The Lyon in Mourning, Vol. 1

328

See f. 280.

329

In the original Journal here ended the handwriting of young Clanranald, and then began the handwriting of Glenaladale. – Robert Forbes, A.M.

330

In the original Journal here ended the handwriting of Glenaladale, and then began again the handwriting of young Clanranald. – Robert Forbes, A.M.

331

See f. 1837.

332

In the original Journal here ended the handwriting of young Clanranald, and then began the handwriting of Glenaladale. – Robert Forbes, A.M.

333

See ff. 172, 569.

334

As this narrative, proceeds from Glenaladale himself, so it deserves more credit than that in f. 550, for Mrs. Cameron narrated the matter only from the best of her remembrance, and that too from report that had passed from hand to hand. – Robert Forbes, A.M.

335

See f. 1450.

336

See ff. 1448, 1474.

337

See f. 1450.

338

In the original Journal here ended the handwriting of Glenaladale, and then began the handwriting of Captain Alexander MacDonald, which continued to the end of the Journal. – Robert Forbes, A.M.

339

Who could have thought that the troops would have furnished the Prince with a guide to make him escape their own clutches at the very nick of time when they were hunting after him like a partridge in the mountains? For their chasing the Glengary man proved the means of bringing him to the place where Glenaladale was. An instance of Providence most adorably conspicuous that made these very men who were eagerly panting after his blood, become (quite opposite to their intention) the principal instruments of the Prince's preservation.

Robert Forbes, A.M.

340

See f. 1451.

341

This is the same narrative with what is contain'd f. 549 of this volume, and serves to correct a mistake there as to the person who lost the purse: for 'tis plain that Glenaladale has been the man. – Robert Forbes, A.M.

342

See f. 550.

343

See ff. 1451, 1661, 1664.

344

The faithful Glenmoriston men. See f. 172.

345

Perhaps the circumstance of 'Ha! Dougal MacCullony' etc., mentioned by Mrs. Cameron is not literally true. But I have often heard that these men used to call the Prince by the name Dougal the better to conceal him. See f. 1451.

Robert Forbes, A.M.

346

Here begins vol. iv. of Bishop Forbes's Manuscript Collection. It is entitled:

'The Lyon in Mourning,' or a collection (as exactly made as the iniquity of the times would permit) of Speeches, Letters, Journals, etc., relative to the affairs, but more particularly, the dangers and distresses of… Vol. 4th. 1748.

Extera gens nostra passim dominatur in orbe,

Scotorum Princeps vix, ubi degat, habet!

On the inside of the back board there is one piece of wood, an inch long by about 3⁄8 broad and 1⁄8 thick (and there has been another piece, but now it is not) and underneath is written: —

The above are pieces of that identical eight-oar'd boat, on board of which Donald Macleod, etc., set out from Boradale on the continent with the Prince (after the battle of Culloden) for Benbecula in the Long Isle. The above pieces were sent to me from Major MacDonald of Glenaladale to the care of Captain Alexander MacDonald in Edinburgh, brother-german to Dalely. The said Alexander MacDonald delivered the above pieces to me on Wednesday evening, December 28th, 1748, he having come under a promise upon our first acquaintance to procure me a bit of the eight-oar'd boat. See vol. 2, ff. 270, 284, vol. 3, ff. 581, 582. Vol. 4, ff. 677, 678. – Robert Forbes, A.M.

347

It is very remarkable that the Prince made little rest serve him at any time, and that he was almost indefatigable in walking and in undergoing hardship. [See ff. 238, 244, 291.] – Robert Forbes, A.M.

348

See f. 1664.

349

See f. 1665.

350

The Prince used to insist upon it that the French would still send him succours. This I heard from severals. See ff. 175, 214. – F.

351

See the preceding note. – Robert Forbes, A.M.

352

See f. 1665.

353

See ff. 173-176, 356.

354

See f. 173.

355

It is omitted in this Journal that Auchinsaul himself was with the Prince. See f. 173. – Robert Forbes, A.M.

