The Prince retired in good order with some few of his men, and
crossed the Water of Nairn at the ford on the highway between
Inverness and Corryburgh, without being pursued by the enemy, where
he parted with them, taking only a few of FitzJames's horse and some
gentlemen along with him up that river, the rest taking the highway
to Ruthven of Badenoch, where they stayed some days expecting an
answer to a letter that was sent to the Prince; but it not coming
in the time expected, they all separated, every one to do the best
he could for himself. Most of the clans had gone from the field of
battle towards their respective countries.
The publick has been no ways favourable to Lord George Murray,[385]
but if they had been witnesses of his zeal and activity from the
time he joined in that affair to the last of it, his exposing his
person wherever an occasion offered, and in particular [Sidenote:
_fol._ 668.] at the battle of Culloden, where he went on with the
first and came not off till the last, they would have done him more
justice. And whatever sentiments they have been pleased to say the
Prince had of him, they are hardly to be credited, and for this
reason; because when, after the battle, Colonel Ker went to acquaint
the Prince how affairs were going, his highness enquired particularly
about Lord George Murray, and, being told that he had been thrown
from his horse in the time of the action, but was no way hurt, the
Prince, in presence of all that were there, desired Colonel Ker to
find him out and [Sidenote: _fol._ 669.] take particular care of him,
which it is to be presumed he would not have done if he had had the
least suspicion of what has been laid to _his charge by his enemies_.
[385] Here Colonel Ker vindicates Lord George Murray from villainy,
an imputation which no man in his right senses could ever entertain
against Lord George, because no villain would have exposed his person
so remarkably as he did where danger called upon all occasions.
Besides, if Lord George had acted the double and dishonest part, why
should he have skulked, and, at last, have gone to foreign parts?
But, then, it is worth noticing that Colonel Ker says not a word with
respect to the insolence and haughtiness of Lord George's temper, his
great misfortune and fault, in which alone he can be justly blamed,
and with which he stands charged by the Prince's own words to more
than one [see ff. 150, 236, 450, 453]. However, to do Lord George
justice, it is affirmed by some who have an opportunity of knowing,
that Lord George, before he left Scotland, did declare his surprize
to a friend (Murray of Abercairney) how it could enter into the head
of any person to charge him with treachery. But at the same time that
he acknowledged with concern and regret that he had been too often
guilty of contradicting and thwarting the Prince in the measures
he proposed. Certainly, tho' both be bad enough, there is a great
difference 'twixt villainy and pride.