72 SCOTLAND ILLUSTRATED. 



hundred of his old followers and dependants escorted the money to Edinburgh, 

 to see it safely lodged in the bank. Their first appearance there, says General 

 Stewart, caused no small surprise ; and strong animadversions were made on 

 government for allowing such proceedings. When Macpherson of Clunie was 

 outlawed, and compelled to live for nine years in caves and woods, his people 

 contributed every thing that money could procure for his comfort, cind after 

 his death continued the same noble proofs of sympathy and attachment to his 

 widow and family.* 



In addition to these instances of fidelity and attachment, the following example 

 of heroic devotion awakens the mingled sentiments of regret and admiration. 

 A young gentleman, of the name of Mackenzie, was so remarkable for the 

 resemblance he bore to Prince Charles, that he often succeeded in diverting to 

 the opposite side of the mountains the troops sent in pursuit of the royal fugitive. 

 This he effected by showing his person in such a way as to be seen by the 

 pursuers, and then escaping by the passes or woods through which he could not 

 be quickly followed. On one occasion, having unexpectedly fallen in with a 

 party of troops, he immediately retired, but intimated by his address and manner 

 that he was the grand object of their search. The soldiers eagerly pursued 

 him, stimulated by the near prospect of thirty thousand pounds the reward 

 offered for the prince, dead or alive. Here, however, Mackenzie's usual good 

 fortune forsook him; he was overtaken and shot, exclaiming as he fell, " Villains, 

 you have killed your prince !" Thus personating the character with his last 

 breath, the pursuit was suspended, the prince extricated from immediate danger, 

 and it was not till the head was produced at the next garrison, for the purpose 

 of claiming the reward, that the mistake was discovered. 



Of the many individuals to whom the secret of Prince Charles's concealment 

 was entrusted, was one poor mountaineer, who, on being asked " why he did not 

 give information and enrich himself by the reward of thirty thousand pounds," 

 thus replied : " Of what use would the money be to me ? A gentleman might 

 take it and go to Edinburgh or London, where he would find plenty of people 

 to eat the dinners and drink the wine which it would purchase ; but as for me, 

 if I were such a villain as to commit that crime, I could not remain in my own 

 country, where nobody would speak to me, unless it were to curse me as I 

 passed along the road !" A similar instance has been already recorded of M'lan. 

 Neither the prospect of immediate death, nor the offer of immediate wealth, 

 had any influence over the minds of these poor men in a case where they thought 



Stewart, vol. i. 62. 



