‘His Royal Highness, the Duke of Cumberland, sent a protection by Sir Alexr. Macdonald to Barisdale, upon delivering to him of which, he told him, in Consequence of the Favours the Duke intended for him, he should cause all such as he would have any Influence with, surrender their arms directly, which Barisdale did at the Barracks of Glenelg immediately thereafter; by which the Concert of those that imagined to make any further resistance was broke, and he gave all the Assurances Sir Alexr. desired of him, to be a good faithful subject, yt would give all obedience to the Government, which Since he has perform’d. But from that time the Jacobite party design’d to ruine Barisdale, and endeavoured, with all Calumny’s, to make him odious to all partys and all Persons. The Pretender’s Son having returned from the Isles to the Continent (mainland), Sir Alexr. Macdonald wrote to Barisdale, desiring to inform him of some particulars, which he did very distinctly, and soon after his R. Highness [Cumberland] left Fort Augustus, my Lord Albemarle, then Commander in Chief, desired Sir Aler. McDonald to send for Barisdale to Fort Augustus. Sir Alexr. Macdonald wrote to him, and accordingly Barisdale waited of my Lord Albemarle at Fort Augustus, at Sir Alex. McDonald’s Lodgings, where before Sir Alex. McDonald, his Lordship told Barisdale, as the Pretender’s Son was now returned from the Isles to the Continent (mainland), if he hop’d for the Continuance of his R. Highness’s Favours, he must lay himself out in giving Assistance to have the Person of ye Pretender’s Son sez’d.
‘Barisdale answered, in Sir Alexander’s Presence, that Sir Alexr. never made any such Proposal to him from his R. Highness (Cumberland); and if he was a Man supposed formerly in the Jacobite Interest, and upon getting a better Light, to forsake them it would be very inconsistent wth. Honour, for a Man so supposed, to go such Lengths. But for his share, were he to do his utmost to comply with his Lordship’s desire, he could expect little success in it, since all the Jacobite Party were upon their Guard, even the meanest Highlander, to give no Intelligence to any he had Influence with.
‘His Lordship and he parted that Day: my Lord Loudoun, Sir Alexr. McDonald, and Barisdale, being at a Bottle that night, resumed all that past at that Communing—Loudoun said, “I own what his Lordship desires of you, may not be easy for you to perform, but such Information as you can best receive, you can transmit to his Lordship and you can make an Observe upon each, according to the Credite you give yourself to the Information.”
‘My Lord Albemarle, the next day, at Sir Alexander’s Lodgings, insisted as the Day before; and Barisdale agreed, such Informations as he could learn, he would transmit them, wt. Remarks upon them of the Credite he thought they deserved—My Lord Albemarle gave a Continuance upon the Protection for ten Days more, which was a short time for Barisdale to go to his country, and find Informations and then transmit them to Fort Augustus.
‘However he sent two different Informations wt. Remarks upon them: is not certain which of the two, my Lord Albemarle or my Lord Loudoun’s Hands they came to, as the Bearer of them brought back no Answer in writing: But at the End of the Ten Days of my Lord Albemarle’s Protection, B. was rather more distrest than any who were not before protected.
‘Some few days thereafter, being at Sir Alexr. McDonald at Slaite, hearing two French ships coming to Ariseg, Sir Ar. McDonald desired Barisdale to go to these Ships, in order to learn some things he wanted to be inform’d of, and Barisdale coming to the shore before the Ships, under Pretension of great Friendship was invited aboard, there being at the Ships severals he was acquainted with; But soon after he was aboard, found his Mistake, would not be allow’d afterwards to come ashore, was carried to St. Malos, seated upon the River La Luare where he was prisoned about 2 years and four months. The 7th. of February last, with a Sentence of Banishment to leave France in a few Days, was liberated: which Sentence is now in the hands of the Governor of Fort Augustus.
‘The Accusations laid against him by the Pretender’s son and likewise laid before the Court of France were sent to Barisdale enclosed in a Letter, wrote and signed by George Kelly, the Pretender’s Son’s Secretary, of which there is a Copy herewith.’
He now offers services unconditionally[65]—‘but is sorry to be prevented in his Design of going to London as he entended to throw himself in his R. Highness the Duke of Cumberland’s Hands, hoping, as he still does, for his Highness’ Protection and Friendship, as promised to him by Sir Alexander MacDonald in his R.H’s. Name at their first Conference, when he delivered to him the protection, in the obtaining of which Barisdale will be capable, as he is most willing, of doing essential Services to his R. Highness and the Government in the North of Scotland:—and says ‘it may appear most reasonable, however, for the Family he is descended from, or the Clan he is of, have been attach’d to the Pretender’s Family, that his cruel, uncommon, and severe usage from that Family will not only make him most faithfull to the Government, but as stiff an Enemy as that Family have upon Earth. For it is well known the Pretender’s Son exprest at Paris to some of the Scots, who were sorry for Barisdale’s treatment, that while it was in his power, Barisdale woud never recover his Liberty, at least while he was in France, for that he was well assured, if ever he return’d to Scotland, being well assured B. being both resolute and Revengefull, he woud prove a very destructible Instrument to his Interest.’
Here are the Jacobite charges against Barisdale:—
Copy of George Kelly, the P.’son’s Secretary’s Letter