'JACOBITE MEMOIRS OF TI1E REBELLION* OF 1745.

EVEN at this late day, a good history of the last Scottish Rebellion is wanted. Here are the raw materials, on the Jacobite side of the question, from which it might be composed, arranged in consecu- tive order. The volume before us commences with an account of the Pretender's voyage to Scotland, and his subsequent movements till he joined the army at Perth. A narrative of the marches of the Highland forces, or rather a sketch of the campaign, is printed from the manuscript of Lord GEORGE MURRAY, the Commander- in-Chief; an account of the battle of Culloden is given by Colonel KER. Very full details of the Prince's wanderings and escapes, and of the barbarities committed by the Duke of CUMBERLAND and his army, arc given by the individual actors or sufferers; and to complete the whole, the household book of the Prince is printed .entire, with occasional observations by his man of accounts. The Reverend ROBERT FORBES, to whose patient drudgery the public are chiefly indebted for this collection, was a Minister of the disgraced Episcopal Church of Scotland, and a stanch Jacobite. Soon after the breaking out of the Rebellion, Mr. FORBES, very .luckily for himself, excited the suspicion of Government, was .arrested, and kept in durance vile till the troubles were over. Prevented from figuring as an actor in the cause, he devoted himself to the task of bequeathing a correct account of it to poste- ✓ ity. His influence among his party as a persecuted political eaint, and his connexion during his imprisonment with many of the active insurgents who from time to time shared his confine- ment, gave him access to the best sources of information ; his unwearied zeal supplied him with spirits to undergo the labour of collecting and arranging it ; a certain singleness and formality of mind, with an overweening sense of the importance of every thing ,connected with the faith he professed, secured accuracy, and a fulness more exact than entertaining. His manuscript collections eventually filled ten volumes : they were regularly transcribed with " a neatness, distinctness? and accuracy, which nothing can exceed," upon single sheets of paper, which were bound up when

sufficiently bulky to form a book the series was " bound in

black, with black-edged leaves, anti stylled, in allusion to the woes of Scotland fur her exiled race of princes, The Lyon in Mourning." Excepting the papers of Lord GEORGE MURRAY and Colonel KER, the contents of the volume before us consist of a selection made from the collection of the titular Bishop.

The most valuable part of the book is the narrative of Lord Gseaue Mum:1,v; which gives a clear and consistent, though a somewhat feeble, account of the two campaigns. In character,

the STUART Commander-in-Chief seems to have borne a consider- able resemblance to his later countryman Sir JOHN MOORE. Skil-

ful in all that concerns the administrative part of an army, and

like all men strictly attentive to that which they thoroughly un- derstand, his abilities and care as an able quartermaster and com-

missary not only facilitated the movements of the host, but kept it together, preserved regularity, and deservedly acquired for it a character for discipline and order, which much more regularly-ap- pointed armies even at the present day are frequently far from maintaining. His prudence guarded against surprise; his mili- tary skill took advantage of every opportunity which the mis- management, supineness, and military ignorance of' his opponents

afforded him (at Preston, indeed, he seems to have trusted rather sanguinely to these qualities in COPE); and perhaps to him alone was the Pretender indebted for the extraordinary flood of success which for a time attended his rash undertaking. Lord GEORGE has indeed been accused of treachery ; and in one or two instances, his caution might, to ignorant and headstrong men, wear the ap- pearance of timidity : besides, he was perhaps better suited for the conduct of a regular military expedition, than for the desperate enterprise in which his fidelity induced him to embark, where only a fortunate and comprehensive rashness could have stood a chance of ultimate success. Yet this opinion is scarcely warranted by the facts. The most devoted adherents of the Prince implored him to return when he landed ; they embarked in the undertaking with the consciousness of men doomed to destruction ; some, more selfishly zealous, refused to rise till CHARLES had given them se- curity for the full value of' their estate, in ease the attempt should prove abortive (how they expected to realize the securitv, does not appear); and some of his party refused to stir at all. The wonder was, not that he eventually failed, but that he was not crushed at once. The adventure was aptly characterized by VOLTAIRE, as one to excite the ardour of,the brave, the fears of the timid, and the pity of the wise. It has been supposed, indeed, that bad the Highland army marched upon London front Derby, the house of Brunswick might have ceased to reign : and the miscarriage has been attributed to the dissensions and jealousies of the High- landers. Let ILIS hear Lord GEORGE MURRAY DNB the point.

