JOURNAL of DONALD MACLEOD,[129] etc.
[129] There are frequent references in _The Lyon in Mourning_ to
Donald MacLeod. See ff. 460 and 1384, where his death is noticed.
[Sidenote: 17 Aug. 1747]
Citadel of Leith, Monday, August 17th, betwixt six and seven at
night, 1747, Deacon William Clerk, taylor, came to see me, and did
me the favour of bringing along with him Donald MacLeod (tenant
at Gualtergill, in the Isle of Sky, under the Laird of MacLeod),
the honest and faithful steersman of the eight-oar'd boat from the
continent to the Isles of Benbicula, South Uist, Lewis, etc. etc.
etc., and who had the Prince among his hands, and was employed in
going upon his errands for nine or ten weeks after the battle of
Culloden.
After the usual compliments and some little chit-chat, I took
occasion to inform Donald anent the favour I had obtained of Malcolm
MacLeod, and how easily and chearfully he had granted my request,
begging in the meantime to have the like favour from him, as his
history, taking in so much time, behoved to be very interesting.
Honest Donald modestly said he would very willingly grant my desire
for all that he had to say would take up no great time--it would
easily be contained in a quarter of a sheet of paper. But then he
said, as he had heard that I had been employing myself in collecting
[Sidenote: _fol._ 267.] these things, he behoved to hear all the
accounts I had gathered together, particularly O'Neil's Journal,
before he would give me one word. I begged leave to tell him that I
was persuaded his account would take up much more than a quarter of
a sheet, considering the length of time he happened to be with the
Prince in his greatest distresses, and that I would willingly read
to him all that I had collected, but that it consisted of so many
sheets that I was afraid it would take up too much of our time, which
I would chuse much rather to spend in taking his account in writing
from his own mouth. However, I said I could easily gratify him in
reading O'Neil's Journal, as it happened not to be of any great
length. He said he would content himself with O'Neil's Journal only,
as he had been along with him in company all the time he had attended
the Prince after the battle of Culloden. For this made him the more
anxious to know what O'Neil advanced in his journal, as he himself
could judge where O'Neil was in the right and where in the wrong.
I then represented to him that if he would indulge me the freedom
of asking questions at him (without which, from experience, I could
assure him there was no taking of journals [Sidenote: _fol._ 268.]
from one with any tolerable exactness), he would soon see that his
journal behoved to take up much more paper than he imagined. He said
he would allow me to ask any questions I should think fit to propose.
I asked him where he was to be that night. He told me he resolved
to sleep in James MacDonald's house. I desired to attend him and to
spend the evening with him, which was agreed to.
When we were in James's house I began to ask some questions, to
which Donald gave plain answers. After asking several questions,
Donald, looking at James MacDonald with a smiling countenance, spoke
in Erse to him; and James laughing very heartily, said to me, 'Do
you know, Sir, what Donald was saying just now? He says you are the
uncoest cheel he ever met wi'; for if you go on in asking questions
so particularly, and if he shall tell you all the nig-nacs o't, he
believes indeed his account will take up much more time and paper
than be imagined.'
Upon this I told him it was not enough to inform me that the Prince
and his small retinue were in this or the other place such a day,
and that they did breakfast, dine, or sup here or there, which I
acknowledge to be the foundation of the Journal. But then there were
many other things that ought to be carefully [Sidenote: _fol._ 269.]
remarked and taken notice of, otherwise the Journal would turn out
to be only a very dull, insipid thing. I therefore earnestly begged
he would be at pains to recollect himself as much as possible, and
inform me exactly what particular dangers and distresses they met
with, how the Prince bore up under them, what passed in conversation
among them, and more especially that he would endeavour to call
to mind the sayings of the Prince upon any subject, etc. Then a
particular day was fixed (Thursday, August 20th) for meeting together
in the same house at nine o'clock in the morning, in order to write
the Journal from Donald's own mouth.
[Sidenote: 20 Aug.]
Betwixt 9 and 10 of the said day, I was sent for and found with
Donald, Deacon William Clerk, taylor, and one Mr. Finlayson,
mathematical instrument-maker, and late engineer in the Prince's
army. I had no sooner entred the room than Donald asked me if I had
been as good as my word,--if I had brought along with me O'Neil's
Journal? for that, he said, the deel a word would he gie me till
he should hear O'Neil's Journal, which he was afraid was far from
being right. And this he said he had reason to think from what he
had heard about it already in conversation. I then read O'Neil's
Journal [Sidenote: _fol._ 270.] to him, in which he found fault with
several things, particularly as to the staving of the boat to pieces,
which he said was not fact. 'For,' said he, 'if the boat had staved
to pieces, where O'Neil mentions, the world could not have saved
one life that was on board. We would certainly have all perished in
the sea; that place is so very rocky and dangerous. Besides, I have
reason to think that the boat is still to the fore, and that I may
get her into my custody when I go home, if I please to seek after
her.' He likewise quarrell'd O'Neil's asserting that he went with
him (Donald) to Stornway, which he said was not fact, but that he
(O'Neil) remained with the Prince, while he himself was employed
about the message upon which he was dispatched to Stornway, where he
was well known. He also blamed O'Neil for not taking any notice of
the Prince's being under a necessity to disguise himself in women's
cloaths, which consisted with O'Neil's knowledge, and served as much
as anything to represent the great danger the Prince was in of being
discovered and seized; and for taking (as Donald said) too much of
the praise to himself. Here Donald had a remarkable expression which
I cannot fail to set down in his own words, and they are these: 'What
a deel [Sidenote: _fol._ 271.] could O'Neil do for the preservation
and safety o' the Prince in a Highland country, where he knew not
a foot of ground, and had not the language o' the people. And sic
far'd o' him, for he was no sooner frae the Prince than he was tane
prisoner. I own he was as faithful and trusty a friend as the Prince
or any man could have, and made an excellent companion to him. But
then he could have done nothing for his preservation if there had
not been some Highland body like mysell wi' them. Faith he taks ower
mickell to himsell; and he is not blate to mind himsell sae mickle
and to forget others that behoved to do much more than he could do in
sic a case.'
Donald found fault with some other instances in O'Neil's Journal,
which it is needless to particularize; for the above particulars are
sufficient for a specimen. In general he said the Journal was not at
all just and exact.
Mr. Finlayson too found fault with O'Neil's account of the battle of
Culloden, and said that in that matter he was far from being right.
After reading O'Neil's Journal, Deacon Clerk and Mr. Finlayson went
off. But luckily Malcolm MacLeod came to us, to whom I resumed what
had passed upon O'Neil's Journal. [Sidenote: _fol._ 272.] Malcolm
said he had reason to think that O'Neil's account was not just in
several things, for that it consisted with his knowledge that O'Neil
had advanced several things in London that would not stand the test.
He said he could not have a good opinion of O'Neil when he was not at
the pains to call for Donald MacLeod, his companion in distress, whom
he could not fail to know to be in London at the very same time he
himself was in it, and to whom he could have had easy access at any
time he pleased. Mean time Malcolm joined with Donald in asserting
that he believed O'Neil was most faithful and trusty to the Prince,
and would do any thing or run any risque to promote his interest. But
then he could not help observing that it was impossible for O'Neil to
do anything for the safety of the Prince in a country where he was
altogether a stranger, and behoved to be at a very great loss for
want of the language.
When I was beginning to take down Donald's account in writing, he
told me it was not in his power (as I had asked him) to remember
particularly the days of the month in such a long time; but he would
do his best to call to mind how many days and nights they had been
in this and the other [Sidenote: _fol._ 273.] place, and from that I
might if I pleased at my own leisure afterwards make out the days of
the month so as to agree with April 20th or 21st, the day on which he
met with the Prince in the wood, and undertook to pilot him to the
Isles; and to make his parting with the Prince to come within three
or four days of the time when the Prince and Miss MacDonald went off
together to the Isle of Sky; which, he said, was exactly the case. He
desired me to fix their setting out from the Continent on board the
eight-oar'd boat to the 26th of April, and then he said I might make
out the other days of the month at my own leisure.
[Sidenote: 1746 February.]
