Here it will not be amiss to give some short account of the
above-mentioned attendants.
The Duke of Athol was made prisoner in Scotland, having surrendred
himself (as was given out by our lying newspapers) to Mr. Buchanan
of Drumakill, a Justice of Peace. But the real matter of fact is
that Drumakill, in his own house, basely betrayed the Duke when
he thought himself safe under the protection of Drumakill's roof,
having got assurances to that purpose. To confirm the truth of this,
Drumakill is so much [Sidenote: _fol._ 493.] despised for this breach
of all the laws of hospitality and honour that the gentlemen in the
neighbourhood and in all places of Scotland where Drumakill is known
will not be seen in his company, nor will they converse with him.
From Drumakill's house the Duke of Athol was carried to the Castle
of Dumbarton, the latter end of April 1746, whence he was removed to
Edinburgh, where he remained till the 13th of May, and then was put
on board the _Eltham_ man-of-war in Leith Road, and conveyed to the
Tower of London, June 21st, where he died on the 9th of July, and was
there buried July the 11th, 1746.
Sir John MacDonald, a French officer, surrendred himself prisoner of
war at Inverness upon the day of Culloden battle. He was suffered to
go out upon his parole amongst other French officers at Penrith. He
is a man of no extraordinary head as a councillor.
Mr. Æneas MacDonald, a banker in Paris, surrendred himself to General
Campbell upon terms which, however, were not [Sidenote: _fol._ 494.]
performed. He was committed to Dumbarton Castle, whence he was
conducted to Edinburgh Castle under a strong guard the latter end of
August 1746; and the week after, in the same manner, was conveyed to
the Duke of Newcastle's office at Whitehall, London, and immediately
committed into the custody of a messenger. One day when he was
concerting a jaunt to Windsor with Miss Flora MacDonald, he was by
order taken out of the messenger's hands and committed to Newgate,
and thence to new prison in Southwark. All the time the Prince was in
Paris he lodged at Mr. Æneas MacDonald's house.
Mr. Strickland died at Carlisle when it was possessed by the Prince's
army.
Mr. Buchanan, Sir Thomas Sheridan, Mr. O'Sullivan, and Mr. Kelly made
their escape into France.
The first of these, Mr. Buchanan, upon the intended invasion
at Dunkirk in 1743 was sent into England, and upon his return,
in attempting to get to Calais or Dunkirk, was taken prisoner.
[Sidenote: _fol._ 495.] He made a plausible story, and going by a
feigned name, pretending great loyalty, etc., he artfully imposed
upon one Captain Aires, who was then going into Flanders with some
orders from the government, a person who has signalized himself
very much upon a late occasion, though not in his profession as a
soldier, yet as an evidence at St. Margaret's Hill in Southwark, etc.
etc. etc. This very man, perceiving Mr. Buchanan understood French,
and knew several of the French officers, proposed making use of him
as a spy in Flanders, which Mr. Buchanan readily embraced, as it gave
him a safe conveyance out of British dominions. Accordingly he was
conducted to Ostend by Captain Aires, who was greatly surprized and
no less chagrin'd to find his fellow-traveller so well known there,
and to be the very man he had particular orders to find out, if
possible, and to secure him, at the time when Mr. Buchanan had the
address to deceive him. After this discovery Aires [Sidenote: _fol._
496.] never offered to make any farther use of Mr. Buchanan, neither
could he detain him there. Mr. Buchanan was many years assistant to
Mr. Æneas MacDonald at Paris.
The second of these, Sir Thomas Sheridan, was tutor to the young
hero, whom he attended through most of his travels. His master had
a real and, I may say, filial affection for him, which indeed was
mutual, no man having his pupil's interest more at heart than Sir
Thomas. He got safe to France. From that he went to Rome, where he
waited upon his pupil's father, who reprimanded him for persuading
his son to undertake such an expedition without better grounds. This
reproof so far affected Sir Thomas that he fell ill and died of grief.
The third of these, Mr. O'Sullivan, an Irishman, is a remarkable man,
of whom the world has been greatly deceived, whether we look upon him
as a soldier, a councillor, or for honesty and integrity.
