1747]

MR. SECRETARY MURRAY

245

To Mr. SECRETARY MURRAY, on his turning evidence. By the Rev. Mr. THOMAS DRUMMOND, Edinburgh, 1747.

Quantum mutatus ab illo.

To all that Virtue's holy ties can boast,
To truth and honour and to manhood lost,
How hast thou wand'red from the sacred road,
The paths of honesty, the pole to God?
O fallen fallen from the high degree
Of spotless fame and pure integrity!
Where all that gallantry that fill'd your breast,
The pride of sentiment, the thought profest,
Th' unbiass'd principle, the gen'rous strain
That warm'd your blood, and beat in ev'ry vein ?
All! all are fled! Once honest, steady, brave,
How great the change-to coward, traitor, knave!
O! hateful love of life that prompts the mind,
The godlike, great and good, to leave behind;
From wisdom's laws, from honour's glorious plan,
From all on earth that dignifies the man,
With steps unhallow'd wickedly to stray
And trust and friendship's holy bands betray.
Curs'd fear of death, whose bugbear terrors fright
Th' unmanly breast from suff'ring in the right
That strikes the man from th' elevated state,
From ev'ry character and name of great,
And throws him down beneath the vile degree
Of galley'd slaves, or dungeon villainy.

O MURRAY! MURRAY! once of truth approv'd,
Your Prince's darling, by his party lov'd;
When all were fond your worth and fame to raise,
And expectation spoke your future praise.

How could you sell that Prince, that cause, that fame,

For life enchain'd to infamy and shame?

fol. 412.

fol. 413.

See gallant ARTHUR,1 whose undaunted soul
No dangers frighten, and no fears controul;
With unconcern the ax and block surveys,
And smiles at all the dreadful scene displays;
While undisturb'd his thoughts so steddy keep
He goes to death, as others go to sleep.
Gay midst their gibbets and devouring fire
What numbers hardy in the cause expire!
But what are these to thee? examples vain.
Yet see, and blush, if still the pow'r remain.
Behold the menial hand,2 that broke your bread,
That wiped your shoes, and with your crumbs was fed ;
When life and riches proffer'd to his view

Before his eyes the strong temptation threw,
Rather than quit integrity of heart,

Or act like you the unmanly traitor's part,
Disdains the purchase of a worthless life,
And bares his bosom to the butch'ring knife;
Each mean compliance gallantly denies,
And in mute honesty is brave and dies.
While you, tho' tutor'd from your early youth
To all the principles of steddy truth;
Tho' station, birth, and character conspire
To kindle in your breast the manly fire;
Friends, reputation, conscience, all disclaim.
To glory lost, and sunk in endless shame,
For the dull privilege to breathe the air,
For everlasting infamy declare,

And down to late posterity record

A name that's curs'd, abandon'd, and abhorr❜d.

1 Lord Balmerino.

2 John MacNaughton, one of Murray's servants who, when he was upon the sledge, was offered his life and £30 or £40 sterling per annum during life, provided he would turn evidence. He answered that they had done him much honour in ranking him with gentlemen, and he hoped to let the world see he would suffer like a gentleman. He suffered at Carlisle, October 18th, 1746, in company with the Rev. Mr. Coppoch, Arnprior, Kinlochmoidart, Major MacDonell, etc. ROBERT FORBES, A.M.

1747]

MR. MURRAY OF BROUGHTON

Go, wretch! enjoy the purchase you have gain'd.

Scorn and reproach your ev'ry step attend.
By all mankind neglected and forgot
Retire to solitude, retire and rot.

But whither? whither can the guilty fly
From the devouring worms that never die;

Those inward stings that rack the villain's breast,
Haunt his lone hours and break his tortur'd rest?
Midst caves, midst rocks and deserts you may find
A safe retreat for all the human kind.

But to what foreign region can you run,
Your greatest enemy, yourself, to shun?
Where'er thou go'st, wild anguish and despair
And black remorse attend with hideous stare;
Tear your distracted soul with torments fell,
Your passions devils, and your bosom hell.

Thus may you drag your heavy chain along,
Some minutes more inglorious life prolong.
And when the fates shall cut a coward's breath,
Weary of being, yet afraid of death;

If crimes like thine hereafter are forgiv'n,
JUDAS and MURRAY both may go to Heav'n.

