Chapter XXIX: A.d. 1745 (2)

“We likewise promise upon our royal word to protect, secure, and
maintain all our Protestant subjects in the free exercise of their
religion, and in the full enjoyment of all their rights, privileges,
and immunities, and in the secure possession of all churches,
universities, colleges, and schools, conform to the laws of the land.

“All this we shall be ready to confirm in our first parliament;
in which we promise to pass any act or acts that shall be judged
necessary to secure each private person in the full possession of
his liberty and property, to advance trade, to relieve the poor, and
establish the general welfare and tranquillity of the nation. In all
such matters we are fully resolved to act always by the advice of
our parliaments, and to value none of our titles so much as that of
_common father of our people_, which we shall ever show ourselves to
be by our constant endeavours to promote the quiet and happiness of
all our subjects. And we shall be particularly solicitous to settle,
encourage, and maintain the fishery and linen manufactures of the
nation, which we are sensible may be of such advantage to it, and
which we hope are works reserved for us to accomplish.

“As for those who shall appear more signally zealous for the recovery
of our just rights and the prosperity of their country, we shall take
effectual care to reward them according to their respective degrees
and merits. And we particularly promise, as aforesaid, our full,
free, and general pardon to all officers, soldiers, and sailors, now
engaged in the service of the usurper, whether of the sea or land,
provided that upon the publication hereof, and before they engage in
any fight or battle against our forces, they quit the said unjust and
unwarrantable service, and return to their duty, in which case we
shall pay them all the arrears that shall be at that time due to them
from the usurper; we shall grant to the officers the same commissions
they shall then bear, if not higher; and to all soldiers and sailors
a gratification of a whole year’s pay for their forwardness in
promoting our service.

“We farther promise and declare, that the vassals of such as shall
without regard to our present declaration, obstinately persist in
their rebellion, and thereby forfeit all pretensions to our royal
clemency, shall be delivered from all servitude they were formerly
bound to, and shall have grants and charters of their lands to be
held immediately of the crown, provided they, upon the publication of
this our royal declaration, declare openly for us, and join heartily
in the cause of their country.

“And having thus declared our gracious intentions to our loving
subjects, we do hereby require and command them to be assisting to
us in the recovery of our rights, and of their own liberties; and
that all our subjects, from the age of sixteen to sixty, do, upon
the setting up of our royal standard, immediately repair to it,
or join themselves to such as shall first appear for us in their
respective shires; and also to seize the horses and arms of all
suspected persons, and all ammunition, forage, and whatever else may
be necessary for the use of our forces.

“We also strictly command all receivers, collectors, or other persons
who may be seized of any sum or sums of money levied in the name or
for the use of the usurper, to retain such sum or sums of money in
their own hands, till they can pay them to some person of distinction
appearing publicly for us, and demanding the same for our use and
service; whose receipt or receipts shall be a sufficient discharge
for all such collectors, receivers, or other persons, their heirs, &c.

“Lastly, we do hereby require all sheriffs of shires, stewards of
stewartries, and their respective deputies, magistrates of royal
boroughs, and bailies of regalities, and all others to whom it may
belong, to publish this our declaration, at the market crosses of
their respective towns and boroughs, and there to proclaim us under
the penalty of being proceeded against according to law, for their
neglect of so necessary and important a duty.”

After this manifesto had been read, the Marquis of Tullibardine returned to the prince’s quarters with the standard under an escort of 50 Camerons. In about an hour after the conclusion of this ceremony, Macdonald of Keppoch joined the prince with 300 of his men; and in the evening some gentlemen of the name of Macleod, displeased with the conduct of their chief, arrived at Glenfinnan, proffered their services to the prince, and offered to return to Skye, and raise all the men they could in support of his cause. On arriving at Glenfinnan, Macdonald of Tierndriech presented the prince with an excellent horse which he had taken from Captain Scott. The animated appearance of the glen, which now resounded with the martial strains of the pibroch, contrasted strongly with the solitary gloom which pervaded when the prince entered it. Instead of the small party which joined him in the morning, Charles found himself within a few hours at the head of a body of about 1,200 brave and resolute men, warmly attached to his person and cause, at least those of them who were chiefs, and ready and willing to hazard their lives in his service. Charles was exceedingly delighted at the appearance of his little army, and it has been observed that at no other time did he look more cheerful or display a greater buoyancy of spirits.[838]

