Chapter 12

PICKLE AS A HIGHLAND CHIEF.

1755-1757

Progress of Pickle--Charles's last resource--Cluny called to Paris--The Loch Arkaig hoard--History of Cluny--Breaks his oath to King George--Jacobite theory of such oaths--Anecdote of Cluny in hiding--Charles gives Pickle a gold snuff-box--'A northern --- '--Asks for a pension--Death of Old Glengarry--Pickle becomes chief--The curse of Lochgarry--Pickle writes from Edinburgh--His report--Wants money--Letter from a 'Court Trusty'--Pickle's pride--Refused a fowling- piece--English account of Pickle--His arrogance and extortion--Charles's hopes from France--Macallester the spy--The Prince's false nose--Pickle still unpaid--His candour--Charles and the Duc de Richelieu--A Scottish deputation--James Dawkins publicly abandons the Prince--Dawkins's character--The Earl Marischal denounces Charles--He will not listen to Cluny--Dismisses his servants--Sir Horace Mann's account of them--'The boy that is lost'--English rumours--Charles declines to lead attack on Minorca--Information from Macallester--Lord Clancarty's attacks on the Prince--On Lochgarry--Macallester acts as a prison spy--Jesuit conspiracy against Charles.

As the sad star which was born on the Prince's birth-night waned and paled, the sun of Pickle's fortunes climbed the zenith, he came into his estates by Old Glengarry's death in September 1754, while, deprived of the contributions of the Cocoa Tree Club, Charles fell back on his last resource, the poor remains of the Loch Arkaig treasure. On September 4, 1754, being 'in great straits,' he summoned Cluny to Paris, bidding him bring over 'all the effects whatsoever that I left in your hands, also whatever money you can come at.'

Cluny's history was curious. The Culloden Papers prove that, when Charles landed in Moidart, Cluny had recently taken the oaths to the Hanoverian Government. He corresponded with the Lord President, Duncan Forbes of Culloden, and was as loyal to George II. as possible. But, on August 29, 1745, Lady Cluny informed Culloden that her lord had been captured by the Prince's men. A month later, however, Cluny had not yet 'parted with his commission' in a Highland regiment. {277a} Hopes were still entertained of his deserting the Prince, 'for if Cluny could have an independent company to guard us from thieves, it's what I know he desires above all things.' {277b} Cluny, however, continued faithful to the Jacobite party. Like Lord George Murray, he was a Whig in August, a partisan of the Stuarts in September. They had, these gentlemen, a short way with oaths, thus expressed by one of their own poets:

'Let not the abjuration Impose upon our nation, Restrict our hands, whilst he commands, Through false imagination: For oaths which are imposed Can never be supposed To bind a man, say what they can While justice is opposed.'

Acting on these principles, Cluny joined in the march to Derby, and was distinguished in the fight at