Copy of some Omissions in DONALD MACLEOD'S
Journal.
[Sidenote: 21 Oct.]
[Sidenote: _fol._ 460.] Donald MacLeod, having been long detained
in and about Edinburgh by the civilities and kindness of friends,
was in my room in the Citadel of Leith, along with James MacDonald,
joiner, upon Wednesday, October 21st, 1747, when Donald was pleased
to inform me that upon reflection, he found he had forgot some few
particulars in giving me his Journal, and therefore he would now take
the opportunity of giving me a narrative of them. Accordingly I writ
them down from his own mouth.
[See vol. 2d, page 301,[202] near the foot, the paragraph beginning
with June 14th.]
[202] See f. 301.
From the foot of the mountain of Coradale they set sail in Campbell's
boat still, and landed in the Island Ouia, at Benbicula, where they
stayed four nights. From thence the Prince and O'Neil, with a guide,
went to Rushness, where Lady Clanranald was. Donald and O'Sullivan
were left at Ouia, where they abode two nights after the Prince
had gone off to Rushness by land. The third night after the Prince
had [Sidenote: _fol._ 461.] been at Rushness, he got information
that it was advisable he should go back again to the place from
whence he had come; but he knew not well what to do, as the boats
of the militia had been all the time in the course between Ouia and
Rushness. Donald and O'Sullivan, hearing of the Prince's situation,
set sail under favour of the night, and brought the Prince off from
Rushness, steering their course from thence south again back towards
Coradale hill. But meeting with a violent storm, and a very heavy
rain, they were forced to put into Uishness Point, two miles and
an half north of Coradale. The place they put up at in that night
is called Achkirsideallich,[203] a rock upon the shore, in a clift
of which they took up their quarters, the storm continuing for a
whole day. At night the enemy being within less than two miles of
them, they set sail again, and arrived safely at Ciliestiella, from
whence they steered their course towards Loch Boisdale. But one on
board swore that there was a long-boat in their way, no doubt full
of [Sidenote: _fol._ 462.] marines. Donald MacLeod was positive on
the contrary, and assured them that it was nothing else but a little
rock in the water, which he was formerly acquainted with, having the
appearance of a boat at some distance. But he could not persuade them
to take his opinion of the matter, and therefore they steered back to
Ciliestiella, and stayed there that night. Next day they set out for
Loch Boisdale, where they got the disagreeable accounts of Boisdale's
being made a prisoner, etc., and whereabouts they made their abode
for about eight days.[204]
[203] See f. 336.
[204] See f. 303.
At the same time Donald told me that Boisdale was once a whole night
with the Prince upon Coradale,[205] and was very merry with him; and
desired me still to remark that if Boisdale had not been prisoner,
the Prince needed not to have left the Long Isle at all.
[205] See f. 589.
Donald likewise told me that when in London he called for his
chiftain, who would not vouchsafe him so much as a look; [Sidenote:
_fol._ 463.] and that one day spying him on the street of Edinburgh,
he ventured to make up to him to enquire about his welfare; but his
honour never minded honest Donald, and would take no notice of him at
all.
When I told Donald that I would write down an account of this odd
conduct in the Laird, he said, 'O na, lat him be.' But I positively
insisted upon it, and would not yield it to Donald, remarking withal
that I looked upon him as a great honour to his chiftain, and that
therefore he needed not have behaved so to him as if he had been
ashamed of him. To which Donald modestly replied, 'Faith, sir, I hope
he winna say I am a disgrace to him.'
* * * * *
_N.B._--The above omissions occasion some variation in the dates at
the end of Donald's Journal about the Prince.