Of the many singular circumstances attending this extraordinary insurrection, the utter ignorance in which the personage in whose name it was undertaken was kept, is not the least. Charles had indeed written his father on the eve of his departure from France, acquainting him with the resolution he had taken, but before his letter reached Rome, the prince was actually at the head of his army. The object of Charles in concealing his design from the Chevalier is obvious. He was aware that his father would have opposed such a rash attempt, and might probably have applied to the court of France to prevent his departure; and having taken his resolution, he was determined not to put it in jeopardy by too timely an announcement of his intentions. Whatever opinion may _now_ be formed of the prudence of an undertaking, which, had it succeeded, would have been considered as one of the boldest strokes of political wisdom, there can be but one sentiment as to the conduct of the prince, in thus withholding from his parent all knowledge of the design he had formed for accomplishing the object of his daring ambition. Though under the corrupt influence of a few interested persons, whom he kept about his person,[839] he still retained a sufficient portion of filial respect to prevent him from violating the declared injunctions of his father; and as no opposition short of actual violence could have induced him to forego his resolution of going to Scotland, he avoided the disagreeable alternative of disregarding the commands which his father would have laid upon him by taking the course he did.

When the Chevalier de St. George received the prince’s letter, which informed him that he was to proceed instantly to Scotland, he was greatly surprised and agitated;[840] but as the step had been taken, he became reconciled to it, and even could not help applauding the courage of the prince in entering upon the enterprise. Writing to the Duke of Ormond, on the 11th of August, the Chevalier says, “I have now by me your letters of the 14th July, and of the 27th, which last came by the courier, which brought me an account of the resolution the prince had taken, and executed without consulting me, for he was very sure I would not have approved it, tho’ I cannot but say, that the courage and sentiments he shows on this occasion, will always do him honor.”[841] Again in writing to his agent, Sempil, on the same day, he observes, “What takes me up wholly at present, is the resolution the prince has taken and executed, without my knowledge.... The question now is to look forward, and not to blame what is past. It is true, I never should have advised the prince to have taken such a step, but since it is taken it must be supported, and whatever be the event, it will certainly turn much to the prince’s personal honor, nay, even something may be said to justify what he has done. The usage he met with in France, and the dread of a peace, were no doubt strong motives to push him on a rash undertaking, than to sit still; and who knows but what has happened, may, in some measure, force the court of France out of shame to support him, while otherwise perhaps they had continued to neglect him, and then have abandoned him at last.... The prince’s example will, I hope, animate our friends in England; he has ventured generously for them, and if they abandon him, they themselves, and indeed our country, will be ruined.”

It had always been the opinion of the Chevalier--an opinion which experience has shown was well founded--that no attempt on Scotland could possibly succeed, unless accompanied by a simultaneous landing in England; and he now saw the necessity of enforcing this consideration more strongly than ever upon the court of France. In the letter which Charles had sent him, he desired his father to write to the King of France and Cardinal Tencin, entreating them for support. The Chevalier, however, did not confine himself to the king and to the cardinal, but addressed himself also to the Maréchal de Noailles, and the whole of the French ministers. Alluding to the necessity of supporting the prince by a descent on England, the Chevalier says in the letter to Ormond, from which a quotation has already been made; “Enfin, since the step is taken, it is certainly incumbent on all of us to do our best to support it, and I am very sure nothing will be wanting on your side for that effect. My darkness, my anxiety, and the multiplicity of my reflections on this occasion, are so great that I shall not pretend to enlarge on this subject at present. In the mean time, I now write to Lord Marischal by the way of Paris, and write also directly to the King of France, and all the ministers, for without a landing in England is soon made, humanly speaking, it will be impossible for the prince to succeed.” He repeats almost the same observations in his letter to Sempil, also referred to: “I know not particularly the grounds he (the prince) goes upon, but I am afraid there is little room to hope he will succeed, except he be vigorously supported by the court of France; and, therefore, we must all of us in our different spheres leave nothing undone for that effect. I now write myself to the King of France and all the ministers, and we must be all of us more than ever solely and wholly intent on the great object.”

But the Chevalier, in his anxiety to procure early succours for the prince, did not confine himself to words. To pay off the debts which Charles had contracted before his departure, he immediately remitted a sum of 200,000 francs to O’Bryan, his chief agent at Paris, and placed another sum of 50,000 francs in the hands of Waters, junior, his banker in Paris, at the disposal of O’Bryan, to meet instant contingencies.[842] He afterwards remitted to Waters, through Belloni, his banker at Rome, 80,000 Roman crowns, and promised another remittance of 28,000 in a few weeks, which, he said, would exhaust his treasury.