The fourth and last of these is the same Mr. Kelly who was so many
years confined in the Tower upon a suspicion of having [Sidenote:
_fol._ 497.] had a hand in the famous plot of Dr. Atterbury, bishop
of Rochester. Mr. Kelly's chief employment was to go betwixt his
young master in Scotland and the French ministry, with some of whom
he was very intimate.
[Sidenote: 22 June.]
On Saturday the 22d of June 1745, the gentlemen (of whom the above
short account is given) being all incog. to the crew, set sail out of
the river Loire for Bellisle on board a vessel of 110 tons, called
_La Doutelle_, carrying 16 guns, and commanded by Captain Durbe;
having first sent expresses from Nantz to the young gentleman's
father at Rome, to the king of France, and the king of Spain,
acquainting them with the expedition, and desiring the two last to
send armes, ammunition, and money to Scotland, which request was in
part complied with.
[Sidenote: 23 June.]
On the 23d, being next day, they anchored at Bellisle, where they
continued till the 4th of July waiting for the _Elizabeth_, their
convoy, a French ship of war of 64 guns and about 500 men, commanded
by Captain D'oe or D'eau. [Sidenote: _fol._ 498.] During the stay at
this island, the Prince took great delight in fishing. The better to
conceal himself, he never would be shaved from his leaving Nantz to
his arrival in Scotland.
[Sidenote: 5 July.]
Next morning, being the 5th of July, both ships set sail with a fair
wind, which continued so till the 7th, when it blew a brisk gale;
but the next day was a dead calm. On the 9th, being in the latitude
of 47 degrees 57 minutes north, and west from the meridian of the
Lizard 39 leagues, they descryed a sail to windward, which proved to
be a British man of war of 58 guns called the _Lyon_, Captain Brett,
commander, which immediately bore down upon them. About three o'clock
in the afternoon they found what she was, and prepared to engage
her, having both of them hoisted French colours and shortened sail.
By 4 o'clock they were within two miles of each other, and at 5 the
engagement began.
[Sidenote: 9 July.]
Upon the Frenchmen's first discovering a sail, a council of war
was held by the commander, etc., of the _Elizabeth_ on board the
_Doutelle_, along with the passengers and her officers, wherein it
was agreed, if no more sail appeared, that the [Sidenote: _fol._
499.] _Elizabeth_ should engage her, but should reserve her fire till
she was so near the _Lion_ as to stand the chance of all her guns
having effect, and then to give her a whole broadside; and if the
_Lion_ did not sink, to close in with her and board her directly,
while the _Doutelle_ should attack and assist her in that, not being
able to engage so heavy mettle as the _Lion_ would carry, but with
her small arms would be of great use at close fighting. Accordingly,
both ships were prepared to engage as agreed upon.
The _Lion_, being to windward, bore down upon the _Elizabeth_, and
began the engagement at some distance. The _Elizabeth_ followed the
directions of the council of war, and received the _Lion's_ shot
several times in hopes of putting the plan laid down into execution.
But finding the _Lion_ not only had the advantage of the wind, but
that the British sailors worked her better than the Frenchmen did the
_Elizabeth_, Captain D'oe [Sidenote: _fol._ 500.] then found he could
not accomplish his designs, and therefore engaged at a distance; but
still tried to get as close to the _Lion_ as possible.
The _Elizabeth_, being thus disappointed of attempting to board the
_Lion_, rendred all the assistance intended her by the _Doutelle_ of
no effect, she being too small a vessel to contend with the _Lion's_
greatest guns; and therefore, when her commander, Captain Durbe,
found he could not assist the _Elizabeth_, he drew off to a greater
distance to avoid being sunk till a more convenient opportunity might
offer. This gave those on board the _Doutelle_ both time and leisure
to observe the management and behaviour of both ships.
They fought with equal bravery for several hours, but the British
sailors showed their superior skill and dexterity, which were highly
praised by all on board the _Doutelle_, as well French as Scotch men;
for, though the _Elizabeth_ had more men, yet they could not work her
so well, nor fire so often as the _Lion_ did.
