England Volunteers, "I can believe that," said he, "because the Ministry had no hand in it."* Perhaps he was not far wrong; for all was gloom and confusion when, on the 31st of August, the King arrived from Hanover, and "men's hearts failed them for fear." on a mission to the King of Prussia; while changing horses at Elbengerode, they were taken and conveyed to England, where, as they refused to give their parole, they were confined in Windsor Castle. In 1745 they were liberated, and left England on the 13th of August. See Пb., pp. 337 and 379, notes. *After forty-nine days' siege, Louisburg and the whole island surrendered on the 15th of June, 1745. Belleisle was not quite correct, however, for the Ministry had had some hand in the undertaking. The colonists were assisted by a body of Marines, and supported by a squadron of ten ships of war, commanded by Admiral Warren. See Lord Mahon's History of England, vol. iii. p. 299. 68 CHAPTER IV. NEWCASTLE.-FALKIRK.-CULLODEN.-LONDON. 1745-1746. PRINCE CHARLES EDWARD, notwithstanding the failure of his attempt to invade England in 1744, when backed by the power of France, re-encouraged by the result of the battle of Fontenoy, landed with half-a-dozen followers in Moidart, on the 25th of July, 1745.* So imperfect were the means of communication in those days, that three weeks had elapsed before tidings of the event reached the Commander-in-chief at Edinburgh. On the 19th of August-the very day on which the Stuart standard was raised in Glenfillan by the Marquis of Tullibardine-Sir John Cope, after having collected his troops at Stirling, set out from the capital with about. 1500 men. He directed his march towards Fort Augustus, the most central point of the Highlands,-but finding the pass of Corryarrack defended by the rebels, he altered his course and made for Inverness.† Mean Moidart, a district in the south-west corner of Inverness-shire, lying between Loch Shiel and the west coast. It is indented by Loch Moidart, a bay rendered interesting by its singular and deceptive intricacy. (Chambers's Gazetteer of Scotland.) + See Waverley,' ch. xxxii. while, the Young Chevalier had begun his descent upon the Lowlands, and arrived in Perth, where he was joined by the Duke of that ilk, and Lord George Murray. Continuing his progress, each day bringing new adherents, he entered Stirling on the 14th of September, and three days later took possession of the palace of his ancestors in Edinburgh. Cope, too late to hinder the advance of the insurgents, yet still hoping to save the capital, marched from Inverness to Aberdeen, where he embarked his troops, but did not land at Dunbar until the 18th. Pursuing his course towards Edinburgh, on the 20th he came in view of the rebels, and immediately drew up his men near the village of Prestonpans. That night both armies lay upon their ground; and at daybreak next morning, the battle began which, ending in the defeat of the Royalists, left the Pretender master of all Scotland, save the castles of Edinburgh and Stirling, with a few Highland forts.* Previous to the return of George II. from Hanover, the regency had slighted every information concerning the enterprise of the Stuarts. The Government remained supine, until the whole kingdom was struck with consternation at the progress of the rebellion. The presence of the King, however, restored some degree of public confidence, and addresses, expressing the strongest attachment to the reigning House, were presented to his Majesty. Merchants and traders bound themselves to take the notes of the Bank of England in payment for all sums due to them; means were adopted to secure the loyalty of those who were wavering, while, in order * Lord Mahon's History of England. to strike terror into the disloyal, the Habeas Corpus Act was suspended, and many persons suspected of treasonable designs were taken up.* Six thousand Dutch auxiliaries arrived at Newcastle-on-Tyne, and a portion of the British troops, recalled from the Continent, landed at the same place, with the Earl of Albemarle as their leader. The militia of each county assembled; several corps of volunteers were raised by nobility and gentry, to whom arms were liberally distributed, and the southern counties were put in a state of defence. The adventurer, after playing at royalty for six weeks in Holyrood, notwithstanding these formidable preparations, descended upon England by the western border, with some 6000 followers. The city of Carlisle was immediately invested, and after a feeble show of resistance, surrendered within a few days. In the meantime, Marshal Wade had collected an army of 10,000 men at Newcastle. Amongst his forces. were Wolfe's and Barrell's regiments, the former commanded by Lieut.-Colonel Martin, the latter by Lieut.Colonel Rich. The elder Wolfe, though now rather infirm, took the field as a General of Division,† and his son as a Major of Brigade, to which office he had been commissioned while abroad. An order, which is still in existence, was issued by the Marshal on the 2nd of November, 1745, directing "Major James Wolfe to be paid £930, for allowance of 93 baggage horses to the seven battalions lately come from Flanders." It would * Russell's Modern Europe,' part ii. letter 29. + Major-General, 4th June, o. 8., 1745. Commission, dated "Lessines, June 12th, 1745," signed "William." appear from this, that the Brigade-Major had also, for a time, assumed the functions of a Deputy Quarter-MasterGeneral. A short letter to his mother turns up at this period: Dear Madam, : Newcastle, November 14th, 1745. I received yours the day the last post went out, but as my father was then writing to you I thought it needless. I was under some apprehension for him on the road to Berwick, and was even told he was made prisoner, but not with foundation to give much credit to, as it has fallen out. I really believe you need not concern yourself about my father's safety, for 'tis the opinion of most men that these rebels won't stand the King's troops; and as to marching north and south with the army in his post-chaise, it does him so much service that I never saw him look better. It is said the Pretender's people made an attack on Carlisle, but have been repulsed with loss; this, however, is not to be depended upon. You can't doubt the sincerity of my intentions, but to convince you I must beg you will think no more of what you have mentioned in your letter. I wrote to you in a style of complaint, just as the accident happened, but I have now got the better of that, and am in a condition to repair the loss. I know very well the many good uses you have of putting your money to; pray don't let me be the instrument of preventing it. Besides, you give it to a person that ought to give you, by the difference of income. I desire you won't imagine I am so unreasonable a dog as to think of it. There is one thing that I must beg leave to assure you, that though I don't take it I am not the less obliged to you, and shall always own a proper acknowledgment for this and the innumerable kindnesses I have always received from you. I heartily wish you your health, and am, Dear Madam, Your dutiful and affectionate Son, |