[Sidenote: 17 Feb.]
Donald MacLeod[130] coming to Inverness (when Lord Loudon and his men
were lying in and about that town) with a view of taking in a cargoe
of meal for the inhabitants of Sky, happened to make a much longer
stay there than at first he had proposed, the weather having proved
very stormy and cross. When the Prince and his army were marching
towards Inverness, Lord Loudon and his men gave out that they were
resolved to fight them, and accordingly (as they pretended) made
ready for battle, the pipes playing and the drums beating to arms;
when in an instant, instead of fighting they wheel'd about and made
off with speed, some to the old citadel (called Cromwell's Fort),
and others to the bridge, in order to [Sidenote: _fol._ 274.] get
on board of ships and boats, the better to make their escape.[131]
Donald, walking along the bridge to see what course they were to
take, chanced to fall in with his own chiftain, the Laird of MacLeod,
who asked him how he was to dispose of himself now. Donald said he
was to go back to Inverness for a horse he had there, for that he
thought it foolish for him to lose his horse whatever might happen.
The Laird forbad him to do any such thing, assuring him he would
certainly be made a prisoner by the rebels if he returned into the
town. Donald replied he was very indifferent whether he was made a
prisoner or not, being confident that they would not do any harm to
him that was nothing but a poor auld man. The Laird walked back with
him as if he had been wanting some thing out of the town till they
came near the gate next to the bridge, where they began to hear the
pipes of the Prince's army playing very briskly; and then the Laird
thought fit to turn tail and run with speed. Donald never ance fashed
himself, but went into the town at his own leisure, where he had not
been long till he fell in with the MacDonalds of Glencoe, who took
him prisoner, and would have him to give up his broadsword, 'which,'
said Donald, 'I was unco unwilling to [Sidenote: _fol._ 275.] part
wi', for it was a piece of very good stuff.' But luckily for him
the old Laird of MacKinnon came up, who, taking him by the hand and
asking very kindly about his welfare, assured the party that Donald
was an honest man, and that he would be bail for him. Upon which they
allowed Donald to keep the claymore and to go along with MacKinnon.
After this Donald had no great inclination to leave Inverness, but
saunter'd about among his good friends and acquaintances in the army.
[130] From this point to f. 316 of the manuscript, this narrative is
printed in _Jacobite Memoirs_, ff. 373-411.
[131] See ff. 261, 649, 1258.
[Sidenote: April.]
About the beginning of April 1746, Æneas MacDonald (one of
Kinlochmoidart's brothers, and a banker at Paris) sent for Donald
MacLeod and told him that he heard that he (Donald) knew the coast
well, and likewise the course to the different Isles, and that as he
was upon going to the island of Barra for a small sum of money that
was lying there, only about £380 Sterling, he was desirous to have
him for his pilot and guide. Donald MacLeod very frankly agreed to do
that, or anything else in his power to promote the Prince's interest.
On board they go, and though the sea was swarming with sloops of war,
boats and yawls full of militia, viz., the Campbells, the MacLeods,
and MacDonalds of Sky, etc., yet they had the good luck to get safe
to Barra, where they got the money. But they behoved to remove from
place to place for [Sidenote: _fol._ 276.] fear of being discovered
and taken, when Æneas and Donald were in Barra. John Ferguson
(captain of the _Furnace_ sloop) came upon the coast of the Island,
and sent a letter to MacDonald of Boisdale (in whose house Æneas and
Donald had been) by a yawl full of the MacLeods, desiring Boisdale
to come on board and speak with him. When the MacLeods returned to
the sloop, they informed Captain Ferguson that they had seen Donald
MacLeod upon shore; and they were persuaded he was about no good. He
behoved to be about some mischief or another, for well did they know
him, and what way he would be employed. After this Æneas and Donald
were obliged to be more wary and cautious than ever, and were much
put to it how to get off, as the sloops, boats, etc., were cruizing
in great numbers about all the places of the Long Isle. At last they
got off with the cash to the island of Cana, at the distance of
ten leagues from South Uist towards the mainland. From thence they
sailed to the island of Egg, twelve miles from Cana; and from Egg
they steered their course to the mainland, where they arrived at
Kinlochmoidart's house, which is about six or seven leagues from Egg.
About four or five days after they came to Kinlochmoidart they were
thinking of setting out for Inverness, when Æneas MacDonald received
a letter from the Prince containing the [Sidenote: _fol._ 277.]
accounts of the battle of Culloden. Æneas said to Donald that he had
very bad news to give him, and then told him that the Prince and his
army had been totally routed near Culloden house. In this letter
Æneas was ordered to meet the Prince at Boradale, and immediately
upon receipt of the letter he set out, and returned that same night
to Kinlochmoidart. About two days after this, Lord Elcho and Captain
O'Neil came to Kinlochmoidart.
[Sidenote: 20 April]
In one day three several messages (for the greater security lest any
one of them should happen to miscarry or come by any misfortune)
came to Donald MacLeod desiring him forthwith to go to the Prince
at Boradale, which order he obeyed directly. When Donald came to
Boradale, the first man he met with was the Prince in a wood, all
alone. This was about four or five days after the battle. April 20th
or 21st.
[It is to be remarked here when Donald spoke to the Prince he always
used these terms, May it please your Majesty, or May it please your
excellency.]
The Prince, making towards Donald, asked, 'Are you Donald MacLeod
of Guatergill in Sky?' 'Yes,' said Donald, 'I am the same man, may
it please your Majesty, at your service. What is your pleasure wi'
me?' 'Then,' said the Prince, 'You see, Donald, I am in distress. I
therefore throw myself into your bosom, and let you do with me what
you like. I hear you are an honest man, and fit to be trusted.'
[Sidenote: _fol._ 278.] When Donald was giving me this part of the
narrative he grat sare, the tears came running down his cheeks; and
he said, 'Wha deel could help greeting when speaking on sic a sad
subject?' Donald made this return to the Prince. 'Alas, may it please
your excellency, what can I do for you? for I am but a poor auld man,
and can do very little for mysell.' 'Why,' said the Prince, 'the
service I am to put you upon I know you can perform very well. It
is that you may go with letters from me to Sir Alexander MacDonald
and the Laird of MacLeod. I desire therefore to know if you will
undertake this piece of service; for I am really convinced that these
gentlemen for all that they have done, will do all in their power to
protect me.' Upon hearing this Donald was struck with surprize, and
plainly told the Prince he would do anything but that. It was a task
he would not undertake if he should hang him for refusing. 'What,'
said Donald, 'does not your excellency know that these men have
played the rogue to you altogether, and will you trust them for a'
that? Na, you mauna do 't.' Then Donald informed the Prince that Sir
Alexander MacDonald and the Laird of MacLeod were then, with forces
along with them, in search of him not above the distance of ten or
twelve miles by sea from him, but a much greater distance by land;
and therefore the sooner he left that place the better, not knowing
how soon they might come up to it, especially if they should happen
to take their [Sidenote: _fol._ 279.] course by sea. Donald still
repeated his dislike of the measure in sending any message to Sir
Alexander MacDonald and the Laird of MacLeod, and said he would not
risque upon going any message to these gentlemen from the Prince at
any rate (in the present circumstances) for more reasons than one.
At this time, very luckily for the Prince, Cumberland and his army
entertain'd the notion that he had set sail from the continent for
St. Kilda, being a place so remote that no suspicion would be readily
entertained of his being there. Upon this General Campbell was
dispatched with such a considerable force as took up all the fleet
that was upon the coast, but to no purpose. When General Campbell
appeared upon the coast of St. Kilda, the greater part of the poor
inhabitants ran off to the clifts of their rocks to hide themselves,
being frighted out of their wits at seeing such an appearance coming
towards their island. Such of the forces as landed enquired at
the inhabitants they met with about the young Pretender. The poor
creatures were quite amazed, and declared they knew nothing of that
man, for they had never [Sidenote: _fol._ 280.] heard of him before.
They said they had heard a report that their Laird, MacLeod, had
lately had war with a great woman abroad, but that he had got the
better of her, and that was all they knew of the disturbances in
the world. Upon this the General and his command (not a small one)
returned with their finger in their cheek, when in the meantime they
thought they had been sure to catch the much-coveted price of blood.
