JOURNAL of the Prince's imbarkation and
arrival, etc., the greatest part of which was taken from DUNCAN
CAMERON at several different conversations I had with him.[156]
[156] Of this journal there is printed in _Jacobite Memoirs_ (pp.
1-27), from ff. 348-360, in combination with that of Æneas MacDonald,
which occurs at f. 490 _et seq._
[Sidenote: June.]
[Sidenote: _fol._ 346.] After the battle of Fontenoy and taking
of Tournay, among other regiments the one commanded by Lord John
Drummond was garrisoned in Tournay, in which corps Duncan Cameron
(some time servant to old Lochiel at Boulogne in France) served. When
Duncan was in Tournay he received a letter from Mr. Æneas MacDonald,
banker in Paris, desiring him forthwith to repair to Amiens, and if
possible to post it without sleeping, where he should receive orders
about what he was to do. Accordingly Duncan set out, and in a very
short time posted to Amiens, from whence Æneas, etc., had set out,
but had left a letter for Duncan ordering him to follow them to
Nantes, to which place he set out without taking any rest, where he
found the Prince and his small retinue, consisting of seven only,
besides servants.
The seven were the Duke of Athol, Sir Thomas Sheridan, Sir John
MacDonald, Colonel Strickland, Captain O'Sullivan, Mr. George Kelly
(a nonjurant clergyman), and Æneas MacDonald, banker at Paris,
brother to Kinlochmoidart.
As Duncan Cameron had been brought up in the island [Sidenote: _fol._
347.] of Barra, and knew the coast of the Long Isle well, in some
part of which the Prince intended to land first, so Duncan's business
was to descry to them the Long Isle.
[Sidenote: July.]
At Nantes the Prince and his few attendants waited about fifteen
days before the _Elizabeth_ ship of war came, which was to be their
convoy in the expedition. To cover the design the better, Sir Thomas
Sheridan[157] passed for the father, and the Prince for the son,
for none knew the Prince to be in company but the seven, some few
others, and Mr. Welch (an Irishman, a very rich merchant in Nantes),
who was to command the frigate of sixteen guns,[158] on board of
which the Prince and the few faithful friends with the servants were
to imbark.
[157] See f. 496.
[158] Called the _Doutelle_.
After the Prince was on board he dispatched letters to his father,
and the King of France, and the King of Spain, advising them of his
design, and no doubt desiring assistance.
The Prince when in Scotland, used to say that the 10th of June was
the day on which he stole off, and that he did not mind it to be his
father's birth-day till night was far spent. From whence some have
affirmed that to have been the day of the embarkation, and others to
have been the day when he left Paris and began to be incog.
[Sidenote: 9 July.]
They had not been above five or six days at sea, till one [Sidenote:
_fol._ 348.] evening the _Lyon_ ship of war appeared, and came pretty
near them, and then disappeared. Next morning she came again in
view and disappeared. She continued to do so three or four times,
and the last time of her appearing she came within a mile or so of
them; when the captain of the _Elizabeth_ (a Frenchman) came on board
the frigate, and told Mr. Welch if he would assist him by keeping
one side of the _Lyon_ in play at a distance, he would immediately
put all things in order for the attack. Mr. Welch, well knowing the
trust he had on board, answered him civilly, and told him it was what
he could not think of doing, and withal remarked to him it was his
humble opinion that he should not think of fighting unless he should
happen to be attacked, because his business was to be convoy to the
frigate in the voyage. However, he said, as he pretended not to any
command over him, he might do as he thought proper.
The French captain to all this replied, that from the _Lion's_
appearing and disappearing so often, it seemed as if she were looking
out for another ship to assist her, and if she should happen to be
joined by any other, they no doubt would instantly fall upon the
_Elizabeth_ and the frigate, and devour them both; and therefore
he behoved to think it the wisest course to fight the _Lion_ when
single, because the _Elizabeth_ in that case was fit enough for the
engagement, and would bid [Sidenote: _fol._ 349.] fair enough to
give a good account of the _Lion_. Upon this the French captain drew
his sword, took leave of Mr. Welch and his company, went on board
the _Elizabeth_ with his sword still drawn in his hand, and gave the
necessary orders for the attack.
Immediately the _Elizabeth_ bore down upon the _Lion_ (each of them
consisting of about sixty guns, and therefore equally matched), and
began the attack with great briskness. The fight continued for five
or six hours, when the _Lion_ was obliged to sheer off like a tub
upon the water.
About the time when the captain came on board the frigate, the Prince
was making ready to go on board the _Elizabeth_ for more air and
greater conveniency every way, the frigate being crowded with the
gentlemen, the servants, and the crew. His friends reckoned it very
lucky that he had not gone on board.