The engagement continued thus till after 9 o'clock, when [Sidenote:
_fol._ 501.] the _Lion_ began to abate of her fire, and, as far as
she could, to make a running fight, discharging only now and then a
gun. Then the advantage turned to the _Elizabeth's_ side, her rigging
not being so much damaged as the _Lion's_, though she had more men
killed; and she now approached nearer and nearer the _Lion_, who,
finding she could not escape, fired a gun and immediately struck. The
_Elizabeth_, not going instantly up to board her, but rather slacking
her pace, encouraged the _Lion_ to set up her colours again. The
reason of this behaviour of the _Elizabeth_ was owing to the death
of both Captain D'oe and his brother, who were killed by the last
shot from the _Lion_. This accident, when least expected, and there
being but one lieutenant left to command the _Elizabeth_, obliged
him to drop sail and to wait for the _Doutelle_, who, finding what
had happened to the _Lion_, was making all the sail she could to
[Sidenote: _fol._ 502.] come up to the _Elizabeth_, which was soon
accomplished, and a council of war was held immediately upon what
should be done. It was herein agreed that, as it was ten o'clock,
and would be some time before they could get up to the _Lion_, who
was making all the haste she could to reach England, they might be
in danger of falling in with some other English man of war, and be
obliged to engage in the bad condition the ship was in, and then
must inevitably be either taken or sunk; and, moreover, would be so
much farther from the French coast that, were they to spy a sail,
they would not have time to get into any harbour to avoid being
taken. Therefore, it was thought proper to desist from pursuing the
_Lion_, she being by this time out of sight. It was then asked if the
_Elizabeth_ was in a condition to proceed in her intended voyage,
when her new commander answered in the negative; for, as he could
not refit her at sea for another engagement, it would not therefore
be safe to hazard their being sunk or taken, more especially as so
many British men of war and [Sidenote: _fol._ 503.] privateers were
cruizing at sea, and as he had near 200 men killed and wounded. They
then determined to return to Brest. Some of the passengers of the
_Doutelle_ endeavoured to prevail upon the Prince to return also till
another convoy could be prepared, or the same could be refitted. To
this he would not consent, but resolved to proceed on his voyage.
The _Elizabeth_, though a French man of war, was sent out as convoy
to the _Doutelle_ by one Mr. Walter Rutlets, an Irishman, and a
merchant at Dunkirk.
As it may seem odd that a subject could send out a man of war as
a convoy without the king's knowledge where she was going, it is
incumbent upon me to explain the nature of such an undertaking. I
must therefore remark that when any of the French king's men of war
are in harbour and fit for use, but not going upon any immediate
business of the king's own, any of his subjects may upon proper
application have her, and send her out on a cruize for the time
granted, he (the [Sidenote: _fol._ 504.] subject) paying the men's
wages during that time. By this means the King of France annoys
his enemies without being at the expence of the men, and his ships
thereby are kept pretty constantly employed, instead of lying
in harbours, and their officers having no other employment than
entertaining the ladies on shore.
[Sidenote: 9 July.]
[Sidenote: 23 July.]
But to return. After the engagement above mentioned, the _Doutelle_
proceeded on her voyage soon after the council of war was ended.
But before she set sail for Scotland, all her lights were put out,
except that for the compass, which still was so close confined that
not the least ray could emit. This caution was observed every night
through the whole voyage till their landing in Erisca. On July 11th
she was chased, and made a clear ship to engage; but trusting more
to their speed than to their military power, they made all the sail
they could and escaped all pursuers. The 15th and 16th they had a
rough sea and tempestuous weather. Then they [Sidenote: _fol._ 505.]
had fine weather till about midnight on the 20th, which was very
stormy. The 21st being very mild, they sounded and found ground at
108 fathom. On the 22d they made a small island called Bernera, being
the southernmost of the western isles of Scotland, near the latitude
of 57. On the 23d they arrived at the island of Erisca, belonging to
Clanranald, which lies betwixt the isles of Barra and South Uist or
Ouist, having been eighteen days at sea from July 5th.
They were scarce arrived when they spied two sail which they
apprehended to be ships of war, and therefore got all their money,
arms, and ammunition on shore as fast as they could. All went ashore
except the Marquis of Tullibardine, who was laid up in the gout and
could not stir. Their fears, however, were soon dissipated by finding
the ships proved only merchantmen.
