The ornament on the cover of this work is a copy of that with which the volumes of Prince Charles’s own library were impressed. I owe the stamp to the kindness of Miss Warrender of Bruntsfield.
Among printed books, the most serviceable have been Mr. Ewald’s work on Prince Charles, Lord Stanhope’s History, and Dr. Browne’s ‘History of the Highlands and Clans.’ Had Mr. Ewald explored the Stuart Papers and the Memoirs of d’Argenson, Grimm, de Luynes, Barbier, and the Letters of Madame du Deffand (edited by M. de Lescure), with the ‘Political Correspondence of Frederick the Great,’ little would have been left for gleaners in his track.
I must not forget to thank Mr. and Mrs. Bartels for researches in old magazines and journals. Mr. Bartels also examined for me the printed correspondence of Frederick the Great. To the kindness of J. A. Erskine Cunningham, Esq., of Balgownie I owe permission to photograph the portrait of Young Glengarry in his possession.
If I might make a suggestion to historical students of leisure, it is this. The Life of the Old Chevalier (James III.) has never been written, and is well worth writing. My own studies, alas! prove that Prince Charles’s character was incapable of enduring misfortune. His father, less brilliant and less popular, was a very different man, and, I think, has everything to gain from an unprejudiced examination of his career. He has certainly nothing to lose.
Since this work was in type the whole of Bishop Forbes’s MS., The Lyon in Mourning, has been printed for an Historical Society in Scotland. I was unable to consult the MS. for this book, but it contains, I now find, no addition to the facts here set forth.
November 5, 1896.
CONTENTS
CHAPTER I INTRODUCTORY TO PICKLE |
| PAGE |
Subject of this book—The last rally of Jacobitismhitherto obscure—Nature of the newmaterials—Information from spies, unpublished StuartPapers, &c.—The chief spy—Probably known to SirWalter Scott—‘Redgauntlet’cited—‘Pickle the Spy’—His position andservices—The hidden gold of Loch Arkaig—Consequenttreacheries—Character of Pickle—Pickle’snephew—Pickle’s portrait—Pickle detected anddenounced—To no purpose—Historicalsummary—Incognito of Prince Charles—Plan of thiswork | [1] |
CHAPTER II CHARLES EDWARD STUART |
Prince Charles—Contradictions in hischaracter—Extremes of bad and good—Evolution ofcharacter—The Prince’s personaladvantages—Common mistake as to the colour of hiseyes—His portraits from youth to age—Descriptions ofCharles by the Duc de Liria; the President de Brosses; Gray;Charles’s courage—The siege of Gaeta—Story ofLord Elcho—The real facts—The Prince’s horseshot at Culloden—Foolish fables of David Humeconfuted—Charles’s literary tastes—Hisclemency—His honourable conduct—Contrast withCumberland—His graciousness—His faults—Chargeof avarice—Love of wine—Religious levity—Jameson Charles’s faults—An unpleasantdiscovery—Influence of Murray of Broughton—Rapiddecline of character after 1746—Temper, wine, andwomen—Deep distrust of James’s Court—Rupturewith James—Divisions among Jacobites—King’s menand Prince’s men—Marischal, Kelly, Lismore,Clancarty—Anecdote of Clancarty andBraddock—Clancarty andd’Argenson—Balhaldie—Lally Tollendal—TheDuke of York—His secret flight fromParis—‘Insigne Fourberie’—Anxiety ofCharles—The fatal cardinal’s hat—Madame de Pompadour—Charles rejects heradvances—His love affairs—Madame deTalmond—Voltaire’s verses on her—Her scepticismin Religion—Her husband—Correspondence withMontesquieu—The Duchesse d’Aiguillon—Peace ofAix-la-Chapelle—Charles refuses to retire toFribourg—The gold plate—Scenes with Madame deTalmond—Bulkeley’s interference—Arrest ofCharles—The compasses—Charles goes toAvignon—His desperate condition—Hispolicy—Based on a scheme of D’Argenson—Heleaves Avignon—He is lost to sight and hearing | [11] |