The frigate all the time of the engagement lay at such a small
distance, that (as the Prince observed to several friends in
Scotland) the _Lion_ might have sunk her with the greatest ease.
But he said it was their good fortune that the _Lion_ had despised
[Sidenote: _fol._ 350.] them, and thought not the frigate worth the
while. Besides, the _Lion_ found enough of employment for all her
hands in playing her part against the _Elizabeth_.
During the time of the fight the Prince several times observed to Mr.
Welch what a small assistance would serve to give the _Elizabeth_
the possession of the _Lion_, and importuned him to engage in the
quarrel. But Mr. Welch positively refused, and at last behoved to
desire the Prince not to insist any more, otherwise he would order
him down to the cabin.
After the fight was all over, Mr. Welch sailed round the _Elizabeth_,
and enquired particularly how matters stood with the captain and the
crew. A lieutenant came upon deck from the captain, who was wounded
in his cabin, and told Mr. Welch that between thirty and forty
officers and gentlemen (besides common men) were killed and wounded,
and that if Mr. Welch could supply him with a mainmast and some
rigging, he would still make out the voyage with him.
Mr. Welch replied that he could not furnish him with either mainmast
or rigging, and that although he should have happened [Sidenote:
_fol._ 351.] to be capable to serve him in these things, yet he would
not have made it his choice to lose so much time as it would require
to put the _Elizabeth_ in some better order. He desired to tell the
captain it was his opinion that he should without loss of time return
to France, and that he himself would do his best to make out the
intended voyage. The _Elizabeth_ accordingly returned to France, and
the frigate continued her course to the coast of Scotland. She had
not been long parted from the _Elizabeth_ till the crew descried two
ships of war at some distance, which they could not have well got off
from; but that a mist luckily interveened, and brought them out of
sight.
Two or three hours before landing, an eagle came hovering over the
frigate, and continued so to do till they were all safe on shore.
Before dinner the Duke of Athol had spied the eagle; but (as he told
several friends in Scotland) he did not chuse then to take any notice
of it, lest they should have called it a Highland freit in him. When
he came upon deck after dinner, he saw the eagle still hovering about
in the same manner, and following the frigate in her course, and then
he could not help remarking it to the Prince and his small retinue,
[Sidenote: _fol._ 352.] which they looked upon with pleasure. His
grace, turning to the Prince said, 'Sir, I hope this is an excellent
omen, and promises good things to us. The king of birds is come to
welcome your royal highness upon your arrival in Scotland.'
[Sidenote: 21 July.]
When they were near the shore of the Long Isle, Duncan Cameron was
set out in the long boat to fetch them a proper pilot. When he landed
he accidentally met with Barra's piper, who was his old acquaintance,
and brought him on board. The piper piloted them safely into Erisca
(about July 21st), a small island lying between Barra and South
Uist. 'At this time,' said Duncan Cameron, 'there was _a devil of a
minister_ that happened to be in the island of Barra, who did us a'
the mischief that lay in his power. For when he had got any inkling
about us, he dispatched away expresses with informations against us.
But as the good luck was, he was not well believed, or else we would
have been a' tane by the neck.'
[Sidenote: 23 July.]
When Duncan spoke these words, '_a devil of a minister_,' he bowed
low, and said to me, 'Sir, I ask you ten thousand pardons for saying
so in your presence. But, good faith, I can assure you, sir (asking
your pardon), he was nothing else but the _devil of a minister_.'
[Sidenote: _fol._ 353.] When they landed in Eriska, they could not
find a grain of meal or one inch of bread. But they catched some
flounders, which they roasted upon the bare coals in a mean low hut
they had gone into near the shore, and Duncan Cameron stood cook. The
Prince sat at the cheek of the little ingle, upon a fail sunk, and
laughed heartily at Duncan's cookery, for he himself owned he played
his part awkwardly enough.[159]
[159] See ff. 256, 302, 507.
[Sidenote: 22 July.]
Next day the Prince sent for young Clanranald's uncle (Alexander
MacDonald of Boisdale), who lived in South Uist, and discovered
himself to him. This gentleman spoke in a very discouraging manner
to the Prince, and advised him to return home. To which it is said
the Prince replied, 'I am come home, sir, and I will entertain no
notion at all of returning to that place from whence I came; for
that I am persuaded my faithful Highlanders will stand by me.' Mr.
