The Lyon in Mourning, Vol. 1: or a collection of speeches, letters, journals, etc. relative to the affairs of Prince Charles Edward StuartForbes, Robert
History
The Lyon in Mourning, Vol. 1: or a collection of speeches, letters, journals, etc. relative to the affairs of Prince Charles Edward Stuart
Forbes, Robert
Charles Edward, Prince, grandson of James II, King of England, 1720-1788; Jacobite Rebellion, 1745-1746 -- Sources
Captain Thomson did not stop
here, but like one of generosity and compassion, went directly to
the Solicitor-General [Sidenote: _fol._ 104.] and laid before him
the case of Mr. Buchanan, requesting him to consider it and to
allow the gentleman a more easy and comfortable confinement. The
Solicitor-General told him he knew there were more Buchanans than
one among the prisoners, and therefore he desired to know what Mr.
Buchanan he meant; and then asked if he knew his Christian name,
and whether or not he had a designation. Captain Thomson answered
that he did not know Mr. Buchanan's Christian name, that though
he was sure he had a designation he had forgot it. Upon this the
Solicitor-General pull'd a list of names out of his pocket, and after
looking it over asked the Captain if Mr. Francis Buchanan of Arnprior
was the person whose case he had been representing. 'That same is the
gentleman,' replied the Captain. 'Then,' says the Solicitor-General,
[Sidenote: _fol._ 105.] 'pray, Sir, give yourself no more trouble
about that gentleman. I shall take care of him. I have particular
orders about him, for HE MUST SUFFER!' This unaccountable speech
from such a mouth about one neither convicted nor tried surpriz'd
the Captain not a little and made him walk off without insisting any
more, to tell Arnprior the result of what had pass'd, in the softest
manner he could.
This narrative was given by Lieutenant Archibald Campbell, after the
execution of Arnprior, to several persons in Edinburgh, particularly
to the Rev. Mr. Thomas Drummond.
When Arnprior was brought to a trial not a single overt act was
prov'd against him. An unsubscrib'd letter was produced in the Court
which had been intercepted in going to the Highland army, and several
persons, particularly Commissary [Sidenote: _fol._ 106.] Finlayson
in Stirling, gave their affidavits that it was the hand-writ of
Mr. Francis Buchanan of Arnprior. Upon this the jury without any
hesitation or scruple brought him in guilty. After sentence of death
was pronounced against him so little did people imagine that he would
suffer that he was prevail'd upon to send off an express to London
in order to give a true and exact representation of his case, not
doubting but that this would be sufficient to obtain a reprieve from
a verdict and sentence pronounced upon such slight grounds, but all
to no purpose. To destruction was he destin'd by his enemies, and
accordingly suffer'd death at Carlisle in company with the Revd. Mr.
Thomas Coppoch, Macdonald of Kinlochmoidart, Major Donald MacDonell,
etc., etc., etc.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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