[291] This was George Durie of Grange, who claimed the title of Lord
Rutherford as grand-nephew of the first Lord. His claim was disputed
by a gentleman of the Rutherford family, and to determine the dispute
the Lords' Committee of Privileges ordered both to lodge their
proofs, and in end disallowed both claims.
To the King's Most Excellent Majesty the Humble Petition of George,
Lord Rutherford.
SHEWETH,--That your petitioner has always been firmly attached to
your Majesty's royal person and government, and in testimony thereof
was the first man in Britain (for what he knows) that discovered to
the ministry in the end of April last that the horrid and wicked
rebellion was intended. And as a further proof of his fidelity and
loyalty did upon the fifth of June last cause apprehend Sir Hector
MacLean and George Blair of Castlehill, by three o'clock in the
morning, being informed they were to set out by five o'clock for the
[Sidenote: _fol._ 575.] Highlands of Scotland in order to raise all
the clans they could influence to rise in an open rebellion against
your Majesty in favour of a popish pretender.
That your Majesty's petitioner hath been the butt of the malice of
the Jacobites ever since, and was obliged to fly his own house for
fear of his life, they having sent a hundred and fifty men three
different times to his house, who carried off a great part of his
fine armory, cows, and cattle, because they could not apprehend
himself and horses, with which he made his escape.
Therefore your petitioner himself hopes your Majestie will not
only be graciously pleased to order the arrears of his pension
to be paid him, but as a further testimony of your royal favour,
to create him a peer of Great Britain, and the more especially
as he has the honour to be a remote relation to your Majesty,
his grandmother, [Sidenote: _fol._ 576.] the Earl of Teviot's
mother, having been niece to King James the Second of Scotland.
And your Majesty's petitioner (as in duty bound) shall ever pray for,
etc.
* * * * *
[Sidenote: 28 Dec.]
[Sidenote: 29 Dec.]
Upon Monday afternoon, December 28th, 1747, Captain Alexander
MacDonald, brother german of Æneas or Angus MacDonald of Dalely in
Moidart, of the family of Clanranald, and full cousin-german to
Miss Flora Macdonald, visited me in my own room and favoured me
with a Journal of several sheets in his own handwriting, and in the
handwriting of young Clanranald, and in the handwriting of MacDonald
of Glenaladale, the Journal having been drawn up in the presence, and
by the mutual assistance of all the three. By appointment the said
Captain Alexander MacDonald returned [Sidenote: _fol._ 577.] to me
next day about nine o'clock in the morning and stayed with me till
near six o'clock at night, in which time I went through the whole
Journal with him at great leisure, not only the better to prevent
my making any mistakes in transcribing of it, but likewise to have
his observations upon some parts to render them more plain and
intelligible to those who are strangers, either to the subject matter
or to the Highlands of Scotland, and to have his additions to other
parts, for he had told me there were some few omissions of lesser
matters. The whole Journal (from beginning to end) is written in a
very legible and distinct letter and the words are well spelled. At
the same time the said Captain MacDonald gave me his animadversions
upon some parts of other Journals which I read to him, as will appear
hereafter.
* * * * *
[Sidenote: _fol._ 578.]
[Now begins the Journal in Captain Alexander
MacDonald's hand writing.[292]]
[292] It seems to have been from this Journal that the 'Account of
the Young Pretender's Escape,' in the _Lockhart Papers_, vol. ii. pp.
537-562 is taken. But here it is much fuller.
[Sidenote: 1746 16 April]
After the battle of Culloden (which was fought upon the 16th April
1746) his royal highness, attended only by one Colonel O'Sullivan,
Captain Allan MacDonald (a clergyman of the Church of Rome)[293],
Mr. Alexander MacLeod (one of the Prince's own _aid de camps_), and
one Ned Burk, came that night late to Frazer of Gortleg's house in
Stratherick,[294] where my Lord Lovat himself stayed at that time.
