing some things to Kingsburgh the door
would be open for some short time, and that he would allow him to
step in and ask Kingsburgh about his welfare, provided that he would
not sit down, but come [Sidenote: _fol_. 226.] out as quickly as
possible. Accordingly the gentleman went in and embracing Kingsburgh
regreted this change in his condition. Kingsburgh smiled, and said,
'The Government little knows what pleasure this treatment gives me;
for they are doing me much honour without designing it. They are
at much pains to make me a considerable person. Little did I ever
think that I was a man of such consequence that a whole Government
should be so much taken up about me. If I am so lucky as to keep my
health, this change shall give me no uneasiness.' Then he desired
the gentleman to inform his companions in the other room that he was
in very good health, and that he kept up his heart in his solitary
state, and to forbid them to be any way uneasy about his solitary
condition.
[Sidenote: 29 June]
When the Prince was in Kingsburgh's house talking about the
difficulties and dangers attending his situation, and consulting
with him what might be the best and fittest expedient for the safety
of his person, he suggested going to the Laird of MacLeod's house
as by far the properest place that could be pitched upon, because
it was not liable to any suspicion or jealousy [Sidenote: _fol._
227.] upon the part of the Government, and therefore would not be
searched for him. If he could only get there without discovery, he
said, he thought he would be in absolute safety. Kingsburgh told him
that he would not take upon him positively to oppose any measure the
Prince was pleased to condescend upon for the preservation of his own
person; but then, if his opinion could be of any use in the present
case, he behoved to declare that he should never have his advice
or approbation for going to the Laird of MacLeod's house at any
rate.[100] The Prince in a surprize clapped his hand to his breast
and said, 'What! Kingsburgh! Do you think that MacLeod to his other
doings would add that of thirsting after my blood? Do you really
think he would go the length of giving me up into the hands of my
enemies?' Kingsburgh would not pretend to assign particular reasons
for its not being advisable that the Prince should go to MacLeod's
house; but still he assured him, it should never be with his
consent. The Prince insisted no more upon this project, and dropt it
altogether. This I had from Kingsburgh's own mouth, and his narrating
of it consists with the knowledge of several others, particularly his
fellow-prisoners.
[100] See ff. 263-265, 472, 477.