When Donald MacLeod had absolutely refused to go any message
whatsomever to Sir Alexander MacDonald and the Laird of MacLeod,
the Prince said to him. 'I hear, Donald, you are a good pilot; that
you know all this coast well, and therefore I hope you can carry me
safely through the islands where I may look for more safety than I
can do here.' Donald answered he would do anything in the world for
him; he would run any risque except only that which he had formerly
mentioned; and that he most willingly undertook to do his [Sidenote:
April] best in the service he now proposed. For this purpose Donald
procured a stout eight-oar'd boat, the property of John MacDonald,
son of Æneas or Angus Mac-Donald of Boradale. Both Donald MacLeod
and Malcolm MacLeod said that this John MacDonald was either killed
at the battle of Culloden [Sidenote: _fol._ 281.] or butchered next
day in cold blood (which was the fate of many), for that he had never
been heard of since that time. Donald took care to buy a pot for
boyling pottage or the like when they should happen to come to land,
and a poor firlot of meal was all the provision he could make out to
take with them.
[Sidenote: 26 April]
April 26th. They go on board in the twilight of the evening in
Lochnannua, at Boradale, being the very spot of ground where the
Prince landed at first upon the continent; and Boradale's house was
the first roof he was under when he arrived upon the continent.
There were in the boat the Prince, Captain O'Sullivan, Captain
O'Neil, Allan MacDonald, commonly called Captain MacDonald (of the
family of Clanranald), and a clergyman of the Church of Rome; and
Donald MacLeod for pilot managing the helm, and betwixt whose feet
the Prince took his seat. The names of the boatmen are: Rhoderick
MacDonald, Lauchlan MacMurrich, Rhoderick MacCaskgill, John
MacDonald, Murdoch MacLeod (son of the pilot), Duncan Roy, Alexander
MacDonald, and Edward Bourk or Burk, a common chairman in Edinburgh.
The above Murdoch MacLeod was then a lad only of 15 years of age,
a scholar in the Grammar School of Inverness. When he heard of the
appearance of a battle, having got himself [Sidenote: _fol._ 282.]
provided in a claymore, durk, and pistol, he ran off from the school,
and took his chance in the field of Culloden battle. After the
defeat he found means to trace out the road the Prince had taken,
and followed him from place to place; 'and this was the way,' said
Donald, 'that I met wi' my poor boy.'
As to Ned Bourk, I asked if Bourk was not an Irish name, and where
Ned was born. Both Donald and Malcolm joined in saying that Bourk
indeed was originally an Irish name, but that there had been some of
that name for three or four generations past in and about the Isle of
Sky, where, or rather in North Uist, Ned was born. They likewise told
me that Ned from the beginning of the expedition had been servant to
Mr. Alexander MacLeod (son of Mr. John MacLeod, Advocate), one of the
Prince's aid-de-camps; that Ned knew all Scotland well, and a great
part of England, having been servant to several gentlemen; and that
he was _the man_ that led the Prince off the field of battle, and
guided him all the way to Boradale. They spoke excellent things of
poor Ned; and James MacDonald, the landlord, supported them in what
they said, for he knows Ned very well.
[Sidenote: 27 April]
When the Prince and his small retinue were thinking of going on board
the eight-oar'd boat, Donald MacLeod begged [Sidenote: _fol._ 283.]
the Prince not to set out that night, for that it would certainly be
a storm, and he could not think of his exposing himself. The Prince
asked how Donald came to think it would be a storm. 'Why, sir,' said
Donald, 'I see it coming already.' However, the Prince, anxious to
be out of the continent where parties were then dispersed in search
of him, was positive to set out directly without loss of time. They
had not rowed far from the shore till a most violent tempest arose,
greater than any Donald MacLeod had ever been trysted with before,
though all his lifetime a seafaring man, upon the coast of Scotland.
To this they had the additional distress of thunder and lightning and
a heavy pour-down of rain, which continued all the time they were at
sea. When the Prince saw the storm increasing still more and more he
wanted much to be at land again, and desired Donald to steer directly
for the rock, which runs no less than three miles along one side
of the loch. 'For,' said the Prince, 'I had rather face canons and
muskets than be in such a storm as this.' But Donald would not hear
of that proposal at all, assuring the Prince that it was impossible
for them to return to the land again, because the squall was against
them, and that if they should steer for the rock the boat would
undoubtedly stave to pieces and all of them behoved to be drowned,
for there was no [Sidenote: _fol._ 284.] possibility of saving any
one life amongst them upon such a dangerous rock, where the sea was
dashing with the utmost violence. The Prince then asked Donald what
he had a mind to do. 'Why,' replied Donald, 'since we are here we
have nothing for it, but, under God, to set out to sea directly. Is
it not as good for us to be drown'd in clean water as to be dashed in
pieces upon a rock and to be drowned too?'
After this all was hush and silence; not one word more amongst them,
expecting every moment to be overwhelmed with the violence of the
waves, and to sink down to the bottom. To make the case still worse
they had neither pump nor compass nor lantern with them, and the
night turned so pitch dark that they knew not where they were for the
most of the course. This made them afraid of being tossed upon some
coast (such as the Isle of Sky) where the militia were in arms to
prevent the Prince's escape. 'But,' to use Donald's words, 'as God
would have it, by peep of day we discovered ourselves to be on the
coast of the Long Isle, and we made directly to the nearest land,
which was Rushness in the Island Benbecula. With great difficulty we
got on shore, and saved the boat, hawling her up to dry land, in the
morning of April 27th.
I asked how long the course might be that they made in the violent
storm. Donald declared that they had run at least [Sidenote: _fol._
285.] thirty-two leagues in eight hours. About this Malcom MacLeod
made some doubt, alleging the course not to be so long, and they
reasoned the matter betwixt them. James MacDonald supported Donald in
what he had advanced, and after some debate Malcolm acknowledged that
Donald was in the right, and that the course they had been driven was
rather more than thirty-two leagues. The storm lasted 4 hours after
landing.
Then I asked Donald if the Prince was in health all the time he
was with him. Donald said that the Prince would never own he was
in bad health, though he and all that were with him had reason to
think that during the whole time the Prince was more or less under
a bloody flux; but that he bore up most surprizingly, and never
wanted spirits. Donald added, that the Prince, for all the fatigue he
underwent, never slept above three or four hours at most at a time,
and that when he awaked in the morning he was always sure to call for
a chopin of water, which he never failed to drink off at a draught;
and that he had a little bottle in his poutch out of which he used to
take so many drops every morning and throughout the day, saying if
anything should ail him he hoped he should cure himself, for that he
was something of a doctor. 'And faith,' said Donald, 'he was indeed
a bit of a doctor, for Ned Bourk happening ance to be unco ill of
a cholick, the Prince said, 'Let him alane, I hope to cure him of
that,' and accordingly [Sidenote: _fol._ 286.] he did so, for he gae
him sae mony draps out o' the little bottlie and Ned soon was as well
as ever he had been.'
When they landed at Rushness in Benbecula, they came to an
uninhabited hut where they made a fire to dry their cloaths, for
all of them were wet through and through in to the skin, and an old
sail was spread upon the bare ground, which served for a bed to the
Prince, who was very well pleased with it, and slept soundly. Here
they kill'd a cow, and the pot which Donald had brought served them
in good stead for boyling bits of the beef. In this poor hut they
remained two days and two nights.
[Sidenote: 29 April]
[Sidenote: 30 April]
April 29th. In the evening they set sail from Benbecula on board
the same eight-oar'd boat for the island Scalpay, commonly called
the Island Glass, where they landed safely about two hours before
daylight next day, the Prince and O'Sullivan going under the name
of Sinclair, the latter passing for the father, and the former for
the son. Betwixt Benbecula and Scalpay there is the distance of
thirteen or fifteen leagues. In this island Donald MacLeod had an
acquaintance, Donald Campbell, to whose house he brought the Prince
and his small retinue before break of day, April 30th. Being all
cold and hungry, Donald MacLeod desired immediately to have a good
fire, which was instantly got for them. Donald MacLeod was here
only one night, but the Prince remained four nights, and was most
kindly entertained by his hospitable landlord, Donald Campbell, whose
civility and compassion the Prince entertained a most grateful sense
of.[132]
[132] See ff. 926-928.