In his letter to the King of France, the Chevalier informed him that he had learned with great astonishment the departure of the prince for Scotland; that knowing well he would never have approved of such a step, he had taken his resolution and put it into effect without consulting him; but that being done, he was obliged in sincerity to confess that he could not but admire the conduct of the prince in entering upon the enterprise, which, he was certain, would make a great and favourable impression upon the minds of his adherents. He stated, however, his conviction, that without the aid of a foreign force it was utterly impossible for the prince to succeed, and he entreated his majesty to furnish the necessary assistance. He reminded him that the prince had been invited by him into France, and although a year and a half had since elapsed, that he certainly had not forgot the object which brought his son thither; and that a crisis had now arrived, when the smallest delay on the part of his majesty might be attended with danger to the success of the brave attempt which the prince had made, and that he might now, at little risk and at a small expense, finish the work which the prince was about to commence. As to himself personally, the Chevalier informed Louis that he had formerly intimated to him that he intended to resign his rights to the prince; and that his intentions were still the same, with this difference, however, that while he formerly considered that such a step would be advantageous for his family, it had now become indispensably necessary for his own honour, on account of his infirmities, as he considered that he should act rashly, and be guilty of bad faith towards his subjects, if he pretended to take upon himself the cares of government, when he was incapable of any fatigue either of body or of mind, and consequently unable to discharge the duties of a sovereign.

FOOTNOTES:

[805] This battle was fought on the 11th May, 1745.

[806] Letter to Colonel O’Bryan, 16th June, 1745, in _Stuart Papers_.

[807] Lettres et Mémoires du Maréchal de Saxe, Paris, 1794.

[808] Home’s _Rebellion_, p. 36.

[809] Letter to Colonel O’Bryan, 20th June, 1745, Appendix, No. II. See also Sempil’s letter to the Chevalier, Appendix, No. III.

[810] _Forbes Papers, or Jacobite Memoirs of the Rebellion of 1745_, edited by Dr. R. Chambers, p. 2.

[811] He was styled Duke of Athole by the Jacobites, from being the eldest son of the preceding duke. The marquis had been attainted for the share he took in the insurrection of 1715; and the title and estates were, in consequence of his attainder, now enjoyed by his immediate younger brother.

[812] _Forbes Papers_, note, p. 1.

[813] Kirkconnel MS.

[814] Kirkconnel MS. _Forbes Papers_, p. 7.

[815] _Forbes Papers_, p. 8.

[816] Kirkconnel MS. _Forbes Papers_, p. 9.

[817] Charles is said to have taken particular care of Sir Thomas Sheridan on this occasion. He “went to examine his bed, and to see that the sheets were well aired. The landlord observing him to search the bed so narrowly, and at the same time hearing him declare he would sit up all night, called out to him, and said, that it was so good a bed, and the sheets were so good, that a prince needed not be ashamed to lie on them. The prince not being accustomed to such fires in the middle of the room, and there being no other chimney than a hole in the roof, was almost choked, and was obliged to go often to the door for fresh air. This at last made the landlord, Angus Macdonald, call out, ‘What a plague is the matter with that fellow, that he can neither sit nor stand still, and neither keep within nor without doors?’”--_Jacobite Memoirs_, p. 11.

[818] Home’s _Rebellion_ (edition of 1802), p. 29.

[819] _Lockhart Papers_, vol. ii. p. 479.

[820] _Lockhart Papers_, vol. ii. p. 479.

[821] Kirkconnel MS.

[822] Home’s _Rebellion_, p. 29.

[823] Journal and Memoirs. _Lockhart Papers_, vol. ii. pp. 480-1.

[824] Maxwell of Kirkconnel.--“There are not wanting in Scotland many men to follow such examples: but Lochiel’s feeling was that of far the greater number. The Scots have often been reproached with a spirit of sordid gain. The truth is merely--and should it not be matter of praise?--that by their intelligence, their industry, their superior education, they will always, in whatever country, be singled out for employment, and rise high in the social scale. But when a contest lies between selfish security or advancement on one side, and generous impulse or deep-rooted conviction on the other; when danger and conscience beckon onward, and prudence alone calls back; let all history declare whether in any age or in any cause, as followers of Knox or of Montrose, as Cameronians or as Jacobites, the men--ay, and the women--of Scotland, have quailed from any degree of sacrifice or suffering! The very fact that Charles came helpless, obtained him the help of many. Moreover, Charles was now in the very centre of those tribes, which, ever since they were trained by Montrose, had continued firm and devoted adherents of the House of Stuart.”--Mahon’s _England_, vol. iii. p. 314.

