Scenes of Prince Charlie's Times page 2

The "Lyon" contains a dramatic and amusing account of their reception at Kingsburgh. Mrs. MacDonald, who was not in the secret, was suspicious of the appearance of "Betty Burke," "'For,' said she, 'I saw such an odd muckle trallup of a carlin, making lang wide steps through the hall, that I could not like her appearance at all.'

"Mrs. MacDonald called Kingsburgh and very seriously begged to know what a lang, odd hussie was this he had brought to the house, for that she was so frighted at the sight of her that she could not go into the hall for her keys. 'Did you never see a woman before,' said he, 'goodwife? What frights you at seeing a woman? Pray, make haste, and get us some supper.' Kingsburgh would not go for the keys, and therefore his lady behov'd to go for them.

"When she entered the hall the Prince happened to be sitting; but immediately he arose, went forward, and saluted Mrs. MacDonald, who, feeling a long, stiff beard, trembled to think that this behoved to be some distressed nobleman or gentleman in disguise..... Kingsburgh smiled at the mention of the bearded kiss, and said: 'Why, my dear, it is the Prince. You have the honour to have him in your house.' 'The Prince!' cried she. 'O, Lord, we are a' ruin'd and undone for ever! We will a' be hang'd now!' 'Hout, goodwife,' says the honest, stout soul, 'we will die but ance; and if we are hang'd for this, I am sure we die in a good cause. Pray, make no delay, go, get some supper.'... The Prince ate of our roasted eggs, some collops, plenty of bread and butter, etc., and (to use the words of Mrs. MacDonald) 'the deil a drop did he want in's weam of twa bottles of sma' beer. God do him good o't; for, well I wat, he had my blessing to gae down wi't.' After he had made a plentiful supper, he called for a dram.... Then taking a crack'd and broken pipe out of his poutch, wrapt about with thread, he asked Kings-burgh if he could furnish him with some tobacco..... Kingsburgh took from him the broken pipe.... and gave him a new, clean pipe and plenty of tobacco."

Charles reached the mainland, and after many further adventures was on September 20 picked up by a French ship, in Lochnanuagh, where he had landed, and sailed for France, to see evil days.

The cause was lost, and the question of the dynasty has not since troubled British politics. But the heroisms and the sacrifices of the "Forty-five" remain a possession for ever, and have left their mark on the mind and character of Scotland.