[Sidenote: 1 May]
[Sidenote: _fol._ 287.]
May 1st. Donald MacLeod was dispatched by the Prince to Stornway in
the island of Lewis in order to hire a vessel under a pretence of
sailing to the Orkneys to take in meal for the Isle of Sky, as Donald
used to deal in that way formerly. Here Donald once more affirmed
that O'Neil did not go with him to Stornway, and desired me to remark
his assertion accordingly. Donald left the eight-oar'd boat at
Scalpay, and got another boat from his friend, Mr. Campbell, in which
he sailed for Stornway, where he remained some time without making
out the design on which he was sent. But at last he succeeded, and
then dispatched an express to the Prince in Scalpay (between which
and Stornway thirty miles by land) to inform him that he had got a
vessel to his mind.
[Sidenote: 4 May]
May 4th. The Prince (leaving Allan MacDonald, the Popish clergyman in
Scalpay, who afterwards returned to South Uist), set out on foot for
Stornoway, attended by O'Sullivan and O'Neil, taking a guide along
to direct them the right road. This guide, in going to the Harris
(between which and Scalpay there is a ferry of only a quarter of a
mile) took them eight miles out of the way. In coming from Harris to
the Lewis they fell under night, and a very stormy and rainy night it
was, which fatigued them very much, their journey, by the mistake of
their guide, being no less than thirty-eight long Highland miles.
[Sidenote: 5 May]
[Sidenote: _fol._ 288.] May 5th. When in sight of Stornway the
Prince sent the guide to Donald MacLeod to inform him that he and
the two captains were at such a place, desiring withal that he would
forthwith send them a bottle of brandy and some bread and cheese,
for that they stood much in need of a little refreshment. Donald
immediately obeyed the summons and came to the Prince, bringing along
with him the demanded provisions. He found the Prince and his two
attendants upon a muir all wet to the skin, and wearied enough with
such a long journey through the worst of roads in the world. Donald
told the Prince that he knew of a faithful and true friend to take
care of him till things should be got ready for the intended voyage.
This was the Lady Killdun[133] at Arynish, to whose house Donald
conducted the Prince and his two attendants. Here the Prince was
obliged to throw off his shirt, which one of the company did wring
upon the hearth-stone, and did spread it upon a chair before the fire
to have it dried.
[133] Of the family of MacKenzie.
The same day, May 5th, Donald was sent back to Stornway to get things
in readiness. But when he came there, to his great surprize he found
no less than two or three hundred men in arms. The Lewis is inhabited
by the MacKenzies, and belongs to the Earl of Seaforth. Donald could
not understand [Sidenote: _fol._ 289.] at all what was the matter
that occasioned such a sudden rising of men, and therefore, without
fear or dread, he went directly into the room where the gentlemen
were that had taken upon themselves the rank of officers, and asked
them what was the matter. Every one of them immediately cursed him
bitterly, and gave him very abusive language, affirming that he had
brought this plague upon them; for that they were well assured the
Prince was already upon the Lewis, and not far from Stornway, with
five hundred men. This they said exposed them to the hazard of losing
both their cattle and their lives, as they heard the Prince was come
with a full resolution to force a vessel from Stornway. Donald very
gravely asked, How sorrow such a notion could ever enter into their
heads? 'Where, I pray you,' said he, 'could the Prince in his present
condition get 500 or one hundred men together? I believe the men are
mad. Has the devil possessed you altogether?' They replied that Mr.
John MacAulay, Presbyterian preacher in South Uist, had writ these
accounts to his [Sidenote: _fol._ 290.] father in the Harris, and
that the said father had transmitted the same to Mr. Colin MacKenzie,
Presbyterian teacher in the Lewis. Donald saned these blades, the
informers, very heartily, and spared not to give them their proper
epithets in strong terms. 'Well then,' said Donald, 'since you know
already that the Prince is upon your island, I acknowledge the truth
of it; but then he is so far from having any number of men with him
that he has only but two companions with him, and when I am there
I make the third. And yet let me tell you farther, gentlemen, if
Seaforth himself were here, by G---- he durst not put a hand to the
Prince's breast.'
Here Donald desired me to remark particularly for the honour of the
honest MacKenzies in the Lewis (notwithstanding the vile abusive
language they had given him) that they declared they had no intention
to do the Prince the smallest hurt, or to meddle with him at present
in any shape. But then they were mighty desirous he might leave them
and go to the continent, or anywhere else he should think convenient.
The wind being quite fair for the continent Donald desired they
would give him a pilot, but they absolutely refused to give him one.
Donald offered any money for one, but he said he believed he would
not have got one though he should have offered £500 sterling, such
was the terror and dread the people [Sidenote: _fol._ 291.] were
struck with. Donald then returned to the Prince and gave him an
honest account how matters stood, which made them all at a loss to
know what course to take, all choices having but a bad aspect.
At this time the Prince, O'Sullivan and O'Neill had but six shirts
amongst them, and frequently when they stript to dry those that were
upon them they found those that they were to put on as wet as the
ones they had thrown off.
In this great difficulty the Prince declared, let the consequence be
what it would, he could not think of stirring anywhere that night
till he should sleep a little, so much was he fatigued with the late
tedious journey. And the two captains were no less wearied, being
quite undone. To make their case still worse, two of the boatmen
had run away from Stornway, being frighted out of their wits at the
rising of the men in arms.
[Sidenote: 6 May]
May 6th. About eight o'clock in the morning the Prince, O'Sullivan,
O'Neil, Donald MacLeod and the six boatmen (two whereof were Donald's
own son and honest Ned Bourk), went on board Donald Campbell's boat,
which they had got at Scalpa, and sailed for the Island Euirn, twelve
miles from [Sidenote: _fol._ 292.] Stornway, and landed safely. This
Euirn is a desert island round which the people of the Lewis use to
go a fishing, and upon which they frequently land to spread their
fish upon the rocks of it for drying. The fishermen were then at
Stornway, but not one of them could be prevailed upon to accompany
the Prince to the uninhabited island, for the wind was contrary, and
it blew a very hard gale.
When they were in Lady Killdun's house they had killed a cow, for
which the Prince desired payment to be made; but the landlady refused
to accept of it. However, Donald said, before they left the house he
obliged her to take the price of the cow. 'For,' said Donald, 'so
long as there was any money among us, I was positive that the deel a
man or woman should have it to say that the Prince ate their meat for
nought.' They took the head and some pieces of the cow along with
them in the boat, as also two pecks of meal and plenty of brandy and
sugar. They had all along a wooden plate for making their dough for
bread, and they made use of stones for birsling their bannocks before
the fire. When they were parting with Lady Killdun she called Ned
Bourk aside and (as Donald said) gave him a junt of butter betwixt
two fardles of [Sidenote: _fol._ 293.] bread, which Ned put into a
wallet they had for carrying some little baggage.
Upon the desart island they found plenty of good dry fish, of which
they were resolved to make the best fare they could without any
butter, not knowing of the junt that Ned had in his wallet. As they
had plenty of brandy and sugar along with them, and found very good
springs upon the island, they wanted much to have a little warm punch
to chear their hearts in this cold remote place. They luckily found a
earthen pitcher which the fishers had left upon the island, and this
served their purpose very well for heating the punch. But the second
night the pitcher by some accident or another was broke to pieces, so
that they could have no more warm punch.
When Donald was asked if ever the Prince used to give any particular
toast when they were taking a cup of cold water, whiskie, or the
like, he said that the Prince very often drank to the Black Eye, 'by
which,' said Donald, 'he meant the second daughter of France; and I
never heard him name any particular health but that alone.[134] When
he spoke of that lady, which he did frequently, he appeared to be
more than ordinary well pleased.' When Donald was asked if ever he
heard the Prince mention that he had any trust to put in the King of
France [Sidenote: _fol._ 294.] for assistance, he answered that the
Prince when he spoke of the King of France mentioned him with great
affection, and declared that he firmly believed the King of France
had his cause much at heart, and would (he hoped) do all in his power
to promote it. When the Prince at any time was talking upon this
subject, Donald said he used to add these words: 'But, gentlemen, I
can assure you, a King and his Council are two very different things.'