247

fol. 414.

Satan transformed into an Angel of Light, or copy of a Letter from Mr. EVIDENCE MURRAY, to his nephew, SIR DAVID MURRAY, of seventeen or eighteen years of age, in jayl in the city of fol. 415. York, 1747.

THE pleasure it gave me to hear that the king had been graciously pleased to grant you a reprieve, was far greater than the world could perhaps be willing to imagine for one in my situation, as mankind is most apt to be concerned about their own misfortunes. As I look upon it as my duty to give you the best advice in my power, I would not fail to lay hold on the liberty granted me to observe some few things which I hope may be of service to you, when I may not have an opportunity to advise you by word of mouth.

I must first observe that the grace shown you must have proceeded entirely from a greatness of soul and a compassion of your youth, as it was not in the least in your power to atone for the offence. I know that you are brave, and I have no doubt but you are generous, the latter being ever looked upon as a concomitant of the former. Gratitude has always fol. 416. been esteemed one of the greatest virtues, and its opposite regarded in so vile a light that the antient Spartans punished it with death. Don't allow yourself to be too much elevated, but consider coolly on the uneasiness you have felt, and thereby judge of the favour you have received.

I hear there are zealots in the world who would willingly make mankind believe that they act from principle alone, and even would wish to die martyrs for their cause; and their lofty notions are ready to gain even on those of riper years. But be assured that at the bottom it is self-interest prevails. They only intend to promote their own ambitious views without the least regard to the welfare and happiness of others. Pull off their mask and they appear in their native dress. Some such you may meet with. But always remember the story of the cat and the monkey; for depend upon it, when your hands are fol. 417. in the fire they will hug themselves on being safe. That there ever have been such men is past dispute, and had there been none such, that you and I would not have been in our present situation is as undeniable. I shall now say a little to what I know is a tender point, but nevertheless may be gently touch'd.1

There are a certain set of men who can confine salvation to their Church alone; but though I am no divine I cannot help thinking it absurd to imagine that God Almighty made mankind to damn nine out of ten, which must be the case, if their maxim holds true. Our blessed Saviour died for both Jew and Gentile. But I will not insist upon the subject, as you may guess my meaning, and I hope will not fail to consider seriously of it. I could, and indeed I incline to say a good ful. 418. deal more, but that I don't care to crowd too many thoughts upon you all at once, so shall only further assure you that I am sincerely, A PRODIGY OF WICKEDNESS.

1 Sir David Murray was bred Popish.

1745] SUMMONS TO EDINBURGH BY CHARLES 249

1745

COPY of the PRINCE'S SUMMONS to the City of Edin- 16 Sept. burgh to surrender. Directed to the Lord Provost, Magistrates, and Town Council of Edinburgh.

BEING now in a condition to make our way into this capital of his Majesty's ancient kingdom of Scotland, we hereby summon you to receive us, as you are in duty bound to do. And in order to it we hereby require you upon receipt of this to summon the Town Council and take proper measures in it for securing the peace and quiet of the city, which we are very desirous to protect. But if you suffer any of the Usurper's troops to enter the town, or any of the canon, arms, or amunition now in it, whether belonging to the publick or to private persons, to be carried off, we shall take it as a breach of your duty and a heinous offence against the king and us, and shall fol. 419. resent it accordingly. We promise to preserve all the rights and liberties of the city, and the particular property of every one of his Majesty's subjects. But if any opposition be made to us we cannot answer for the consequences, being firmly resolved at any rate to enter the city, and in that case, if any of the inhabitants are found in arms against us, they must not expect to be treated as prisoners of war.

(Signed) CHARLES, PRINCE REGENT.

From our Camp, 16th September 1745.

1745

Upon the magistrates receiving the above, the inhabitants 16 Sept. were called together and almost unanimously agreed to surrender the town, and sent deputies out to the Prince to treat with him, viz., Baillies Gavin Hamilton, John Yetts, and David Inglis, and James Norrie, Deacon Convener, to whom the Prince caused deliver the following answer.

His royal Highness the Prince Regent thinks his Manifesto and the King, his father's, Declaration, already published, are a sufficient capitulation for all his Majesty's subjects to accept fol. 420.