Waverley; or, 'Tis sixty years since — Volume 2Scott, Walter
History
Waverley; or, 'Tis sixty years since — Volume 2
Scott, Walter
Historical fiction; Jacobite Rebellion, 1745-1746 -- Fiction; Scotland -- History -- 18th century -- Fiction
That Charles Edward had the advantages of a graceful presence,
courtesy, and an address and manner becoming his station, the
author never heard disputed by any who approached his person, nor
does he conceive that these qualities are overcharged in the
present attempt to sketch his portrait.
The following extracts corroborative of the general opinion
respecting the Prince's amiable disposition are taken from a
manuscript account of his romantic expedition, by James Maxwell of
Kirkconnell, of which I possess a copy, by the friendship of J.
Menzies, Esq., of Pitfoddells. The author, though partial to the
Prince, whom he faithfully followed, seems to have been a fair and
candid man, and well acquainted with the intrigues among the
adventurer's council:--
'Everybody was mightily taken with the Prince's figure and
personal behaviour. There was but one voice about them. Those whom
interest or prejudice made a runaway to his cause could not help
acknowledging that they wished him well in all other respects, and
could hardly blame him for his present undertaking. Sundry things
had concurred to raise his character to the highest pitch, besides
the greatness of the enterprise and the conduct that had hitherto
appeared in the execution of it.
'There were several instances of good nature and humanity that had
made a great impression on people's minds. I shall confine myself
to two or three.
'Immediately after the battle, as the Prince was riding along the
ground that Cope's army had occupied a few minutes before, one of
the officers came up to congratulate him, and said, pointing to
the killed, "Sir, there are your enemies at your feet." The
Prince, far from exulting, expressed a great deal of compassion
for his father's deluded subjects, whom he declared he was
heartily sorry to see in that posture.
'Next day, while the Prince was at Pinkie House, a citizen of
Edinburgh came to make some representation to Secretary Murray
about the tents that city was ordered to furnish against a certain
day. Murray happened to be out of the way, which the Prince
hearing of called to have the gentleman brought to him, saying, he
would rather despatch the business, whatever it was, himself than
have the gentleman wait, which he did, by granting everything that
was asked. So much affability in a young prince flushed with
victory drew encomiums even from his enemies.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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