CHAPTER III THE PRINCE IN FAIRYLAND FEBRUARY 1749—SEPTEMBER1750. I.—WHAT THE WORLD SAID |
Europe after Peace of Aix-la-Chapelle—A vastgambling establishment—Charles excluded—Possiblechance in Poland—Supposed to have gonethither—‘Henry Goring’sLetter’—Romantic adventures attributed toCharles—Obvious blunders—Talk of amarriage—Count Brühl’s opinion—Proposal tokidnap Charles—To rob a priest—The King ofPoland’s ideas—Lord Hyndford on Frederick theGreat—Lord Hyndford’s mare’s nest—Charlesat Berlin—‘Send him to Siberia’—Thetheory contradicted—Mischievous glee ofFrederick—Charles discountenances plots to killCumberland—Father Myles Macdonnell to James—Londonconspiracy—Reported from Rome—The Bloody ButcherClub—Guesses of Sir Horace Mann—Charles and astrike—Charles reported to be very ill—Really on thepoint of visiting England—September 1750 | [44] |
CHAPTER IV THE PRINCE IN FAIRYLAND. II.—WHAT ACTUALLY OCCURRED |
Charles mystifies Europe—Montesquieu knows hissecret—Sources of information—The Stuartmanuscripts—Charles’s letters from Avignon—Aproposal of marriage—Kennedy and the hiddentreasure—Where to look for Charles—Cherchez lafemme!—Hidden in Lorraine—Plans for enteringParis—Letter to Mrs. Drummond—To the EarlMarischal—Starts for Venice—AtStrasbourg—Unhappy Harrington—Letter toJames—Leaves Venice—‘A bird without anest’—Goes to Paris—The Prince’s secretrevealed—The convent of St. Joseph—Curiousletter as Cartouche—Madame de Routh—Cartoucheagain—Goring sent to England—A cypher—Portraitof Madame de Talmond—Portrait of Madamed’Aiguillon—Intellectual society—MademoiselleLuci—‘Dener Bash’—The secrethoard—Results of Goring’s Englishmission—Timidity of English Jacobites—Supply ofmoney—Charles a bibliophile—‘My bigmuff’—A patron of art—Quarrels with Madame deTalmond—Arms for a rising—Newton onCluny—Kindness to Monsieur Le Coq—Madame de Talmondweary of Charles—Letters to her—Charles readsFielding’s novels—Determines to go toEngland—Large order of arms—Reproached byJames—Intagli of James—En route forLondon—September 1750 | [67] |
CHAPTER V THE PRINCE IN LONDON; ANDAFTER.—MADEMOISELLE LUCI (SEPTEMBER 1750–JULY1751) |
The Prince goes to London—Futility of thistour—English Jacobites described by ÆneasMacdonald—No chance but in Tearlach—Credentials toMadame de Talmond—Notes of visit to London—Doings inLondon—Gratifying conversion—Gems andmedals—Report by Hanbury Williams—Hume’slegend—Report by a spy—Billets to Madame deTalmond—Quarrel—Disappearance—‘The oldaunt’—Letters to Mademoiselle Luci—Charles inGermany—Happy thought of Hanbury Williams—MarshalKeith’s mistress—Failure of this plan—TheEnglish ‘have a clue’—Books for thePrince—Mademoiselle Luci as a critic—Jealousy ofMadame de Talmond—Her letter to Mademoiselle Luci—Theyoung lady replies—Her bad health—Charles’sreflections—Frederick ‘a clever man’—Anew adventure | [102] |
CHAPTER VI INTRIGUES, POLITICAL ANDAMATORY.—DEATH OF MADEMOISELLE LUCI, 1752 |
Hopes from Prussia—The Murrays ofElibank—Imprisonment of Alexander Murray—Recommendedto Charles—The Elibank plot—Prussia and the EarlMarischal—His early history—Ambassador of Frederickat Versailles—His odd household—Voltaire—TheDuke of Newcastle’s resentment—Charles’s viewof Frederick’s policy—His alleged avarice—LadyMontagu—His money-box—Goring and the EarlMarischal—Secret meetings—The laceshop—Albemarle’s information—Charles atGhent—Hanbury Williams’s mares’nests—Charles and ‘La Grandemain’—She andGoring refuse to take his orders—Appearance of MissWalkinshaw—Her history—Remonstrances ofGoring—‘Commissions for the worst ofmen’—‘The little man’—LadyPrimrose—Death of Mademoiselle Luci—November 10, dateof postponed Elibank plot—Danger of dismissing an agent | [124] |
