Murray, who had been in very bad health since the Prince was in Elgin before Culloden, found himself skulking with Lochiel in a wood near Loch Arkaig. He heard at the same moment of Charles’s flight to the isles, which he condemned, and of the arrival of French ships with money. Most of the party resolved to scatter, but Lochiel declared ‘that to desert his Clan was inconsistent with his honour and their interest,’ and, by his desire, Murray remained with him, ‘unable to refuse the desire of a person for whom he had such a regard, and with whom he had lived so many years in the strictest intimacy.’ Major Kennedy, too, though, like other officers in French service, he might have surrendered safely, most generously clave to Lochiel. In later years Kennedy recovered for the Prince a remnant of the French louis d’or.
Murray was next carried to the bay opposite Keppoch, where the French ships were lying. They had been attacked by British vessels of war, but had previously landed 35,000 louis d’or in six (seven?) casks. One cask, however, was already missing. The five casks were conveyed to Murray, and of the stolen cask all but one bag of gold was recovered. Next day the Duke of Perth, who was dying, with his brother, Lord John Drummond, Elcho, old Sir Thomas Sheridan, the Prince’s tutor, the younger Lockhart of Carnwath, and others sailed for France in the ships. Murray paid Clanranald, Barisdale, and others their arrears, with allowances for widows and wounded men, out of the French gold. He then sent off the remainder of the hoard under Archy Cameron’s care, and returned to Loch Arkaig. Fifteen thousand louis were buried ‘in three several parcels in the wood,’ and the empty casks were filled with stones, and carried about with Murray, ‘so as to give no Jelousy to the other Clans of his having more confidence in the Camerons’ than in them. Near the foot of Loch Arkaig, Murray caused Dr. Cameron to bury 12,000 louis, reserving about 5,000 for expenses.
Murray travelled south and was captured in Tweeddale. On August 27, 1746, when in the Tower, he wrote to an English official, ‘last time I had the honour to see you, I offered to lay my hand upon the 15,000 louis d’or, and am still certain I can do so, but as the season is now advancing, and the parties will probably soon be called in, it is not in that event impossible but the money may be raised.’ (It was ‘raised’ by Dr. Cameron.) In his Examination (August 13, 1746) Murray had already betrayed the secret of the casks of gold. But the English could never discover the treasure.
Elsewhere, in a paper of accounts, Murray tells, in defence of his pecuniary honesty, all about the disposition of the louis d’or.
He accounts for various sums, including 40l. to Lochiel, who, like the gallant gentleman he was, had given every penny in his possession ‘to his own people about.’ Mr. Murray ‘chided him for being too easy to give money to whoever asked it.’ A sum of 3,868l. was buried in the garden of Mrs. Menzies of Culdairs. This, we presume, was the bulk of the 5,000 louis reserved. Murray corroborates (as in his tract) an anonymous informant’s story, presently to be given, about the stealing of a cask of money, and restitution made after confession to Father Harrison. The penitent however, an Irishman, kept 700l., as stated in the anonymous information. Murray reckons at 15,000l. a sum buried near Loch Arkaig, by Dr. Archibald Cameron, Young Macleod of Neuck, Sir Stewart Threipland, and Major Kennedy. There were fifteen bags containing 1,000l. each; one parcel was put under a rock, in a burn, and two in holes, near at hand, dug by the four gentlemen. Another sum of 12,000l., in two parcels, was carried by Dr. Cameron and Mr. Macleod, from Lochiel’s house of Achnacarry, and buried near the lower end of Loch Arkaig. Lochiel received 1,520l. for the Prince’s immediate needs, and the rest is scrupulously accounted for the unhappy Secretary. His stories are consistent throughout.[72]
Another description of the arrival and burial of the gold has never been published. It is from the Cumberland Papers, and must have been written about 1749-1750. This is proved by the writer’s mention of Barisdale as still alive, and in prison. Now young Barisdale (Archibald) is not meant, for he was not taken till 1753.[73] His father, Coll Macdonnell of Barisdale, on the other hand, was taken in March 1749, and died in Edinburgh Castle on June 1, 1750.[74]
We now offer this anonymous intelligence of 1749-1750, as to the arrival, burial, and later fortunes of the French gold.
‘Intelligence sent to Col. Napier from Scotland about Seven Casks of Money for the Rebels
Cumberland Papers. Memoir for Col. Napier.
‘Soon after the Battle of Culloden a french privateer anchored in Loch Nonha in Arisaig, where Doctor Cameron, Brother to Lochiel, Cameron of Dungallen, prisoner in Edr. Castle, and many other Rebels were then sculking. One of his Majesties’ 20 gun Ships and 2 Sloops were cruising on the West Coast, immediately got intelligence of the privateers, and came up and attacked them, but before the action began they had landed 7 Casks of money and committed it to the Charge of Doctor Cameron, who was upon the shore wth. a great many others of the Camerons and Mc.Donalds, who flocked from all Corners to see the engadgement, and among others Mc.Donald of Barrisdale, now prisoner, was also present and Alexd. Mc.Lachlan in Lidderdale and Aide-de-Camp to The Pretender.