The very first night they landed happened to prove [Sidenote: _fol._
506.] violently stormy and wet, and they were obliged to lodge in one
of the little country houses wherein there were already many others
that were weatherbound.
Here they were all refreshed as well as the place could afford,
and they had some beds, but not sufficient for the whole company,
on which account the Prince, being less fatigued than the others,
insisted upon such to go to bed as most wanted it. Particularly he
took care of Sir Thomas Sheridan, and went to examine his bed and to
see that the sheets were well aired. The landlord, observing him to
search the bed so narrowly, and at the same time hearing him declare
he would sit up all night, called out to him and said that it was so
good a bed, and the sheets were so good, that a prince need not be
ashamed to lie in them.
The Prince, not being accustomed to such fires in the middle of the
room, and there being no other chimney than a [Sidenote: _fol._ 507.]
hole in the roof, was almost choaked, and was obliged to go often
to the door for fresh air. This at last made the landlord, Angus
MacDonald, call out, 'What a plague is the matter with that fellow,
that he can neither sit nor stand still, and neither keep within nor
without doors?'
From Eriska some of the company sent to Roger MacNeil, Esquire of
Barra, as relations, being come thither, and who would be glad to see
him: but he happened to be from home. At the same time they sent out
several other messengers upon the same errand to several gentlemen
in different parts, particularly to Alexander MacDonald of Boisdale,
esquire, who went to them the next day.[224] But when he found upon
what errand they were come to Scotland, he did all he could to
prevail upon them to return to France without making any attempt to
[Sidenote: _fol._ 508.] proceed. His advice being in vain, he then
went to several persons to caution them from being drawn into either
any rising or promises so to do. By this means he prevented some
hundreds of people from joining them, for which he had a letter of
thanks from Lord London and others for the great services he had done
the present government.
[224] See ff. 256, 302, 353.
From this place Mr. Æneas MacDonald, the banker, took boat and
went to his brother of Kinlochmoidart, being at the distance of
about forty miles. Kinlochmoidart accompanied the banker back to
Eriska. Amongst those who went on board the _Doutelle_ at Eriska,
and there laid the plan of the operations and contrived the scheme,
were the foresaid Donald MacDonald of Kinlochmoidart, esquire, and
Ronald MacDonald of Clanronald, junior, esquire, who commanded that
clan.[225]
[225] The contents of the above paragraph happened in
Lochnannuagh.--(F.)
[Sidenote: 24 July]
Kinlochmoidart was made a colonel and aid-de-camp to the Prince, and
was to have been made a baronet and peer of [Sidenote: _fol._ 509.]
Scotland. He was an exceeding cool-headed man, fit for either cabinet
or field. He was frequently employed in going from one friend of the
cause to another. Upon one of these expeditions he was either going
or had been when both he and his servant were taken by some country
people, and sent to the Castle of Edinburgh, whence he was removed
to Carlisle, and was there put to death upon Saturday, October 18th,
the festival of St. Luke the Evangelist, 1746. The place where he was
made prisoner is called Lesmahagoe, and he was committed to Edinburgh
Castle on the 12th of November 1745.
Having dismissed several messengers to their respective friends on
the continent of Scotland, they set sail about the 26th of [Sidenote:
26 July] July 1745, and coasting about the isles between Sky and
Mull, and landing some of their passengers, proceeded to Lochshiel
in [Sidenote: _fol._ 510.] Lochabar.[226] Of this the government
was informed, as we find by a paragraph in the Gazette of Saturday,
August 17th, 1745, from Edinburgh, dated on the 11th of the same
month.
[226] See ff. 355, 640, for precise day, etc.
