[1] In this narrative, unless otherwise indicated, events occurring in
Great Britain are given in old style dates, those on the Continent in
new style.
[2] Original information on the Scots Plot is to be found in _The Life
of Lord Lovat written by Himself_, London, 1797; _A Collection of
Original Papers about the Scots Plot_, London, 1704; _Original Papers_,
ed. by Jas. Macpherson, London, 1775; _Major Fraser’s Manuscript_, ed.
by Alex. Fergusson, Edinburgh, 1889; _The Lockhart Papers_, London,
1817; and an eclectic account in Hill Burton’s _Life of Lovat_, London,
1847. Extracts from many of the original authorities on this and
subsequent incidents are given usefully and ingeniously in consecutive
narrative form by Professor Sanford Terry in _The Chevalier de St.
George_, London, 1901.
[3] Original information: _Histoire des Revolutions d’Ecosse et
d’Irlande_: The Hague, 1758, of which there is a Dublin reprint of
1761; _The Secret History of Colonel Hooke’s Negotiations in Scotland
in 1707_, of which there are London, Edinburgh and Dublin editions,
all of 1760 (it is practically a translation of the _Histoire des
Revolutions_); _The Correspondence of Colonel Nathaniel Hooke_, an
exhaustive work edited by Rev. W. D. Macray: Roxburghe Club, 1870. A
not very friendly account of Hooke’s mission is given in the _Lockhart
Papers_. The military state of Scotland at the time is to be found in
_An Account of the late Scotch Invasion as it was opened by My lord
Haversham in the House of Lords_: London, 1709. The story of the naval
expedition is given in _Mémoires du Comte de Forbin_ (Amsterdam, 1730),
of which there is an English translation; the third edition is dated
London, 1740.
[4] The possibility of treachery was suggested by Hooke, and his story
is to be found in a Gask MS. Hooke, who had been bred to the sea, found
the steersman going on the wrong course. He was put right, but as soon
as Hooke’s back was turned he went wrong again. See _Jacobite Lairds of
Gask_, p. 15: London, 1870.
[5] _Esmond_, bk. III. chap. i.
[6] The authorities on the ’Fifteen are to be found noted in most
standard histories.
[7] This statement bears the authority of a MS. in the Bibliothèque
Nationale, and a casual reference in a letter of Bishop Atterbury’s.
(See Martin Haile, _James Francis Edward, the Old Chevalier_: London,
1907, p. 210.)
[8] A full account from the original authorities of Clementina’s
rescue and marriage is to be found in _Narratives of the Detention,
Liberation, and Marriage of Maria Clementina Stuart_, edited by J. T.
Gilbert, LL.D.: Dublin, 1894.
[9] _Clementina_, by A. E. W. Mason.
[10] The best account of this expedition is in Mr. W. K. Dickson’s
exceedingly clear and exhaustive introduction to _The Jacobite
Attempt_, Scottish History Society, vol. xix.: Edinburgh, 1895. All the
original authorities for this incident and the preceding Swedish plot
are indicated in the Notes.
[11] Original authorities: _Life of Christopher Layer_: Norwich, 1723;
Howell’s _State Trials_, vol. xvi. A full account is given by Lord
Mahon, _History of England_, chap. xii. The dispositions by the Court
at Rome are to be found in _James Francis Edward_, M. Haile; and _The
King over the Water_ (London, 1907), A. Shield and Andrew Lang.
[12] Hon. Arthur Dillon, second surviving son of Theobald, seventh
Viscount Dillon. Born at Roscommon, 1670. His father raised a regiment
for James II. at the Revolution, which Arthur accompanied to France,
where he became its colonel, 1690. Served in Spain, Germany, and
Italy. Lieut.-General under the Duke of Berwick at Barcelona, 1714.
Created viscount (Jacobite) in the peerage of Ireland, 1717. Created
earl (Jacobite) in the peerage of Scotland, 1721. Made Knight of the
Thistle, 1722. Died at Paris, 1733.--Ruvigny, _Jacobite Peerage_.
[13] Shield and Lang, _The King over the Water_, pp. 360, 363.
[14] Mahon, _History of England_, chap. xii.
[15] Ruvigny, _Jacobite Peerage_, p. 16.
[16] It is worthy of note that although the new _Scots Peerage_ as
a rule chronicles the Jacobite titles conferred on Scottish nobles,
there is no mention of this peerage to Sir James Grant in that work
(see _Scots Peerage_, vol. vii. pp. 480-483), nor is it referred to in
his biography in the Grant family history (Sir W. Fraser, _The Chiefs
of Grant_, vol. i. pp. 371-392). For the action of the Grants in the
’Forty-five, see _infra_, p. 269 _et seq._
[17] _The Lockhart Papers_ are the principal authority for Jacobite
history in Scotland from 1702 to 1728.
[18] James Urquhart was the only son of Jonathan Urquhart of Cromarty
and his wife Lady Jean Graham, daughter of the second Marquis of
Montrose. Jonathan was the last of the Urquharts who owned the estate
of Cromarty, famous owing to its possession by Sir Thomas Urquhart, the
translator of Rabelais. Jonathan’s affairs having got into disorder,
he sold his ancestral property to George Mackenzie, Viscount Tarbat,
who was created Earl of Cromartie in 1703. James Urquhart married Anne
Rollo, daughter of Robert Rollo of Powhouse, and had an only child,
Grizel, who died unmarried. Colonel Urquhart ‘was a man of noble
spirit, great honour, and integrity; he served in the wars both in
Spain and Flanders with great reputation, but left the Army, and lived
a retired life.... In him ended the whole male line of John, only son
of the first marriage of John, tutor of Cromarty ... the representation
devolved upon William Urquhart of Meldrum’ (Douglas, _Baronage_).
Colonel Urquhart was born in 1691, and died on January 3rd, 1741
(Family papers). His appointment as Jacobite Agent for Scotland is
dated May 28th, 1736 (Ruvigny, _Jacobite Peerage_, p. 234).
[19] Not the famous conqueror of Almanza, who was killed in the War of
the Polish Succession when besieging Philipsburg, on June 28th, 1734,
but his son, known until then as the Duke of Liria.
[20] His commission as colonel is dated October 22nd, 1715.--Ruvigny,
_Jacobite Peerage_, p. 244.
[21] For general information about Gordon of Glenbucket, the reader is
referred to Mr. J. M. Bulloch’s monumental work, _The House of Gordon_
(New Spalding Club, Aberdeen, 1912). For Glenbucket’s character and his
actions in 1745, see _infra_, p. 113 _et seq._ It is remarkable how the
designation ‘of Glenbucket’ has adhered to the family for generations,
although the land from which it was derived was parted with a hundred
and seventy-nine years ago. Gordon’s descendants are still tenants of
the farm of St. Bridget’s, in Glenlivet, which was old Glenbucket’s
home in 1745, and are still termed ‘Glenbucket’ in the district.
For the Macdonell marriages see the genealogies in _History of Clan
Donald_, vol. iii.
[22] M. Haile, _James Francis Edward_, p. 367.
[23] French historians generally blame Fleury for his timidity, and
ascribe to him the decline of the splendid French navy, which he
allowed to fall into decay for fear of English jealousy.
[24] The commission is dated January 28th, 1738. See Stuart Papers in
Browne’s _History of the Highlands_, vol. iv. p. 21.
[25] See _infra_, p. 25.
[26] The terms of this message are given from a state paper in the
French Archives of which the following is an extract: ‘il manda en
Angleterre que le zèle de ses sujets écossais était si vif, qu’il lui
semblait qu’on pourrait opposer les Montagnards de ce pays à la plupart
des troupes que le gouvernement avait alors sur pied, et qu’il y aurait
lieu de tout espérer même sans secours étranger, pourvu que les Anglais
affidés prissent de leur côté de justes mesures.’ See Colin, _Louis XV.
et les Jacobites_, p. 1.
[27] For Sempill’s descent and claim to the title, see Appendix, p. 421.
[28] See _infra_, p. 21.
[29] See _infra_, p. 25.
[30] A. G. M. Macgregor, _History of the Clan Gregor_, vol. ii. p. 358.
[31] Of the Associators only three were ‘out’ in the ’Forty-five:
the Duke of Perth, Lovat, and Lochiel. Lord John Drummond, who was
brother-in-law of Traquair, remained inactive. Prince Charles spent the
night of February 2nd, 1746, at his house, Fairnton, now Ferntower,
near Crieff. Lord Traquair remained in England; he was arrested at
Great Stoughton in Huntingdonshire, on July 29th, 1746, and committed
to the Tower; but was released without trial before August 1748.
Traquair’s brother, John Stuart, married in 1740 and retired from the
Concert then. Sir James Campbell was too old for action. Macgregor of
Balhaldies was in Paris during the campaign.
[32] The name ‘Macgregor’ was then proscribed, and all members of the
clan had to adopt another name; that adopted by Balhaldy’s branch
was ‘Drummond.’ Balhaldy’s father, Alexander, was a man of some
consequence. He had been a trader about Stirling, and made some money,
and he married a daughter of Sir Ewen Cameron of Lochiel, his son
Balhaldy being thus a first cousin of Lochiel of the ’45. In 1714 the
Clan Gregor being chiefless, certain of its leading members elected
Alexander to be hereditary chief. (A. G. M. Macgregor, _Hist. of Clan
Gregor_, vol. ii. p. 270.) He was created a Scots baronet by the
Chevalier in 1740, and he died at Balhaldie House, Dunblane, in 1749.
His son, William, was born in 1698. Though never in Scotland after
1743 he was attainted in 1746, and specially exempted from the act of
indemnity of 1747. He married Janet, daughter of Laurence Oliphant of
Gask, at Paris in January 1758. He died near Paris in 1765.
[33] The designation Balhaldy is spelt variously in contemporary
documents, Bohaldy, Bochaldie, Bahady, etc. Cf. R. L. Stevenson’s
_Catriona_, last chapter.
[34] War was declared with Spain, October 19th, 1739.
[35] Abridged from a State Paper in the French archives, of which
portions are printed in Capitaine J. Colin’s _Louis XV. et les
Jacobites_: Paris, 1901.
[36] The Emperor Charles VI. died on October 20th, 1740, and France
interfered in the War of the Austrian Succession the following August.
[37] Colin, p. 7.
[38] A. G. M. Macgregor, _Hist. of Clan Gregor_, vol. ii. p. 359.
[39] Colin, p. 8.
[40] Lord Marischal wrote to the Chevalier in June 1740, telling him
that the King of Spain had refused an audience to the Duke of Ormonde
on this account. Mahon, _Hist. of England_, 3rd ed., vol. iii. App. p.
iv.
[41] Se _infra_, pp. 12, 22.
[42] ‘Le roi très chrétien, touché du zèle des Ecossais, était porté à
leur accorder les secours dont ils avaient besoin: qu’en conséquence,
Sa Majesté voulait bien faire transporter dans ce royaume toutes les
troupes irlandaises qui étaitent à son service, avec les armes et
munitions et les 20,000 livres sterling qu’on demandait pour aider les
montagnards à se mettre en campagne’ (Colin, p. 8).
[43] This document is printed by the special permission of the French
Government. The original signed and sealed with seven seals is
preserved in the National Archives in Paris.
[44] It was very disappointing to find that no trace of this list of
Highland chiefs referred to could be discovered.
[45] Balhaldy’s Memorial, _History of Clan Gregor_, vol. ii. p. 359.
[46] See Appendix, p. 422.
[47] He died on January 29th (18th O.S.).
