The companions of Pickle: Being a sequel to 'Pickle the spy'Lang, Andrew
History
The companions of Pickle: Being a sequel to 'Pickle the spy'
Lang, Andrew
Jacobites
P.S. Pray let me not be denied the Arms I wanted, and I hope
in case of accidents, you’ll take care of young Lochgary. I
am just this instant informed that _Mr. Nordly_ has left the
King of France for the summer season, and is residing now in
England, but can’t learn in what particular place—_21_ is
supposed to be the Watchman: whose letter will explain what he
hints of Lochgary.
_Mr. Nordly_ is not deciphered yet.
(Copy of Pickle’s letter to G. V. (Gwynne Vaughan) deciphered. R. Oct.
16th, 1754.)
II.—_MACLEOD_
‘The Rebels had an implacable Illwill and Malice against Him (Macleod) as
they alledged, and many of them believed, that he not only deserted, but
betrayed their Cause: what truth there is in this I will not take upon
me to determine.’ So says the writer of the MS. 104, ‘The Highlands of
Scotland in 1750.’
‘Surely never did man so basely betray as did Macleod, whom I shall leave
for the present to the racks and tortures of a guilty conscience, and
the just and severe judgement of every good man.’ Thus writes Murray of
Broughton, after narrating how Macleod gave a written promise to aid
Prince Charles whenever he landed. What he _did_ was to send information
to Forbes of Culloden, ‘it is certain that the pretended Prince of Wales
is come into the coast of South Uist and Barra.’ He begs that his name
as informant may be kept secret.[205]
Macleod can thus avoid the charge of betraying the Cause, only by
disproof of Murray’s allegation that he gave a written promise to rise.
But this allegation is confirmed by family tradition. ‘Miss Macleod
of Macleod, Dunvegan Castle, remembers having seen in the family
charter-chest an interesting correspondence between His Royal Highness
and Macleod, in which Norman “invited the Prince to come over, several
months before he arrived,” but the letters have since disappeared, and
the family knows nothing as to where they have gone to.’[206]
On the showing of Miss Macleod, as reported by Mr. Mackenzie, in the
passage just cited, Murray might well cry ‘never did man betray so basely
as did Macleod.’ Despite his written promise to Prince Charles, Macleod
was the first to send information against ‘the pretended Prince of
Wales.’ After Prestonpans, ‘it would appear,’ writes Mr. Mackenzie, ‘that
Macleod was taking lessons in duplicity from Simon,’ Lord Lovat. Macleod
scarcely needed instruction in treachery; but, if Mr. Mackenzie is right,
he now meant to send Young Macleod with the clan to join the Prince,
while he stayed at home, and said that he could not help it.[207] This
domestic arrangement was not carried into effect.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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