CHAPTER VII YOUNG GLENGARRY |
Pickle the spy—Not James Mohr Macgregor orDrummond—Pickle was the young chief ofGlengarry—Proofs of this—His family history—Hispart in the Forty-five—Misfortunes of his family—Inthe Tower of London—Letters to James III.—Nocheque!—Barren honours—In London in 1749—Hispoverty—Mrs. Murray of Broughton’s watch—Stealsfrom the Loch Arkaig hoard—Charges by him against ArchyCameron—Is accused of forgery—Cameron ofTorcastle—Glengarry sees James III. in Rome—Was hesold to Cumberland?—Anonymous charges againstGlengarry—A friend of Murray of Broughton—Hisspelling in evidence against him—Mrs. Cameron’saccusation against Young Glengarry—Henry Pelham andCampbell of Lochnell—Pickle gives his real name andaddress—Note on Glengarry family—Highlanders amongthe Turks | [145] |
CHAPTER VIII PICKLE AND THE ELIBANK PLOT |
The Elibank plot—George II. to bekidnapped—Murray and Young Glengarry—As Pickle,Glengarry betrays the plot—His revelations—Pickle andLord Elibank—Pickle meets Charles—Charles has been inBerlin—Glengarry writes to James’ssecretary—Regrets failure of plot—Speaks of hisillness—Laments for Archy Cameron—Hanbury Williamsseeks Charles in Silesia—Pickle’s ‘fit ofsickness’—His dealings with the EarlMarischal—Meets the Prince at the maskedball—‘A little piqued’—Marischalcriticises the plot to kidnap George II.—‘A nightattack’—Other schemes—Charles’spoverty—‘The prophet’s clothes’—Mr.Carlyle on Frederick the Great—Alleges his innocence ofJacobite intrigues—Contradicts statesmen—Mr. Carlylein error—Correspondence of Frederick with EarlMarischal—The Earl’s account of Englishplotters—Frederick’s advice—Encouragementunderhand—Arrest of Archy Cameron—His earlyhistory—Plea for clemency—Cameron is hanged—Histestimony to Charles’s virtues—His forgiveness of hisenemies—Samuel Cameron the spy—His fate—YoungEdgar on the hidden treasure—The last of thetreasure—A salmo ferox | [169] |
CHAPTER IX DE PROFUNDIS |
Charles fears for his own safety—EarlMarischal’s advice—Letter fromGoring—Charles’s danger—Charles atCoblentz—His changes of abode—Information fromPickle—Charles as a friar—Pickle sends to EnglandLochgarry’s memorial—Scottish advice toCharles—List of loyal clans—Pickle onFrederick—On English adherents—‘They drink veryhard’—Pickle declines to admit arms—Frederickreceives Jemmy Dawkins—His threats againstEngland—Albemarle on Dawkins—Dawkins anarchæologist—Explores Palmyra—Charles at feudwith Miss Walkinshaw—Goring’s illness—A mark tobe put on Charles’s daughter—Charles’sobjets d’art—Sells his pistols | [207] |
CHAPTER X JAMES MOHR MACGREGOR |
Another spy—Rob Roy’s son, James MohrMacgregor—A spy in 1745—At Prestonpans andCulloden—Escape from Edinburgh Castle—BillyMarshall—Visit to Ireland—Balhaldie reportsJames’s discovery of Irish Macgregors—Theirloyalty—James Mohr and Lord Albemarle—James Mohroffers to sell himself—And to betray Alan Breck—Hissense of honour—His long-winded report on Irishconspiracy—Balhaldie—Mrs. Macfarlane who shot theCaptain—Her romance—PitfirranePapers—Balhaldie’s snuff-boxes—JamesMohr’s confessions—Balhaldie and Charles—Irishinvasion—Arms in Moidart—Arms at the house ofTough—Pickle to play the spy in Ireland—Accompaniedby a ‘Court Trusty’—Letter fromPickle—Alan Breck spoils James Mohr—Takes hissnuff-boxes—Death of James Mohr—Yet anotherspy—His wild information—Confirmation ofCharles’s visit to Ireland | [230] |