[48] That Fleury had proposed something is most probable. He had for
some time been complaining of the ‘insults’--what to-day we call
pin-pricks--with which the British Government had been annoying France
in a time of peace. These pin-pricks culminated in June 1742 when a
British army under Lord Stair landed in the Netherlands, with the
intention of thwarting the French in their campaign against Austria.
[49] _Infra_, p. 16 _n._
[50] ‘Il n’y a pas grand inconvénient que le ministre voie que le
rempart de la mer ne met pas entièrement l’Angleterre à couvert des
enterprises de la France.’
[51] Colin, p. 35.
[52] _Infra_, pp. 41, 42.
[53] _Memorials_, pp. 93, 428.
[54] _The Affairs of Scotland_, 1744-46, by Lord Elcho. Edited by Hon.
Evan Charteris: Edinburgh, 1907, p. 63. Lord Elcho gives a list of
members of the club who undertook to join the Prince in any event.
[55] _Memorials_, p. 64.
[56] Anxious to learn the sources of this information, I wrote to
the author of the volume to inquire, and received a courteous letter
informing me that these statements were made on the authority of the
Stuart Papers.
[57] _Memorials_, p. 444.
[58] _Infra_, p. 116.
[59] _Trial of Lord Lovat_, p. 36.
[60] _Memorials_, p. 50.
[61] _Life of the Duke of Cumberland_: London, 1766, p. 242.
[62] Lord Macleod wrote a Narrative of the campaign, including
the march to Thurso. It is printed in Sir Wm. Fraser’s _Earls of
Cromartie_, vol. ii. pp. 379 _et seq._
[63] P. 123.
[64] _Chiefs of Grant_, vol. ii. p. 155.
[65] Family information.
[66] See _The Earl of Aberdeen_, by the Hon. A. Gordon, p. 4: London,
1893.
[67] Cumin of Kininmont, Gordon of Cobairdie, and Erskine of Pittodrie.
[68] See _Blackwood’s Magazine_ for May 1829.
[69] _Scottish Historical Review_, vol. v. p. 288.
[70] _Chiefs of Grant_, vol. ii. p. 152.
[71] _Spalding Club Misc._, vol. i. p. 403.
[72] _Ibid._, p. 406.
[73] Compare p. 189.
[74] MS. Order Book in Editor’s possession. The story is told with
considerable fulness in Henderson’s _Life of Cumberland_ (p. 239),
where the schoolmaster’s name is given as Macaty, and where the blame
of the sentence is ascribed to Hawley. The punishment was five hundred
lashes at each of the cantonments.
[75] In a biographical appendix to his Life of Colonel Gardiner who was
killed at Prestonpans. (London, 1747.)
[76] Original correspondence on the relations between the Prince
and Lord George Murray, together with references to contemporary
authorities on the battle of Culloden, will be found in the _Itinerary
of Prince Charles Edward_, Scot. Hist. Soc., vol. xxiii., 1897.
[77] Scottish History Society, vol. xxiii.
[78] For Flora Macdonald’s relationships, see Genealogical Table, p.
452.
[79] See _Lyon in Mourning_, vol. i p. 176.
[80] _Ibid._, vol. ii. p. 100.
[81] Cf. _infra_, p. 372 _n._ 2.
[82] Ruvigny, _Jacobite Peerage_.
[83] This letter, dated Kinlochiel, August 22nd, arrived after Sir
James Grant went to London, and was forwarded to him. He sent it
unopened to Lord Tweeddale, Secretary for Scotland. The letter is
preserved in the Tweeddale Archives.
[84] _Urquhart and Glenmoriston_: Inverness, 1893.
[85] P. 271.
[86] Pp. 275-276.
[87] Pp. 292-294.
[88] Pp. 307-309.
[89] _Chiefs of Grant_, vol. ii. p. 267.
[90] High Court Index Book No. 1.
[91] _Scots Magazine_, vol. ix. pp. 246, 247.
[92] The name in the original documents is spelt sometimes with one
s and sometimes with one t, sometimes with one or both these letters
doubled; occasionally he is called ‘Grosert.’ In modern times the name
is spelt Grosett by Miss Collins, a descendant of Walter. In the new
_Scots Peerage_ it is spelt Grosset, vol. i. p. 495.
[93] Newcastle Papers, British Museum, Add. MS. 32710, f. 491.
[94] Record Office, State Papers Dom., George II., Bundle 98.
[95] Newcastle Papers, previously quoted.
[96] Family Papers.
[97] See pp. 336 and 402. Grossett’s statement, corroborated by
Fawkener and Sharpe, is elaborated in the Newcastle Papers quoted
above. ‘He performed his duties at great hazard to his life. The
Rebells robbed and plundered his house at Alloa and his house in the
country [Logie] to such a degree that they did not leave his infant
children even a shirt to shift them, and pursued his wife and daughter
to an uncle’s house, to whose estate they knew Mr. Grosett was to
succeed, plundered that house [Bredisholm, near Coatbridge], stript his
wife and daughter of the very clothes they had upon their backs and
used them otherwise in a most cruel and barbarous manner.’
[98] _Scots Magazine_, vol. vii. p. 538.
[99] Record Office, State Papers Dom., George II., bundle 91.
[100] This is one of the very rarest of Jacobite pamphlets. There is
a long account of the harsh proceedings of the Edinburgh magistrates
towards Robert Drummond, the Jacobite printer who published the poem,
in Hugo Arnot’s _History of Edinburgh_, 1778, book III. chap. iv. See
also _Book of the Old Edinburgh Club_, vol. viii., in which the poem is
reprinted for the first time.
[101] Mr. J. R. N. Macphail, K.C., has sent me a copy of Accusations
laid against Grossett in December 1747. These are nine in number:
he is accused (1) Of keeping an open trade at Alloa for smugglers
‘particularly in the tobacco way.’ (2) Of secreting the public revenue
for a tract of years and of vitiating and forging the accounts. (3) Of
granting land permits for wine to smugglers all over the kingdom. (4)
Of arranging false prices with merchants who purchased at roup goods
seized from smugglers. (5) Of suborning evidence even to perjury in
connection with the sale of goods taken from the Rebels. (6) Of being
an accomplice of smugglers in trade and profits. (7) Of passing goods
after seizure and of accepting a bribe. (8) Of mutilating the books of
the public office. (9) Of fraud, circumvention and oppression in many
different cases.
[102] _Scots Peerage_, vol. i. p. 495.
[103] The Jacobite accounts of this incident will be found in _Jacobite
Memoirs_, p. 47; in Maxwell of Kirkconnell’s _Narrative_, p. 94; and in
Sir William Fraser’s _The Earls of Cromartie_, vol. ii. p. 390.
[104] Home, _History of the Rebellion_, ch. viii.
[105] See Appendix, Cardinal York’s _Memorial_.
[106] _Lyon in Mourning_, vol. iii. p. 232.
[107] Lent to me by Lumisden’s great-grand-niece, Mrs. G. E. Forbes,
Edinburgh.
[108] The winter of 1741-42.
[109] Charles (Stuart), 5th Earl of Traquair; succeeded 1741; died 1764.
[110] See Appendix.
[111] William Macgregor or Drummond of Balhaldy.
[112] James Edgar, secretary to the Chevalier de St. George. A younger
son of David Edgar of Keithock, Forfarshire. Entered the Chevalier’s
service as secretary 1716, and held that office for forty-seven years.
Became Secretary of State in October 1763, and died 24th September
1764, predeceasing his master by fifteen months.
[113] Cardinal André Hercule de Fleury. Born 1653; became French prime
minister in 1726; died in January 1743.
[114] Donald Cameron, 19th of Lochiel, ‘the Gentle Lochiel’ of the ’45.
He succeeded his grandfather as chief of the Camerons in 1719, his
father John (who died 1748) having transferred his rights to his son.
Donald Cameron died in France, 1748.
[115] Sir James Campbell of Auchenbreck, 5th Baronet; died 1756;
father-in-law of Donald Cameron of Lochiel. His wife was Janet,
daughter of John Macleod of Macleod, and aunt of Norman Macleod the
chief in 1745.
[116] Charles (Douglas), 3rd Duke; born 1698; succeeded 1711; died 1778.
[117] William (Douglas), 3rd Earl of March; succeeded his cousin as 4th
Duke of Queensberry; died unmarried 1810. The ‘Old Q’ of George III.’s
reign.
[118] George (Keith), 10th and last Earl Marischal; born 1694;
succeeded 1712. Joined Lord Mar in 1715, and commanded the right
wing of the Jacobite army at Sheriffmuir. Forfeited and attainted.
Participated in the Spanish Invasion of 1719. See Dickson, _The
Jacobite Attempt of 1719_, Scot. Hist. Soc., vol. xix. In 1744 was
residing near Boulogne. Took no part in 1745. Entered service of
Frederick the Great. Pardoned by George II., 1759; died at Potsdam,
unmarried, 1778.
[119] James Keith, brother of the 10th Earl Marischal; born 1696.
Attainted for participation in the ’15. Entered the Spanish army, and
in 1728 the Russian army with the rank of major-general. Although an
attainted Jacobite, he visited London in 1740, and was received by
George II. as a Russian general (_Scots Mag._, vol. ii. p. 43). In 1747
entered service of Frederick the Great as field-marshal. Killed at the
battle of Hochkirchen 1758.
[120] And likewise to settle a correspondence with Scotland the manner
in which we had formerly conveyed Letters being very precarious and at
the same time so much suspected that the Government had caused search
the Ships in which the Letters generally came, but by good fortune
their happened none to be aboard that time.
[121] Æneas Macdonald, a banker in Paris, fourth son of Ranald
Macdonald third of Kinlochmoidart. Accompanied Prince Charles to
Scotland. Surrendered in 1746. Condemned to death but pardoned on
condition of residing out of the United Kingdom. Was killed in France
during the Revolution.
[122] Amelot de Chaillou. French foreign minister, 1737 to 1744.
[123] Katharine Darnley, half-sister of the Chevalier; daughter of
James II., by Katherine Sedley. Born 1682; died 1743. Third wife of
John Sheffield, 1st Duke of Buckingham, who died 1721.
[124] Colonel William Cecil. Long the Jacobite agent in England.
Relationship uncertain. In a memorandum in the French Foreign Office
he is called ‘oncle de Lord Salisbury.’ Was apprehended in 1744. His
deposition, in which he denies all knowledge of a plot, is given in
Fitzroy Bell’s _Murray’s Memorials_, p. 408.
[125] Secretary of the Duchess of Buckingham.
[126] Charles Smith, a merchant or banker in Boulogne. His wife,
daughter of Sir Hugh Paterson of Bannockburn (Prince Charles’s host
when besieging Stirling Castle in January 1746), was aunt to Clementina
Walkenshaw. Their son married the heiress of Seton of Touch. The
ceremony was performed by Mr. William Harper of Edinburgh at Linlithgow
on the day of the battle of Prestonpans. Charles Smith, who had come
to Scotland for the event, posted out from Edinburgh bearing the news
of the victory to the Jacobite congregation.--Ingram, _A Jacobite
Stronghold of the Church_, p. 47.
[127] I daresay the Cardinal never shed a tear on that Account nor
indeed allowing his concern to be never so great I think it reasonable
to believe so great a minister would act the part of a Child.
[128] If he had so mean an Opinion of these folks and their memorials
were so rediculous as they are represented he must either have been
quite doated and consequently not capable to understand anything
otherwise it would have been no difficult matter to make him sensible
of the absurdity of their proposals.
[129] Maréchal de Maillebois, a great-nephew of Colbert;
commander-in-chief in the War of the Austrian Succession.
[130] If this was the cause of his death I must be of the Opinion of
a great many that he was then become an old woman and incapable of
any enterprise that required Courage and Activity, and indeed all the
world with these two Gentlemen themselves owned him to be of a very
frightened timorous Disposition.
