ARRIVAL ON THE SCOTTISH COAST.

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uncle, and principal adviser, Macdonald of Boisdale, was then not far distant in South Uist. A summons from Charles brought Boisdale on board the Doutelle the next morning. But his expressions were not encouraging. He remonstrated with Charles against his enterprise, which he said was rash to the verge of insanity; and added, that if his nephew followed his advice he would take no part in it. In vain did Charles exert all his powers of persuasion: the old man remained inflexible, and went back to his isle in a boat, while Charles pursued his voyage to the mainland.

Arriving at this, Charles entered the bay of Lochnanuagh in Invernesshire, between Moidart and Arisaig. He immediately sent a messenger to Clanranald, who came to him on board, attended by several of his tribe, especially Macdonald of Kinloch Moidart. To them Charles addressed the same arguments as he had to Boisdale, imploring them to assist their Prince and their countryman, at his utmost need. In reply they urged, like Boisdale, that to take arms without concert or support could end in nothing but ruin. Charles persisted, argued, and implored. During the conversation they walked to and fro upon the deck; while a Highlander stood near them, armed at all points, as was then the custom of the country; he was a younger brother of Kinloch Moidart, and had come to the ship without knowing who was on board it; but when he gathered from the discourse that the stranger was the Prince of Wales, and when he heard his chief and his brother refuse to take arms with their rightful sovereign, as they believed him, his colour went and came, his eyes sparkled, he shifted his place, and instinctively grasped his sword. Charles observed his agitation, and with great skill availed himself of it. Turning suddenly towards him, he called out: "Will you, at least, not assist me?"-"I will! I will!" cried Ranald. "Though no other man in the Highlands "should draw a sword, I am ready to die for you!". Charles eagerly expressed his thanks to the warm-hearted young man, saying he only wished that all the Highlanders were like him. But, in very truth, they were like him. Catching his enthusiasm, and spurning all further deliberations, the two Macdonalds declared that

they also would join, and use every exertion to engage their countrymen.* *

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During this scene, the other kinsmen of Clanranald had remained with Charles's attendants in a tent, that had been pitched at the opposite end of the deck. One of these Macdonalds has left a journal, in which Charles's appearance is described: "There entered the tent a tall 66 youth of a most agreeable aspect, in a plain black coat, "with a plain shirt not very clean, and a cambrick stock "fixed with a plain silver buckle, a fair round wig out of "the buckle, a plain hat with a canvass string, having 66 one end fixed to one of his coat buttons: he had black stockings and brass buckles in his shoes. At his "first appearance I found my heart swell to my very "throat. But we were immediately told that this youth was an English clergyman, who had long been pos"sessed with a desire to see and converse with High"landers." It is remarkable that among these Macdonalds- the foremost to join Charles-was the father of Marshal Macdonald, Duke de Tarento, long afterwards raised to these honours by his merit in the French Revolutionary wars, and not more distinguished for courage and capacity than for integrity and honour.

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Charles, being now sure of some support, landed a few days afterwards, on the memorable 25th of July, Old Style, in Lochnanuagh, and was conducted to Borodale, a neighbouring farm-house belonging to Clanranald. Seven persons came on shore with him, namely the Marquis of Tullibardine, who, but for the attainder of 1716, would have been Duke of Athol, and was always called so by the Jacobites-Sir Thomas Sheridan, who had been tutor to Charles-Sir John Macdonald, an officer in the Spanish service-Kelly, a non-juring clergyman, the same who had taken part in Atterbury's plot-Francis Strickland, an English gentleman-Eneas Macdonald, a banker in Paris, and brother of Kinloch Moidart-and Buchanan, the messenger formerly sent to Rome by Cardinal Tencin. These were afterwards designated as the "Seven Men of Moidart;" and the subsequent fate of

* Home's History, p. 39.

† Macdonald's Journal; Lockhart Papers, vol. ii. p. 480.

LANDING IN SCOTLAND.