[134] See f. 1686.
Ned Bourk stood cook and baxter; but Donald said, the Prince was the
best cook of them all. One day upon the desart island the Prince
and Ned were employed in making out a dish of fish, while all the
rest were asleep. Ned, not minding that he had the junt of butter,
began to complain that the fish would make but a very sarless morsel
without butter. The Prince said the fish would do very well in their
present condition, and that they behoved to take the fish till the
butter should come. Ned, at last reflecting, told the Prince that he
had got a junt of butter from Lady Killdun, which he laid up betwixt
two fardles of bread in the wallet, which was then lying in the boat.
The Prince said that would do exceedingly well, for it would serve to
compleat their cookery, and desired Ned to go fetch it immediately.
When Ned came to take out the butter the bread was all crumbled
into pieces, so that it made a very ugly appearance. Ned [Sidenote:
_fol._ 295.] returned and told the Prince the butter would not serve
the purpose at all, for that it was far from being clean, the bread
being crumbled into pieces and wrought in amongst it, and therefore
he thought shame to present it. 'What,' said the Prince, 'was not the
butter clean when it was put there?' 'Yes,' answered Ned, 'it was
clean enough.' 'Then,' replied the Prince, 'you are a child, Ned.
The butter will do exceedingly well. The bread can never file it.
Go, fetch it immediately.' When the fish were sufficiently boyled
they awakened the rest of the company to share in the entertainment.
Donald MacLeod, looking at the butter, said the deel a drap of that
butter he would take, for it was neither good nor clean. But the
Prince told him he was very nice indeed, for that the butter would
serve the turn very well at present, and he caused it to be served
up. They made a very hearty meal of the fish and the crumbs of bread
swimming among the butter.
At another time, when Ned was preparing to bake some bannocks, the
Prince said he would have a cake of his own contriving, which was
to take the brains of the cow and mingle them well in amongst the
meal, when making the dough, and this he said they would find to be
very wholesome meat. His directions were obeyed, and, said Donald,
'he gave orders to [Sidenote: _fol._ 296.] birsle the bannock well,
or else it would not do at all.' When the cake was fully fired the
Prince divided it into so many pieces, giving every gentleman a bit
of it; and Donald said, 'it made very good bread indeed.'
Here I asked if the boatmen did eat in common with the Prince and the
gentlemen? 'Na, good faith, they!' said Donald, 'set them up wi' that
indeed, the fallows! to eat wi' the Prince and the shentlemen! We
even kept up the port of the Prince upon the desart island itself and
kept twa tables, one for the Prince and the shentlemen, and the other
for the boatmen. We sat upon the bare ground, having a big stone in
the middle of us for a table, and sometimes we ate off our knee or
the bare ground as it happened.'
Upon this uninhabited island they remained four days and four nights
in a low, pityful hut, which the fishers had made up for themselves;
but it was so ill-roofed that they were obliged to spread the sail of
the boat over the top of it. They found heath and turf enough to make
a fire of; but had nothing but the bare ground to lie along upon when
disposed to take a nap, without any covering upon them at all.
When they were consulting about taking their departure from this
barren island, the Prince ordered two dozen of the fish to be put
on board the boat whatever might happen to [Sidenote: _fol._ 297.]
them, and said he would leave money for them, placing the cash upon
a fish, that so the people, when they missed of the number of their
fish might find the value of what they wanted. But O'Sullivan or
O'Neil told him it was needless to leave any money, lest vagrants
should happen to land upon the island and take the money which did
not belong to them. These two prevailed upon him to allow the money
to be taken up again.
[Sidenote: 10 May]
May 10th. They set sail from the uninhabited island, when the Prince
told his retinue he was determined to return to Scalpay or the Island
Glass, in order to pay his respects to honest Donald Campbell for the
remarkable civilities he had shown him; and then he ordered to steer
the course directly to that island. When they arrived at Scalpay,
Donald Campbell was not at home, having gone a skulking for fear
of being laid up, an account or rumour having passed from hand to
hand that the Prince had been in his house, and that the landlord
had entertained him kindly. The Prince was sorry at missing his
hospitable friend, and set sail directly from Scalpa the same day,
May 10th. Here Donald said the Prince would not part with Campbell's
boat, because it was such a fine, light, swift-sailing thing. In
coursing along they happened to spy a ship at Finisbery, in the
Harris, within two musket-shot, before they observed her. They were
on the windward of the ship at the mouth of the said bay, and made
[Sidenote: _fol._ 298.] all the haste they could along the coast to
Benbicula. In this course they spied another ship in Lochmaddy, in
North Uist, which occasioned them to make all the sail and rowing
they could to get free of the mouth of the loch and out of sight of
the ship.
[Sidenote: 11 May]
May 11th. Being still upon the sea they fell short of bread; but
having some meal on board and the men turning very hungry and
thirsty, they began to make Dramach (in Erse _Stappack_) with salt
water, and to lick it up. The Prince said that was a kind of meat
he had never seen before, and therefore he behoved to try it how it
would go down. Donald said the Prince ate of it very heartily, and
much more than he could do for his life. Never any meat or drink came
wrong to him, for he could take a share of every thing, be it good,
bad, or indifferent, and was always chearful and contented in every
condition.
May 11th. They arrived at Lochwiskaway, in Benbicula, and had scarce
got ashore when the wind proved quite contrary to what it had been,
blowing a hard gale, which served to make the ships they had spied
steer an opposite course. A heavy rain likewise came on at the same
time. It happened then to be low water; and one of the boatmen went
in among the rocks where he catched a large partan, and taking it up
in his hand he wagged it at the Prince, who was at some distance from
him. The Prince then took up a cog in his hand, and running towards
the lad desired to share in his game.[135]
[135] There is a hiatus here, a leaf of the original having
apparently been lost, viz., ff. 299, 300.
* * * * *
[Sidenote: June]
[Sidenote: _fol._ 301.] dispatched Donald MacLeod in Campbell's
boat to the continent with letters to Lochiel and John Murray of
Broughton, in order to know how affairs stood, and that Donald might
bring along with him some cash and brandy. Donald met with Lochiel
and Murray at the head of Locharkaig; but got no money at all from
Murray, who said he had none to give, having only about sixty louis
d'ores to himself, which was not worth the while to send. Donald
received letters from Lochiel and Murray to the Prince, and found
means without much ado to purchase two anchors of brandy at a guinea
per anchor. Here Donald observed that the Prince had a very good
opinion of Murray, looking upon him as one of the honestest, firmest
men in the whole world.
Donald was absent from the Prince eighteen days or thereabouts, and
upon his return he found the Prince where he left him upon Coradale.
During his abode on this mountain he lived in a tenant's house, only
a hut better than ordinary, diverting and maintaining himself with
hunting and fishing; for he used frequently to go down to the foot of
the hill upon the shore, and there go on board a small boat, which
continued rowing along, and he catched with hand-lines fishes called
lyths, somewhat like young cod.