[131] It was at this Time Mr. Drummond told me the Story of the
Sweedish Troops and the Discoveries of it made by the Queen of Spain,
which I shall relate at large afterwards. (See _post_, p. 22.)
[132] This thought was the least reason could assign to Mr. Amalot
for my coming over, as I could not tell him it was owing to a letter
we had received from Mr. D[rummond], which I have repented of since,
for I told him if he was instructed by the Cardinal, as they said, he
certainly would have let me see that these Gentlemen had no reason to
give such encouragements, which would have at once shewed them in their
True Light. This Mr. Drummond and Lord Semple insisted I should say to
excite the French to Action and I then did not think it any great crime
to use them as they had often done us by imposing upon them.
[133] I shall leave it to the Reader to determine how far this answer
of Mr. Amelot agrees with what Mr. D[rummond] advances in his Letter
and if it be at all reasonable to imagine that the Cardinal had
resolved upon an Invasion when the person he had employed in this
affair had never read the Memorial given in concerning it nor even
understood the manner in which it was concerted and carried on in
Scotland and again whether or not Lord Semple had succeeded as he
braged in preventing much delay by perswading the Cardinal to make Mr.
Amelot privy to the whole affair.
[134] I mentioned before that the King had ordered a Sum not exceeding
£900 Ster yearly to be payed to Sir J[ames] C[ampbell] provided
money could be raised he had hitherto gott no more than £200 Lord
T[ra]q[uai]r had payed him so I was instructed to know why it was not
answered as promised, which I accordingly did, when Mr. Drummond said
he thought it very odd that the people in Scotland could not give him
that small pension when Lord T[ra]q[uai]r had offered Lord Semple
credit for £1,000 the year before when in London. I told him people
had little money to spare and that since the Gentlemen was in a manner
starving I would write to the King about it as directed, upon which he
said in a passion I had better not do it for it would hurt them in the
King’s Eyes as it must look bad that people who profered doing so much
could not advance such a trifle, and I remember he said the King would
not fail to look upon them as tamperers which I never did mention to
them looking upon it as the heat of passion. He then said as he had
all along made it his Business to advance their Interest and Honour,
he would fall upon a method of raising a sum of money to the Value of
5 or 6,000£ upon a bond payable at the Restoration with six per cent.
of Interest and that D[uke of] P[erth] L[ord] T[ra]q[uai]r L[ochie]l
and I should bind for it and that he would even endeavour to gett an
equall sum for D[uke of] P[erth] on L[ord] T[ra]q[uai]r’s particular
Use upon the same Conditions. As I then did not know my man I went on
to what he proposed and did not write to the King about it, neither did
I till after I found out the double fetch he had in it, he at this time
was applying to have a Pension settled upon himself which my writing
in behalf of Sir J[ames] C[ampbell] would certainly have prevented as
the King had ordered him to stay at home in the view of receiving the
forementioned Sum, then his proposing to raise this sum for the D[uke]
of P[erth]’s use was a means to encourage him to advance him £100,
which he desired I would tell his Grace he would draw upon him at my
leaving London, which he accordingly gott.
[135] During all the time I was at London after my return from Paris
I keept it secret from Coll. Cicel and Mr. Smith that I had ever been
there, and gave it out that I had been in Kent making a visit to one
Doctor Rutton, an old fellow student at Leyden, so upon the footing
of my not knowing anything that was passing I told Coll. Cicel in
Conversation upon my return to Scotland the King’s friends would
inquire of me if I had not been to waite of him and what news I had
gott so begg to know what I should say, he told me he at that time
could say nothing positively but if the French did not do something
soon the affairs of England in particular and Europe in general stood
in such a way that in three moneth time he would order affairs so as
to call the King over with his own attendance only this Vaunt was so
rediculous that I had great difficulty to keep my Countinance and gave
me a very low Opinion of every other thing he said.
[136] One evening after I had waited an hour in L[ord] T[ra]q[uai]r’s
lodgings at Edinburgh till such time as he should come in to talk with
me about his journey to London he told me he understood that I was no
friend to Bishop Keith, and upon asking what ground he had to think
so, he told me that one Mr. Gordon, a Roman Catholick Bishop, had
informed him of it, it seems Bishop Keith was of his acquaintance had
been complaining to him that I had not represented him in a favourable
Light. By which I conjectured that Keith had been applying that way
to be named Bishop of Edinburgh for how should L[ord] J[ohn] Drummond
have acquainted Lady Clanronald of Mr. Rattrae’s being named, which
was a thing entirely foreign to both him and her if Keith had not been
endeavouring to procure that preferment through the interest of the
Roman Catholicks,[649] and Lord Drummond did write to Lady Clanronald
that I had procured an order for Bishop Rattrae’s Election is certain,
for it was by her means quite well known in Edinburgh before I came
back from London and Lord T[ra]q[uai]r assured me from Bishop Gordon
that L[ord] J[ohn] had wrote it to Lady Clanranald.
[137] My Lord T[ra]q[uai]r made all the dispatch possible to settle his
affairs at home, being sensible how necessary it was for him to be att
London and sett out from his own house on the sixth of Aprile.
[138] For this ecclesiastical episode in Murray’s career, see Appendix.
[139] Thomas Rattray, D.D., laird of Craighall-Rattray, Perthshire.
Born 1684; consecrated bishop at large, 1727; afterwards Bishop of
Brechin, and subsequently of Dunkeld; Primus, 1739; died 1743.
[140] See Introduction, p. xxiii.
[141] Thomas Cochrane; 6th earl; died 1737.
[142] Robert Freebairn, consecrated bishop at large, 1722; Primus,
1731; Bishop of Edinburgh, 1733; died 1739.
[143] Drumelzier, a Peebleshire estate adjoining Broughton. The
proprietor was then Alexander Hay of Drumelzier, and Whittinghame,
East Lothian (the latter now the property of Rt. Hon. A. J. Balfour);
a grandson of the 1st Earl of Tweeddale, ancestor of the Hays of Duns:
born 1701; died 1789. He and his brother William were both Jacobites.
[144] I think there can be little doubt that this is the draft of
the lost letter searched for in vain by Mr. Fitzroy Bell at Windsor
(_Murray’s Memorials_, p. 50 _n_), and referred to by Mr. Lang
(_History of Scotland_, iv. 441).
[145] As Traquair left on April 6th (see _ante_, p. 17 and _post_, p.
23) this letter was probably written in that month. Narsom is a cipher
name for John Murray.
[146] Robert Keith, kinsman and tutor of the 10th Earl Marischal and
his brother: born 1681; consecrated bishop at large, 1727; Bishop of
Orkney, Caithness and the Isles, 1731; Superintendent of Fife, 1733;
succeeded Rattray as Primus, 1743; died 1757. Author of a _History of
Scotland_, and of the well-known _Catalogue of Scottish Bishops_.
[147] James (Barry), 4th Earl of Barrymore. Born 1667; died 1747. An
ardent Jacobite, who sent his son to join the French army when the
invasion of 1744 was expected.
[148] French minister in London.
[149] It wont be amiss to insert here the Story mentioned before
about the design of sending over some Swedish Troops which my Lord
T[ra]q[uai]r mentioned to me on his return from London the last time he
went up. Mr. Drummond told me at Paris as an Instance of the sincere
intention the Cardinal had to serve the King, that he was sensible of
the great hatred the English bore to the French and for that reason
proposed to the Spanish Ambassador at Paris, Campo Florido, that
provided his master would take 10,000 Swedes into his pay he would
endeavour to procure them by the means of some of the chief nobility,
the King[650] not being to be trusted on that head as he was looked
upon as friends to the Family of Hanover and would take care to have
them transported, that the Spanish Ambassador immediately wrote to his
Master who sent back an answer Willing to pay the Troops but upon some
condition which I now cannot charge my memory with, this the Cardinal
took highly amiss and told him that his Master was not to bargain
with in such cases, upon which the Spanish Ambassador immediately
dispatched a Courier, but before the return of it their was a paragraph
in the Amsterdam Gazette telling that the King of Spain and some of
his Ministers were carrying on a scheme of great consequence but being
known by the Queen was prevented. It seems as he said the Queen had
been informed of it by some of the Ministers and judging that should
it be putt in execution it would necessarily putt an end to war with
England that she was very fond of and to putt a stop to it she putt in
that paragraph in the Amsterdam Gazette to the Cardinal which had its
object for their was not any more mention made of it.
[150] It was no great wonder then I was deceived of his Lordship having
not the least reason to suspect, and he a little shy cunning fellow on
all occasions professing an attachment to nothing but truth and most
disinterested loyalty.
[151] This must have proceded from wrong information for since that
time they have made considerable levys and everybody agrees their are
not above ten or eleven thousand in the Island.
[152] _i.e._ George II.
[153] This was in the year 1737. If Gordon of Glenbucket went over to
Rome, so far as ever I could learn without having any authority from
the Gentlemen in the Highlands, unless it was from his son-in-law
Glengary and General Gordon,[651] praying the King to come to Scotland
that all were ready to rise in arms; but His Majesty was too wise
to give in to such a rash and inconsiderate a project and sent over
Captain Will Hay[652] to have the Opinion of his friends by which he
might judge how far what Glenbucket had said was to be credited. Mr.
Hay sent for me then in Holland and insisted upon my coming which I
did, but I believe found few people of Glenbucket’s Opinion save the
late Lord Kinmore[653] who I went to the Country and brought to toun
to see him; but the case was now greatly altered as all the World were
becoming sensible of; that the Interest of Great Britain must ever be
sacrificed to that of Hanover as long as this family continued upon
the Throne; that Parliamentary Schemes were nothing but Chimerical,
together with the few Troops that were left in the Island and the
distance they were then from the Coast which prevented their coming
in time before the Country was reduced; as likewise the miserable
prospect of the Country being ruined by the vast standing Army that
would necessarily follow upon a peace as the Levys during the War would
be considerable and no prospect of a reduction after their Return but
rather a Certainty of their being continued; this seeming the fairest
opportunity to bring us under a military Government. These and many
other reasons made L[ochie]l be of Opinion that now was the time to
strike a bold stroke for the King, and by Sir A[lexander] M[acdonald]’s
letter to the Duke of P[erth], it would seem these reasons did
influence him and were sufficient Grounds for the proposal.
[154] John (Lindsay), 20th earl, born 1702. Entered Russian army; was
badly wounded at Krotzka, 1739, fighting the Turks, and never properly
recovered. First colonel of the 43rd (afterwards 42nd) Highlanders.
Brig.-gen. at Fontenoy; maj.-gen. 1745. Came to Scotland February 1746,
and commanded the Hessian troops under the Prince of Hesse in Stirling
and Perthshire. Died 1749.
[155] _Née_ Hon. Anne Stewart, daughter of Alexander, 6th Lord
Blantyre. Died March 1743.
[156] _i.e._ John Murray.
[157] This is evidently the letter that Murray complains bitterly
Traquair showed to Balhaldy, and on his advice destroyed (_Murray’s
Memorials_, pp. 58-60).
[158] This Letter I wrote in the smoothest stile possible purposely
to show him that the King’s friends were so far from having any
Inclination to Dictate to him, that on the Contrary they wished by
all means to have him Heartily to promote the Restoration, and shewed
the letter to Lord T[ra]q[uai]r and L[ochiel]l before I gave it his
Lordship to carry and they both approved of it.
[159] I had mentioned in my Letter to the King that the Ship by which
our Letters used to come was much suspected and had been searched, so
one of my Errands was to have a new Conveyance settled which was done
from London to Paris by Mr. D[rummond] but could be so easily done from
London here.