356

The affair of the Prince's sending expresses to Lochiel, and of Lochiel's sending proper persons to seek out the Prince, and at last of their meeting together as they both intended, appears to me not to be so distinctly and accurately narrated in this Journal as in that of Mr. John Cameron [See ff. 173-179]. As I have made some enquiry into this matter, I shall note down all I have discovered about it as exactly as possible. Dr. Archibald Cameron (Lochiel's brother) and Mr. John Cameron (late Presbyterian chaplain at Fort William) were the persons despatched by Lochiel to use all the endeavours they could to find out the Prince, in which they were happily successful. Lochiel was by this time recovered of his wounds [See f. 1479] as is evident from Dr. Stewart Threpland's leaving him and making his way to Edinburgh in the habit and character of a Presbyterian probationer, in the month of July, long before the Prince and Lochiel could meet. The foresaid Mr. John Cameron was the person dispatched by Lochiel (after meeting with the Prince) to Edinburgh in order to hire a vessel to take him and whom he should bring along with him off the east coast. Mr. Cameron (by the assistance of proper friends) succeeded in this negotiation, as is well known to some. But when he returned to inform the Prince of his success, he, with Lochiel, etc., had set out for the place where the French were landed upon the west coast to take off the Prince, etc. So that Mr. Cameron was left to shift for himself. He made his way back to Edinburgh in disguise, and at last got off under a borrowed name in the same coach with Lady Lochiel and her children for London, the lady passing under the name of Mrs. Campbell, for she could have no pass. They all got safely to France. When I happened to be conversing with John Cameron, uncle of the said Mr. Cameron, in Edinburgh [See f. 558], he told me that he himself attended Lochiel in his skulking. I told him it was surprizing to me how any person could find out the Prince when the ship landed in the west, because he was so far down the country in his way southward, and then asked him if he could inform me what miles the Prince might be from the ships when notice came to him. He said that he himself was then on an errand enquiring about some of the distressed gentlemen, but that he was persuaded the Prince was no less than 60 miles from the ships in a direct line over the tops of hills, etc., as by that time he behoved to be in the confines or in the county of Athol. I said no doubt he meant Highland miles. He said he meant so, for that it would be no less than 70 or 80 ordinary miles; and if one was to travell it by the common roads [See f. 1475], it would make no less than 90 or 100. The indemnity did not make John Cameron (the uncle) safe, because he had carried arms abroad in the first Highland regiment, and when the Prince landed had a pension from Chelsea. He got off to Holland, and from thence to France. He said the Prince, when skulking, used to retire some time morning and evening by himself. – Robert Forbes, A.M.

357

This certainly is a wrong date, for by the best intelligence that can be had the Prince arrived in France on the 29th or 30th of September, having set sail from Scotland on the 20th of said month. [See ff. 522, 1476.]

Robert Forbes, A.M.

358

I asked particularly at Captain Alexander MacDonald whether the Prince arrived on the Arisaig or Moidart side, and he assured me he landed on Arisaig. This serves to clear up any doubt in Vol. 2, f. 355, and Vol. 3, f. 573.

Robert Forbes, A.M.

359

See f. 68.

360

See f. 356.

361

See f. 690.

362

See ff. 589, 923.

363

See ff. 266, 466, 760-776.

364

See f. 669. This narrative is printed in Jacobite Memoirs, pp. 131-144.

365

See f. 380.

366

Ker's account of this affair agrees most exactly with that of Captain Malcolm MacLeod, but the account given by the Captain is much more exact and circumstantial, as may be seen in [see ff. 258-261, 273, 989, 1207, 1256.]

Robert Forbes, A.M.

367

See f. 156.

368

See f. 1138.

369

See ff. 567, 902.

370

Who pillaged the house of Lude (the widow lady living in it), breaking to pieces all the doors and windows, and the finishing of the rooms and some of the floors. – Robert Forbes, A.M.