CHAPTERXI ‘A MANUNDONE.’—1754 |
Jacobite hopes—Blighted by the conduct ofCharles—His seclusion—His health isaffected—His fierce impatience—MissWalkinshaw—Letter from young Edgar—The Prince easilytracked—Fears of his Englishcorrespondents—Remonstrances of Goring—The Englishdemand Miss Walkinshaw’s dismissal—Danger ofdiscarding Dumont—Goring fears the Bastille—Crueltyof dismissing Catholic servants—Charles’s lack ofgenerosity—Has relieved no poor adherents—Will offendboth Protestants and Catholics—Opinion of aProtestant—Toleration desired—Goring asks leave toresign—Charles’s answer—Goring’sadvice—Charles’s reply—Needsmoney—Proceedings of Pickle—In London—Called toFrance—To see the Earl Marischal—Charles detected atLiège—Verbally dismisses Goring—Pickle’sletter to England—‘Best metalbuttons’—Goring to the Prince—ThePrince’s reply—Last letter from Goring—Hisill-treatment—His danger in Paris—His death inPrussia—The Earl Marischal abandons the Prince—Hisdistress—‘The poison’ | [252] |
CHAPTER XII PICKLE AS A HIGHLANDCHIEF.—1754–1757 |
Progress of Pickle—Charles’s lastresource—Cluny called to Paris—The Loch Arkaighoard—History of Cluny—Breaks his oath to KingGeorge—Jacobite theory of such oaths—Anecdote ofCluny in hiding—Charles gives Pickle a goldsnuff-box—‘A northern —’—Asks for apension—Death of Old Glengarry—Pickle becomeschief—The curse of Lochgarry—Pickle writes fromEdinburgh—His report—Wants money—Letter from a‘Court Trusty’—Pickle’spride—Refused a fowling-piece—English account ofPickle—His arrogance and extortion—Charles’shopes from France—Macallester the spy—ThePrince’s false nose—Pickle still unpaid—Hiscandour—Charles and the Duc de Richelieu—A Scottishdeputation—James Dawkins publicly abandons thePrince—Dawkins’s character—The Earl Marischaldenounces Charles—He will not listen toCluny—Dismisses his servants—Sir Horace Mann’saccount of them—‘The boy that islost’—English rumours—Charles declines to leadattack on Minorca—Information from Macallester—LordClancarty’s attacks on the Prince—OnLochgarry—Macallester acts as a prison spy—Jesuitconspiracy against Charles | [276] |
CHAPTERXIII THE LAST HOPE—1759 |
Charles asks Louis for money—Idea of employing himin 1757—Letter from Frederick—Chances in1759—French friends—Murray and ‘thePills’—Charles at Bouillon—Madame dePompadour—Charles on Lord George Murray—The nightmarch to Nairn—Manifestoes—Charles will only land inEngland—Murray wishes to repudiate the NationalDebt—Choiseul’s promises—AndrewLumisden—The Marshal’s oldboots—Clancarty—Internal feuds ofJacobites—Scotch and Irish quarrels—The five ofdiamonds—Lord Elibank’s views—The expeditionstarting—Routed in Quiberon Bay—Newhopes—Charles will not land in Scotland orIreland—‘False subjects’—Pickle waits onevents—His last letter—His ardentPatriotism—Still in touch with the Prince—Offers tosell a regiment of Macdonalds—Spy or colonel?—Signshis real name—‘Alexander Macdonnell ofGlengarry’—Death of Pickle—His servicesrecognised | [300] |
CHAPTER XIV CONCLUSION |
Conclusion—Charles in 1762—Flight of MissWalkinshaw—Charles quarrels with France—Remonstrancefrom Murray—Death of King James—Charles returns toRome—His charm—His disappointments—Lochgarryenters the Portuguese service—Charles declines to recogniseMiss Walkinshaw—Report of his secret marriage to MissWalkinshaw—Denied by the lady—Charles breaks withLumisden—Bishop Forbes—Charles’smarriage—The Duchess of Albany—‘All ends insong’—The Princesse de Talmond—The end | [316] |
Erratum
Page 3, line 2, for George III. read George II.