[160] His Grace the Duke of P[erth] when I had the honour of seeing him
at York on my Road, desired I would acquaint his Majesty that he had a
Scheme for taking Stirling Castle and desired His Majesty would impower
him upon the Seizing of it to give a commission to whom he should think
fitt to name as Governour for the Time it was garrisoned with his men
as they would the more willingly obey if the Commander was named by
him, but told me no particulars of his project neither did he since
when I told him what the King had wrote.
[161] Mr. Edgar having wrote about it in a former Letter occasioned my
telling him that it was borrowed by Lord T[ra]q[uair].
[162] A frequent cipher name for the Chevalier de St. George.
[163] Mr. Drummond told when at Paris that the method he had taken
with the Gentlemen of the highlands was this. He talked to them of the
situation of the Country and that a Restoration was the only thing
would save us, with a great deal more to this purpose, which brought
all those that inclined that way to declare how sensible they were
of it and that they were very willing to promote it so soon as an
Occasion should offer; upon which he told them that it was impossible
for the King to undertake any things not knowing who were his friends
and that he thought they should take care to acquaint the King of it,
then it was natural for them to say they were contented his Majesty
was informed it, but did not know of a method how; upon which he told
them that he would not absolutely promise, but would endeavour to fall
upon a method to acquaint him. This I took to be a safe way for the
person that engaged them and as his Majesty was not quite satisfied
with it as he said he desired me to write my Opinion of it which to
the best of my Remembrance was in a few words, that I thought no Body
would be so rediculous as to inform against themselves by telling they
had given a Commission to such a person to ye King as it must redound
to their own disadvantage for as their was none present when the
matter was spoke off to a person that was to deliver it had no more to
do but deny it and his not engaging absolutely to make it known was
keeping his correspondence a secret, for which reasons I was then of
opinion that the same method might be followed in the Low Country, but
upon trial found it almost impossible and dangerous, first, because
the Generallity are not so loyally inclined as in the Highlands and
consequently not so easily brought to speak their mind, and the next
place they have no following, they Generally tell you, of what use is
the King’s knowing that I wish him well, I am only single Person, that
can be of little Service, thirdly the present Government has been at
pain to perswade people; the King is betrayed and that passes at Rome,
but what they are fully informed off which makes people shy and affraid
to have any dealings that way as they are near the Court of Justice and
less able to shift for themselves, and fourthly, when a number of those
people come to be spoke to they will some of them especially who are
not brought all length in confidence impart to the other that such a
man talked so and so, whereby the thing may come to be known and render
it dangerous for the persons, all this occur’d to me upon serious
reflection and found the difficulty of it, upon talking to some with
folks here in that stile after my return and succeeded with none but
two Mr. N. of D--n and Mr. C--r of Cr--g--th,[654] the last of which
was drunk and repented next day for which I gave it up.
[164] A non-juring minister at Edinburgh; father of Lord Eskgrove.
[165] Sir Alexander Macdonald of Sleat (Skye), 7th baronet. His first
wife was Anne Erskine (died 1735), widow of James (Ogilvy), 4th _de
jure_ Earl of Airlie (died 1731). The Earl of Airlie mentioned here was
his brother, 5th _de jure_ earl (died 1761). He remained passive during
the ’45, but his son Lord Ogilvy raised two battalions for Prince
Charles.
[166] Henry, Duke of York, afterwards cardinal.
[167] I cannot now recollect from whom I had that information, but it
was such that in the time I had reason to Credit it.
[168] This was owing to Sir A[lexander] M[acdonald] having promised for
a number supperior to what Mr. Drummond had marked him down for and
at the same time as some folks were laying to his Charge we did not
believe it was thought fitt to say something favourable of him as we
had an entire confidence in his honesty.
[169] Bishop Rattray died at Edinburgh, May 12, 1743.
[170] Battle of Dettingen, fought 16th June old style, or 27th new
style, 1743.
[171] The Highland Regiment, originally the 43rd and afterwards the
42nd, was raised in the name of John, 20th Earl of Crawford (then lying
wounded at Belgrade), in 1739, and first embodied 1740. It was sent to
London in 1743, and there its members, who understood on enlistment
that their service was for the Highlands only, were persuaded that
the Government intended to send them to the plantations or to sell
them into slavery. When encamped at Highgate more than two hundred
of them left the camp by night in May 1743 and started to march to
Scotland. They were overtaken and surrounded when near Oundle in
Northamptonshire; they surrendered and were marched prisoners to the
Tower. Three of their leaders were executed, Corporals Samuel and
Malcolm Macpherson and private Farquhar Shaw, all of Clan Chattan.
[172] There had been heavy recruiting for the Scots Brigade in the
service of the Netherlands.
[173] Sir Thomas Gordon of Earlston, 3rd baronet, whose grandfather
(killed at Bothwell Bridge) and father were eminent Covenanter leaders.
Murray hoped to secure the adherence of the Cameronian Covenanters
through Gordon and Dr. Cochran (see p. 51) and others. Cf. _Murray’s
Memorials_, p. 54.
[174] Sir James Stewart; see Appendix.
[175] David (Wemyss), Lord Elcho, eldest son of James, 4th Earl of
Wemyss. Joined Prince Charles at Edinburgh and served through the
campaign. Forfeited, and lived in exile until his death in 1787. See
his Memoir by Hon. Evan Charteris, prefaced to _A Short Account of the
Affairs of Scotland_, 1744-46.
[176] Norman Macleod of Macleod, nineteenth chief; born 1706; died
1772. He engaged to join Prince Charles although he came alone; but he
changed his mind, was the first to communicate the Prince’s landing
to the Lord President, and was the vindictive foe of Prince Charles
throughout the whole adventure.
[177] This was Alexander (or Alistair), Lord Lovat’s second son, by his
wife Margaret Grant, sister of Sir James Grant of Grant. Born 1729,
died unmarried 1762.
The school at Prestonpans was kept by Mr. John Halket who had been
tutor in Lovat’s family at Castle Downie. Peggy Vint’s was a tavern in
Prestonpans. Alexander Carlyle gives an account of an extraordinary
carouse there in 1741, at which Lovat, Erskine of Grange, Halket, four
Fraser henchmen, young Lovat, Halket’s son, and Carlyle were present.
Lovat said Grace in French, and he ‘swore more than fifty dragoons’
at the fish. The claret was excellent and circulated fast. There was
a piper at the tavern, and the landlady’s daughter Kate was ‘very
alluring.’ Lovat, then seventy-five, and Grange not much younger,
warmed with wine, insisted on dancing a reel with Kate Vint: ‘this was
a scene not easily forgotten.’ A banquet at Grange’s house of Preston,
with a ‘new deluge of excellent claret,’ finished what Carlyle calls ‘a
very memorable day.’--Carlyle, _Autobiography_, p. 58.
[178] About this time Sir J. Ca[mpbe]ll had the misfortune to have
his house burnt and lost everything in it, even to his Body Cloaks.
The deplorable situation he was in, never having received any of the
money promised him save 200£ call for immediate assistance, and still
the more so, that he had from time to time borrowed Money upon his
Honour to Return it in such a time, as he had always reason to expect
his pension wou’d answer, his failing in which necessarly weakened his
Interest in the Country, for two reasons: 1st that he had no money
to enable him to entertain and visit his neighbours, and 2ndly So he
was not able to keep his word to them from whom he had borrowed it.
Both shaggerined him and naturally made him the less confided in other
matters, for which reasons I wrote presently to my Lord T[ra]q[uai]r,
to write Mr. Drummond then at London, that the money might be gott
as he then had the bond I mentioned before in his Custody, but he
still putt it off by saying that nothing could be done in it till he
went over, as the money was to be gott in france, which was a most
rediculous reason, for he told me in paris that it was through Lord
Semple he was to find it, which had it been the Case there was no
occasion for the things being delayed till he went over, as he was to
have no influence but ought to have sent it to Lord Semple. However
I don’t believe it will be found upon inquiring yt, Lord Semple knew
any thing of the matter for Mr. Drummond would not agree that I should
mention the thing to him when at paris, so that I am fully convinced
that it was as I have said befor, all a fetch to prevent writing to
the King about it, for fear that he should be disapointed of the 4,000
Livres a year he has since got settled upon him.
[179] Lord Lovat must surely have been deceiving or deceived. It was
the proud boast of the Monroes that the clan had remained constant to
Covenanting principles and to the Protestant succession, being the only
Whig clan that never wavered. The Munroes were the only Highlanders who
joined Cope on his march to Inverness in 1745.
[180] John Boyle, 5th earl; succeeded as 5th Earl of Cork, 1751; a man
of letters; friend of Swift, Pope, and Johnson; died 1762.
[181] Of Wynnstay, 3rd Baronet, M.P. for Denbigh, an ardent Jacobite,
almost openly avowed.
[182] 7th February 1744.
[183] He is marry’d to a sister of mine, and upon the Change of the
Ministry was made keeper of the Signet, through the Marquiss of
Tweedales Interest in the Room of Mr. Mcmillan the Writer.
[184] Thomas Hay of Huntington, East Lothian, advocate; Keeper of
the Signet, 1742-46; raised to the Bench as Lord Huntington 1754.
His brother, John Hay of Restalrig, W.S., succeeded John Murray as
Secretary to Prince Charles on Murray’s falling ill at Inverness, in
1746.
[185] Robert Dundas of Arniston, first President Dundas; born 1685;
was Lord Advocate, 1720-25; raised to the Bench as Lord Arniston 1737;
became Lord President on the death of Duncan Forbes of Culloden 1748;
died 1753. He was the father of Henry (Dundas), 1st Lord Melville.
[186] Sir John Inglis of Cramond, Postmaster-General of Scotland.
[187] Alexander Arbuthnott of Knox, merchant in Edinburgh; grandson of
the 1st Viscount Arbuthnott; became Commissioner of Customs 1742; died
1769.
[188] Andrew Fletcher, Lord Milton, nephew of Andrew Fletcher of
Saltoun the great opposer of the Union. Born 1692; elevated to Scottish
Bench 1724; Lord-Justice-Clerk 1735-48; died 1766.
[189] Joshua Guest, born 1660; Lieut.-General 1745; died 1747. This
is the only categorical statement which I am aware of that Guest was
Commander-in-Chief in Scotland before the appointment of Sir John Cope
(18th February 1744). Cf. _Book of Old Edinburgh Club_, 1909, p. 17.
[190] Hunter of Polmood was buried in Drumelzier Churchyard on
Thursday, February 23, 1744, which dates this incident. His son,
Charles Hunter, was married to Murray’s sister, Veronica.
[191] William M‘Dougall, wine merchant in Edinburgh, a brother-in-law
of John Murray’s. See _Memorials_, pp. 66, 301, 311.
[192] Probably Dr. Cochran of Roughfoil, a physician in Edinburgh. He
may have been a connection of Murray’s, whose aunt Margaret was married
to Alex. Cochran of Barbachlaw. Cf. _Memorials_, pp. 38, 54.
[193] John M‘Leod of Muiravonside, Stirlingshire, an advocate. His son,
Alexander, was A.D.C. to Prince Charles.
[194] Hartree, a Peeblesshire estate, in Kilbucho Parish, about seven
miles from Broughton. The laird of Hartree, John Dickson, was married
to Murray’s aunt Anne.
[195] French Fleet wrecked, 25th February old style, 7th March new
style, 1744.
[196] On this occasion, as on a subsequent escape from capture, the
Duke took refuge in the Invercauld country. See _post_, p, 271.
[197] Charles Stewart, 5th of Ardshiel, a cadet of Appin. He led out
the Stewarts of Appin in 1745. Fled to France after Culloden, and
died 1757. (He is the chief for whom Alan Breck collected rents. See
_Kidnapped_, by R. L. Stevenson, chap. ix.)
