CHAP. II.

Prince Charles's Proclamations on returning to Edinburgh-Results of his Victory at Preston -his Plans and Levies-his Council and Court at Holyrood House-Arrival of French Vessels with Supplies-Duplicity of Lord Lovat-its Unfortunate Results to Himself and to the Prince-Resolution to March into England, which Charles adheres to in Opposition to many of his Advisers-his Arrival at Carlisle-at Preston-at Manchester, where alone he receives an English Reinforcement-Alarm of Government-Resolution of George II. to take the Field in Person—Arrival of the Prince at Derby-his undiminished Confidence of Success, although Surrounded by Government Forces far Superior in Number to his own— Lord George Murray urges the necessity of Retreat, to which the Prince reluctantly Consents.

THE day after the battle of Preston, the Chevalier slept at Pinkie House, near Musselburgh; the next morning he returned to

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Duddingston, and entering the capital, was received with the acclamations of the populace, and all the honours which the official authorities could render. Several proclamations were issued upon his arrival, all of them adapted to influence the popular mind.

He prohibited all rejoicings for the victory, assigning for his reason the loss which had been sustained by his father's misguided subjects. The clergy of Edinburgh were, by another edict, exhorted to resume the exercise of their religious functions, and assured of the Prince's protection. This venerable body sent a deputation to know whether they would be permitted, in the course of divine service, to offer up their prayers for King George. It was answered, on the part of the Chevalier, that to grant the request would be in so far to give the lie to those family pretensions for the assertion of which he was in arms; but that, notwithstanding, he would give them his royal assurance that they should not be called to account for any imprudent language which they might

use in the pulpit. The ministers of Edinburgh seem to have doubted the guarantee, as none of them resumed his charge excepting the Rev. Mr MacVicar, minister of the West Church, who regularly officiated there, under the protection of the guns of the Castle. A number of the Highland officers, as well as the citizens, attended on Mr MacVicar's ministry, in the course of which he not only prayed for King George, but stoutly asserted his right to the throne. This was represented to Charles Edward by some of his followers, as a piece of unjustifiable insolence, deserving of punishment; but the Prince wisely replied, that the man was an honest fool, and that he would not have him disturbed. I do not know if it was out of gratitude for this immunity, but Mr MacVicar, on the following Sunday, added to his prayers in behalf of King George, a petition in favour of the Chevalier, which was word'ed thus:- "As to this young person who has come among us seeking an earthly

crown, do THOU, in thy merciful favour, send him a heavenly one."

A good deal of inconvenience had arisen in consequence of the Banking Companies having retreated into the Castle, carrying with them the specie which supplied the currency of the country. A third proclamation was issued, inviting these establishments to return to the town, and resume the ordinary course of their business; but, like the clergy, the bankers refused to listen to the invitation. They, as well as the clergy, did not probably place much confidence in the security offered.

It is now time to take a more general view of the effects which the battle of Preston, or of Gladsmuir,* as the Jacobites pre

*They affected this name to reconcile the victory to some ancient metrical prophecies, which happen to fix on Gladsmuir as a field of battle in which the Scottish should be victorious :

"On Gladsmuir sall the battle be," saith the Book of Prophecies-Printed by Andro Hart, Edinburgh, 1615.

Gladsmuir is a long mile from the actual place of con

ferred calling it, had produced upon the affairs of the young Adventurer.

Until that engagement, the Chevalier could not be said to possess a spot of Scotland, save the ground which was occupied by his Highland army. The victory had reversed this; and there was no place within the ancient kingdom of his ancestors, except the castles of Edinburgh and Stirling, and the four small garrisons on the Highland chain, which dared disavow his authority and abide by the consequences. It was, therefore, a question of high import to decide in what manner this splendid advantage could be best improved. It was the opinion of many at the time, and has been repeated since, and was, it is said, originally the predominant sentiment of

flict in 1745. Indeed the old soothsayer seems to have had a better judgment for selecting a field of battle than Sir John Cope. Gladsmuir is a large bold open heath, on which his cavalry would have had full room to act, and he himself a commanding situation. It must be always subject of wonder that he did not halt to receive the Highlanders there, instead of cooping himself up in a pinfold at Preston, and waiting for their attack.

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