371

See f. 907.

372

See ff. 907, 1267.

373

These particulars represent the Earl of Cromarty in a very indifferent light. See f. 1259. – F.

374

It should be some of Lord Loudon's. – Robert Forbes, A.M.

375

See f. 1261.

376

See ff. 156, 1261.

377

On Monday, says Mr. John Cameron [see f. 157].

378

The copy from which I transcribed had here the words, viz.: 'Wednesday, being the 16th of April,' which certainly behoved to be an error, as it is well known that the battle of Culloden was fought upon Wednesday, April 16th. See ff. 126, 157, 181, 430, 439. – Robert Forbes, A.M.

379

Mr. John Cameron says sword and pistol [f. 157]. But certainly Colonel Ker, who carried the orders from Lord George Murray, must know that point best. – Robert Forbes, A.M.

380

See ff. 158, 441, 1270.

381

In the copy which I made, my transcript from the word here was Ern, which behoved to be a mistake, the water of Ern being in Perthshire. The same mistake was in the said copy a second time – viz., in the fourth line of page 667 in the volume. – Robert Forbes, A.M.

382

See ff. 129, 445.

383

As this proceeds from Colonel Ker himself, who behoved to know this matter best, so it is more to be depended upon than other accounts, which differ from this, and some of which tell it in such a way as to leave an insinuation of some blame upon Lord George Murray, whose bravery can never be called in question. See ff. 129, 160, 182, 328, 446, 675.

384

This says very ill for the corps posted to guard the park walls in order to prevent the Prince's army being flanked by the enemy from that quarter.

Robert Forbes, A.M.

385

Here Colonel Ker vindicates Lord George Murray from villainy, an imputation which no man in his right senses could ever entertain against Lord George, because no villain would have exposed his person so remarkably as he did where danger called upon all occasions. Besides, if Lord George had acted the double and dishonest part, why should he have skulked, and, at last, have gone to foreign parts? But, then, it is worth noticing that Colonel Ker says not a word with respect to the insolence and haughtiness of Lord George's temper, his great misfortune and fault, in which alone he can be justly blamed, and with which he stands charged by the Prince's own words to more than one [see ff. 150, 236, 450, 453]. However, to do Lord George justice, it is affirmed by some who have an opportunity of knowing, that Lord George, before he left Scotland, did declare his surprize to a friend (Murray of Abercairney) how it could enter into the head of any person to charge him with treachery. But at the same time that he acknowledged with concern and regret that he had been too often guilty of contradicting and thwarting the Prince in the measures he proposed. Certainly, tho' both be bad enough, there is a great difference 'twixt villainy and pride.

Robert Forbes, A.M.

386

Printed in Jacobite Memoirs, pp. 348-362.

387

Thus the attested copy had it, without the word 'the.'

388

If this be so, how then came I by the copy in vol. i. p. 181? For I can declare I was master of that copy upon July 14th, 1747, i. e. exactly a month and a half before the date of the Captain's letter, along with the attested copy, to the Countess of Dundonald. [See ff. 692-700 postea.]

389

Three or four miles, say other accounts, and justly too, as must be confessed by those who know anything of the country about Nairn, where the attack was to have been made. See ff. 158, 448, 661. – F.

390

This page contains several particulars not so much as mentioned in any of the accounts given by others, as may be seen by making a comparison. – F.

391

The Prince marched all that night on foot, says Ker of Gradyne, f. 662. – F.

392

With tears in his eyes, says the other copy, f. 181. – F.

393

These words are wanting in the foresaid copy. See f. 182. – F.

394

Nine squadrons, says the foresaid copy, f. 182. – F.

395

Here in the foresaid copy these following words, 'but to no purpose.' See f. 182. – F.

396

Not true. See f. 1161. – F.

397

The foresaid copy says here, 'And next day arrived at Fort Augustus.' – Robert Forbes, A.M.

398

These words are not in the other copy, f. 183. – F.