[Sidenote: 14 June]
[Sidenote: 15 June]
June 14th. From the foot of Coradale they set sail in [Sidenote:
_fol._ 302.] Campbell's boat still towards Loch Boisdale, but spying
three sail within canon-shot of the shore about break of day, this
obliged them to put back to a place called Cilistiela in South
Uist.[136] Next morning, June 15th, once more they set sail for
Loch Boisdale, where they arrived safely. Here they got accounts
that Boisdale was made a prisoner, which was a thing not looked for
at all, as he had all along lived peaceably at home, and had kept
back all Clanranald's men upon the Isles from following their young
chiftain. These accounts of Boisdale's being a prisoner distressed
the Prince and his small retinue exceedingly much, as Boisdale was
the person principally concerned in the preservation of the Prince;
and all along had been most careful to consult the safety of the
Prince in his dangers upon and about the Isles. Malcolm MacLeod and
Donald MacLeod both agreed in affirming that had not Boisdale been
made a prisoner the Prince needed not to have left the Long Isle for
all the searches (and very strict ones they were) that were made
after him by the troops and militia; so well did Boisdale know all
the different places of concealment throughout the Long Isle that
were fittest for the Prince to be in, and so exact he was in sending
timeous notice to the Prince by proper hands, if he could not with
safety wait upon him in person, to be here or there, in this or the
other place, at such and such times as he thought convenient to
point out to him. Boisdale's confinement therefore behoved to be an
inexpressible [Sidenote: _fol._ 303.] hardship and distress upon the
Prince, and make him quite at a loss what to do or what corner to
turn himself to.
[136] See f. 460, for some additions here.
[Sidenote: 24 June]
Lady Boisdale sent four bottles of brandy to the Prince, and every
other thing she could procure that was useful for him and his
attendants. In and about Loch Boisdale the Prince continued for eight
or ten days, till June 24th, that the woeful parting behoved to ensue
betwixt the Prince and Donald MacLeod, etc.[137]
[137] See f. 462.
One day coursing up and down upon Loch Boisdale Donald MacLeod asked
the Prince if he were once come to his own what he would do with Sir
Alexander MacDonald and the Laird of MacLeod for their behaviour. 'O
Donald,' said the Prince, 'what would you have me to do with them?
Are they not our own people still, let them do what they will? It
is not their fault for what they have done. It is altogether owing
to the power that President Forbes had over their judgment in these
matters. Besides, if the king were restored, we would be as sure of
them for friends as any other men whatsomever.' The Prince blamed
the young Laird of MacLeod much more than the father; for that, he
said, the son had been introduced to him in France, where he kissed
his hands, and solemnly promised him all the service that lay in his
power to promote his cause; but that when put to the trial he did not
keep to his engagements at all.
[Sidenote: 20 Aug.]
[Sidenote: _fol._ 304.] Here Malcolm MacLeod remarked that the Prince
spoke likewise to him about the Laird of MacLeod and his son; and
he said when the Prince was talking about them, he could not fail
observing with what wariness and caution the Prince (knowing he was
talking to a MacLeod) ordered his words, not being sure likewise in
his then circumstances whom to trust, or how easily people might be
offended at any observations he might happen to make upon those who
had not dealt so fairly by him.
Both Donald and Malcolm agreed in giving it as their opinion that the
Prince had an excess of mercy and goodness about him at all times.
They likewise agreed in saying they had good reason to believe
that honest Hugh MacDonald of Armadale in Sky (stepfather of Miss
MacDonald) had a meeting with the Prince at Rushness in Benbecula,
that he got the Prince's pistols in keeping, and that he had them
still in his custody.[138] They added further, they were persuaded
he would sooner part with his life than with these pistols, unless
they were to be given to the proper owner; and that he was the grand
contriver in laying and executing the scheme for the Prince's escape
in women's cloaths from the Long Isle to the Isle of Sky. They said
they had often heard that Armadale sent a letter by Miss Flora to
his wife, wherein he used some such expression as this, 'that he
had found out an Irish girl, Bettie Bourk, very fit for [Sidenote:
_fol._ 305.] being a servant to her, and that among her other good
qualifications she had this one, that _well could she spin_, which,
he knew, she liked well.'[139]
[138] See ff. 770, 805.
[139] See ff. 525, 769, 805.
They also agreed in telling me that the whole Island of Raaza had
been plundered and pillaged to the utmost degree of severity, every
house and hut being levelled with the ground; and there was not left
in the whole island a four-footed beast, a hen or a chicken.[140]
As there is plenty of free stone and marble in Raaza, the Laird had
built of these materials a very neat genteel house for himself,
which was razed out at the foundation. But in destroying it they
had carefully preserved the windows (all of oak), and put them on
board of a ship of war for sale. When the ship came to the Road of
Leith, James MacDonald, joiner, and a kinsman of Raaza's, went on
board, and bought the windows, which were all done with crown glass,
chusing rather they should fall into his hands than into those of any
indifferent person, because he could account for them to the owner
when a proper opportunity should offer. I saw the windows in James
MacDonald's house.
[140] See f. 873.
Donald MacLeod said the Prince used to smoak a great deal of tobacco;
and as in his wanderings from place to place the pipes behoved to
break and turn into short cutties, he used to take quills, and
putting one into another, and all, said Donald, [Sidenote: _fol._
306.] 'into the end of the cuttie, this served to make it long
enough, and the tobacco to smoak cool.' Donald added that he never
knew, in all his life, any one better at finding out a shift than the
Prince was when he happened to be at a pinch; and that the Prince
would sometimes sing them a song to keep up their hearts.
[Sidenote: 1746 24 June]
They expected that Boisdale would get free at Barra. But one came
and told the Prince (to his great sorrow) that Boisdale was still
to be detained a prisoner, and that there was no appearance of his
being set at liberty. This, with other distresses that were still
increasing upon him, made the Prince resolve upon parting from his
attendants for the greater safety. There were at that time two ships
of war in the mouth of Loch Boisdale, for whom they durst not make
out of the loch to the sea. Besides there was a command of above five
hundred red-coats and militia within a mile and a half of them. All
choices were bad, but (under God) they behoved to remove from the
place where they then were, and to do their best.
The Prince called for the boatmen, and ordered O'Sullivan to
pay every one of them a shilling sterling a day, besides their
maintenance. He gave a draught of sixty pistols to Donald MacLeod to
be paid by Mr. John Hay of Restalrig, if he should happen to be so
lucky as to meet with him upon the continent. [Sidenote: _fol._ 307.]
But as Donald never met with Mr. Hay the draught remains yet unpaid.
Donald could not help saying here that he did not despair of the
payment, for that he hoped for (as old as he was) to see the draught
paid to him with interest.
When Donald came to talk of the parting he grat sare and said, It was
a woeful parting indeed, but still insists that he hopes to see him
yet 'for a' that's come and gane.'
[Sidenote: 24 June]
June 24th. They parted with a resolution to meet again at a certain
place by different roads; Donald MacLeod, O'Sullivan, and the boatmen
walking away and leaving O'Neil only with the Prince. Donald MacLeod
went south about, but all the men left him, one only excepted; upon
which he was obliged to sink the boat, and to do the best he could to
shift for himself. But it was not possible for an old man like him to
keep himself any considerable time out of grips, especially as the
troops and militia at last became so very numerous upon the different
parts of the Long Isle. The militia were the worst of all, because
they knew the country so well. Donald and Malcolm MacLeod were
positive that the red-coats could have done but little, particularly
in taking those that were [Sidenote: _fol._ 308.] skulking, had it
not been for the militia, viz., Campbells, Monroes, Grants, etc.,
etc., who served to scour the hills and woods, and were as so many
guides for the red-coats to discover to them the several corners of
the country, both upon the continent and on the islands.
[Sidenote: 5 July]
July 5th. Donald MacLeod had the misfortune to be taken prisoner in
Benbecula by Allan MacDonald of Knock, in Slate in Sky, a lieutenant.
The same day Mr. Allan MacDonald,[141] of the family of Glenaladale,
and Mr. Forrest, clergyman of the Church of Rome, were made prisoners
by the said Knock, but not at the same time of day nor upon the
same spot with Donald MacLeod. Mr. MacDonald, one of the clergymen,
commonly called Captain MacDonald, had sixty guineas in his pocket,
which Knock took from him, though he was his blood relation, and
would not give him one single shilling to purchase necessaries with.
[141] At last banished. See f. 281.
[Sidenote: July]
From Benbecula the two priests and honest Donald were brought to
Barra, in order (as was given out) to appear before General Campbell;
but they did not see him there. From Barra they were carried to Loch
Brachandale in Sky, and from Loch Brachandale to Portree in Sky,
where Donald had the mortification of being neglected and disregarded
by some of his own relations, who saw him, but soon turned their
backs upon him, and would not vouchsafe to speak one word to him.
