APPENDIX
I.—PICKLE’S LETTERS
These two letters of Pickle’s, not published in full in Pickle the Spy, illustrate ‘The Case against Glengarry’ in this volume. In the letter dated Edinburgh, 14th September, 1754, we find that, immediately on hearing of his father’s death, the writer sent a note to Gwynne Vaughan, an English official, and went to Edinburgh, writing from Newcastle on his way North. His ‘family affairs are in confusion.’ Now Old Glengarry died in Edinburgh, on September 1, 1754, and, as has been elsewhere shown, Young Glengarry at once repaired to the North. No reader of these letters can doubt that their writer is, or is feigning to be, Young Glengarry. Now no such pretence could possibly succeed in Edinburgh, where Young Glengarry, a man eminently well known, happened to be at the moment. For the rest, the letters are mainly concerned with the Informer’s proposed terms of payment, now that his ‘situation is greatly altered,’ by the death of his father, obviously Old Glengarry. Further comment seems needless, the evidence being beyond suspicion, and capable of but one interpretation.
Dr. Sir,—I have receivd the pleasur of yours of 20 Septr, but have been of late so hurried that I had no time to return a proper answer. I thought I was pritty pointed in my last in regard to a certain stipulation, but as by yours I imagen I was not so well understood, I beg leave to be now more explicite. I waited patiently four years (since 1750) without making the least demand, but for Journy expences, which fell so fare short that I spent all my owne ready Mony, and ran in debt eight hundred £st. Now, Sir, I expect that your friend will pay this sume by way of gratification, which will make me free of all debt contracted during my several trips, for I expect to be considered for what is past, as well as for times coming: I had had his worthy Brother’s[201] paroll for this as well as a promise of his countenance, and protection, in all my other claimes, as I will not varrie the least in my demand, notwithstanding my situation is greatly altered, I will only mention £ five hundred St. yearly, twice regularly payd by Grandpapa, for I won’t absolutely have to dow with any other. If Mr. Kenady (Duke of Newcastle) whose friendship I have a right to Claim, in vertue of his Brother’s promise, will obtain this for me, there is nothing honourable he can think of, but I am able to perform. Only I beg he be not prejudic’d by that swarm of Videts that dally infest him. The Services I can be of are pritty well known, and as I am embark’d I am determin’d to percevere, but then I expect that Mr. Kenady (D. of N.) will fulfill his worthy Brother’s promise to me, which was to clear me of the Debts contracted in my new way of lief, when that is done, and a certain thing yearly fixt, Mr. Kenady shall dispose of me in what shape he pleases. Young Swift (Lochgarry) is arrived, and upon his waiting of 20 (Genl. Bland) was not recevd as was promis’d he should. When I waited of him, he did not receve me as I expected, haughtly refusd the use of a fulsie without I should qualifie. I smiling answr’d, if that was the case, I had then a right without his permission, but that he could not take it amiss that I debar’d all under his comand the pleasure of hunting upon my grounds, or of any firing, which they can’t have without my permission, so that I thought favours were reciprocall. 20 (Genl. Bland) and his Club pretends to be well inform’d of the minutest transaction in the Grand Monark’s Cabinet, O rare polliticians, Poor 21 (Bruce) is greatly to be pityed, for my old friends are mad at my consulting him in all my affairs, and 20 (Bland) and some about him spoke very injurious of him to me. I think this ought to be put to rights. I go North in a few days, I hope to prevail on 21 (Bruce) to follow in order to assist me in making a Judicial rent roll.[202] My stay will not exceed a month, and his not a fortnight, so that if you expect me up, write under 21 (Bruce’s) cover, and I shall obey your comands. But Mr. Kenady (D. of N.), your friend, must enable me to go about it in a proper manner, and I am sure I will performe the business to his entire satisfaction. Young Swift, (Lochgarry) has verbally communicated to me most of Miss Philips (Young Pretender’s) amours. She has turn’d adrift all, or most of her former companions and galants. (This refers to the rupture between Prince Charles and his English adherents.) My presence is much wanted, and ardently wished for by hir, and hir present conductors. But I cant hear any thing materiall till old Swift (Lochgarry) return from hir. What I mentiond concerning Black Cattel is fact, but I hate repetitions, and at any rate must deffer further particulars till my return from the North. I will expect the pleasure of hearing to satisfaction and pointedly from you—I will beg the continuance of your good Offices, and will conclude by making offer of my Compts. to Mr. Kenady and assures him that all now depends upon himself, as Every thing is in his option.
I ever remain, Dear Grandpapa
Your most obedient and most oblidged humble Servt.
Alex Guthry.
Edinbr. 10. Octr. 1754.
(Pickle to G. V.) (Gwynne Vaughan)
Add. 32,736. f. 525.
Edinbr. 14 Septr. 1754.
Dr. Sir,—I am vastly uneasy not to receive the least answer to either of my letters from Newcastle, or that which I wrote immediately upon my Father’s death;[203] but, as I have the greatest confidence in your friendship, I perswade myself that nothing prevents my receiving apointed answer to every article in both my last, but the multiplicity of weighty Affairs daily crouding upon the Duke of Newcastle; therefore without any suspicion or diffidence I am determined to continue firm to our Concert, untill you acquaint me if he agrees to my Proposals, which if he does, he may safely rely upon everything in my power, and I think I can’t give stronger proof of my sincerity than by this offer, in the confusion of my Family affairs, which in its present situation, demands all my attention. I have heard fully from Lochgary, who acquaints me that the Young Pretender’s affairs take a very good turn, and that he has lately sent two expresses to Lochgary earnestly intreating a meeting with Pickle, and upon Lochgary’s acquainting him of the great distance Pickle was off, he commanded Lochgary to a rendezvous, and he set out to meet me the 4th. Instant, and is actually now with me.
