[254] See f. 138.
Lady Margaret pressed Miss very much in presence of the officer to
stay, telling her that she had promised to make some stay the first
time she should happen to come there. But Miss desired to be excused
at that time, because she wanted to see her mother, and to be at
home in these troublesome times. Lady Margaret at last let her go,
and she and Mrs MacDonald [Sidenote: _fol._ 534.] above mentioned
set forwards with Neil MacKechan and said Mrs MacDonald's maid and
her man-servant. They overtook the Prince and Kingsburgh. Mrs.
MacDonald was very desirous to see the Prince's countenance; but as
he went along he always turned away his face from Mrs MacDonald to
the opposite side whenever he perceived her endeavouring to stare
him in the countenance. But yet she got several opportunities of
seeing his face, though in disguise, which the maid could not help
taking notice of, and said she had never seen such an impudent-looked
woman, and durst say she was either an Irish woman or else a man in
a woman's dress. Miss MacDonald replied she was an Irish woman, for
she had seen her before. The maid also took notice of the Prince's
awkward way of managing the petticoats, and what long strides he
took in walking along, etc.,[255] which obliged Miss MacDonald
to desire Mrs. MacDonald (they being both on horseback), to step
a [Sidenote: _fol._ 535.] little faster and leave those on foot,
because, as there were many parties of militia in the great roads,
it was necessary for the Prince to cross the country, and it was not
proper to let Mrs. MacDonald's man or maid servant see it. So on they
went, and the Prince and Kingsburgh went over the hills and travelled
south-south-east till they arrived at Kingsburgh's house, which was
about twelve o'clock at night, and they were very wet. But Miss
MacDonald, who had parted with her companions and her man-servant on
the road, arrived some short time before the Prince.[256]
[255] See ff. 143, 206.
[256] See f. 146.
[Sidenote: 30 June.]
Here the Prince got his most material refreshment, and was very much
fatigued.[257] Yet he was very merry till the company parted to go
to rest. Morning being come and pretty far advanced, Miss MacDonald
was in pain about the Prince's lying so long in bed lest he should be
overtaken by his enemies, and therefore she entreated Kingsburgh to
go and call him up, [Sidenote: _fol._ 536.] which with much ado he
was prevailed upon to comply with, he being desirous that the Prince
should take as long rest as he could, not knowing when he could meet
with the like again. Accordingly Kingsburgh went into the Prince's
bed-chamber and found him in so profound a sleep that he could not
think of awakening him, and so retired softly out of the room.[258]
But at last the day began to be far advanced, and Miss MacDonald
was very uneasy, everything being prepared for the journey agreed
upon. Though the Prince was determined (from the observations and
persuasion of Kingsburgh)[259] to cast off his disguise, yet it was
necessary he should leave the house in the female dress he came in,
which would, if enquiry happened to be made, prevent the servants
telling the particular dress he had put on when he stript himself of
the gown, petticoats, etc., and therefore in Kingsburgh's house Miss
put on his cap for him.
[257] See f. 209.
[258] See f. 213.
[259] See f. 143.
The day was far advanced before he set out, and when he [Sidenote:
_fol._ 537.] arrived at a wood side (as the affair had been
concerted), not far from Kingsburgh, he changed his apparel once
more and put on the Highland dress Kingsburgh had furnished him
with.[260] Then Kingsburgh sent a guide with him to Portree, thro'
all byways, while Miss MacDonald went thither on horseback by another
road, thereby the better to gain intelligence and at the same time to
prevent a discovery. They were very wet, it having rained very much.
Here he only dried his clothes, took some little refreshment, and
staid about two hours.
[260] See ff. 143, 228.
[Sidenote: 1 July]
Hither Kingsburgh had sent to prepare a boat, and to have it ready to
convey the Prince to the place where he wanted to be at, not allowing
the people about Portree in the meantime to know anything about the
person's being the Prince whom they were to receive and to take care
of. Young MacLeod of [Sidenote: _fol._ 538.] Raaza came with Malcolm
MacLeod to conduct the Prince over to the Island of Raaza. The Prince
was very uneasy he had not a MacDonald to conduct him still. He left
Portree on Tuesday, the 1st of July, and landed that very same day at
a place called Glam in Raaza.[261]
[261] See f. 214, 228.
[Sidenote: July]
Miss MacDonald took leave of the Prince at Portree, and from thence
went to her mother, after a fatiguing journey cross the country.
She never told her mother, or indeed anybody else, what she had
done.[262] About eight or ten days after, she received a message from
one of her own name, Donald MacDonald of Castleton in Sky, who lived
about four miles from Slate or Armadale, to come to his house, an
officer of an Independent Company (one MacLeod of Taliskar) having
desired him so to do. She, a little suspicious of what might happen,
thought proper to consult some of her friends[263] what she should do
in the matter. They unanimously agreed she ought not to go, at least
till next day; but go she [Sidenote: _fol._ 539.] would. Then she was
instructed what to say upon an examination; and accordingly, when
that happened, she said she had seen a great lusty woman, who came to
the boatside as she was going on board and begged to have a passage,
saying she was a soldier's wife. Her request was granted, and when
she landed in Sky, she went away, thanking Miss for her favour. Miss
added withal that she knew nothing of what became of her afterwards.
[262] See f. 200.
[263] Particularly Donald Roy MacDonald. See f. 768.