[198] Balhaldy.
[199] Probably House of Commons.
[200] Balhaldy.
[201] Balhaldy.
[202] The names in this letter have been deciphered partly by
comparison with other ciphers; partly from information given by Murray
in his Memorials; occasionally by conjecture, in which last case the
word ‘probably’ is prefixed.
[203] Sempill or Balhaldy.
[204] Probably 21st September 1744. Murray wrote two letters to Prince
Charles from Senlis, on 21st September (which was a Wednesday). Both
are given in _Murray’s Memorials_, pp. 376, 379.
[205] Probably Captain Clephan of Villegass’s Regiment, the second
Scots regiment in the service of the Netherlands. See _Murray’s
Memorials_, pp. 101, etc., for this, and following notes.
[206] Prince Charles.
[207] Rotterdam.
[208] Captain Anderson, also of Villegass’s Regiment.
[209] Officers of his regiment (probably).
[210] Colyear’s, that is the regiment of the Hon. W. P. Colyear, son of
the 1st Earl of Portmore, Colonel of the third Scots regiment in the
Netherlands.
[211] Lord Elcho.
[212] Prince Charles.
[213] Probably 30th September 1744.
[214] Dr. Barry.
[215] Probably Adam Cockburn, a hosier in Johnstone’s Court, Charing
Cross. See _Murray’s Memorials_, p. 454.
[216] Not quite intelligible, something probably omitted, but
apparently meaning that letters for the Prince are to be addressed to
the care of ‘Morris,’ an occasional pseudonym for Charles Smith of
Boulogne.
[217] Prince Charles.
[218] The King of France.
[219] Probably the English.
[220] Probably the Scots.
[221] A Restoration.
[222] Earl of Traquair.
[223] Scotland.
[224] Scotland.
[225] Perhaps ‘Skye’ referring to the clan of Sir Alexander Macdonald,
who was then in collusion with the Jacobites.
[226] Prince Charles.
[227] Probably Nisbet of Dirleton. See _Murray’s Memorials_, p. 103.
[228] Probably England.
[229] Earl of Traquair.
[230] Sir James Steuart.
[231] Duke of Perth.
[232] Lochiel.
[233] Duke of Perth.
[234] Earl of Traquair.
[235] Prince Charles.
[236] Probably English and Scots.
[237] Macleod of Macleod.
[238] Sir James Steuart.
[239] Probably young Glengarry (whom Mr. Andrew Lang identifies as
Pickle the Spy).
[240] _N.B._--I am satisfyd the reason for their so doing was that they
found themselves blown, and imagined Mr. Burnet would soon drop them,
for which they were resolved to prevent him by refusing to Act, and
thereby give themselves the Air of significancy. As for the reason they
give, in my Opinion it is inexpressibly frivelous and even betraying
of their own want of a hearty Zeal, for their Masters Interest. For
had I, either from Roguery, Ignorance, or folly, deceived Mr. Burnet
in what I said, it was no reason for their Giving up a Scheme of such
Extensive consequence, which plainly shows its not from principle they
Act. At the same time I cannot see the least ground to believe they
had any scheme going on, as they kept no correspondance with any of
the Ministers save Mr. Orri,[655] as I was informed whose department
did not lead him to treat of such like matters, neither was there then
the least thing for an Expedition. As to my advice to Mr. Burnet, it
is sufficient he knew it to be in every sense absolutely false, but
the view they had in so doing is too obvious not to be seen through.
They knew Kinny was just going over, and, as he is a man of Consequence
in the Country, could they have influenced him against me they would
thereby have broke the force of my Representations, being satisfied
I would not fail in my arrival here to make known their shameful
procedure to Mr. Edwards friends, and I must observe since at it was a
very convenient time as Mr. Burnet seemed resolved to make the Money
they promised to procure for Arms, the touchstone of their Veracity,
and the frenches sincerity, so that their refusing to act at that time
prevented the Sd--v believing them baffled men.
[241] Captain John Drummond, a nephew of Balhaldy’s.
[242] Prince Charles.
[243] Prince Charles.
[244] King.
[245] Rome.
[246] The Chevalier de St. George.
[247] Duke of Perth.
[248] Earl of Traquair.
[249] Lochiel.
[250] Scotland.
[251] James Fea of Clestrain (or Clesterton), in Stronsay, constituted
himself a Jacobite leader in Orkney and attempted to raise men for
the Prince. In March 1746 when Lord Macleod took his regiment to
Thurso, Mackenzie of Ardloch, invited by Fea, went over to Stromness
to raise men and money. None of the islanders were willing to go out,
and Ardloch declined to take unwilling recruits although Fea offered
to press some men. Ardloch, however, carried off £145 of cess and a
quantity of smuggled brandy. For his indiscretion, Fea’s house of Sound
in the island of Shapinsay was burnt down in May by the crews of a
squadron sent to hunt down Jacobites, while Fea concealed himself in
Caithness until the passing of the Act of Indemnity. (See Allan Fea,
_The Real Captain Cleveland_, p. 175; _L. in M._, ii. 337.)
[252] A battle fought at Altimarlach three miles west of Wick, in 1680,
between George Sinclair of Keiss, afterwards 7th Earl of Caithness and
Sir John Campbell of Glenurchy, afterwards 1st Earl of Breadalbane.
Sinclair’s kinsman the 6th earl, falling into debt and having no
children, had disponed his titles, property and heritable jurisdictions
to Sir John Campbell, the principal creditor, who married the earl’s
widow in 1678, having managed the previous year to secure a patent
from Charles II. as Earl of Caithness. Sinclair of Keiss resisted his
claims by force, and Campbell marched an army of his own men and some
royal troops to Caithness. The first advantage was with the Sinclairs,
who celebrated the event with drunken revelry aggravated by finding
a whisky-laden ship strategically stranded by the Campbells in Wick
harbour. Next day the Sinclairs were defeated. It was on this occasion
that the air ‘The Campbells are coming’ was composed by Finlay Macivor
the celebrated piper of Breadalbane. (Calder, _Hist. of Caithness_, p.
162.) The courts found later that Keiss (grandson of the 5th earl) was
entitled to the Caithness earldom; Sir John Campbell was compensated by
being created Earl of Breadalbane in 1681, but with the precedency of
the Caithness grant 1677.
[253] This Mr. Gilchrist is scathingly treated in _The Lyon_ (iii.
36). He went ‘to Edinburgh and thence to London to misrepresent and
asperse the bulk of the Caithness gentry as enemies to the present
establishment.’ He is further said to have collected 250 guineas
for himself and to have made his friends ‘believe that he could not
continue in Caithness for the wicked Jacobites who had threatened to
take away his life and destroy his family.’ The writer, a non-juring
minister, who had been a prisoner in London, adds sententiously ‘Honest
Whigry that never thinks shame of lying for worldly interest!’
[254] George Sinclair of Geese, afterwards captured at Dunrobin, was
the only Caithness Sinclair of position who joined the Jacobite army.
Lord Macleod marched through Caithness in March 1746, but though
the proprietors professed Jacobite sympathies, very few joined his
standard. (Fraser, _The Earls of Cromartie_, ii. 398.)
[255] Sir James Stewart of Burray, Orkney, took no active part in the
Rising, but he was apprehended on suspicion in May 1746, and taken
prisoner to London, where he died of fever in the New Gaol, Southwark,
the following August.
[256] George (Mackay), 3rd Lord Reay, b. 1678; suc. his grandfather
_c._ 1680; supported government in 1715; was largely instrumental in
establishing the presbytery of Tongue 1725; d. 1748.
[257] William (Gordon-Sutherland), 16th earl; b. 1708; suc. his
grandfather 1720; d. 1750. His wife was Lady Elizabeth Wemyss, aunt
of Lord Elcho of the ’45. His father acted vigorously against the
Jacobites in ’15 and ’19.
[258] Assynt in ancient times was the territory of the MacNicols
(or MacRyculs or Nicolsons), but in the time of David II. Torquil
Macleod IV., of Lewis, married the heiress and obtained the lands.
The MacNicols emigrated to Skye, where they have been for centuries.
Macleod’s second son inherited Assynt, and there were twelve Macleod
lairds. The last of these was Neil Macleod who was tried in 1666, and
again in 1674, for betraying the great Marquis of Montrose and other
crimes. He was acquitted, but, probably owing to the expense of the
trials, he fell into debt, and was driven from his lands which were
acquired by the Mackenzies. _Cf._ p. 107, _n._ 1.
[259] See _post_, p. 96.
[260] The writer is wrong here. It was the first earl’s grandfather,
Sir Roderick Mackenzie (1579-1626), the terrible Tutor of Kintail who
married Margaret heiress of Torquil Macleod of Lewis and Cogeach.
George (Mackenzie), 1st Earl of Cromarty (1630-1714), was the
antiquary. He was an original member of the Royal Society (London),
founded 1662.
[261] See _post_, p. 104.
[262] A battle at Sgeir na Caillich on Lochalsh, between the Straits
of Kylerhea and Kyleakin. According to the Clan Donald historians,
the battle was fought in 1603. It was not Glengarry (Donald, 7th of
Glengarry, who died in 1645, aged 102), but his eldest son Angus,
‘Young Glengarry,’ who was killed.
[263] Now called Glenshiel. The church was erected in the hamlet of
Muick.
[264] It is hardly likely that the Macraes will accept this suggestion
of descent without strong corroboration which does not seem to exist.
A very different origin is given by the Rev. Roderick Morison,
minister of Kintail in 1793: ‘It is generally allowed that the Mac
Raes emigrated from the braes of Aird, on the Lovat estate, to this
place, though what induced them to prefer the mountains to the plains
is not universally agreed upon, yet certain it is, that long after
their residence in Kintail, they maintained a firm alliance with the
Frasers of Aird. The tradition which prevails, that an inscription was
set up nigh the entrance to Lovat House, bearing “That no Mac Rae must
lodge without, when a Fraser resides within,” is not wholly without
foundation. When the Mac Raes first entered Kintail, there were several
clans inhabiting it, particularly the Mac Aulays, of whom no vestige
now remains. The Mac Lennans, a small tribe in the parish of Glensheal,
were the only people that would not yield. These Mac Lennans, at the
battle of Auldearn, were intrusted with Seaforth’s colours. The novelty
of the preferment roused them to action and stubborn resistance, which
proved fatal to the clan, for many were slain; and their widows, 18
in number, were afterwards married to Mac Raes. The boundaries which
divide the Mac Raes from the Mac Lennans are marked by a river which
runs into Lochduich; but common observation may easily trace a line
of distinction from the difference in their language and accent.’ Mr.
Morison gives the derivation of the name as _Mhac Ragh_, the son of
good fortune, applied by the founder to his son after some successful
exploits.--(_Statistical Account of Scotland_, vi. 242; the story of
the great slaughter of Maclellans at Auldearn is modified by latest
investigators.) The word _Ragh_ or _Rath_ may mean either ‘good
fortune’ or ‘grace,’ and the latest clan historian, Rev. Alex. Macrae,
is of opinion that the name has an ecclesiastical origin as the ‘son of
grace’ applied to a holy man of old. Relying on tradition, he inclines
to believe that the Macraes were from Clunes in the Aird and were of
common origin with the Mackenzies and Macleans.
The Kintail Macraes were not out in ’45. There was, however, a certain
Captain MacRaw in Glengarry’s regiment; he attended Prince Charles when
in Lochaber during his wanderings; also a Lieut. Alexander M‘Ra from
Banff; and one of the French officers taken prisoner at sea on the
voyage to Scotland, was Captain James Macraith of Berwick’s regiment.