I shall very soon have a particular account of the present plan of operation. I have now the ball at my foot, and may give it what tune I please, as I am to be allowed largely, if I fairly enter in co-partnership. The French King is in a very peaceable humour, but very ready to take fire if the Jacobites renew their address, which the Young Pretender assures him of, and he will the readier bestirr himself, as the English Jacobites hourly torment him. Troops, Scotch and Irish, are daily offered to be smuggled over: but I have positively yet refused to admit any. The King of Spain has lately promised to add greatly to the Young Pretender’s patrimony, and English Contributors are not wanting on their parts.
I suspect that my letters of late to my friends abroad are stopt, pray enquire, for I think it very unfair dealings. I am in a few weeks to go north to put some order to my affairs. I should have been put to the greatest inconveniency if 21 (Bruce) had not lent his friendly assistance; but as I have been greatly out of pocket by the Jants I took for Mr. Pelham, I shan’t be in condition to continue trade, if I am not soon enabled to pay off the Debts then contracted. I have said on former occasions so much upon this head to no effect that I must now be more explicit, and I beg your friendly assistance in properly representing it to the Duke of Newcastle. If he thinks that my services, of which I have given convincing proofs, will answer to his advancing directly eight hundred Pounds, which is the least that can clear the Debts of my former Jants, and fix me to the Certain payment yearly of Five hundred at two several terms, he may command anything in my power upon all occasions. I am sorry to be forced to this explanation, in which I always expected to be prevented. I am so far from thinking this extravagant, that I am perswaded it will save them as many thousands, by discarding that swarm of Videts, which never was in the least trusted. If the Duke of Newcastle’s Constituent (the King) was acquainted with this, I dare say he would esteem the demand reasonable, considering what he throws away upon others of no interest or power on either side. I beg you’ll acquaint me with the soonest of the Duke of Newcastle’s answer, and assure him of my ready obedience to his commands. I have referred to 21 to enlarge further upon this, and other subjects I have been conversing with him some days ago, as he can inform you of my great hurry and confusion for this fortnight past,[204] which will be all the apology I will make for this hurried scrawl, and I beg you’ll be fully convinced of the great esteem etc. etc. etc.
P.S. Pray let me not be denied the Arms I wanted, and I hope in case of accidents, you’ll take care of young Lochgary. I am just this instant informed that Mr. Nordly has left the King of France for the summer season, and is residing now in England, but can’t learn in what particular place—21 is supposed to be the Watchman: whose letter will explain what he hints of Lochgary.
Mr. Nordly is not deciphered yet.
(Copy of Pickle’s letter to G. V. (Gwynne Vaughan) deciphered. R. Oct. 16th, 1754.)
II.—MACLEOD
‘The Rebels had an implacable Illwill and Malice against Him (Macleod) as they alledged, and many of them believed, that he not only deserted, but betrayed their Cause: what truth there is in this I will not take upon me to determine.’ So says the writer of the MS. 104, ‘The Highlands of Scotland in 1750.’
‘Surely never did man so basely betray as did Macleod, whom I shall leave for the present to the racks and tortures of a guilty conscience, and the just and severe judgement of every good man.’ Thus writes Murray of Broughton, after narrating how Macleod gave a written promise to aid Prince Charles whenever he landed. What he did was to send information to Forbes of Culloden, ‘it is certain that the pretended Prince of Wales is come into the coast of South Uist and Barra.’ He begs that his name as informant may be kept secret.[205]
Macleod can thus avoid the charge of betraying the Cause, only by disproof of Murray’s allegation that he gave a written promise to rise. But this allegation is confirmed by family tradition. ‘Miss Macleod of Macleod, Dunvegan Castle, remembers having seen in the family charter-chest an interesting correspondence between His Royal Highness and Macleod, in which Norman “invited the Prince to come over, several months before he arrived,” but the letters have since disappeared, and the family knows nothing as to where they have gone to.’[206]
On the showing of Miss Macleod, as reported by Mr. Mackenzie, in the passage just cited, Murray might well cry ‘never did man betray so basely as did Macleod.’ Despite his written promise to Prince Charles, Macleod was the first to send information against ‘the pretended Prince of Wales.’ After Prestonpans, ‘it would appear,’ writes Mr. Mackenzie, ‘that Macleod was taking lessons in duplicity from Simon,’ Lord Lovat. Macleod scarcely needed instruction in treachery; but, if Mr. Mackenzie is right, he now meant to send Young Macleod with the clan to join the Prince, while he stayed at home, and said that he could not help it.[207] This domestic arrangement was not carried into effect.
Macleod was born in 1706, and inherited the family lands with 60,000l. He died in 1772, leaving 50,000l. of debt. He is still spoken of in the traditional history of his family as An Droch Dhuine, or ‘the Wicked Man,’ partly because of his extravagance, partly ‘for his cruel treatment of his first wife and Lady Grange.’[208] When we add his treachery to the Prince, we see in Macleod a character far from exemplary. His grandson speaks of him as ‘always a most beneficent and beloved chieftain, whose necessities had lately induced him to raise his rents.’... ‘The Jacobites treated him as an apostate, and the successful party did not reward his loyalty.’[209] He reaped as he had sown.