" I got to Derby about mid-day, on the Stli December, and his Royal Highness, with the other column, came that evening. Next day, wheu most of the officers were at the Prince's quarters, it was considered what next was to be resolved on. We did not doubt but that the Duke of Cumberland would be that night at Stafford, which WaS as near to London as Derby. Mr. Wade was coming up by hard marches the east road ; ankl we knew that an artily, at least equal to any of these, would be formed near London, consisting of guards and horse, with troops which they would bring front the coast where they were quartered ; so that there would be three armies made up of regular troops that would surround us, being above thirty thousand tnen, whereas we were not above five thousand fighting men, if so many; that upon a misfortune, it could not be supposed one man could escape ; for the militia, who had not appeared much against us hitherto, would, upon our defeat, possess all the roads, and the eneuky's horse would surround us on all hands; that the whole world would blame us as being rash and foolish, to venture a thing that could not succeed, and the Prince's person, should he escape being killed in the battle, must fall into the enemy's hands."

Dismissing Lord GEORGE'S memorial, the remainder of the volume is of more interest to the antiquary and the historical student than to the general reader. As we have said already, the contents are only the materials of history. The acting parties who have furnished the information were mostly in subordinate situations, or of narrow views, and who attached an equal import- ance to all kinds of facts : the sufferers, or the witnesses of suffer- ings, spoke merely to the details of cruelty or robbery—shocking enough—which they themselves saw : the relations are frequently given in their own words, and are of course homely : those of the good Bishop himself, however, are not very greatly beyond them. His scrupulous zeal for the whole truth induced him to record every thing without distinction : the same facts frequently figure in different narratives, and sometimes cause a tedious repetition : he had not the force of style or the graces of diction necessary to give variety to the narration of similar circumstances, interest to minute events, or effect to the more striking. The reading, how- ever, is gossipy, and not tasking; it is even pleasant pursued at intervals. To local readers, too, it will possess an adventitious in- terest, which it has not for us Southrons.

The barbarities committed by the Duke cf CUMBERLAND and his army occupy a large space in the volume, and are dwelt upon by Mr. CHAMBERS in his Preface. They seem to have been more disgraceful, unparalleled, and objectless, than is even generally supposed. We speak not of military executions and systematic severity : the leaders of a rebellion must expect death, their sub- ordinates run the risk of . it; and a disaffected country must look for harsh and rigorous measures. Neither do we allude to the plundering and violence committed by individuals, or detached parties : for these things are the concomitants of all warfare; and in a rebellious district, political hatred is added to the natural pas- sions of ignorance, brutality, and recklessness, breaking out from, e'eie le >traiat. But thesvounded were massacred on the field of battle, by formal orders ; the prisoners were starved, or maltreated into diseases or to death. The surgeons were deprived of their in- struments, ICA their professional humanity should induce them to disobey orders, and dress such Jacobite prisoners as had been in- jured. it is stated that a disabled gentleman was shot on the field by a common soldier, at the bidding of the Duke, after two officers had successively refused to obey his commands. • Specific directions were issued for plundering property, or burning particular houses ; and—worse than cruelty in the eyes of gen- tlemanly persons—" the Butcher" and his band are accused of stealing from the houses where they took up their quarters. Against the Duke, however, the charge goes no furthn than suspicion : there is no proof even of his not giving drink-money, only he gave less than the Pretender. But the following specific evidence seems conclusive against the Staffand against HAWLEY ; a soldier of fortune, who retained in his elevation the coarseness, and the lax morality more especially with regard to mean: and luum, which distinguished that class of men in that age. The extract is from a narrative by Mrs. GORDON : and it may he added, that the General, after six weeks' stay; " did not give either of the maids a farthing; but the Duke gave them four guineas." The Major WOLF who shows himself such an able assistant is not, Mr. CHAMBERS says, the WoLFE of Quebec.

