Heroic Enterprise of Flora MacDonald, cont.

To secure the Prince's safety, Flora was compelled in this instance to apply for succour to the house of his most dangerous enemy. But the heroic maiden had made herself well acquainted with every part of her dangerous enterprise. She knew that Lady Margaret, the wife of Sir Alexander Macdonald, was at heart a devoted friend of the House of Stuart, and to her she resolved to apply. Leaving Charles and Mac Kechan at the landing-place, she set out for the abode of that lady, to whom she had written a few days before, announcing her intention of paying her a visit. She now confessed without reserve, whom she had brought to the island, with a view of claiming her protection. Lady Margaret, as may be supposed, heard the news with pain and surprise. Her husband, in a letter written not long after, says of Flora, that on this visit she "put Lady Margaret into the utmost distress by telling her of the cargo that she had brought from Uist.". But that lady did not disappoint the confidence Flora had placed in her generosity. Her house was full of militia officers, and she could not, therefore, with common prudence, have received the Prince within its walls. She sent, however, Macdonald of Kingsburgh, a kinsman of her husband's, to carry the necessary refreshments to Charles, but kept Flora to dine with her, when she was subjected to many searching questions from the English officers, which by her prudence she answered without creating suspicion. After dinner, Flora, her servant Neil Mac Kechan, and two others to whom Charles was unknown, returned to the Prince. They found him with Kingsburgh, being on his way to the house of the latter, it appears that on the first appearance of

Kingsburgh, the Pretender accosted him by saying that his life was now in his hand, which he might dispose of; that he was in the utmost distress, having had no meal or sleep for two days and two nights, sitting upon a rock, beat upon by the rains, and when they ceased, eat up by flies; he conjured him to show compassion but for one night, and he should be gone. This moving speech prevailed, and the visible distress, for he was meagre, ill-coloured, and overrun with the scab. So they went to Kingsburgh's house.  On his way thither Charles's awkwardness in his female attire had very nearly betrayed him, creating much amusement among the country people on the road, and causing one of the servants not in the secret to observe, that he looked just like a man in woman's clothes. This gave the alarm to Flora, and caused her to hasten the advance of her party, while she left Charles and Kingsburgh to find their way among byroads to the house of their destination. Charles was some time later than the ladies in arriving at the house of his guide; he was wet and weary, but his spirits revived with a good supper, and so greatly did he enjoy the bed to which he was conducted that some trouble was found necessary to arouse him next day. He was compelled to quit the house as he had come to it, in female attire, which inconvenient costume he exchanged at some distance from Kingsburgh's for that of a native of the Hebrides, consisting of a short green coat, short breeches, a wig and a bonnet. (" Old Mrs. Macdonald, after her guest had left the house, took the sheets in which he had lain, folded them carefully, and charged her daughter that they should be kept unwashed, and that when she died, her body should be wrapped in them as a winding-sheet.  Her will was religiously observed.  ...Letter of Sir Alex Macdonald in behalf of his kinsman.)

Under the conduct of a trusty guide Charles arrived at Portree, fourteen Scotch miles from Mugstot, whither Flora Macdonald, Kingsburgh, and Mac Kechan had already repaired. There the little party took an affectionate leave of that beloved Prince, who after what they had ventured for his sake had become doubly dear to them. "For all that has happened," said Charles, as he bade adieu to Flora, "I hope, Madam, we shall meet at St. James's." It was not his destiny, however, to see any of the party again: "and he was afterwards heard to express the greatest regret that he could not have a Macdonald with him to the last." The further adventures of the royal fugitive have nothing to do with our narrative; they are amply chronicled in more general histories, as forming a link in the chain of disasters which connected the fate of the entire House of Stuart: suffice it here to say, that, aided by other faithful adherents to whom Flora relinquished her trust, Charles Edward had finally the good fortune to effect his escape into France: let us return to those who had shared in his perils, and many of whom suffered for their allegiance. Of the number were Clanranald and his lady, who after in temporary imprisonment were released and permitted to return to Scotland. The gallant O'Neil, taken only a few days after he quitted the side of Charles, would have suffered the greatest indignities according to a sentence passed on him, but for the timely interference of a Lieutenant of Scottish Fusileers. Kingsburgh, a severe sufferer for his loyalty, was thrown into prison and tried: upon his examination an allusion being made to the opportunity he had lost of making his own fortune and that of his family forever