Gilchrist Macgrath or M‘Kra entertained the Prince in Glen Shiel in
his wanderings. Murdoch M‘Raw, ‘nearest relation to the chieftain of
that name,’ was barbarously hanged as a spy at Inverness protesting his
innocence. (_L. in M._, i. 205, 342; iii. 378; ii. 205, 299.)
[265] See Dickson, _The Jacobite Attempt of 1719_ (Scot. Hist. Soc.,
vol. xix.).
[266] The Long Island is the name given to the chain of the outer
Hebrides from the Butt of Lewis to Barra Head, comprising Lewis and
Harris, North Uist, Benbecula, South Uist, Eriska, Barra and Mingulay.
[267] The story of the transference of the lands of the ancient and
powerful family of Macleod of Lewis to the Mackenzies is one of the
most pitiful in Highland history. Towards the middle of the sixteenth
century, Roderick (or Ruari) Macleod, the last undisputed Macleod of
Lewis, married, as his first wife, a natural daughter of John Mackenzie
of Kintail. The wife eloped, the son, named Torquil Connanach, was
repudiated. Torquil was brought up at Strath Connan (hence his
‘to-name’) by the Mackenzies, who embraced his cause. From that moment
the family of Lewis was doomed. Partly by purchase, partly by marriage,
but largely by intrigue and violence the lands of Macleod were acquired
by the Mackenzies. Lewis was driven to anarchy; feuds of the worst type
ensued, father against sons, brothers murdering brothers. Government
interfered; Lewis was forfeited and parcelled out among Lowland
colonist-adventurers, who were thwarted by the Mackenzies, and at last
were glad to go, and in 1610 to dispose of their rights to Mackenzie,
who had become Lord Kintail the previous year. Any rights that remained
to his cousin Torquil Macleod were made over to the Mackenzies.
Meantime, in 1605, Kintail’s brother Roderick had married the daughter
and heiress of Torquil, and became possessed of the mainland property
of Coigeach. As soon as the Mackenzies obtained the island, they
promptly restored order; the remaining members of the old Macleod
family were murdered or driven out under a commission of fire and
sword. Kintail’s son became an earl in 1623, and took his title from
Loch Seaforth in Lewis, while his uncle Roderick, tutor of Kintail,
terrible and ruthless (of whom the Gaelic proverb says ‘there are two
things worse than the Tutor of Kintail, frost in spring and mist in
the dog-days’), built a castle in Strathpeffer, which he called Castle
Leod, and when his grandson obtained the earldom of Cromarty in 1685,
the second title then assumed was that of ‘Lord Macleod,’ to show that
the heritage of the old family of Macleod of Lewis remained with him.
[268] Roderick Macneill of Barra was from home when Prince Charles
landed in the neighbouring island of Eriska, July ’45. He took no
active part in the rising but was arrested on suspicion in July ’46,
taken to London, released in ’47.
[269] For the Macdonald divisions and claims, see Appendix,
[270] John Mackinnon of Mackinnon was the only one of the three
Skye chiefs who went out. He joined with his clan at Edinburgh, and
served throughout the campaign, but was absent on duty in Sutherland
when Culloden was fought. He was attainted. Prince Charles went to
him in his wanderings, and the chief conducted him from Skye to the
mainland, for which service he was made prisoner, taken to London, but
released in July ’47. He died in Skye, in ’56, aged 75 years. He was a
son-in-law of Archbishop Sharpe of St. Andrews.
[271] This is a reference to the well-known story of the conversion of
the islanders. The laird, a man ‘much respected,’ an elder of the kirk,
reproved by the General Assembly for allowing his people to remain
in popery, retrieved his character by driving his tenants from the
Catholic chapel to the Protestant church with the vigorous application
of a gold-headed cane, called by the Highlanders a yellow stick: from
this the Presbyterian religion became known in the islands as Creidimh
a bhata bhui, the creed of the yellow stick. Cf. Bellesheim’s _Hist.
Cath. Church Scot._ (iv. 188).
[272] Called the Parish of the Small Isles.
[273] Modernly, Loch Hourn = Hell Loch.
[274] Scotus and Barisdale were brothers, both being uncles of the
chief of Glengarry. The elder, Angus Macdonell of Scotus, was an old
man in ’45, and died the following year. He remained at home, but
his eldest son Donald went out with Glengarry. Donald fell wounded
at Culloden, and was supposed to have died on the field. The clan
historians, however, state that evidence has been found in the Stuart
Papers at Windsor that certain marauders landed from a ship at night,
carried off a number of wounded, among them Donald of Scotus, who
after various adventures was captured by Turkish pirates, and held in
bondage ever afterwards. (_History of Clan Donald_, iii. 324.) Two
of Scotus’s younger sons John and Allan were captains in Glengarry’s
regiment. Donald’s eldest son Ranald fought on the Government side in
’45 in Loudoun’s regiment. Ranald’s grandson succeeded in 1868 as 18th
hereditary chief of Glengarry.
For Macdonell of Barisdale, see _post_, p. 96.
[275] The _Morar_ family was really not a cadet, but the senior branch
of the Clanranald family, descended from the eldest son of Dougall, 6th
Clanranald, who was deposed by the clan for cruelty and oppression, and
his children excluded for ever from the chiefship, which was conferred
on his uncle. Dougall was assassinated in 1520; his family, on whom the
lands of Morar were conferred, were known as the ‘MacDhughail Mhorair.’
In 1745 the laird of Morar was Allan, whose mother was a Macdonald of
Sleat. He must have been an elderly man, as his wife was an aunt of
Lochiel’s, the youngest daughter of Sir Ewan Cameron by his third wife,
daughter of the Quaker David Barclay of Urie. Morar was one of the
first to meet the Prince on his reaching Lochnanuagh in July ’45. He
served as lieut-colonel of the Clanranald regiment. Prince Charles in
his wanderings came to him for hospitality in July ’46, and Morar could
only give him a cave to sleep in as his house had been burned down. His
reception of the Prince, prompted it is said by young Clanranald, was
very cold, and he was the object of fierce invective by the chief of
Mackinnon, and of sorrowful reproach by Charles himself. (_L. in M._,
iii. 187.) According to the clan historians, Morar had the reputation
of being ‘an unmanly, drunken creature all his life.’ (_Hist. Cl.
Donald_, iii. 256.)
Mr. Andrew Lang says that Morar was the author of the _Journal and
Memorial of P---- C---- Expedition into Scotland_ (printed in the
_Lockhart Papers_), which is a principal source of knowledge of the
early days of the adventure. Mr. Lang did not remember his authority,
but was certain of its authenticity. (I had been assured in Moidart
that the _Journal_ was by young Ranald of Kinloch-Moidart, but without
proof.) Allan of Morar died in 1756. His eldest son, John, was ‘out,’
but in what capacity he served I have failed to trace. Morar’s
step-brother, John of Guidale, was a captain in the Clanranald regiment.
Another step-brother was Hugh Macdonald, who had been educated for the
Church in France. He was reported to Rome as a ‘scion of one of the
noblest branches of the Macdonalds.... He himself is distinguished
even more for his zeal and piety than for his honourable birth, and
is also a man of singular prudence and modesty.’ (Bellesheim, iv.
386.) He was consecrated Bishop of Diana _in partibus_ in 1731, and
appointed vicar-apostolic of the Highlands. The Bishop visited the
Prince on board ship on his first arrival, and implored him to return.
When the Standard was raised in Glenfinnan it was blessed by Bishop
Hugh. What part he took during the campaign I do not know, but after
the debacle, he accompanied Lord Lovat in his hiding in Morar. When the
fugitives were pounced upon by Ferguson’s party (see _post_, pp. 90,
244) Lovat was captured, but the Bishop escaped and went to France, in
September, along with Prince Charles. He returned to Scotland in 1749,
when he had an interview with Bishop Forbes, who veils his identity by
calling him ‘Mr. Hugh.’ (_L. in M._, iii. 50.) He was betrayed in July
1755, and arrested, released on bail, and obliged to reside at Duns
until the following February, when he was sentenced by the High Court
to perpetual banishment. (_Scots. Mag._, xvii. 358, xviii. 100.) By
connivance of the authorities, the sentence was not enforced, and he
remained in Scotland until his death, which occurred in Glengarry in
1773.
The _Kinlochmoidart_ family descends from the 9th Clanranald (d.
1593). The laird in 1745 was Donald Macdonald; his mother was Margaret
Cameron, the only sister of Lochiel of the ’45; his wife was a daughter
of Stewart of Appin. Donald, as a boy, had fought at Sheriffmuir.
His brother Æneas, a banker in Paris, came over from France with
Prince Charles. On arrival in Scotland Æneas was sent to summon the
laird. Kinlochmoidart, who was given a commission as colonel and made
aide-de-camp to the Prince, was at once despatched to summon his uncle
Lochiel, and other Jacobite leaders. Prince Charles lived in his
house from August 11th to 18th. When a captive the following year,
Kinlochmoidart was asked what made him embark in the adventure, ‘Lord,
man’ he replied, ‘what could I do when the young lad came to my house.’
(_Carlisle in 1745_, p. 266.) It is interesting from the point of view
of Highland hospitality to compare this reply with the advice given to
Prince Charles by Clanranald’s brother, Boisdale, who had an interview
with the Prince at Eriska on his first arrival, but refused to rise.
When he found it impossible to dissuade the Prince from his enterprise
he ‘insisted that he ought to land on the estate of Macdonald of
Sleat or in that of Macleod, for if he trusted himself to them in the
beginning they would certainly join him which otherwise they would
not do. The Prince would not follow this counsel, being influenced by
others.’ (Bishop Geddes’s MS.) Kinlochmoidart was made prisoner at
Lesmahagow in Lanarkshire, in November ’45, while returning to the army
from an unsuccessful mission to Sir Alexander of Sleat and Macleod. The
principal agent in his capture was a divinity student, Thomas Lining,
afterwards rewarded with the living of Lesmahagow. The chieftain was
tried at Carlisle, and there hanged on 18th October ’46. His head was
fixed on the Scots Gate, where it remained for many years. His house
was burned down.
Kinlochmoidart’s family was deeply implicated in the Rising. Four
of his brothers served in Clanranald’s regiment: John, a doctor of
medicine, who was one of Ferguson’s victims in the _Furness_; he
afterwards returned to Moidart; Ranald, whose chivalrous championship
of the Prince’s cause, gave the first note of enthusiasm to the
adventure (Home, _Hist. Reb._, p. 39); Allan, who fled to France and
perished in the Revolution; James, who was captured at Culloden, but
escaped; he was exempted from the general pardon, and is supposed
to have gone to America. A fifth brother, Æneas the Paris banker,
was captured, tried, and sentenced to death. He escaped from Newgate
by throwing snuff in the turnkey’s eyes, but being shod with loose
slippers he tripped when flying along Warwick Lane and was retaken. He
received a conditional pardon, returned to France, and was killed in
the Revolution.
[276] The property was acquired in 1726 by Sir David Murray of Stanhope
(Peeblesshire) 2nd bart., the father of John Murray of Broughton. He
died in 1729, but the work of developing the lead mines and minerals
was carried on by his son, Sir James. In 1745 the proprietor was Sir
David Murray, 4th bart., nephew of Sir James, He was ‘out,’ served as
aide-de-camp to the Prince, and fought at Falkirk and Culloden. He was
captured at Whitby endeavouring to escape; was tried at York; sentenced
to death; conditionally pardoned; and died an exile in 1770. The
forfeited estate in Ardnamurchan was sold for £33,700.
[277] Of Torcastle, fourth son of Sir Ewan Cameron. He was attainted.