399

The 26th of April, says the foresaid copy, which day Donald MacLeod fixes upon for their departure from the continent to the Isles. See ff. 273, 281, 316. Ned Burk says much the same. [See p. 329.] – F.

400

Says Donald MacLeod, 'ten or twelve miles by sea, but a much greater distance by land.' See f. 278. – Robert Forbes, A.M.

401

Honest Donald MacLeod, the pilot, and Allan MacDonald, Clanranald's relation might have had a place here, to say nothing of the poor rowers. See f. 281. – F.

402

This must be a mistake, tho' it be so in the other copy too, for none of the lochs has so much bounds as to allow of such a drive from an intended harbour. I remember Donald MacLeod called this 'nonsense,' for he makes the whole course but only 96 miles. [See f. 284.] – F.

403

This should be Benbecula, but I think not so much of his mistaking names, being a stranger. See f. 284. – F.

404

This is altogether an error, as plainly appears, not only from the words of Donald MacLeod and Ned Burk [see ff. 270, 343], but likewise from a remarkable token given me by Captain Alexander MacDonald, which puts this point beyond all doubt. See f. 581. – F.

405

One error never fails to prove the foundation of another, if not of many. – F.

406

This whole affair is represented in quite a different manner by Donald MacLeod, who caused me remark more than once that O'Neille did not accompany him to Stornoway (See ff. 270, 287), and I have heard Ned Burk affirm the same thing. – F.

407

Here either 'not' should be wanting, or the next word immediately following should be 'impossible' to make sense of the words which were precisely as above in the attested copy, but in the other copy they happen to be right. See f. 184. – F.

408

One error must be the foundation of another at least. See this whole affair cleared up by Donald MacLeod himself (See f. 289), and that, too, according to the expressions of Captain John Hay upon the head who could have no interest or by-view in what he spoke. See f. 479. – F.

409

Four days and four nights, says Donald MacLeod, and not in so very great misery as Captain O'Neille represents them to have been in, though indeed their case was bad enough (See ff. 291-297). And Ned Burk's account of this matter agrees with that of Donald MacLeod (See f. 331). One day I read this particular of the desert island to Ned Burk when he used this remarkable expression, 'What deel needs a man mack mair wonders than we had. Faith we had anew o' them.' Words tho' coarse, yet very significant. – Robert Forbes, A.M.

410

In all this Captain O'Neille is exactly right, for I have heard Miss MacDonald declare more than once that the Captain came to her (bringing the Prince along with him) when she happened to be in a shealling belonging to her brother; that the Captain was the contriver of the scheme, and that she herself was very backward to engage in it; and indeed no wonder (whatever some may say), when one seriously considers the important trust, and the many dangers attending it. Something of all this may be gathered from her own Journal. See f. 524.

411

In the other copy these words are wanting. See f. 187. – F

412

In the other copy thirty-four hours. – Robert Forbes, A.M.

413

See ff. 526, 589.

414

It is truly a matter of much wonder that the Prince should escape the clutches of so many in such narrow bounds, especially when the coast was swarming with ships, sloops, etc. – F.

415

See ff. 485, 526.

416

These words are not in the other copy. See f. 189. – F.

417

The faithful MacKechan might have been named here. – F.

418

Captain O'Neille speaks more respectfully, and is more favourable in his accounts of Colonel O'Sullivan than some other hints that are given in this Collection. (See ff. 496, 519, 528.) – Robert Forbes, A.M.

419

See the person named and the whole affair cleared up in this vol. f. 644. – F.

420

A man remarkable for his cruelties. See ff. 192, 216, 257, 309, etc. Even in his younger years he was remarkable for a cruel turn of mind among his school-fellows and companions, and therefore he is the fitter tool for William the Cruel. He was born at Old Meldrum in the shire of Aberdeen. – Robert Forbes, A.M.

421

See ff. 191, 645.

422

See f. 189.

423

See ff. 277-307.

424

See footnote, p. 50, ante.