Here it will not be amiss to give a short account of the vile and
dishonourable method used for seizing the Duke of Perth, who was
actually in the hands of the Highland officers, Sir Patrick Murray of
Ochtertyre and Mr. Campbell of Inveraa, at his own house of Drummond
Castle, but he had the good fortune to make his escape from them. The
manner of both was as follows:--
A warrant being out to take the Duke of Perth, it was given to
the above officers to put it in execution. They, not daring to
attempt it openly without a large force, the sight of which would
give a sufficient alarm for him to escape, they therefore thought
of the following scandalous method. As they were often hospitably
entertained at his table, they sent him word [Sidenote: _fol._ 511.]
that they were to dine with him at such a time. He sent them word
back that he should be proud to see them. The time appointed being
come (July 26th, 1745), they went as usual, and according to the
Duke's generous temper were entertained at dinner. One of his footmen
having spied some men in arms coming towards the house, called the
Duke to the door of the room and told him what he had seen, begging
his Grace in the meantime to take care of himself. This the servant
did more than once; but the Duke always smiled and would not suspect
any gentlemen to be guilty of any such dirty action. After dinner,
the officers having drunk a little while, and the time being come
when they had appointed the soldiers to surround the house at a
little distance, were pleased to inform his Grace of their errand,
pulling out their orders for that [Sidenote: _fol._ 512.] purpose.
The Duke commanded his temper very well, and seeming not to be much
displeased, told them he would step into the closet, which was in
the room where they were sitting, and get himself ready. To this
they agreed, as they thought he could not go out of the room. He
went into the closet and (gently locking the door) slipt down a
pair of backstairs, which came to the closet, and got into the wood
joining his gardens with much difficulty. In making his way through
the wood (which was surrounded), he got all his legs much scratched
and wounded with the briars and thorns; and he behoved sometimes to
crawl on his hands and feet to keep himself from being seen by the
sentinels at their different posts. The officers waited some time,
and the Duke not returning, they went to the closet door, which,
being locked, they called some of the servants, who told them their
master was gone away on horseback in a great hurry. After the Duke
got out of the wood [Sidenote: _fol._ 513.] he lay squat for some
time in a dry ditch till the party should be gone. The officers
and their command, on their return to Crieff, the place where they
quartered, passed so near the ditch that the Duke heard all that they
spoke. When the party were all out of sight the Duke rose up to look
about him, and spying a countryman with a little horse, he desired
to have the use of the horse, which the countryman readily complied
with. The horse had neither saddle nor bridle, but only a branks (or
halter) about its head. However, in this pickle did the Duke ride
to the house of Mr. Murray of Abercairny. From that he went to the
house of Mr. Drummond of Logie. At night, when all were in bed, Logie
Drummond, entertaining fears he could not really account for, got out
of bed, and going to the Duke's bed chamber, awaked him and begged
him to be gone speedily to some other place; for that he was afraid
of his not [Sidenote: _fol._ 514.] being safe to stay all night.
Logie would not leave him till he saw him out of the house, and the
Duke was not well gone when a party came (in dead of night), and
searched the house very narrowly for the Duke. It is worth remarking
here that when Sir Patrick Murray of Ochtertyre was made a prisoner
on Gladesmuirfield, the Duke of Perth came up to him, and asking how
he did, spoke these words to him very pleasantly, 'Sir Petie, I am to
dine with you to-day.'
But to return. At Lochshiel in Lochabar they unloaded their
ship, the chief of whose cargo consisted of brandy (a liquor
absolutely necessary in the Highlands), a thousand stand of arms, a
proportionable quantity of ammunition, and some provisions.[227]
[227] See f. 640.
[Sidenote: 3 Aug.]
About the 3d or 4th of August they had cleared the ship. The next day
it was known that the Prince was arrived, and young Clanranald sent a
guard to attend him.
[Sidenote: _fol._ 515.]
During this time all the messengers were very successful, and several
of the Prince's friends began to be in motion, and gathered their
respective vassals in order to be ready to attend at the setting up
of the standard.
While these were busy raising men, etc., others were as much employed
in procuring a sufficient quantity of oatmeal, which, being scarce,
cost seventeen shillings sterling per boll. In about the space of
three weeks, having laid up a large quantity of oatmeal, and having a
sufficient quantity of brandy (two of the most grateful things that
could be given to a Highlander), the Prince thought it high time to
begin to try his fortune.
[Sidenote: 11 Aug.]
[Sidenote: 19 Aug.]