After Culloden he remained in Lochaber, and was agent for distributing
money to the Camerons. At the end of ’47 he was still free, having
evaded all attempts at capture (_Albemarle Papers_); of his subsequent
career I have no knowledge.
[278] Sir Hector Maclean of Duart (Mull), 5th bart., who was major of
Lord John Drummond’s French regiment of Royal Scots, had been sent from
France to Edinburgh in May, and was made prisoner there in June, and
removed to London. He was tried for his life, but on proving that he
was born in Calais he was treated as a prisoner of war. Charles Maclean
of Drimnin (Morvern) joined the Prince after the battle of Falkirk; at
Culloden, where Drimnin was killed, his Macleans were formed into a
regiment with the Maclachlans, commanded by the chief of Maclachlan.
Allan Maclean of Brolas, who succeeded Sir Hector in 1750, as 6th
bart., joined the Government side. (_Scots Mag._, viii. 141.)
[279] Lachlan MacLachlan; was commissary general in the Jacobite army;
killed at Culloden.
[280] For the Maclean and Maclachlan gentlemen, see Appendix.
[281] Rev. John Maclachlan of Kilchoan, ‘chaplain general of the
clans,’ friend and correspondent of Bishop Forbes. Writing to the
Bishop in 1748, he says, ‘I live for the most part now like a hermite,
because all my late charge almost were kill’d in battle, scatter’d
abroad or are cow’d at home. (_L. in M._, ii. 210.)
[282] Dugald Stewart, 8th chief of Appin and last of the direct male
line. Although a Jacobite, and created a peer, as Lord Appin, by James,
in 1743, he did not join Prince Charles. His clan, one of the first
to rise, was led out by his kinsman Charles Stewart, 5th of Ardshiel.
Dugald Stewart sold Appin in 1765, and died 1769.
[283] Alexander Macdonald of Glencoe was attainted; he surrendered some
time after Culloden; he was in prison as late as 1750; date of release
or of death not ascertained. Two brothers, James and Donald, went out
with him in ’45.
[284] Lochiel’s brother, Alexander Cameron, third son of John of
Lochiel, joined the Church of Rome, and became a Jesuit. I have failed
to trace what part he took during the campaign; but in July 1746 he
was arrested at Morar and put on board the _Furness_, the ship of the
notorious Captain Ferguson. Father Cameron was carried to the Thames;
he suffered great hardships, and died at Gravesend on board ship.
(_Albemarle Papers_, p. 408; _L. in M._, i. 312.)
[285] The last clan battle of importance, known as the Battle of
Mulroy, fought in Glenroy, August 1688. The Mackintoshes, who had
obtained charters of Keppoch’s country, were ever at feud with Keppoch,
who legally owned none of the land his clan occupied. It is said that
on this occasion Macdonell of Keppoch (‘Coll of the Cows’) treated his
prisoner Mackintosh so kindly that the latter in gratitude offered
him a charter of the lands in dispute. Keppoch declined, saying, that
he would never consent to hold by sheepskin what he had won by the
sword. (_Hist. of Clan Donald_, ii. 645.) Murray of Broughton, however,
states that as the result of this battle Mackintosh granted Keppoch an
advantageous lease, which was still running in 1745. (_Memorials_, p.
443.)
[286] In 1745 the chief of Keppoch, Alexander (son of Coll), was a
Protestant. When his clan joined the Prince he refused to allow a
favourite priest to accompany it, and in consequence, a number of
his people deserted when at Aberchalder. Keppoch had been created a
Jacobite baronet in 1743. His death at Culloden has been the theme of
much romance. For some late light on the subject, see Mr. Andrew Lang’s
_Hist. of Scot._, iv. 527.
[287] The Grants of Glenmoriston joined the Glengarry regiment.
[288] Not the eldest son, but the third son, Allan Grant of Innerwick.
He was taken prisoner by the Jacobites at the bloodless battle of
Dornoch. Lord John Murray’s regiment is the Highland Regiment (Black
Watch).
[289] See _post_, p. 281 _et seq._
[290] Contrary to what I find is a general impression, the religion
of Lord Lovat and his family, as well as his clan, was Protestant. It
is true that in his days of outlawry and exile in France, about 1703,
Lovat feigned conversion to Romanism, yet from his return to Scotland
in ’15, until his capture in ’46, he conformed to the Presbyterian
establishment; his bosom friend and crony was the gloomy and dissolute
fanatic, James Erskine, Lord Grange. When in hiding after Culloden,
along with Bishop Hugh Macdonald, in Loch Morar (see _ante_, p. 82)
Lovat informed the Bishop that he had long been a Catholic in his
heart, and wished to be received into the Church. He was preparing
to make his confession, but before the rite could be accomplished,
the fugitives were dispersed by a party of Campbells and seamen from
Ferguson’s ship, and Lord Lovat surrendered a few days later. Though
he desired the services of the chaplain of the Sardinian embassy while
a prisoner in the Tower, where on one occasion he pronounced himself
a Jansenist, and although he declared ‘Je meurs un fils indigne de
l’Église Romaine,’ there is no evidence, which I know of, that he ever
formally joined that communion.
[291] See _post_, p. 99.
[292] Robert Bruce, ordained minister at Edinburgh 1587; Moderator of
the Kirk 1588 and 1592, was the son of Bruce of Airth, Stirlingshire, a
rude and powerful baron of a family collateral with the royal Bruces.
At first Bruce was in high favour with James VI., who placed him on
the council of regency when he went to Denmark to be married, 1589,
and appointed him to officiate at the coronation of Queen Anne the
following year. Subsequently he thwarted the king in his ecclesiastical
policy as well as in refusing to acknowledge the guilt of the Earl of
Gowrie, who had been his pupil. James had him deposed from his parish,
and banished from Edinburgh, 1600. Part of his exile was passed at
Inverness (1605-9, and again 1620-24), where he preached to crowded
congregations every Sunday. He died at Kinnaird, 1631.
[293] See _post_, p. 104.
[294] The valley of the Findhorn river, Inverness, Nairn, and Moray
shires.
[295] See _post_, pp. 100, 410.
[296] See _post_, p. 269 _et seq._
[297] Now called Strathavon.
[298] Duncan Forbes of Culloden; b. 1685; M.P. Inverness-shire 1722;
Lord Advocate 1725; Lord President of the Court of Session 1737; d.
1747.
[299] George (Mackenzie), 3rd earl; b. about 1702; known as the
Master of Macleod until his grandfather’s death, 1714; as Lord Tarbat
until his father’s death, 1731, when he succeeded to the earldom. His
father, although a friend and cousin of Lord Mar, had not gone out in
1715. The Earl married, 1724, Isabella, daughter of Sir Wm. Gordon of
Invergordon, head of a family ‘noted for their zeal for the Protestant
succession.’ He was captured at Dunrobin 1746; condemned to death by
the House of Lords; released with a conditional pardon 1749; d. at
London 1766.
[300] John (Mackenzie), Lord Macleod, eldest son of 3rd Earl of
Cromartie; b. 1727. Captured along with his father; pled guilty;
received a conditional pardon 1748; went abroad 1749; entered the
Swedish service when the Old Chevalier, at the request of Lord George
Murray, sent him the necessary funds for his military outfit; became
colonel, aide-de-camp to the King of Sweden, and Count Cromartie;
returned to England 1777; raised a regiment for King George, first
known as Macleod’s Highlanders, the 73rd, subsequently the 71st, and
to-day the Highland Light Infantry; M.P. for Ross-shire 1780; family
estates restored to him 1784; m. 1786, Margery, d. of Lord Forbes; d.
_s.p._ 1789.
[301] There were three Macdonells all bearing the designation of
Barisdale in the ’Forty-five, who are often confused, and who for
distinction’s sake may be termed here, Old Barisdale, Young Barisdale,
and Youngest Barisdale.
_Old Barisdale_ was Archibald Macdonell, an uncle of Glengarry and
a brother of Scotus. He paid his respects to Prince Charles at
Glenfinnan, but took no active part in the Rising, probably being too
old to go out. In May 1746, however, his house was burned down by
Cumberland’s order, and he was carried prisoner on board a ship of war,
but was soon released. He died in 1752.
_Young Barisdale_ was Archibald’s eldest son, Coll Macdonell, who
is a prominent figure in the rising. He was born in 1698. A man
of commanding talent, he filled the _rôle_ of Highland cateran to
perfection, and raised a following absolutely devoted to him. He
became captain of the watch and guardian of the marches for western
Inverness-shire, a vocation (similar to that of his great prototype,
Rob Roy) which he exercised with rigour and occasional cruelty. He was
able to purchase several wadsets, which gave him territorial importance
in the western Highlands. He further strengthened his influence
in Ross-shire by his marriages, his first wife being a daughter
of George Mackenzie of Balmuchie, and his second wife a sister of
Alexander Mackenzie, then laird of Fairburn. He joined Prince Charles
at Aberchalder on 27th August at the head of Glengarry’s Knoydart
men, fought at Prestonpans, and when the Prince went to England he
and Angus Macdonell, Glengarry’s second son, were sent back to the
Highlands to raise more men. Barisdale greatly disliked his first
cousin Lochgarry, who commanded the Glengarry battalion, so he managed
to raise a regiment of his own. (_Murray’s Mem._, pp. 280, 441.) He
fought at Falkirk, but was not at Culloden, being absent on service in
Ross-shire. In June he was captured and taken prisoner along with his
son to Fort Augustus, and there he received a ten days’ protection on
condition of giving certain information to Government. For this he was
seized by the Jacobites, carried prisoner to France, and confined at
St. Malo and Saumur for two years and four months; was not attainted in
1746, but was excluded from the Act of Indemnity in 1747. He returned
to Scotland in February 1749, but was again arrested by Government,
taken to Edinburgh Castle, and kept a close prisoner without trial
until his death, 1st June 1750. A friendly account of this remarkable
man will be found in the _History of Clan Donald_, iii. 337; and an
unfriendly one in Mr. Lang’s _Companions of Pickle_, p. 97.
_Youngest Barisdale_ was Coll’s eldest son, Archibald, who was not
quite twenty years old at the beginning of the adventure. He acted
as major of the Glengarry regiment. His name was included in the
list of attainders in 1746, apparently in mistake for his father. He
was made prisoner along with his father in 1746, first by Government
and afterwards by the Jacobites; he was carried to France, where he
was held in durance for a year. He returned to Scotland, and in 1749
was again imprisoned by Government along with his father, but was
immediately released. Once more he was arrested in 1753, at the time
when Dr. Archibald Cameron was taken and executed. Barisdale was tried
and sentenced to death in March 1754, but reprieved. He was kept a
prisoner until 1762, when he was finally released. At his own request
he at once took the oath of fealty to Government, and accepted a
commission in the 105th Regiment (the Queen’s Own Royal Highlanders),
which was disbanded the following year. He died at Barisdale in 1787.
[302] Captain in Cromartie’s regiment; was captured at Dunrobin; tried
at Southwark in 1746, pleaded guilty and was condemned to death; he was
not executed; I am ignorant of his subsequent career.
[303] Simon Fraser, b. 1726: after Culloden gave himself up to
Government; attainted 1746, pardoned 1750; joined the Scottish bar
1752; acted as Advocate-Depute in the Appin murder trial, an episode
immortalised in R. L. Stevenson’s _Catriona_; raised a Highland
regiment for the Government 1757, and served with it under Wolfe in
Canada (regiment disbanded 1763); M.P. Inverness 1761; family estates
restored to him 1774; raised a second regiment of two battalions 1775,
for the American War, which he did not accompany (regiment disbanded
1783); died a lieut.-general 1782. Sir Walter Scott calls the Master
of Lovat the good son of a bad father. A very different account is
given by Mrs. Grant of Laggan--‘he differed from his father only as
a chain’d-up fox does from one at liberty.’ (See _Wariston’s Diary_,
etc., p. 275, Scot. Hist. Soc., vol. xxvi.)
