THE YOUNG CHEVALIER.
Attended by a dozen or more nobles and officers of high rank, all
dressed in blue coats faced with red, and wearing gold-laced hats,
marched with a light elastic step, that showed he was not in the
slightest degree fatigued, a tall, well-proportioned, fair-complexioned,
handsome young man, of some five-and-twenty, dressed in a Highland
garb, armed with a broadsword, and carrying a target on his shoulder.
He wore no star upon his breast--no ornament of any kind--merely a
white rose in his bonnet, and a blue silk scarf, yet his dignified
and graceful deportment proclaimed at once that it was Prince Charles
Edward.
The prince's frame was slight, but full of vigour. His features were
regular and delicately moulded, his complexion fair, and his eyes
bright and blue. His natural blonde locks would no doubt have become
him better than the flaxen-coloured peruke which he wore, though that
suited him. His expression was extremely amiable and engaging, and his
youth, grace, and good looks produced a most favourable impression
upon the beholders.
Charles Edward was preceded by a hundred Highland pipers, and as all
were playing vigorously, the din caused by them was astounding.
This handsome young prince, who, at the period of his introduction to
the reader, was full of romantic ardour and courage, and confident of
recovering the throne of his ancestors, was the eldest son of James
Stuart, known as the Chevalier de Saint George, and the Princess Maria
Sobieski. Perfect in all manly exercises, Prince Charles Edward
possessed powers of endurance that admirably fitted him for the
enterprize he had undertaken. His early years had been passed in
obscurity in Rome, but he had always cherished the thought of invading
England, and at last the opportunity presented itself.
Great efforts had been made by the Jacobite party in Paris to induce
the French monarch to aid in the restoration of the Stuart dynasty,
but without effect. However, when the celebrated Cardinal de Tencin
became first minister of state, he judged that a civil war in England
would be highly beneficial to France, and therefore invited Charles
Edward to repair to Paris.
Preparations, meanwhile, had been made to land an army of fifteen
thousand men in England under Field-Marshal Saxe, and it was arranged
that the prince should accompany the expedition as commander-in-chief.
The fleet set sail, but being dispersed by a violent tempest, suffered
so much loss that the project was abandoned.
But the hopes of the young prince were encouraged by the cardinal
minister, who said to him, "The king is averse to another expedition
after the disastrous result of the first. But why should you not go
alone, or with a few attendants, and land on the North of Scotland?
Your presence alone would revive your party, and create an army."
This advice was too much in accordance with the aspirations of the
brave and adventurous young prince not to be eagerly adopted.
Provided with money and arms by the cardinal, he set sail from
Dunquerque in July, 1745, in the Dentelle sloop of war, and after some
hazardous escapes, landed on the north-west coast of Scotland, where
he was met by Mr. Murray, who became his secretary and treasurer. His
standard having been reared, he was speedily joined by the MacDonalds,
the Camerons, and other Highland chiefs, the Duke of Perth, the
Marquis of Tullibardine, Lord Elcho, and Lord George Murray.
Having mustered an army of four thousand men, he marched on Perth, and
arrived there on the 3rd of September.
After a short stay at Perth, he proceeded at the head of his army to
Edinburgh, and the Scottish capital opened its gates to the grandson
of James the Second. Here he took possession of the palace of his
ancestors; caused his father to be proclaimed at the Cross by the
title of King James the Eighth of Scotland, and himself as Regent; and
after the ceremonial gave a splendid ball at Holyrood. At Edinburgh he
was joined by Lord Nairne with a thousand men.
On the 21st of September occurred the battle of Preston Pans, in which
Sir John Cope was completely routed. The news of the young Chevalier's
unlooked-for and decisive victory animated the Jacobites in every
quarter, greatly alarmed the English Government, and brought back
George the Second from Hanover.
Having received considerable reinforcements, the prince gave a troop
of horse to Lord Balmerino, and another to Lord Kilmarnock. Money and
arms also arrived most opportunely from France, and in one of the
vessels that brought these supplies came the Marquis d'Eguilles. The
court continued to be held at Holyrood, and the receptions were now
most brilliantly attended, especially by the fair sex.
Meanwhile, Marshal Wade having assembled an army at Newcastle, the
prince determined to cross the Border and give him battle.
Several of his council, among whom was Lord George Murray, sought to
dissuade him from his design, urging him to await the arrival of the
expected reinforcements from France; but no representations either of
difficulty or danger could induce the chivalrous prince to give up his
scheme, or even defer it.
He told his councillors that he saw they were determined to stay in
Scotland, and defend their own country; but he added, in a tone that
showed his resolution was taken, "I am not less determined to try my
fate in England, even though I should go alone."
On the last day of October he marched out of Edinburgh at the head of
an army of five thousand five hundred men. His first object was to
attack Carlisle, and as Marshal Wade had not advanced from Newcastle,
he did not anticipate an engagement with him.
Carlisle surrendered to the Duke of Perth, and on the 17th November,
Charles Edward made a triumphal entry into the city. At a council held
there, the prince, flushed by success, proposed to continue his march
to the metropolis, expressing a firm conviction that he should be
joined by a large party in Lancashire and Cheshire, while the Marquis
d'Eguilles felt equally confident that reinforcements would arrive
from France.
Some opposition to the plan was offered by Lord George Murray, who
affirmed that the Duke of Cumberland had assembled an army nearly
doubling in number that of his royal highness, which must be
encountered, and that Marshal Wade had made a demonstration for the
relief of Carlisle, but the advice was overruled.
Resuming his march, the prince passed through Lancaster, and arrived
with his whole army at Preston on the 26th. From Preston the Highland
army marched to Manchester, in two divisions, as related.
Rash as the young Chevalier's enterprise may appear, it is more than
probable that it would have been accomplished if he had received the
support he expected.
Before quitting Scotland he had received invitations and promises of
aid from many important Jacobite families in the northern counties;
and he had been led to believe that a general rising in his favour
would be made in Lancashire, Cheshire, and North Wales.
But he soon found these promises fallacious. Very few persons of
importance joined his standard, and no risings took place. He had
expected powerful reinforcements from France, but none arrived. Yet he
had advanced boldly and successfully, and though unaided, it appeared
not unlikely that he would achieve the daring project he had
conceived.
Hopes were still entertained by some of his counsellors that a large
number of volunteers would join at Manchester, and the warm reception
given him by the inhabitants as he approached the town, seemed to
warrant these expectations.
As the prince marched a few paces in front of his attendants, he was
at once distinguishable; but even if he had been mixed up with them,
his dignified deportment would have rendered him conspicuous.
Amongst the nobles and Highland chiefs who attended him were the
Marquis of Tullibardine, Glengarry, Ardshiel, Colonel Ker of Gradon,
and Colonel O'Sullivan.
Behind them came a body-guard of Highlanders.
The second division of the army consisted of regiments belonging to
the chiefs previously mentioned, but these regiments were now left to
the command of the officers, their leaders preferring to march on foot
with the prince. A troop of hussars under the command of Lord
Balmerino brought up the rear.