MacDonald told him he was afraid he would find the contrary. The
Prince condescended upon Sir Alexander MacDonald and the Laird of
MacLeod as persons he might confide in. Mr. MacDonald begged leave to
tell him that he had pitched upon the wrong [Sidenote: _fol._ 354.]
persons; for from his own certain knowledge he could assure him these
gentlemen would not adhere to his interest; on the contrary, they
might chance to act an opposite part. And seeing the Prince had been
pleased to mention Sir Alexander MacDonald's name, Boisdale desired
he might run off an express to him, and let his return be the test
of what he had advanced. He added withal, that if Sir Alexander
MacDonald and the Laird of MacLeod declared for him, it was his
opinion he might then land on the continent, for that he doubted not
but he would succeed in the attempt. But if they should happen to
refuse their assistance (which he still insisted would be the case),
then their example would prove of bad consequence, and would tend
only to make others backward and to keep at home. And in that event
he still thought it advisable to suggest his returning back to where
he came from.
[Sidenote: 25 July.]
According to this advice the Prince did send a message to Sir
Alexander MacDonald, intimating his arrival, and demanding
assistance. Before the messenger could return, Æneas MacDonald
(anxious to have the honour of seeing the Prince in the house of his
brother, the Laird of Kinlochmoidart) prevailed upon the Prince to
set out for the continent, and [Sidenote: _fol._ 355.] they arrived
at Boradale in Moidart, or rather Arisaig, upon July 25th, St.
James's day, 1745.[160] When the messenger returned to the Prince he
brought no answer with him, for Sir Alexander refused to give any.
[160] See f. 640.
It is worth remarking here that though MacDonald of Boisdale had
played the game of the government by doing all he could to dissuade
the Prince from making the attempt; and after the standard was set
up, by keeping back all Clanranald's men (to the number of four or
five hundred good stout fellows) that lived in South Uist and the
other isles, yet his conduct could not screen him from rough and
severe treatment. For after the battle of Culloden he suffered in
his effects as well as others, and had the misfortune to be made a
prisoner and to be carried to London by sea, in which expedition he
had the additional affliction of having his brother, the Laird of
Clanranald, senior (who had never stirred from his own fireside), and
his lady to bear him company, and none of them were released till the
4th of July 1747. However, to do Boisdale justice, he was of very
great use to the Prince (as Donald MacLeod and Malcolm have both
declared) when wandering up and down [Sidenote: _fol._ 356.] through
South Uist, Benbicula, and other parts of the Long Isle, and exerted
his utmost power to keep him out of the hands of his enemies.[161]
[161] See ff. 257, 302, 462.
After the Prince's arrival upon the continent, some friends met to
consult what was to be done, and I have heard it affirmed by good
authority that Keppoch honestly and bravely gave it as his opinion
that since the Prince had risqued his person and generously thrown
himself into the hands of his friends, therefore it was their duty to
raise their men instantly merely for the protection of his person,
let the consequence be what it would. Certain it is that if Keppoch,
Lochiel, young Clanranald, etc., had not joined him, he would either
have fallen into the hands of his enemies or been forced immediately
to cross the seas again.[162]
[162] See f. 643.
[Sidenote: 19 Aug.]
The royal standard was set up at Glenfinnan (August 19th), the
property of Clanranald, at the head of Lochshiel, which marches with
Lochiel's ground, and lies about ten miles west from Fort William.
The Prince had been a full week before this, viz., from Sunday the
11th, at Kinlochmoydart's house, and Lochiel had been raising his men
who came up with them just as the standard was setting up.
The Prince stayed where the standard was set up two days, [Sidenote:
_fol._ 357.] and I have heard Major MacDonell frequently say in the
Castle of Edinburgh, that he had never seen the Prince more chearful
at any time, and in higher spirits than when he had got together four
or five hundred men about the standard. Major MacDonell presented the
Prince with the first good horse he mounted in Scotland, which the
Major had taken from Captain Scott, son of Scotstarvet.
[Sidenote: 23 Aug.]
On Friday, August 23d, the Prince lodged in Fassafern, three miles
down the Loch Eil, and about five miles from Fort William. On sight
of a warship which lay opposite to the garrison, the Prince crossed a
hill and went to Moy or Moidh, a village on the river Lochy belonging
to Lochiel. There he stayed till Monday, August 26th, waiting
intelligence about General Cope; and that day he crossed the river
Lochy, and lodged in a village called Leterfinla, on the side of Loch
Lochy. At 12 o'clock at night, being very stormy and boisterous, he
learned that General Cope was at Garvaimor, whereupon the men stood
to arms all night. But the General had altered his route, and by
forced marches was making the best of his way for Inverness, which
(as was given out) happened by an express from President Forbes
advising the General not to attempt [Sidenote: _fol._ 358.] going up
the country to attack the Highlanders at the Pass of Coricrag (very
strong ground) where they had posted themselves, but to make all the
haste he could to Inverness, where he might expect the Monroes, etc.,
to join him, whereby he would be considerably reinforced.