[304] Charles Fraser the younger, b. 1725, nephew and heir-presumptive
of William Fraser of Inverallochy, Aberdeenshire, the senior cadet of
Lovat’s clan.
His father, Charles Fraser of Castle Fraser, younger brother of the
laird of Inverallochy, had inherited the property of Muchall or Castle
Fraser (Kemnay, Aberdeenshire), on the death of his step-grandfather
Charles, 4th and last Lord Fraser, who lost his life near Banff by
falling over a precipice while in hiding to avoid capture after
the ’15. In 1723 the elder Charles Fraser was created ‘Lord Fraser
of Mushall’ by the Chevalier in recognition of his services, and
particularly those of his father, ‘who died bravely asserting our
cause, and in consideration of the earnest desire of the late Lord
Fraser, when we were last in Scotland, to resign his titles of honour
in favour of the said Charles’ father.’ I am not aware of what these
special services were, nor why the elder brother William was passed
over both for the Castle Fraser inheritance and the Jacobite peerage.
Charles Fraser eventually succeeded to Inverallochy in 1749 on the
death of his brother William. He was probably too old to go out in
1745, and his son went out as Lovat’s lieut.-colonel, ‘in accordance
with the ancient highland practice and the policy of Lord Lovat as
being nearest in blood to the chiefship.’ Young Inverallochy was
killed at Culloden, and the story of his death is very painful. It
is first told in a general way in _The Lyon_ (ii. 305; iii. 56), and
afterwards with more detail by Sir Henry Seton Steuart of Allanton in
the _Antijacobin Review_ of 1802 (p. 125) as follows:--
‘When the celebrated General Wolfe (at this period a lieut.-colonel
in the army) was riding over the field of battle with the D----
of C-m-b-l-d, they observed a Highlander, who, though severely
wounded, was yet able to sit up, and, leaning on his arm, seemed to
smile defiance of them.--“Wolfe,” said the D----, “_shoot_ me that
Highland scoundrel, who thus dares to look on us with such contempt
and insolence!”--“My commission,” replied the manly officer, “is at
your R----l H----s’s disposal, but I never can consent to become an
_executioner_.” The Highlander, it is probable, was soon knocked on
the head by some ruffian less scrupulous than the future conqueror of
Quebec. But it was remarked by those who heard the story, that Colonel
Wolfe, from that day, visibly declined in the favour and confidence of
the commander-in-chief. We believe that some officers are still alive
who are not unacquainted with this anecdote.’
Mr. Beckles Willson, Wolfe’s latest biographer, accepts the story as
regards Wolfe but doubts its applicability to Cumberland. Wolfe, it
must be remembered, was on Hawley’s staff, not Cumberland’s. These
generals could easily have been mistaken for each other. The action
is very like Hawley, who was hated by the soldiers, who nicknamed him
the Hangman, and who held his military talents in contempt, a feeling
shared by Wolfe. Moreover, it was a Jacobite cult to vilify the Duke,
and to impute all cruelties to him personally. Seton Steuart was not an
entirely unprejudiced writer; he had been brought up in an atmosphere
of uncompromising Jacobitism. He was a cousin of Sir James Steuart of
Goodtrees and of Provost Stewart of Edinburgh, both of whom suffered;
while his wife was grand-daughter of Charles Smith of Boulogne, the
Jacobite agent frequently mentioned in Murray’s Papers. (See _ante_, p.
11.)
[305] James Fraser, 9th of Foyers (Lochness), descended from the 3rd
Lord Lovat, was one of the most ruthless and devoted henchmen of Lovat,
who made him bailie of Stratherrick. He received from Prince Charles
a special commission, dated 23rd September 1745, to seize President
Duncan Forbes and carry him prisoner to Edinburgh, an enterprise which
failed. His name was excluded from the act of indemnity, but he was
afterwards pardoned and his estates restored. It was to his house that
John Murray of Broughton was carried the day before Culloden.
[306] _N.B._--Most of the Chisholms are Papists.
[307] This does not quite accord with the clan history. Roderick, the
chief of Chisholm, was then forty-eight years old. What part he took
in the Rising is not on record, but he was specially excluded from
the act of indemnity. His eldest son Alexander seems to have stayed
at home; his second and third sons were officers in the Government
army, and fought under Cumberland at Culloden; his fourth son, who
was a physician in Inverness, afterwards provost, seems to have taken
no part; his youngest son, Roderick Og, led out the clan; he ‘headed
about eighty of the Chisholms at the battle of Culloden, himself and
thirty thereof were killed upon the field.’ (Mackenzie, _Hist. of the
Chisholms_.)
[308] The laird was then Alexander Mackenzie, 6th of Fairburn.
According to the Marquis d’Éguilles, French envoy to Prince Charles,
Fairburn’s wife was Barbara Gordon, of whom he gives the following
account in a despatch to his government: ‘Une fort jolie personne ...
celle-cy n’a pas banni son mari; mais malgré luy, elle a vendu ses
diamants et sa vaisselle pour lever des hommes. Elle a ramassé cent
cinquante des plus braves du païs, qu’elle a joint à ceux de miladi
Seaforth, sous la conduite de son beau-frère.’ (Cottin, _Un Protégé
de Bachaumont_, p. 51.) The brother-in-law may be Coll Macdonell of
Barisdale, who married her husband’s sister; or it may be Kenneth
Mackenzie her husband’s brother who although only a schoolboy was a
captain in Barisdale’s regiment. (Lord Rosebery’s _List of Persons
Concerned in the Rebellion_, p. 76.) This lady is not mentioned in the
genealogies of Alex. Mackenzie’s _Hist. of the Mackenzies_, which are,
however, manifestly incomplete.
[309] Alexander Macgillivray of Dunmaglas, the lieut.-colonel of Lady
Mackintosh’s regiment, and Gillise Macbain, Dalmagarrie, the major,
were both killed at Culloden.
[310] _N.B._--The Laird of McIntosh got a Company in the Highland
Regiment. He raised a full company and they all deserted except 8 or 9.
[311] Anne, daughter of James Farquharson, 9th of Invercauld, and
Margaret Murray, daughter of Lord James Murray, an uncle of Lord George
Murray; b. 1723; d. 1787; m. Æneas Mackintosh 22nd of Mackintosh, who,
though a Jacobite peer, refused to join Prince Charles, preferring to
serve that monarch who was able to pay him ‘half-a-guinea the day and
half-a-guinea the morn.’ (Notes to _Waverley_, ch. xix.) The chief
raised a company for King George with the result noted above, while
his lady raised the clan for Prince Charles. Of this lady we get the
following enthusiastic account by the Marquis d’Éguilles:--
‘Elle aimoit éperdûment son mari qu’elle espéra longtems de gagner
au Prince; mais, ayant appris qu’il s’étoit enfin engagé, avec le
Président, à servir la maison d’Hanovre, elle ne voulut plus le voir.
‘Elle ne s’en tint pas là: elle souleva une partie de ses vassaux, à la
teste desquels elle mit un très-beau cousin qui, jusques-là, l’avoit
aimée inutilement. Mackintosh fut obligé de quitter son lit, sa maison
et ses terres. L’intrépide ladi, un pistolet d’une main et de l’argent
de l’autre, parcourt le païs, menace, donne, promet, et, en moins de
quinze jours, ramasse 600 hommes. Elle en avoit envoyé moitié à Fakirk,
qui y arriva la veille de la bataille. Elle avoit retenu l’autre
moitié _pour se garder de son mari_ et de Loudoun qui, à Inverness,
n’étoient qu’à trois lieues de son château. Le prince logea chez elle,
à son passage. Elle s’offrit à luy avec la grâce et la noblesse d’une
divinité, car rien n’est si beau que cette femme. Elle luy présenta
toute sa petite armée qu’elle avoit rassemblée, et après avoir parlé
aux soldats de ce qu’ils devoient à la situation, aux droits et aux
vertus de leur Prince, elle jura très-catégoriquement de casser la
tête au premier qui s’en tourneroit, après avoir, à ses yeux, brûlé sa
maison et chassé sa famille.
‘Au reste, elle a toujours passé, jusques icy, pour être très-modérée,
très-sensée. C’est, icy, l’effet de la première éducation. Son père,
pris à la bataille de Preston en 1715, avoit resté longtems prisonnier,
et couru risque de la vie. Elle n’a pas vingt-deux ans. C’est elle qui
découvrit le projet qu’avoit fait Macleod d’enlever le Prince, et, en
vérité, c’est elle seule qui l’a fait échouer.’ (Cottin, p. 49.)
The last sentence refers to the incident known as ‘the Rout of Moy’
(_post_, p. 108), when Lady Mackintosh’s thoughtful vigilance saved
her Prince from imminent risk of capture. A month later (March 20th)
her husband was taken prisoner at Dornoch by the Jacobites. Prince
Charles sent the chief to his wife at Moy, saying that ‘he could not
be in better security or more honourably treated.’ This may have been
the occasion of the story told by Bishop Mackintosh to Chambers: the
lady was jocularly known in the army as ‘Colonel Anne’; when her
husband was ushered into her presence she greeted him laconically with,
‘Your servant, captain,’ to which he replied with equal brevity, ‘Your
servant, colonel!’ After Culloden Lady Mackintosh was arrested at Moy
and taken to Inverness; she was released after six weeks’ confinement.
In spite of her martial reputation, and her undaunted resolution, there
was nothing masculine about her appearance; she was a slender, rather
delicate-looking girl: she took no part in the fighting but remained
at home during the campaign. In after years when in London, family
tradition says that she became a favourite in certain royal circles,
and there on one occasion she met the Duke of Cumberland, and with him
she exchanged some piquant raillery (see narratives in A. M. Shaw’s
_Mackintoshes and Clan Chattan_, p. 464 _seq._).
[312] Culcairn, now called Kincraig, in Rosskeen parish. George Munro,
b. 1685, brother of Sir Robert Munro of Foulis (see _post_, p. 198).
Culcairn was shot in Knoydart in August 1746 while wasting the country
and carrying off cattle in company with Captain Grant of Knockando,
of Loudoun’s Regiment. It is said he was shot by accident instead of
Grant, by the father of one Alexander Cameron, whom Grant had shot a
short time previously. (_L. in M._, i. 91, 312.)
[313] Cf. _ante_, p. 46 _n._
[314] Kenneth (Mackenzie), eldest son of William, 5th Earl of Seaforth,
attainted 1716, d. 1740; but for the attainder he would have been
6th earl. He was styled Lord Fortrose, which was the second Jacobite
title of his grandfather, created Marquis of Seaforth by James VII.
after his abdication. He was born about 1718; M.P. for Inverness
1741-47; and for Ross-shire from 1747 until his death, 1761. Lord
Fortrose (who was generally, though not officially, called Seaforth
in Scotland) adhered to Government in the ’45. Though his support was
of the paltriest description, his defection gave great pain to Prince
Charles. Fortrose’s wife was Lady Mary Stewart, daughter of the 6th
Earl of Galloway. This lady raised men for Prince Charles, with the
result narrated in these pages. Of her the French envoy informs his
Government: ‘On assure que son zèle égale celuy des deux autres [Lady
Mackintosh and Mrs. Mackenzie of Fairburn], quoy qu’elle paroisse
moins vive et moins courageuse.’ It was their son who raised the 1st
Battalion Seaforth Highlanders (72nd), for which service he was created
Earl of Seaforth in the Peerage of Ireland.