Though foiled in his attempt upon Boisdale, the young adventurer resolved to repeat the same experiment upon his nephew, and accordingly he immediately sent a boat on shore with a letter to young Clanranald; Æneas Macdonald also went on shore to bring off Kinlochmoidart, his brother. Kinlochmoidart came on board immediately, and after a short interview with the Prince, was despatched with letters to Lochiel, the duke of Perth, Murray of Broughton and others.*

Next day young Clanranald, accompanied by his kinsmen, Alexander Macdonald of Glenaladale, Æneas Macdonald of Dalily and the author of a journal and memoirs of the expedition,† came to Forsy, a small village opposite to the Doutelle's anchorage ground. They called for the ship's boat, and were immediately carried on board. The feelings of the party on getting upon deck are thus described by the writer alluded to. "Our hearts were overjoyed to find ourselves so near our long-wished-for P-ce; we found a large tent erected with poles on the ship's deck, covered and well furnished with variety of wines and spirits. As we entered this pavilion we were most cheerfully welcom'd by the duke of Athole, to whom some of us had been known in the year seventeen hundred and fifteen. While the Duke was talking with us, Clanranald was a-missing, and had, as we understood, been called into the P-ce's cabin, nor did we look for the honour of seeing His R. H. at least for that night."

Of the conversation which took place between the Prince and young Clanranald during the three hours they were closeted together, no account was ever given; but it is probable that if the latter stated any objections against the enterprise, they had been overcome before he rejoined his companions, as no allusion is made by the writer just quoted, to any unwillingness on the part of the young chieftain to join the Prince. Maxwell of Kirkconnel, who mentions the refusal of Boisdale, says, that young Clanranald frankly offered his services to the Prince, a statement which, from the ardent and romantic attachment for the Stuarts with which that young chieftain was inspired, seems to approximate nearer the truth than that of Home who classes Kinlochmoidart and young Clanranald together, as joining in a positive refusal to take up arms.

According to Home, young Clanranald and Kinlochmoidart came on board together, and were addressed, with great emotion, by Charles, who had been almost reduced to despair by his interview with Boisdale. • Kirkconnel MS.

+ Lockhart Papers, vol. ii. p. 479.
Kirkconnel MS.

+ Lockhart Papers, vol. ii. p. 479. It is certain that Kinlochmoidart was not present. He is not even alluded to by the author of the Journal and Memoirs, one of the persons who accompanied young Clanranald on board. Kinlochmoidart, having agreed to join the Prince, had been despatched the previous evening with letters to Lochiel and others, (Kirkconnel MS.) The fact of Kinlochmoidart being "the first who joined the royal cause in 1745,” is mentioned in an account of the family of Kinlochmoidart, among the Stuart Papers, drawn up by his brother John, and transmitted by his other brother, Æneas, to Rome, to be laid before the Chevalier de St George. Viae Appendix.

After using all the arguments he could for taking up arms, he conjured them to assist their countryman, their Prince, in his utmost need. Though well inclined and warmly attached to the cause, the gentlemen in question are said to have positively refused, and to have told the Prince, one after another, that to take up arms in their present unprepared state, without concert or support, would bring down certain destruction on their own heads. Charles persisted, argued, and implored, but without effect. During this conversation the parties walked backwards and forwards upon the deck, and were closely eyed by a Highlander who stood near them armed at all points, as was then the fashion of the country. He was a younger brother of Kinlochmoidart, and had come off to the ship to inquire for news, not knowing who was on board. When he gathered from their discourse that the stranger was prince Charles, and heard his chief and his brother refuse to take up arms in his behalf, his colour went and came, his eyes sparkled, he shifted his place and grasped his sword. Charles observing his demeanour, stopped short, and turning towards him, put this interrogatory. "Will not you assist me?" "I will! I will!" exclaimed Ranald; 'though no other man in the Highlands should draw a sword I am ready to die for you." Charles, delighted with the young man's answer, evinced his gratitude by a profusion of thanks and acknowledgments, extolled his champion to the skies, and said he only wished that all the Highlanders were like him. Stung with the Prince's observation, which could be regarded only as a reproach, and smitten by the example set by the heroic youth, the two Macdonalds instantly declared that they would unsheath their swords in support of the claims of the house of Stuart, and would use their utmost endeavours to rouse their country

66

men to arms.

