chances were a hundred to one
against him. Every part of the country was overrun with soldiers, every
outlet was watched, and heavy penalties denounced on any boatman who
conveyed a rebel across the Tay and Forth. He prevailed, however, with two
young ladies to ferry him over the Tay; but after a dreadful journey on
foot into Fifeshire, he found the utmost difficulty in getting across the
Forth to Edinburgh. The account of all his negotiations and
disappointments at Dubbiesides, where no fishermen would carry him over;
but where he did at length get carried over by a young gentleman and a
drunken fisher, is very much in the Waverly manner. After being concealed
with an old nurse at Leith, and partly with Lady Jane Douglas at
Drumsheagh—he set out for England as a Scotch pedlar, on a pony. On his
way he encountered a Dick Turpin sort of gentleman, and again a mysterious
personage, who entered the inn where he was near Stamfold, seated himself
at table with him, and after playing away heartily at a piece of cold
veal, began to interrogate him about the rebels in Scotland. Escaping from
this fellow by the sacrifice of some India handkerchiefs, he got to
London, where he lay concealed for a long time amongst his friends—fell
into a very interesting love adventure—and saw many of his comrades pass
his window on their way to execution. On one occasion he was invited by
his landlord as a relaxation, to go and see two rebels executed on Tower
Hill, Lords Kilmarnock and Balmerino! He finally escaped to Holland, in
the train of his friend Lady Jane Douglas; entered into the service of
France, (in 1748) went to Louisbourg in America, and returned to France to
poverty and old age! Such is one recorded life of a Jacobite of the
expedition of forty-five."!
Chevalier Johnstone’s Siege
narratives also mention a French post on the Sillery Heights (at Marchmont,
Wolfefield or at Samos), commanded by an officer of the name