In the month of February 1745-6, George Middleton of Seton, Esq. came to nie, at my house in Aberdeen, and asked me what spare rooms I had in the Louse; fur the English army was come, and some of them must be quartered in it. I told him I had but one room to spare, and that I would lie in that my- self, and give up my own chamber, if he pleased. He then said he would bring Colonel George Watson to be in my house ; and that the Colonel was an old friend of his father's and his, and would protect me from any insult. At night, Mr. Duff came to me, and brought Colonel Watson with him, who supped with me, and lay in the house that night. Next morning, the Colonel went out early, and returned in the forenoon, with Provost Robinson, and my next neighbour, Mr. Thomson. They then told one the Colonel had been to see the apartment that was designed for the Duke of Cumberland, in the College; but did not think it would do : and had, therefore, fixed on my house for him. Upon my telling him it would be very inconvenient to me to go out of the house, because, as the army would fill the town, I could not tell where to get a lodging ; he said that, if I could any way find a lodging, he would take care that nobody should be quartered in the house I went to. I told him that I was not able to find linen and other necessaries for so many people as were to come with the Duke of Cumberland. He said that they would bring every thing with them ; that I should lock up every thing I had ; that my kitchen furniture must be put by, for they would bring their own ; that I might put it into some of the cellars, not any of which need to be left open, except one for them to put coals into ; that I might lock up my linen, &c. in a closet; and that I must leave two maids, to do the work of the house. He added that they would not come till the next night ; that they would not stay above two days, or three at the roost ; and that I might make myself very easy, for every thing would be more safe than if I was to stay in the house myself; and if any damage was done for any thing, it should be made good to me. After this, Provost Robinson arid many other of my friends did, during that day, congratulate me on this affair, as they thought the Duke of Cumberland's being in my house would be a protection to me. The next morning, which was Thursday, the Duke of Cumberland came to my house, attended by General Hawley and several others. The General lay in my bed ; and, very early on Friday morning, sent a messenger to the house where I was, demanding all my keys. My answer was, that any maid was gone to market, and that, as MIMI as she returned, she should carry them to him ; but, before she did return, I received a second message, that lie would have them that minute, or he would break open all the locks. I then sent bin, the keys, by his messenger. That evening, one Major Wolfe came to me; and, after asking me if I was Mrs. Gordon. and desiring a gentleman who was with rue to go out of the room, he said, that he was come to tell me that, by the Duke of Cumberland and General Hawley's order, I was deprived of every thing I had, except the clothes upon my back.. After delivering this message, he said, that General Hawley having inquired into my character of several persons, who had all spoke very well of me, and had told him I had had no hand in the Rebellion and that I was a stranger there, with- out any relations in that country, be, tile General, therefore, would make in. terest w;th the Duke of Cumberland, that I might have any particular thing that I had a mind to, and could say was my own. I then desired to have my tea; but the Major told me it was very good, and that tea was scarce in the army; so he did not believe I could have it. The same answer was made me when I asked for my chocolate. I mentioned several other things, particularly my china. That, he told me, was, a great deal of it, very pretty, and that they were very fond of china themselves ; but, as they bad no ladies travelled with them, I might, perhaps, have some of it. I then desired to have my pictures. Be said he supposed I would not wish to have them all. I replied, that I did not pretend to name any, except my son's. He asked me if I had a son, where he was? I said I had sent him into the country, to make room for them. To what place? said he. I answered, to Sir Arthur Forbes's. He asked how old my son was? I said, about fourteen. Said he, Then he is not a child, and you will be made to produce him ; and thus we parted. This Major Wolfe was aide- de-camp to General Hawley. The next day, a petition was drawn up and was read to the Duke of Cumber- land, at his levee, by Captain For bee, who was also aide-de-camp to General Hawley; and I was told the Duke said, he would take care I should not be robbed. That day, Major Wolfe came to me again, and told me that the Duke of Cumberland had sent him to me to let me know that my petition had been read to him, and that he would take care that every thing should be restored to me. Notwithstanding this, when I sent to the house to ask for any thing, as, in particular, I did for a pair of breeches for my son for a little tea for myself, for a bottle of ale, for some flour to make bread, beCause there was none to be bought in the town, all was refused me.