Upon notice that the General was marching towards Inverness, about
six hundred of the Highlanders urged the being allowed to follow him
under cloud of night and promised to come up with him and to give a
good account of him and his command. But the Prince would not hear
of such an attempt, and desired them to wait for a more favourable
opportunity. It was with much difficulty that they could be prevailed
upon to lay aside the thoughts of any such enterprize. This I had
from the brave Major MacDonell.
When the Prince was coming down the Highlands to meet General Cope
(as was supposed) he walked sixteen miles in boots, and one of the
heels happening to come off, the Highlanders said they were unco glad
to hear it, for they hoped the want of the heel would make him march
at more leisure. So speedily he marched that he was like to fatigue
them all.
[Sidenote: _fol._ 359.]
[Sidenote: 27 Aug.]
August 27th. The Prince slept at Glengary's house, and next night lay
at Aberchallader, a village belonging to Glengary.[163]
[163] See f. 643.
[Sidenote: 30 Aug.]
August 30th. The Prince and his army were at Dalnacardoch, a publick
house in Wade's road, as appears from a letter writ by the Duke of
Athol to a lady[164] desiring her to repair to Blair Castle to put it
in some order, and to do the honours of that house when the Prince
should happen to come there, which he did the day following, August
31st. I saw the letter and took the date of it.
[164] Mrs. Robertson of Lude, a daughter of Nairn.
[Sidenote: 31 Aug.]
When the Prince was at Blair he went into the garden, and taking
a walk upon the bowling-green, he said he had never seen a
bowling-green before. Upon which the above lady called for some bowls
that he might see them; but he told her that he had got a present of
some bowls sent him as a curiosity to Rome from England.
[Sidenote: 2 Sept.]
September 2d. He left Blair and went to the house of Lude, where
he was very chearful and took his share in several dances, such as
minuets, Highland reels (the first reel the Prince called for was,
'This is not mine ain house,' etc.), and a Strathspey minuet.
[Sidenote: 3 Sept.]
September 3d. He was at Dunkeld, and next day he dined [Sidenote:
_fol._ 360.] at Nairn House, where some of the company happening to
observe what a thoughtful state his father would now be in from the
consideration of those dangers and difficulties he had to encounter
with, and that upon this account he was much to be pitied, because
his mind behoved to be much upon the rack--the Prince replied that
he did not half so much pity his father as his brother. 'For,' said
he, 'the king has been inured to disappointments and distresses, and
has learnt to bear up easily under the misfortunes of life. But poor
Hary! his young and tender years make him much to be pitied, for few
brothers love as we do.'
[Sidenote: 4 Sept.]
September 4th. In the evening he made his entrance into Perth upon
the horse that Major MacDonell had presented him with.
[Sidenote: 11 Sept.]
September 11th. Early in the morning he went on foot attended by few
and took a view of the house of Scoon; and leaving Perth that day,
he took a second breakfast at Gask, dined at Tullibardine, and that
night went towards Dumblain and next day to Down.
[Sidenote: 14 Sept.]
September 14th. In the morning the Prince, after refreshing himself
and his army at the Laird of Leckie's house, marched by Stirling
Castle and through St. Ninians. From Stirling Castle a six-pounder
was discharged four times at him, which [Sidenote: _fol._ 361.]
determined Lord Nairn, who was bringing up the second division of the
army, to go farther up the country in order to be out of the reach
of the canon of the Castle. When the Prince was in St. Ninians with
the first division, Mr. Christie, provost of Stirling, sent out to
them from Stirling a quantity of bread, cheese, and ale in abundance,
an order having come before by little Andrew Symmer desiring such
a refreshment. Colonel Gardiner and his dragoons had galloped off
towards Edinburgh from their camp near Stirling Castle the night
before, or rather the same morning, when it was dark, September 14th,
without beat of drum.
[Sidenote: 16 Sept.]
September 16th. The Prince and his army were at Gray's Mill upon
the Water of Leith, when he sent a summons to the Provost and Town
Council of Edinburgh to receive him quietly and peaceably into the
city. Two several deputations were sent from Edinburgh to the Prince
begging a delay till they should deliberate upon what was fittest to
be done. Meantime eight or nine hundred Highlanders under the command
of Keppoch, young Lochiel, and O'Sullivan, marched in between the
Long Dykes without a hush of noise, under the favour of a dark night,
and lurked at the head of the Canongate about the [Sidenote: _fol._
362.] Nether Bow Port till they should find a favourable opportunity
for their design, which soon happened. The hackney coach that brought
back the second deputation, entred at the West Port, and after
setting down the deputies at their proper place upon the street,
drove down the street towards the Canongate, and when the Nether Bow
Port was made open to let out the coach, the lurking Highlanders
rushed in (it being then peep of day) and made themselves masters of
the city without any opposition, or the smallest noise.