could not help observing that they were a proper set of ragamuffins with which to propose to overturn an established government.* On the whole, they wanted that regularity and uniformity of appearance, which, in our eye, distinguishes regular soldiers from banditti; and their variety of weapons, fierceness of aspect, and sinewy limbs, combined with a martial look and air proper to a people whose occupation was arms, gave them a peculiarly wild and barbarous appearance.

The Prince had been joined by many persons of consequence since he reached Lothian. Lord Elcho has already been mentioned. He was a man of high spirit and sound sense, but no Jacobite in the bigoted sense of the word; that is, no devoted slave to the doctrines of hereditary right or passive obedience. He brought with him five hundred pounds on the part of his father, Lord Wemyss, who was too old to take the field in person. This was an acceptable gift in the state of the Prince's finances. Sir Robert Thriepland had also joined him as he approached Edinburgh; and by the private information which he brought from his friends in that city, had determined him to persevere in the attack which proved so successful.

The Earl of Kelly, Lord Balmerino, Lockhart, the younger of Carnwath, Graham, younger of Airth, Rollo, younger of Powburn, Hamilton of Bangour, a poet of considerable merit, Sir David Murray, and other gentlemen of distinction, had also joined the standard.

Amongst these, James Hepburn of Keith, son of that Robert Hepburn respecting whose family a remarkable

My friend, who was the Jonathan Oldbuck of the Antiquary, made his observation rather at an ill-chosen place and time, in consequence of which he was nearly brought to trouble. - S.

HEPBURN OF KEITH.

53

anecdote is mentioned at pages 85, 86 of the fifth volume, and whose escape from Newgate is narrated at pages 172, 173 of the same volume, distinguished himself by the manner in which he devoted himself to the cause of Charles Edward. As the Prince entered the door of the palace of Holyrood, this gentleman stepped from the crowd, bent his knee before him in testimony of homage, and, rising up, drew his sword, and, walking before him, marshalled him the way into the palace of his ancestors. Hepburn bore the highest character as the model of a true Scottish gentleman. He, like Lord Elcho, disclaimed the slavish principles of the violent Jacobites; but conceiving his country wronged, and the gentry of Scotland degraded, by the Union, he, in this romantic manner, dedicated his sword to the service of the Prince who offered to restore him to his rights. Mr. John Home, whose heart sympathized with acts of generous devotion, from whatever source they flowed, feelingly observes, that "the best Whigs regretted that this accomplished gentleman - the model of ancient simplicity, manliness, and honor should sacrifice himself to a visionary idea of the independence of Scotland."* I am

"John Home's profession as a Presbyterian clergyman, his political opinions, and those of his family, decided the cause which he was to espouse, and he became one of the most active and eager members of a corps of volunteers, formed for the purpose of defending Edinburgh against the expected assault of the Highlanders. Under less strong influence of education and profession, which was indeed irresistible, it is possible he might have made a less happy option; for the feeling, the adventure, the romance, the poetry, all that was likely to interest the imagination of a youthful poet, - all, in short, save the common sense, prudence, and sound reason of the national dispute, must be allowed to have lain on the side of the Jacobites. Indeed, although mortally engaged against them, Mr. Home could not, in the latter part of his life, refrain from tears when mentioning the gallantry

enabled to add, that, after having impaired his fortune, and endangered his life repeatedly, in this ill-fated cause, Mr. Hepburn became convinced that, in the words of Scripture, he had labored a vain thing. He repeatedly said in his family circle, that had he known, as the after progress of the expedition showed him, that a very great majority of the nation were satisfied with the existing government, he would never have drawn sword against his fellow-subjects, or aided to raise a civil war, merely to replace the Stewart dynasty.*

and misfortunes of some of the unfortunate leaders in the Highland army; and we have ourselves seen his feelings and principles divide him strangely when he came to speak upon such topics."- Review of Home's Life, Prose Works, vol. xix. pp. 290, 291.

* A hereditary intimacy with the late Lieutenant-Colonel Hepburn (son of Mr. Hepburn of Keith), and the friendship of the members of his surviving family, enable me to make this assertion. No doubt there were many of the more liberal and intelligent Jacobites who entertained similar sentiments, and conceived that in furthering the cause of the Prince they were asserting the rights of the country.

1

PROCLAMATION OF JAMES VIII.

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CHAPTER LXXVIII.

PROCLAMATION OF JAMES VIII. AT THE CROSS OF EDINBURGH SUPPLIES RAISED FROM THE CITY BY PRINCE CHARLES-LANDING OF COPE'S ARMY AT DUNBAR-THE PRINCE LEAVES EDINBURGH WITH THE PURPOSE OF ENGAGING HIM — BATTLE OF PRESTON-TOTAL ROUT OF COPE'S ARMY - NUMBER of Killed ON BOTH SIDES.

[1745.]

At

THE possession of Edinburgh threw a gleam of splendor upon Charles Edward's fortunes, but can scarcely be said to have produced very important consequences. King James VIII. was proclaimed at the Cross. this ceremony the heralds and pursuivants were obliged to assist in their official dresses, and the magistrates in their robes. A great multitude attended on this occasion, and made the city ring with their acclamations. The gunners of the Castle were disposed to give a different turn to this mirth, by throwing a bomb, so calculated as to alight near the Cross, and interrupt the ceremonial. Fortunately this act of violence, which might have endangered the lives of many of King George's good subjects, whom mere curiosity had drawn to the spot, was prohibited by General Guest.

At night there was a splendid ball at Holyrood, where might be seen a great display both of rank and beauty, the relatives of the gentlemen who were in arms. But it was a remarkable and ominous circumstance, that of

the common people, who by thousands crowded round the Prince's person when he went abroad, pressing to kiss his hands and touch his clothes, with every display of affection, scarcely one could be induced to enlist in his service. The reflection that a battle must take place betwixt Prince Charles and General Cope in the course of a very few days, was to the populace of a large city a sufficient check upon their party zeal.

One of the most solid advantages which the Prince obtained by his possession of the city, beside the encouragement which his adherents received from such a signal proof of success, was the acquisition of about a thousand muskets, in indifferent condition, being the arms of the trained bands, which were lodged in the city magazine. These served to arm many of his followers, but still some remained unprovided with weapons. Charles also laid upon the city a military requisition for a thousand tents, two thousand targets, six thousand pairs of shoes, and six thousand canteens. The magistrates had no alternative but to acquiesce, and employ workmen to get ready the articles demanded.

Upon the 18th of September, the day after the occupation of Edinburgh, Lord Nairne came up from the North, and joined the Highland camp with a thousand men, consisting of Highlanders from Athole, together with the chief of MacLauchlan and his followers. The Prince visited his camp, and passed in review, at the same time with the rest of his forces, these new associates of his enterprise.*

"Sir John Cope asked what sort of appearance the Highlanders made, and how they were armed. The volunteer (i. e. Home himself) answered, that most of them seemed to be strong, active, and hardy men; that many of them were of a very ordinary size, and, if clothed