of war in the field; and if the court of London refused to settle a cartel, the Prince was authorized to treat his prisoners in the same manner the Elector of Hanover was determined to treat such of the Prince’s friends as might fall into his hands:  it was urged that a few examples would compel the court of London to comply.  It was to be presumed that the officers of the English army would make a point of it.  They had never engaged in the service but upon such terms as are in use among all civilized nations, and it could be no stain upon their honour to lay down their commissions if these terms were not observed, and that owing to the obstinacy of their own Prince.  Though this scheme was plausible, and represented as very important, the Prince could never be brought into it:  it was below him, he said, to make empty threats, and he would never put such as those into execution; he would never in cold blood take away lives which he had saved in heat of action, at the peril of his own.  These were not the only proofs of good nature the Prince gave about this time.  Every day produced something new of this kind.  These things softened the rigour of a military government, which was only imputed to the necessity of his affairs, and which he endeavoured to make as gentle and easy as possible.’

It has been said, that the Prince sometimes exacted more state and ceremonial than seemed to suit his condition; but, on the other hand some strictness of etiquette was altogether indispensable where he must otherwise have been exposed to general intrusion.  He could also endure, with a good grace, the retorts which his affectation of ceremony sometimes exposed him to.  It is said, for example, that Grant of Glenmoriston having made a hasty march to join Charles, at the head of his clan, rushed into the Prince’s presence at Holyrood with unceremonious haste, without having attended to the duties of the toilet.  The Prince received him kindly, but not without a hint that a previous interview with the barber might not have been wholly unnecessary.  ‘It is not beardless boys,’ answered the displeased Chief, ‘who are to do your Royal Highness’s turn.’  The Chevalier took the rebuke in good part.

On the whole, if Prince Charles had concluded his life soon after his miraculous escape, his character in history must have stood very high.  As it was, his station is amongst those, a certain brilliant portion of whose life forms a remarkable contrast to all which precedes, and all which follows it.

NOTE 32.—­THE SKIRMISH AT CLIFTON

The following account of the skirmish at Clifton is extracted from the manuscript Memoirs of Evan Macpherson of Cluny, chief of the clan Macpherson who had the merit of supporting the principal brunt of that spirited affair.  The Memoirs appear to have been composed about 1755, only ten years after the action had taken place.  They were written in France, where that gallant Chief resided in exile, which accounts for some Gallicisms which occur in the narrative.