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each has been explored by the Jacobites with mournful curiosity.*

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The first step of Charles was to send letters to such Highland chiefs as he knew, or hoped to be, his friends, especially to Cameron of Lochiel, Sir Alexander Macdonald, and Mac Leod. Lochiel immediately obeyed the summons; but he came convinced of the rashness, nay, madness of the enterprise, and determined to urge Charles to desist from it and return to France till a more favourable opportunity. On his way to Borodale he called upon his brother, Cameron of Fassefern, who concurred in his opinion, but advised him rather to impart it to the Prince by letter. "I know you," said Fassefern, "better than you know yourself. If this Prince once sets his eyes upon you, he will make you do whatever he pleases." † Lochiel, however, persevered in going on; he saw Charles, and for a long while stood firm against both argument and entreaty. At length, the young adventurer tried one final appeal to his feelings: "I am resolved," he exclaimed, "to put all to the hazard. In a few days "I will erect the Royal Standard, and proclaim to the people of Britain, that Charles Stuart is come over to "claim the Crown of his ancestors, or perish in the attempt. Lochiel, who, my father has often told me, was our firmest friend, may stay at home, and learn "from the newspapers the fate of his Prince!" At these glowing words, the sturdy determination of the Chief dissolved like Highland snow before the summer sun. "Not so," he replied, much affected; "I will share the fate of my Prince whatever it be, and so shall every man, over "whom nature or fortune has given me any power.' Such, observes Mr. Home, was the singular conversation, on the result of which depended peace or war; for it is a point agreed among the Highlanders, that if Lochiel had persisted in his refusal to take arms, the other chiefs would not have joined the Standard without him, and the spark of rebellion must have instantly expired.

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The answer of Sir Alexander Macdonald and Mac Leod, removed as these were from the fascination of

*See Jacobite Memoirs, p. 3.

+ Communicated, in 1781, by Fassefern himself to Mr. Home. (History, p. 44.)

Charles's presence was far less favourable. These two chiefs perhaps the most powerful in the Highlands, could each have raised from 1200 to 1500 followers. They were then together in the Isle of Skye, where Clanranald had gone in person to urge them. But they alleged, as they might with truth, that their former promise of joining Charles was entirely contingent on his bringing over auxiliaries and supplies, and they also pleaded, as an additional motive for delay, that a great number of their men resided in the distant islands. Their object being to wait for events, and to side with the victorious, they professed zeal to both parties, but gave assistance to neither: thus, for instance, they wrote to the Government to communicate Charles's arrival in Scotland; but prudently postponed their news till nine days from his landing."

There were 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. They believed him their rightful Prince; and the more destitute that Prince, the more they were bound in loyalty to aid him. Foreign forces, which would have diminished the danger, would also have diminished the duty, and placed him in the light of a hostile invader rather than of

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*See Mac Leod's letter in the Culloden Papers, p. 203. He says in the postscript, "Young Clanranald has been here with us, and has given us all possible assurances of his prudence!" In another letter of August 17. Mac Leod adds, "In my opinion it would be a very wrong step to draw many of the troops to Scotland, as there can be but little danger here!"

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THE HIGHLAND CLANS.

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a native sovereign. Moreover, Charles was now in the very centre of those tribes, which ever since they were trained by Montrose-such is the stamp that great spirits can imprint upon posterity!-had continued firm and devoted adherents of the House of Stuart. Macdonald of Keppoch, Macdonald of Glengarry, and many other gentlemen, sent or came with warm assurances of service, and after a hasty visit, went off again to collect their men; the 19th of August being fixed for the raising of the Standard and the muster of the forces. Charles, meanwhile, displayed great skill in gaining the affections of the Highlanders around his person: he adopted their national dress, and consulted their national customs, and soon learnt some words of Gaelic, which he used on public occasions*, while all those who conversed with him in English, felt the influence of his fascinating manners. Having disembarked his scanty treasure and arms from the Doutelle, he employed himself in distributing the latter amongst those who seemed best able to serve him. The ship itself he sent back to France with an account of his landing. He paid a farewell visit to Mr. Walsh on board, and gave him a letter to James, at Rome, entreating that in reward for his service he should receive the patent of an Irish Earldom. † By the same opportunity he informed his father of his progress: "I am joined "here by brave people, as I expected: as I have not yet "set up the Standard I cannot tell the number; ... "but whatever happens, we shall gain an immortal honour by doing what we can to deliver our country in re"storing our Master, or perish sword in hand."‡

From Borodale, Charles proceeded in a few days by water to Kinloch Moidart, a better house, belonging to the chief of that name, and about seven miles further. There he remained till the raising of his Standard. There also he was joined by Murray of Broughton, who had hastened from his seat in the south, at Charles's summons, having first performed the perilous duty of having the

* See Macdonald's Journal, Lockhart Papers, vol. ii. p. 482. † Prince Charles to his father, August 2. 1745. Appendix. I believe that the honour was accordingly conferred, and I was formerly acquainted at Baden with Count Walsh, who was, as I understood, the descendant and representative of this gentleman.

Letter, August 4. 1745. Appendix.