[825] The following is part of a dialogue which took place between them. “Said Kinlochmoidart, ‘You’ll see the prince this night at my house.’ ‘What number of men has he brought along with him?’ ‘Only seven,’ said Kinlochmoidart. ‘What stock of money and arms has he brought with him then?’ said Mr. Hugh. ‘A very small stock of either,’ said Kinlochmoidart. ‘What generals or officers fit for commanding are with him?’ said Mr. Hugh. ‘None at all,’ replied Kinlochmoidart. Mr. Hugh said he did not like the expedition at all, and was afraid of the consequences. ‘I cannot help it,’ said Kinlochmoidart, ‘if the matter go wrong, then I’ll certainly be hanged, for I am engaged already.’”--_Jacobite Memoirs_, _note_, p. 18.

[826] _Lockhart Papers_, vol. ii. p. 481. Note to _Jacobite Memoirs_, p. 18.

[827] _Lockhart Papers_, vol. ii. p. 482.

[828] _Lockhart Papers_, vol. ii. p. 483.

[829] Idem.

[830] _Jacobite Memoirs_, p. 17.

[831] Home’s _Rebellion_, p. 42.

[832] A tribute to the memory of Lochiel, who died in 1748, appeared in the Scots Magazine of that year, part of which we quote:--

Mistaken as he was, the man was just,
Firm to his word, and faithful to his trust:
He bade not others go, himself to stay,
As is the pretty, prudent, modern way;
But, like a warrior, bravely drew his sword,
And rear’d his target for his native lord.
Humane he was, protected countries tell;
So rude an host was never rul’d so well.
Fatal to him, and to the cause he lov’d,
Was the rash tumult which his folly mov’d;
Compell’d, by hard necessity to bear,
In _Gallia’s_ bands, a mercenary spear!
But heav’n in pity to his honest heart,
Resolv’d to snatch him from so poor a part
The mighty mandate unto death was given,
And good LOCHIEL is now a Whig in heaven.

[833] Letter from Lochiel under the signature of “Dan,” Feb. 22d, 1745, in _Stuart Papers_.

[834] Home, p. 43.

[835] As an inducement to favour his restoration, the Chevalier de St. George promised to ennoble a considerable number of his friends. Patents of nobility were accordingly made out and signed in favour of all the Jacobite chiefs and other leading supporters of the cause. See letter from the Chevalier to the prince, 7th Nov., 1747, in _Stuart Papers_.

[836] Home, p. 46.--Kirkconnel MS.--Tour in the Highlands. Lond., 1819.

[837] A monument was erected by the late Alexander M’Donald of Glenalladale, on the spot where the standard was unfurled; it bears the following inscription in Latin, Gaelic, and English:--“On this spot, where Prince Charles Edward first raised his standard, on the 19th day of August, 1745; when he made the daring and romantic attempt to recover a throne lost by the imprudence of his ancestors; this column is erected by Alexander M’Donald, Esq. of Glenalladale, to commemorate the generous zeal, the undaunted bravery, and the inviolable fidelity of his forefathers, and the rest of those who fought and bled in that arduous and unfortunate enterprise.”

[838] Jacobite Memoirs, p. 24.

[839] See extract Letter from the Chevalier to O’Bryan, 16 August, 1745, in _Stuart Papers_.

[840] Writing to O’Bryan, he says, (11 August, 1745,) “Je vous avoue que ma surprise et mon agitation étoient grandes en apprennant cette nouvelle.”--_Stuart Papers._

[841] _Stuart Papers._

[842] “J’ai, (says the Chevalier to O’Bryan, 16th Aug. 1745,) envoyé la semaine passée 200,000 francs à Paris pour payer ce que le Prince avait emprunté avant que de partir, et j’espère en cas de besoin pouvoir lever quelque argent sur quelques petits fonds qui me restent icy, et sur les pierreries du Prince même, mais tout cela n’ira pas fort loin, et a moins que la France ne la secours largement, je ne sçai ce que arrivera.”--_Stuart Papers._