After the interview with the Prince, Clanranald returned to his friends, who had, during the conference, been regaling themselves in the pavilion. In about half an hour thereafter the Prince entered the tent and took his seat without appearing to notice any of the company. His appearance, and the scene which followed, are thus described by an eyewitness. "There entered the tent a tall youth of a most agreeable aspect, in a plain black coat with a plain shirt, not very clean, and a cambrick stock fixed with a plain silver buckle, a fair round wig out of the buckle, a plain hat with a canvas string having one end fixed to one of his coat buttons; he had black stockings, and brass buckles in his shoes. At his first appearance I found my heart swell to my very throat. We were immediately told by one Obrian, a churchman, that this youth was also an English clergyman, who had long been possessed with a desire to see and converse with Highlanders.

"When this youth entered, Obrian forbid any of those who were sitting to rise; he saluted none of us, and we only made a low bow at

Home's Works, vol. ii. p. 426-7.

a distance. I chanced to be one of those who were standing when he came in, and he took his seat near me, but immediately started up again and caused me to sit down by him upon a chest. I at this time taking him only to be a passenger or some clergyman, presumed to speak to him with too much familiarity, yet still retained some suspicion he might be one of more note than he was said to be. He asked me if I was not cold in that habit, (viz. the Highland garb,) I answered I was so habituated to it that I should rather be so (feel cold) if I was to change my dress for any other. At this he laughed heartily, and next inquired how I lay with it at night, which I explained to him. He said that by wrapping myself so close in my plaid I would be unprepared for any sudden defence in the case of a surprise. I answered that in such times of danger, or during the war, we had a different method of using the plaid, that with one spring I could start to my feet with drawn sword and cocked pistol in my hand, without being the least encumbered with my bed-clothes. Several such questions he put to me; then rising quickly from his seat he calls for a dram, when the same person whispered me a second time to pledge the stranger but not to drink to him, by which seasonable hint I was confirmed in my suspicion who he was. Having taken a glass of wine in his hand, he drank to us all round, and soon after left us." *

Having thus secured the support of young Clanranald, Charles selected him to execute the commission which his uncle, Boisdale, had refused to undertake. Accordingly, on the twenty-second of July the young chieftain, attended by Allan Macdonald a younger brother of Kinlochmoidart, was despatched with letters from the Prince, to Sir Alexander Macdonald and the laird of Macleod, to solicit the aid of their services. These powerful chieftains, who could raise nearly two thousand men between them, had promised to join the Prince if he brought a foreign force along with him, but when they found that he had come without troops, they considered themselves released from their engagements, and refused to join in an enterprise which they considered desperate. †

During young Clanranald's absence, Donald Macdonald of Scothouse, Dr Archibald Cameron on the part of his brother Donald Cameron, younger of Lochiel, and Hugh Macdonald, brother to the laird of Morar, came on board the Doutelle. The latter, on his way home from Edinburgh, had met Kinlochmoidart crossing the water of Lochy, and had been informed by him of the arrival of the Prince.‡ In ex⚫ Journal and Memoirs, Lockhart Papers, vol. ii. p. 480-1.

+"1 must (says Maxwell of Kirkconnel) do that justice to the memory of Sir Alexander Macdonald, to say he was not guilty of breach of promise by refusing to join the Prince, for he had never promised to join, but upon a condition that was never performed. I am far from excusing what he did afterwards, though I impute it rather to weakness than villany; but he is not to be classed with such as were under the strongest engagements to join the Prince, if he came over with a single footman, and not only refused but excited all their wit and strength against him."

The following dialogue, as detailed in a conversation between Hugh Macdonald

pectation of seeing the Prince, he went to Kinlochmoidart's house, where he found Æneas Macdonald, brother to Kinlochmoidart, who told him that he might see the Prince the following day if he pleased, but cautioned him not to accost him as such, as the Prince passed for a French abbé with the crew of the vessel, who were ignorant of his rank. Next day the two Macdonalds went on board; and Charles, being informed of the name and character of his visitor, invited him down to the cabin. In a conversation which ensued, Hugh Macdonald expressed his fears as to the result of the expedition if persevered in, and hinted that, as he had brought no forces along with him, the most eligible course the Prince could pursue, was to return to France, and wait a more favourable opportunity. Charles remarked that he did not wish to be indebted for the restoration of his father to foreigners, but to his own friends; that he had now put it in their power to have the glory of doing so, and that as to returning to France without making an attempt, foreigners should never have to say that he had thrown himself upon his friends, that they had turned their backs upon him, and that he had been forced to retire for shelter to foreign lands. He concluded by observing, that if he could get only six stout trusty fellows to join him, he would choose rather to skulk with them among the mountains of Scotland than return to France. Dr Cameron also urged Charles to return, and told him that Lochiel had made up his mind not to join; but Charles returned the same answer he had given to Hugh Macdonald. On the return from Skye of young Clanranald and Allan Macdonald, who brought back an absolute refusal from Sir Alexander Macdonald and the laird of Macleod, the whole party on board, including even Sir Thomas Sheridan, by whose advice the Prince generally acted, importuned him to desist, chiefly on the ground that the refusal of two such influential and powerful chieftains would prevent others, who were well disposed to the cause, from joining; but Charles was immoveable, and though without a single supporter, persisted in his resolution.*