About the 11th of August the Prince sailed to Kinlochmoidart,
about 25 miles farther, where he stayed till the 17th. As he went
from hence he was joined by about 150 men. On the 18th he crossed
Lochshiel and lay at Glensiarich,[228] and from thence on the 19th
they proceeded to Glenfinnan at the head of the loch in Clanranald's
country, and there set up his [Sidenote: _fol._ 516.] standard,
on which there was no motto at all, and was immediately joined by
Lochiel, Keppoch, and others, with 1400 men in all. Young Clanranald
had joined him before.
[228] See f. 640.
Here a considerable number of both gentlemen and ladies met to see
the ceremony; among the rest was the famous Miss Jeanie Cameron[229]
(as she is commonly though very improperly called, for she is a widow
nearer 50 than 40 years of age). She is a genteel, well-look'd,
handsome woman, with a pair of pretty eyes, and hair as black as
jet. She is of a very sprightly genius, and is very agreeable in
conversation. She was so far from accompanying the Prince's army that
she went off with the rest of the spectators as soon as the army
marched. Neither did she ever follow the camp, nor was ever with the
Prince, but in public when he had his Court at Edinburgh.
[229] At the end of a pamphlet, called 'The Life of Dr. Archibald
Cameron, brother to Donald Cameron of Lochiel,' etc. [London, 1753,
p. 32], there is given as an Appendix a notice and portrait of 'Miss
Jenny Cameron, in a military habit.' She is there said to be the
daughter of Hugh Cameron of Glandessary, and to have joined the
Prince when he set up his standard with 200 well-armed followers,
whom she personally led in action at Prestonpans, Falkirk, and
Culloden. Mr. Robert Chambers, in his _History of the Rebellion_,
7th edition, pp. 251, 252, footnotes, gives all the additional
information about this lady which seems to be known.
Here it must be remarked that Mr. Anthony Welch, the owner of the
_Doutelle_, an eminent merchant of Nantz, after [Sidenote: _fol._
517.] having landed his passengers and cargo as above mentioned,
(towards which expence the Prince gave him £2000 sterling, and
knighted him, making him a present of a gold-hilted sword, which
cost eighty louis d'ores, and was bought for the Prince against
the intended Dunkirk expedition in 1743), this merchant, I say,
after landing his passengers, went a privateering, having a letter
of mark, and was of signal service to the Highland army by taking
six or seven prizes, the chief of which were loaded with meal. The
biggest of these he ransomed for £60 sterling, and also the others
in proportion, on condition the owners would carry their lading and
sell it to the Prince, etc., but if they did not bring certificates
of that then the ransom was to be three times as much. This Mr. Welch
chiefly trades to Martinico. He has 24 merchantmen and privateers,
one of which took ---- man-of-war in ---- [Sidenote: _fol._ 518.] and
sold it to the King of France for 15,000 livres.
[Sidenote: 20 Aug.]
Upon the 20th of August the Prince proceeded on his march towards
Castle Blair in Athol. On the 23d he was joined by about 500, on the
26th by 50, on the 28th by 100, on the 29th by 150 at Garviemore.
When they were at Corierag, hoping to fight Cope, they had been
also joined by Ardshiel, commanding the Stewarts of Appin, Glenco,
Glengary, and some others. The author of ASCANIUS[230] makes the
Prince avoid fighting Cope, but it was quite otherwise.
[230] A pamphlet history of the Prince's escape, printed in 1746, and
not all facts.
[Sidenote: 30 Aug.]
August 30th they arrived at Dalnacardoch in the mountain of
Dirmochter, and on the 31st at Blair Castle, which Duke James quitted
a few days before upon receiving a letter from his brother, Duke
William, alias Marquis of Tullibardine. On the last of August Old
MacGregor, alias Graham of Glengyle, had seized, by surprize, forty
men of General Campbell's regiment who were mending the Duke of
Argyle's roads.
[Sidenote: _fol._ 519.]