This [Sidenote: _fol._ 309.] affected Donald's honest heart very
much. 'But,' said Donald, 'the rogues will be fain to speak to me now
when I go back to Sky, where indeed I thought never to return any
more. But I shall make them understand themselves.'
At Portree Donald MacLeod and Malcolm MacLeod met as
fellow-prisoners, and from that were carried to Applecross Bay
towards the continent, and there they were put on board the sloop
commanded by the noted John Ferguson so often mentioned. Donald
MacLeod was immediately brought into the cabin before General
Campbell, who examined him most exactly and circumstantially. The
General asked if he had been along with the young Pretender? 'Yes,'
said Donald, 'I was along with that young gentleman, and I winna deny
it.' 'Do you know,' said the General, 'what money was upon that man's
head? no less a sum than _thirty thousand pounds sterling_, which
would have made you and all your children after you happy for ever.'
Donald's answer to this is so very good that the beauty of it would
be quite spoil'd if I did not give it in his own words, which are
these. 'What then? _thirty thousand pounds!_ Though I had gotten't
I could not have enjoyed it eight and forty hours. Conscience would
have gotten up upon me. That money could not have kept it down.
And tho' I could have gotten all England and Scotland for my pains
I would not allowed a hair of his body to be touch'd if I could
[Sidenote: _fol._ 310.] help it.' Here Donald desired me particularly
to remark for the honour of General Campbell, and to do him justice,
that he spoke these words, 'I will not say that you are in the
wrong.' Then the General said, 'But now you are in the king's mercy,
and if you will not declare every thing you know of this matter,
here is a machine (pointing to it) that will force you to declare.'
Donald replied that 'Many a prettier fellow than he was now in his
mercy, and that he would tell anything he knew without any machine
whatsoever.' This was Boisdale's machine in which he used to torture
thieves to make them confess.[142]
[142] See ff. 192, 690.
Such particular questions were then asked that Donald behoved to give
an account of the violent storm they were engaged in when sailing
from the continent to the Isles, what persons were on board at that
time and what their characters were. When the General heard of a
Popish priest in the case he asked, Seeing it was a very tempestuous
night they set out in from the continent, whether or not the priest
was not very busy in praying heartily for the young Pretender, as he
was in danger of drowning? 'Na, good faith he, Sir,' replied Donald,
'for if he prayed for himsell, he thought he did well enough. And
had you been there, Sir, you would have thought you did well enough
too if you prayed for yoursell. Every one of us was minding himsell
then.' Then a written declaration was taken from Donald's own mouth
and he subscribed it.
[Sidenote: _fol._ 311.]
Donald said he could easily give all his own part of the adventure
without doing the smallest harm to the Prince as he then knew that
the Prince had set out some time before from Sky to the Continent,
and was out of the reach of General Campbell and his command.
Here Malcolm MacLeod informed me that he likewise gave a written
declaration, but did not subscribe it.
They both concurred in affirming the Ferguson behaved very roughly
and barbarously to them. When they were in health they and the other
prisoners were brought upon the quarter-deck betwixt 9 and 10 in the
morning, and were allowed to walk among two dozen or so of sheep
with sentries placed on each side of them. So long as Ferguson was
cruizing upon the Highland coast he took care to have great plenty
of fresh victuals of all sorts, the sweet fruits of plundering and
pillaging. The prisoners got only half-mans allowance in every
respect. For one day of the week they had pease; but the common
fellows of the ship behoved to be served first before the gentlemen
got any at all; and if the pease happened to fall short, the fellows
would have mixed them up with salt-water. The victuals were brought
to the prisoners in foul nasty buckets, wherein the fellows used
to piss for a piece of ill-natured diversion. They were assigned
their quarters in a dark place of the ship, where [Sidenote: _fol._
312.] they were not allowed the light of a candle of any kind, 'from
the 1st of August 1746 to the day,' said Donald and Malcolm, 'upon
which Lord Lovat suffered, being April 9th (Thursday) 1747. When
they were brought opposite to Tilbury Fort upon the Thames, they
were turned over from Ferguson to another [Sidenote: April] ship,
where they lay for months together in a most deplorable state of
misery, their cloaths wearing so off them that many at last had not
a single rag to cover their nakedness with. Here they were treated
with the utmost barbarity and cruelty, with a view (as they suppose)
to pine away their lives, and by piecemeal to destroy every single
man of them. And indeed the design had too great success, for many of
them died. Donald MacLeod said he had reason to think that no less
than four hundred men died on board three ships opposite to Tilbury
Fort,[143] among which sixty or seventy Grants of Glenmoriston, who
by the persuasion of the laird of Grant had surrendred themselves and
delivered up their arms at Inverness, when Cumberland was there not
long after the battle of Culloden. Donald and Malcolm declared that
finer and stouter men never drew a sword then what these Glenmoriston
men were; and none of them survived the miserable situation and
returned to their own country, but only one or two. They likewise
joined in laying great blame to the door of the Laird of Grant, who,
[Sidenote: _fol._ 313.] they said, could not fail to know what would
turn out to be the fate of those men if they should be prevailed
upon to surrender. In a word they looked upon him as the instrument
of the misery of these brave fellows, and spoke no good things of
him at all, affirming that he entertained a hatred at the Grants of
Glenmoriston.[144]
[143] See f. 1967.
[144] See ff. 1329, 1489, 1660.
Here Donald and Malcolm had a remark very much to the purpose. They
said, It was most lucky that a greater number had not surrendered at
the same time, for that the treatment of the Glenmoriston men became
a warning to others not to follow their example. And indeed their
fate did prevent many surrendries that otherwise would have happened.
Donald MacLeod affirmed that they lived at least for two days upon
horse flesh. Here Malcolm did not fully agree with him, and after
some little debate betwixt them Malcolm qualified the expression and
told me I might write down that the beef they got was so very bad and
black that they could not take it for anything else but horse flesh
or carrion. Upon this Donald smiled and said, 'Well, Malcolm, how
much have you mended the matter?' When Donald was asked how such
beef went down with them, he replied, 'O what is it that will not go
down wi' a hungry stomack? I can assure you we made no scruple to eat
anything that came in our way.'
[Sidenote: _fol._ 314.]
Almost all those that were in the same ship with Donald and Malcolm
were once so sick that they could scarce stretch out their hands
to one another. Old MacKinnon, one of their companions, held out
wonderfully, although a man upwards of 70. He was only about eight
days in such a way that he needed one to help him up in the morning;
while others much younger, and to all appearances stronger too, were
dying by pairs, as at last there was a general sickness that raged
among all the prisoners on board the different ships, which could
not fail to be the case when (as both Donald and Malcolm positively
affirmed) they were sometimes fed with the beeves that had died
of the disease which was then raging amongst the horned cattle in
England.
When Donald and Malcolm were talking of the barbarous usage they
themselves and others met with, they used to say, 'God forgie them;
but God lat them never die till we have them in the same condition
they had us, and we are sure we would not treat them as they treated
us. We would show them the difference between a good and a bad cause.'
Donald MacLeod spoke very much good of Mr. James Falconar, a Scots
non-jurant clergyman, and Charles Allan, son of Hary Allan in Leith.
He said that Charles Allan behaved exceedingly well in his distress,
and had very much of [Sidenote: _fol._ 315.] the gentleman about him,
and that he was in a state of sickness for some time. He said that
Mr. Falconar was scarce ever any way ill in his health, that he bore
up better than any one of them, having a great fund of spirits, being
always chearful, and never wanting something to say to divert them in
their state of darkness and misery. He added that he did not know a
better man, or one of greater courage and resolution in distress.
Donald desired me to take notice that he was set at liberty (out of a
messenger's house in London, where he had been but a short time) upon
a most happy day, the 10th of June 1747.[145]
[145] The birthday of the Old Chevalier.