Miss set forwards, as she proposed, to her friend's house, whither
she had been desired to come, and on the road she met her father
(Armadale) returning home; and soon after she was taken by an officer
and a party of soldiers, who were going to her mother's house in
pursuit of her.[264] They carried her on board a ship, and would
not suffer her to return home to take leave of her friends. She was
carried on board [Sidenote: _fol._ 540.] the _Furnace_, commanded
by Captain John Ferguson, a sloop of war, where General Campbell
happened then to be, who ordered Miss MacDonald to be used with the
utmost respect.
[264] See f. 201.
About three weeks afterwards, Miss, in cruizing about, being near her
stepfather's house, the General permitted her to go ashore and take
leave of her friends, but under a guard of two officers and a party
of soldiers, with strict orders that she was not to speak anything in
Erse, or anything at all but in the presence and in the hearing of
the officers. And therefore she stayed only about two hours, and then
returned again to the ship.[265]
[265] See ff. 201, 202.
* * * * *
[Sidenote: 1747. 23 Nov.]
_N.B._--The above I transcribed from Dr Burton's own hand-writ.
Happening to mention several questions that were fit to be proposed
to Miss MacDonald, the Doctor desired me to give him them in writing,
for that he would endeavour to procure direct answers to them.
Accordingly, I gave them to him in writing, and he performed what he
had promised. [Sidenote: _fol._ 541.] Here follows an exact copy of
the questions and their answers.
QUESTION 1ST.--Ask particularly at Miss MacDonald by what lucky
accident it came about that she and Captain O'Neil had a meeting at
first to concert measures? Whether or not it was by direction of her
stepfather, Armadale, or of any other person? For as O'Neil was an
entire stranger in the country this is a material question, and must
remain a mystery till Miss clears it up.
ANSWER.--When the Prince and his few men were skulking in the Long
Isle, O'Neil used to scour about frequently by himself to try what
he could learn, and this led him to be several times at Milton
before he made the proposal to Miss MacDonald, as they were then
skulking thereabouts. O'Neil, by being free and easy with Miss and
her brother, came soon to learn their history, and that their mother
lived in Sky, etc.
2.--Ask particularly if Armadale had any private meeting (in person)
with the Prince while skulking. For it is certain that General
Campbell complained that Armadale was the person who had misled him
when searching for the Young Pretender in the Long Isle.[266]
[266] See f. 458.
ANSWER.--When the Prince first landed upon the continent of Scotland,
Armadale, happening to be on the continent, was walking upon the
shore just as the Prince and his friends were [Sidenote: _fol._ 542.]
sailing towards it. Armadale, spying a sail making towards the very
spot upon which he was walking, stopt till he should learn what the
ship was, and from whence she had come. When the Prince stept ashore,
Armadale was the first man that took him by the hand and kissed it,
for he was introduced to the Prince by those that were along with
him. The Prince and Armadale conversed some time together. Soon after
this Armadale returned to the Isle of Sky, and never saw the Prince
again, either before or in the time of his skulking.[267]
[267] See f. 304.
3.--It is said that Armadale writ a letter, which he sent by Miss
MacDonald to her mother, recommending the Irish girl, Bettie Burk, as
a good servant, and giving an account of her good qualifications as
such. It were to be wished that Miss could recollect the contents of
said letter as exactly as possible, in order to give a narrative of
the same.
ANSWER.--The substance of the writing which Armadale sent to
his wife, was as is already mentioned in Miss MacDonald's own
journal.[268]
[268] See f. 525.
4.--Ask what particular songs he chaunted in crossing from the Long
Isle to Sky? if she can give the names of them?
ANSWER.--He sung 'The King shall enjoy his own again,' [Sidenote:
_fol._ 543.] and 'The twenty-ninth of May,' etc.
5.--Ask whether or not Lady Clanronald furnished the Prince and Miss
MacDonald with some bottles full of milk as part of their provisions
on board the boat in the passage to Sky? And whether or not the
Prince did put the bottle to his head, and drink in common with those
on board?
ANSWER.--Lady Clanronald did furnish them with some bottles of milk,
and the Prince (in the passage) putting the bottle to his head, drank
in common with those on board _Jock-fellow-like_. Lady Clanronald had
but one half-bottle of wine (there being so many demands upon her,
particularly from parties of the military) which she likewise caused
to be put on board the boat. The Prince in the passage would not
allow any person to share in this small allowance of wine, but kept
it altogether for Miss MacDonald's use, lest she should faint with
the cold and other inconveniences of a night passage.
6.--To the proceeding questions Dr. Burton was pleased to [Sidenote:
_fol._ 544.] add one of his own, which is what length of time there
happened to be betwixt the Prince's leaving Kingsburgh's house and
Captain Ferguson's coming thither to search for him?
ANSWER.--About six or seven days; so that the Prince behoved by that
time to be actually upon the continent.
* * * * *
_N.B._--Miss Flora MacDonald was upon the 28th of November 1746 put
on board the _Royal Sovereign_ lying at the Nore, and upon the 6th of
December following, was removed to London and put into the custody of
Mr. Dick, a messenger, in whose hands were likewise Dr. Burton, Æneas
MacDonald, Malcolm MacLeod, Clanronald, senior, Boisdale, etc. But
Lady Clanronald was not allowed to be in the same messenger's house
with her husband.