He took some refreshment there and a couple of hours rest, but went
off before daylight and tooke his route by Fort Augustus and through
Glengary. And though his royal highness was vastly needful of some
recreation there after such fatigue, the disconveniences of both time
and place did not allow any better accommodations than a piece of a
broiled trout he received [Sidenote: _fol._ 579.] there from some
well-wisher for his supper at MacDonalds of Droynachan.
[293] See ff. 281, 328.
[294] Some difference in this page, etc., from the account of Ned
Burk, an eye-witness of the route.--ROBERT FORBES, A.M.
[Sidenote: 18 April]
Upon Friday's morning, being the 18th, he set off, and held through
Lochharkaig, where he stayed that night with Donald Cameron of
Glenpean, married to MacDonald of Auchtrichatan's daughter.
[Sidenote: 19 April]
Upon Saturday's morning, being the 19th, he came to Oban in
Kinlochmors, a corner of Clanranald's estate, and for their further
security contented themselves that night for their lodgment with a
small sheal house near a wood.
[Sidenote: 20 April]
Early upon the 20th his royal highness got up and went straight to
Arisaig to a town called Glenbiastill, where the Prince got a sute of
new Highland cloaths from Angus MacDonald of Boradale's spouse, the
better to disguise him and to make him pass for one of the country.
At Glenbiastill the few gentlemen (that happened to come home from
that unlucky battle of Culloden) of Clanranald's men assembled about
the Prince, in order to consult and lay their schemes for [Sidenote:
_fol._ 580.] his present and future safety, being convinced that the
enemy would probably soon be about them if not resisted. His royal
highness stayed at Glenbiastill for four nights,[295] and upon the
24th then instant his royal highness concurred in their opinions that
he should leave the mainland and go to the Isles.
[295] See f. 329.
[Sidenote: 24 April]
Upon the said 24th day, as young Clanranald was absent at the
beginning of their consultation, he finds great fault with his royal
highness's resolution of leaving the continent so abruptly, but that
he should tarry for some time to see what might cast up; and that he
would immediately cause four small bothies to be built at competent
distances in different woods where he might with all imaginable
security skulk for some time, and that he himself (young Clanranald)
and some other chosen men would take a trip to the Isles to look out
for a ship for his transportation, if seen requisite. But then his
royal highness was so far overswayed by Colonel O'Sullivan, etc.,
that he would by no means stay. Upon this young Clanranald [Sidenote:
_fol._ 581.] immediately prepares a boat and shippage (Donald MacLeod
of Gualtergill in Sky being appointed pilot and steersman)[296] and
got all things in the best order the place and time could admit of.
And consequently about the 24th then current,[297] being Thursday,
they set sail for Uist. The wind blew pretty reev (_i.e._ smart or
strong) from south-east, that in weathering the point of Arisaig the
bowsprit broke in pieces.[298] It was a most terrible dark night,
attended with a violent tempest and some flashes of lightning, and
wanting a compass they could not be sure how they steered their
course. But at daybreak they providentially found themselves within
few leagues of their wished for harbour, and landed at Rossinish in
Benbecula[299], [Sidenote: _fol._ 582.] where the eight-oar'd boat
did not stave to pieces for (to put this matter beyond all doubt)
the eight-oar'd boat was lately brought back again from the Island
Skalpay or Glass to the owner upon the continent, Angus MacDonald of
Boradale.[300]
[296] See f. 281.
[297] Donald MacLeod in his own account fixes precisely upon April
26th with which Ned Burk's account agrees pretty exactly. See ff.
273, 281, 316, 329. Captain O'Neille in his account, attested by
his own subscription, makes the Prince arrive in Knoidart only upon
the 28th. See f. 675. But in the copy I formerly took of O'Neille's
Journal the Prince came to Knoidart the 26th. See f. 183.
[298] Donald MacLeod mentions nothing of this at all. See f. 283.
[299] The forementioned Captain Alexander MacDonald (well skilled in
the Earse) assured me these words should be spelled as above.