[Sidenote: June]
Donald has got in a present a large silver snuff-box prettily
chessed, from his good friend, Mr. John Walkingshaw of London, which
serves as an excellent medal of his history, as it has engraven upon
it the interesting adventure, with proper mottos, etc. The box is
an octagon oval of three inches and three quarters in length, three
inches in breadth, and an inch and a quarter in depth, and the inside
of it is doubly gilt. Upon the lid is raised the eight-oar'd boat,
with Donald at the helm, and the four under his care, together with
the eight rowers distinctly represented. The sea is made to appear
very [Sidenote: _fol._ 316.] rough and tempestuous. Upon one of the
extremities of the lid there is a landskip of the Long Isle, and
the boat is just steering into Rushness, the point of Benbicula
where they landed. Upon the other extremity of the lid there is a
landskip of the end of the Isle of Sky, as it appears opposite to
the Long Isle. Upon this representation of Sky are marked these two
places, viz., Dunvegan and Gualtergill. Above the boat the clouds are
represented heavy and lowring, and the rain is falling from them.
The motto above the clouds, _i.e._ round the edge of the lid by the
hinge, is this--OLIM HÆC MEMINISSE JUVABIT--APRILIS 26^{_to_} 1746.
The inscription under the sea, _i.e._ round the edge of the lid by
the opening, is this--QUID, NEPTUNE, PARAS? FATIS AGITAMUR INIQUIS.
Upon the bottom of the box are carved the following words--DONALD
MACLEOD OF GUALTERGILL, in the Isle of Sky, THE FAITHFULL PALINURUS,
Æt.68, 1746. Below these words there is very prettily engraved a
dove, with an olive branch in her bill.
When Donald came first to see me, along with Deacon Clark, I asked
him why he had not snuff in the pretty box? 'Sneeshin in that box!'
said Donald. 'Na, the deel a pickle sneeshin shall ever go into it
till the K---- be restored, and then (I trust in God) I'll go to
London, and then will I put [Sidenote: _fol._ 317.] sneeshin in the
box and go to the Prince, and say, "Sir, will you tak a sneeshin out
o' my box?"'
* * * * *
[Sidenote: 20 Aug.]
_N.B._--Donald MacLeod, in giving his Journal, chused rather to
express himself in Erse than in Scots (as indeed he does not much
like at any time to speak in Scots), and Malcolm MacLeod and James
MacDonald explained to me. I was always sure to read over every
sentence, in order to know of them all if I was exactly right.
Malcolm MacLeod and James MacDonald were exceedingly useful to me in
prompting Donald, particularly the former, who having heard Donald
tell his story so often before in company, put him in mind of several
incidents that he was like to pass over. Donald desired Malcolm to
refresh his memory where he thought he stood in need, for that it was
not possible for him to mind every thing exactly in such a long tract
of time, considering how many different shapes and dangers they had
gone through in that time.
August 20th. When I was writing Donald's journal from his own mouth,
I did not part with him till betwixt 10 and 11 o'clock at night, and
before we parted, our company increased to 16 or 17 in number.
[Sidenote: 7 Sept.]
Some days after this Donald MacLeod and James MacDonald [Sidenote:
_fol._ 318.] coming to dine with my Lady Bruce, I made an appointment
with Donald to meet James MacDonald and me upon Monday, September
7th, with a view to dine with Mr. David Anderson, senior, in the
Links of Leith, who was very desirous to see Donald, and to converse
with him for some time. Upon the day appointed Donald came down
from Edinburgh, and brought along with him Ned Bourk, to shew him
Mr. Anderson's house. When Ned was known to be the person that was
along with Donald, he was desired to come into the house and get his
dinner. I went out from the company a little to converse with Ned,
who put into my hand a paper, telling me that this was his account
of the matter. When I returned to the company, I told them what I
had got from Ned, and they were all desirous to know the contents
of it. After dinner, when I was reading Ned's Journal, Donald
MacLeod frowned, and was not pleased with his account of things, and
therefore would needs have Ned brought into the room to answer for
himself. Accordingly Ned was called in, and after a pretty long and
warm debate betwixt them in Erse, we found that Donald's finding
fault amounted to no more than that Ned had omitted to mention
several things, which Ned acknowledged to be the case, confessing
that his memory did not serve him as to many particulars.
[Sidenote: 9 Sept.]
The Journal had been taken from Ned's own mouth in a [Sidenote:
_fol._ 319.] very confused, unconnected way, as indeed it requires no
small attention and pains to come at Ned's[146] meaning in what he
narrates, because he speaks the Scots exceedingly ill. I therefore
desired Ned to be with me in my own room upon Wednesday's afternoon,
September 9th, that I might have the opportunity of going through his
Journal with him at leisure, and likewise of having an account from
his own mouth how he happen'd to be so lucky as to escape being made
a prisoner, when so many were catched upon the Long Isle, where he
skulked for some time. Ned kept his appointment, as will hereafter
appear.
[146] Near thirty years old before he could speak English at all.--F.
Though Donald MacLeod's history be most extraordinary in all the
several instances of it (especially considering his advanced age),
yet when he arrived at Leith, he had not wherewith to bear his
charges to Sky, where he has a wife and children, from whom he had
been absent for at least one year and an half. There was therefore a
contribution set on foot for him in and about Edinburgh; and I own I
had a great anxiety for my own share to make out for honest PALINURUS
(if possible) a pound sterling for every week he had served the
Prince in distress; and (I thank God) I was so happy as to [Sidenote:
_fol._ 320.] accomplish my design exactly. Donald MacLeod and James
MacDonald came from the Links of Leith to my room, as they were to
sup that night with my Lady Bruce upon invitation. I then delivered
into Donald's own hand, in lieu of wages for his services of ten
weeks,
£10 0 0 Sterling.
_Vide_ page _hujus_ 261, 6 11 0
_Vide_ vol. i. page 73, 37 1 6
--------
In all, £53 12 6
---------
The above sum went through my hands in the compass of about thirteen
months and an half. Meantime I have not reckoned up a guinea, half a
guinea, or a crown, which I had from time to time from my Lady Bruce,
as a necessitous sufferer happened to come in the way.
God Almighty bless and reward all those who liberally contributed
for the support of the indigent and the deserving in times of the
greatest necessity and danger, for Jesus Christ's sake. Amen and
Amen.
[Sidenote: 20 Aug.]
At the same time above mentioned, I gave Donald MacLeod the trouble
of two letters, copies whereof follow.
Copy of a Letter to Mr. ALEXANDER MACDONALD
of Kingsburgh in Sky.
[Sidenote: 7 Sept.]
DEAR SIR,--I could not think of honest Palinurus's setting out upon
his return to Sky, without giving you the trouble of some few lines,
to wish you and Mrs. MacDonald much joy [Sidenote: _fol._ 321.] and
happiness in being at your own fireside again. You and all your
concerns are frequently made mention of here with very much respect;
and so long as a spark of honesty remains, the name of MACDONALD OF
KINGSBURGH will ever have a mark of veneration put upon it.
You know very well how I employ much of my time in a certain affair.
I have already made up a collection of between twenty-four and thirty
sheets of paper, and I would fain flatter myself with the hopes of
still increasing the number till the collection be made compleat,
by your assistance and that of other worthies who prefer truth to
falshoods, and honesty to trick and deceit. Now is the time or never
to make a discovery of facts and men; and it is pity to omit any
expedient that may tend to accomplish the good design.
I gave Captain Malcolm MacLeod the trouble of a written Memorandum,
which I hope you will honour with a plain and distinct return; and
hereby I assure you no other use shall be made of it but to preserve
it for posterity; it being my intention not so much as to speak of
it, and to make a wise and discreet use of every discovery I am
favoured with.
[Sidenote: _fol._ 322.]
I wish the worthy Armadale would be so good as to give his part of
the management from his own mouth. But as I have writ fully by the
same hand to the faithful Captain Malcolm MacLeod upon this and some
other particulars, to his letter I refer you, and I hope you will
join your endeavours with him in serving the cause of truth and
justice.
For my own part I am resolved to leave no stone unturn'd to expiscate
facts and characters, that so _the honest man_ may be known and
revered, and those of the opposite stamp may have their due.
That God Almighty may ever have you, Mrs. MacDonald, and all your
concerns in His holy care and protection, is the hearty and earnest
prayer of, my dear Sir, your most affectionate friend and very humble
servant,