In this route Lochgary, Dr. Cameron, and O'Sullivan were sent to
Ruthven in Badenoch to take the Barracks. Neither side had any
canon. The Highland party endeavoured to set fire to the door, but
the soldiers fired through holes in the door, killed one man and
mortally wounded two more; and then the party retired. All this time
O'Sullivan hid himself in a barn. This garrison consisted of 12 men,
commanded by Serjeant Molloy. About this time a new raised company
belonging to Lord Loudon deserted and joined the Prince's army.[231]
[231] See f. 642.
* * * * *
[Sidenote: 1747. 19 Nov^r.]
_N.B._--Upon Thursday, November 19th, 1747, I visited Dr. John Burton
[physician] of York, at his lodgings in Edinburgh, where I had the
favour of the original draught in the doctor's own hand-writ, from
which I made out the above transcript. The Doctor had come into
Scotland purposely to make enquiry about matters relating to the
Prince's affairs. The above is [Sidenote: _fol._ 520.] much more to
be depended upon than that taken from Duncan Cameron, because Mr.
Æneas MacDonald[232] is a gentleman who got a liberal education, and
was one of the Prince's council, and therefore had an opportunity
of knowing things distinctly; whereas Duncan Cameron, being only
a servant, could know things but imperfectly and at second-hand.
Meantime it is worth observing that the journal taken from Duncan
Cameron and others is the fullest and exactest of the two as to the
marching of the Prince's army down the country to Edinburgh, which
Dr. Burton acknowledged.
[232] See f. 346.
Upon the foresaid day I also received from Dr. Burton in his own
hand-writ the two following short narratives.
I. The Laird of MacKinnon, after ferrying the Prince over from
the Isle of Sky to the continent, took leave of him, and then set
out upon his return home. The Prince left Knoidart and went to
Glenbiasdale, being about ten miles, where he stayed two or three
nights, till he heard of the arrival of [Sidenote: _fol._ 521.]
Captain Scott with 500 men, and General Campbell with 400 more, who
having received notice whereabouts the Prince was, were endeavouring
to surround him; they and their men being then within three miles of
him on all sides. But notwithstanding all the efforts of his enemies,
who had all the reason imaginable to expect to get their prey, yet
he, by God's providence, slipt them all once more in the night, and
travelled 25 Scotch miles in a few hours over rough mountains into
Lochaber. The better to deceive his pursuers, he got two or three
different men to personate him and to take different routes, by which
stratagem, in all probability, he extricated himself out of the then
dangers, and once more preserved his life and liberty.
The above taken by Dr. Burton from the mouth of Donald MacDonald of
Garryfleugh, prisoner in London in the same messenger's house with
Clanronald, Boisdale, etc.
[Sidenote: 20 Sept.]
II. The vessel which carried the Prince over from Scotland [Sidenote:
_fol._ 522.] was the _Bellona_ of St. Malo's, a Nantz privateer of
32 carriage and 12 swivel guns and 340 men. She was afterwards taken
on the 2d of February 1746-7 by three men-of-war only, the _Eagle_,
the _Edinburgh_, and the _Nottingham_. The Prince, after seeing such
of his friends as were present first on board, embarked and set
sail immediately for France (September 20th, 1746),[233] where he
landed safely at Roscort, near three leagues west of Morlaise, on the
29th of the same month, having had a very good voyage. The ship was
commanded by one Colonel Warren, and had another privateer along with
her.[234]
[233] See ff. 640, 1476.
[234] See the _Scots Magazine_ for September 1746, the first column
of p. 445, and second column of p. 492.--(F.)
[Sidenote: 23 Nov.]
Upon Monday, November 23d, 1747, Dr. Burton favoured me with a
visit, when he was pleased to tell me that some time in the month of
September 1746, he took the freedom to ask at [Sidenote: _fol._ 523.]
Mr. Æneas MacDonald his opinion of Mr. John Murray of Broughton,
particularly whether or not he entertained any fears about his
turning evidence, as the common talk in London gave it out? Mr.
MacDonald's answer was that he believed Mr. Murray of Broughton to
be so honest between man and man, that in private life he would not
be guilty of a dirty or dishonest action; but then, he said, he knew
him to be such a coward, and to be possessed with such a fear for
death, that (for his own part) he was much afraid Mr. Murray might be
brought the length of doing any thing to save a wretched life!