Charles remained on board the Doutelle till the twenty-fifth of July, the interval between which day and that of his arrival in Lochnanuagh,

and Bishop Forbes at Leith, June 15th, 1750, took place between Hugh Macdonald and Kinlochmoidart at meeting. "Kinlochmoidart first asked Hugh, What news?' No news at all have I,' said Hugh. Then,' said Kinlochmoidart, 'I'll give you news; you'll see the Prince this night at my house.' What Prince do you mean?" said Mr Hugh. Prince Charles,' said Kinlochmoidart. You are certainly joking,' said Mr Hugh, I cannot believe you.' Upon this Kinlochmoidart assured him of the truth of it. Then,' said Mr Hugh, what number of men has he brought along with him? Only seven,' said Kinlochmoidart, 'What stock of money and arms has he brought with him then?' said Mr Hugh. A very small stock of either,' said Kinlochmoidart. What generals or officers fit for commanding are with him?' said Mr Hugh. 'None at all,' replied Kinlochmoidart. Mr Hugh said he did not like the expedition at all, and was afraid of the consequences. I cannot help it,' said Kinlochmoidart, 'if the matter go wrong, then I'll certainly be hanged, for I am engaged already. I have no time to spare just now, as I am going with a message from the Prince to the duke of Perth. They then took leave and parted."-Jacobite Memoirs, note, p. 18.

• Lockhart Papers, vol. ii. p. 481. Note to Jacobite Memoirs, p. 18. Perhaps, if the

was spent in despatching letters and receiving communications from his friends, and in consultations with his companions and the adherents who visited him, as to the means to be adopted for raising the clans who were favourably disposed. During the same interval, all the arms, ammunition and stores were landed; and every thing being in readiness for his reception on shore, Charles, accompanied by his suite, landed at Borodale, a farm belonging to Clanranald, and took up his abode in the house of Angus Macdonald, the tenant of the farm, who received him and his companions with a hearty welcome. By orders of young Clanranald, Macdonald of Genalladale and another gentleman of the clan, had collected about a hundred of their men to serve as a body-guard to the Prince, all of whom were hospitably entertained at Borodale.

No situation could have been any where selected more suitable for the circumstances and designs of Charles than the abode he had chosen. Besides being one of the most remote and inaccessible places in the western Highlands of Scotland, it was surrounded on all sides by the territories of the most devoted adherents of the house of Stuart, by the descendants of the heroes of Kilsyth and Killicrankie, in whose breasts the spirit of revenge had taken deep root, for the cruelties which had followed the short-lived insurrection of seventeen hundred and fifteen, and the affronts to which they had been subjected under the disarming act. These mountaineers had long sighed for an opportunity of retaliation, and they were soon to imagine that the time for vengeance had arrived. As soon as the landing of Charles was known, the whole neighbourhood was in motion, and repaired, "without distinction of age or sex,"† to the house of Borodale, to see a man with whose success they considered the glory and happiness of their country to be inseparably associated. To gratify his warm-hearted and generous visiters, and to attain a full view of the assembled group, Charles seated himself in a conspicuous part of the room where a repast had been laid out for him and his friends. Here, amid the congregated spectators who feasted their eyes with the sight of the lineal descendant of a race of kings, endeared to them by many ennobling and even sorrowful recollections, the Prince partook of the fare provided by his kind host, with a cheerfulness which banished all reflection of the past or care for the future. At the conclusion of the repast, Charles drank the grace-drink in English, which, of course, was understood only by a few of the persons present. The guest.

statement of Drummond of Bochaldy be correct, that Kelly was the adviser of the expedition to Scotland, he should be excepted from those who are said to have given the prince the advice here alluded to. Writing to Edgar, the Secretary to the Chevalier de St George, on 4th July, 1747, Drummond says, that Kelly had the "folly" to tell Dr Cameron, Lochiel's brother, "that he had advised the prince to go to Scotland in the manner he had done, and therefore he had a merit with him which could never be forgot, since the reputation he had acquired was owing to his advice."-Stuart Papers.

• Mr Macdonald of Glenalladale has erected a pillar on the spot where Charles first set his foot, surmounted by a bust of the Prince.

† Lockhart Papers, vol. ii. p. 482.