Afterwards, bearing that many of my things were packed up, I wrote a letter to General Hawley, and enclosed it in one to Sir Everard Faulkner ; to which Sir Everard sent me this answer,—That he could not deliver my letter to Ge- neral Hawley ; but that he had read it to the Duke, who said he would take care I should have every thing again.

The Duke of Cumberland, General Hawley, &c., staid in my house about six weeks; and the day before General Hawley went away, a person came to me who told me he WtIS the General's own sergeant, and was come, by his order, to say to me that, as my case was very hard, be would take care that every thing that belonged to ore should be put into the hands of Mr. Bruce, the Judge-Ad- vocate, and that I should find every thing as I had left it. But, notwithstanding all these repeated messages, the best of my things were packed up, and actually shipped oft a fortnight before they left my house; and the very morning that General Hawley went away, he had the blankets on which he lay and several other things packed up, and took them with him. That day, I received a lett*/ in the following words, viz. "Madam, I shall begin my letter by returning you thanks for the conveniency your house has been to me of, and in particular fur the use of your young gentleman's room; but I must make you an apology, at the same time, for what necessity obliges me to do. It has not been in ray power to find such accommodations for a field-bed as my present circumstances require. I am thereby forced to occasion you, perhaps, some little inconveniency, by taking with me part of the bedding of your son, viz, the quilt, two blankets; and the pillow ; all which I have bad valued by Ramsay, who has fixed the price at 1/. 14s. Wherefore, I herein enclose two Portugal eighteen-shillings pieces, choosing rather to exceed than fall short of what may he your due. I wish some opportunity may offer wherein I may be of use to you, as I am, with truth, Madam, your Most humble and most obedient servant, Enwaarn Masox." Who this Mr. Mason is, or what post he had, I don't know.

I should have mentioned above, that Major Wolfe did one day bring my son's picture, but without the frame; and he then told me, that General Hawley did with his own hands take it out of the frame, which, was a gilt one, and very handsome. This frame the General left behind him, and I afterwards found it in the house.

I have hereto annexed a list of many of the things that were taken from me.

Alexander Scott, the carpenter, who packed up my things for General Hawley, told me, that he desired the General not to spoil the mahogany bureau, by making use of it to pack china in, and offered to make Lim a box for that purpose ; but tile General refused it. The beds and tables, Ike. that were left behind them, f found very much broke and damaged; and upon the whole, six hundred pounds would not repair niy loss.

The above-mentioned Alexander Scott, the carpenter, told rue, that the bast tea equipage was packed up in part of the mahogany bureau, and was directed to the Duke of Cumberland at St. James's, and that the set of coloured table china was directed in the same manner. The rest of the things were directed to General Hawley, by whose directions the other two boxes were directed to the Duke of Cumberland.

should have molded above, that when they refused to give me some flour, to make sonic bread, my maid insisted on my having it, or some bread, and said she would stay in the room till the Duke of Cumboland sat down to dinner, and would then speak to him for sonic bread for me, as there was none to be bought. They at last threw her a piece of the bottom of a loaf, and when she asked ff that was all they would give me, they answered it was as much as I could eat, for they believed I had not then a very good stomach.

The different accounts show the Pretender in a more favourable view than graver works have hitherto represented hitn: Head- strong, and regardless of the lives and fortunes of his friends, his persistance in the adventure proves him to have been. But he seems to have been kind-hearted and considerate to individuals, even if strangers; his powers of conciliation appear to have been considerable; his animal courage gm-eat; his resources under per- sonal difficulties not small ; and his skill in cookery transcendant. "The Prince," said DONALD MAeLEon, the old Highlander who assisted in his escape, "was the best cook of them all ;" and "ire never knew in all his life any one better at finding out a shift when be happened to be at a pinch ; and that the Prince would some- times sing them a song to keep up their hearts."

Peace to the memory of the STUARTS! Their misfortunes were useless to themselves as a corrective; and, looking especially at the BOURBONS, whether of France or Spain, from Louis the Four- teenth down to Louis Pm Lip, we are tempted to add, useless to others as a warning.