by securing the price of 50,000l. put on the capture of Prince Charles, he nobly replied, 'Had I gold and silver piled heaps upon heaps to the bulk of yon huge mountain, that mass could not afford me half the satisfaction I find in my own breast from doing what I have done." He survived his liberation, which he obtained in 1747, as many as twenty-five years. The faithful Neil Mac Kechan, who parted from the Prince at the same time as his mistress, escaped afterwards to France, where he rejoined the Prince. To conclude with her whose name has been immortalized by her loyalty: Flora Macdonald, after leaving the Prince with his friends at Portree, returned immediately and in safety to Armadale. She had not been above eight or nine days there, when she was required to attend one Macdonald, whom MacLeod of Paliscar had employed to examine her. She set out in obedience to the summons, but had not gone far when she was seized by an officer and a party of soldiers, who carried her immediately on board the Furnace, Captain Furguson. General Campbell was on board, and commanded that the young lady should be used with the utmost civility; that she should be allowed a maid-servant, and every accommodation the ship could afford. Such was the respect which the conduct of this young woman commanded even from her enemies! Finding that the boatmen she had employed for the Prince's escape had told everything, Flora acknowledged the whole truth to General Campbell. Three weeks after, the ship being near her mother's, she was permitted to go on shore with a guard to take leave of her friends: she obtained another protector in Admiral Smith, whose ship soon after came into Leith Road. Thence removed from place to place till November 28th, 1746, she was put on board the Royal Sovereign, lying at the Nore. After five months imprisonment on ship-board she was

transported to London, where she was confined in a messenger's house till July, 1747, and then discharged without being asked a question.  Flora is said to have been indebted to the intercession of Frederick Prince of Wales for her release. She was under the protection of Lady Primrose for a short time in London, who provided a post-chaise to convey her back to Scotland, and desired her to choose any friend whom she pleased to accompany her thither. On which she selected the gallant Malcolm MacLeod, her successor as guide to the Prince, and who had materially aided in his escape. He too had been apprehended, but sufficient evidence could not be procured against him. "So," said he, with a triumphant air, "I went to London to be hanged, and returned in a post-chaise with Miss Flora Macdonald." While in London, a collection had been made for Flora by some Jacobite ladies, amounting to nearly 1,500l. She subsequently became the wife of the son of Kingsburgh, and went with him to America. During the civil War there they returned to Scotland together, and both died in their native Isle of Skye. The decease of Flora took place March 4th; 1790. She was then in her seventieth year. At the time of Dr. Johnson's visit to the Isle of Skye our heroine was residing at Kingsburgh with her husband, and he paid them a visit: he was accompanied by Mr. Boswell on this occasion. The latter describes Kingsburgh as "the complete figure of a gallant High­lander," aud enlarges on the hospitality of their reception. He says, "By and by supper was served, at which there appeared the lady of the house, the celebrated Miss Flora MacDonald.  She is a little woman, of a genteel appearance, and uncommonly mild

and well bred." Dr. Johnson himself describes her in a letter to Mrs. Thrale thus: " She must then have been a very young lady; she is now not old; of a pleasing person and elegant behaviour." In the national ballads of her country she is described as the "beautiful Flora." She became the mother of five sons, who all held commissions under the reigning sovereigns, and of two daughters, one of whom lived to a great age, inheriting her mother's features and principles

A Few Facts About Flora MacDonald

Flora MacDonald was born in 1722 at Milton, South Ulster, Inverness, Scotland; the daughter of Ranald MacDonald and Marian Benbacula MacDonald.  She married Allan MacDonald of Kinsburgh on November 6, 1750 at Armadlae, on the Isle of Skye.  Allan was born in 1729 at Kinsburgh; the son of Allan Senior and Florence Nicholson. The couple had seven children: Charles MacDonald - Was born on November 22, 1751 and died on March 2, 1795 in Flodigarry on the Isle of Skye.  He was a Captain with the Queen's Rangers, who also spent some time in Halifax before returning home.  He married Isabel Trottindish in 1787. Anne MacDonald - Was born on February 18, 1754 at Flodigarry and died in 1834 in Halifax, Nova Scotia. She married Major Alexander MacLeod and the couple remained in Halifax after the war. Alexander MacDonald - Was born on February 21, 1755 at Flodigarry and died in battle in 1780, during the American Revolutary War. Ranald MacDonald - Was born in 1756 and died at sea during the American Revolutionary War in 1780. James MacDonald - Was born on Novemebr 30, 1757 at Flodigarry.  He returned home to Flodigarry after the war, where he died in 1807. John MacDonald - Was born on November 30, 1759 at Flodigarry.  He became a colonel in the MacDonald's Fencibles and served during the American Revolutionary War.  He later moved to Exeter in Devonshire, England; where he died on August 16, 1631. Francis "Fanny" MacDonald - Was born on May 6, 1766 and died unknown.  Allen and Flora spent several years in Halifax, before returning to Isle of Skye, where she died on March 4, 1790.  Allan followed on September 20, 1792.

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