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
The two officers who, I told, went to Lochiel with the Doctor, came
from Dunkirk in a small vessel with sixty other young gentlemen, who
had formed themselves in a company of volunteers under the command
of the foresaid two officers, some time before they could hear of
the battle of Culloden. They came in June to Polliew in Seaforth's
country, where four of them landed to deliver their dispatches,
of whom two were taken; and the other two wandered in Seaforth's
country till Lochgarie, hearing they had letters for the Prince,
sent [Sidenote: _fol._ 176.] Captain MacRaw and his own servant
for them, that they might be sent to Lochiel, since the Prince was
not to be found. This happen'd about the middle of July. When they
came to Lochiel they told him they had left their papers with Mr.
Alexander MacLeod, one of the Prince's aid de camps, then skulking
in Seaforth's country. Tho' this prov'd true, yet as they themselves
had not told it to Lochgary or any other, made him (Lochiel) suspect
them to be Government spies. The Prince wanted much to see them.
But we told him what Lochiel and we were afraid of, which made
him resolve to act in this with greater caution. He said it was
surprizing that two men, strangers, and without one word of Earse,
could escape from the troops, who were always in motion in quest of
him and his followers. But to see them in safety, he wrote a letter
to them himself to this purpose,--that to avoid falling into the
hands of his enemies he was under a necessity to retire to a remote
country where he had none with him but one, Captain Drummond, and a
servant, and as he could not remove from where he was without danger
to himself and them, he had sent Captain Drummond with this letter;
and as he could repose entire confidence in him, desired whatever
message they had to him, to tell it to the bearer, Captain Drummond,
and take his advice as to their conduct. This letter he proposed to
deliver to them himself under the name of Captain Drummond, for both
of them told Lochiel they had never seen the Prince. They were sent
for, and when they came, were introduced to the Prince under his
borrowed name. He delivered the letter to them with which they were
very well pleased, and told him everything they had to say, which he
afterwards said was of [Sidenote: _fol._ 177.] no great consequence
as his affairs then stood. They continued two days with us, asked
the fictitious Captain Drummond several questions about the Prince's
health and manner of living. His answers they heard with the utmost
surprize. The Prince, believing the pacquet left with Mr. Alexander
MacLeod might be of use to him, sent for it; but as it was cyphers
and directed to the French ambassador, he could make nothing of it.
[Sidenote: 10 Aug.]
[Sidenote: 11 Aug.]
[Sidenote: 13 Aug.]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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