Culloden Papers
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To HECTOR FORBES OF CULLODEN this work is (by kind permission) gratefully dedicated. To my Sister, MYRA K. G. WARRAND, this volume is affectionately dedicated, in remembrance of our happy childhood, at Ryefield, Bught and Culloden. ^ \\ C L-0\\r b A\ORE CULLODEN PAPERS EDITED BY DUNCAN WARRAND, AVA., F.5.A. VOL. V. FEBRUARY 1746 TO DECEMBER 1747. 499482 INVERNESS : ROBERT CAHRUTHERS & SONS, 1930. PREFACE. With the issue of this volume the Editor's task is ended, except for the somewhat remote possibility that "Still More Culloden Papers" may some day emerge from a more detailed arrangement of the residue and from other documents found, while this work was in progress. How nearly the whole collection once came to destruction has already been mentioned in the Foreword to Volume I., and the following correspond- ence throws additional light upon that subject. Copy Letter Messrs MacQueen and Macintosh, W.S., to H. Ft. Duff, Esquire, dated 30th April 1819. Mr Blackwood seems impressed with the belief that Messrs Cadell and Davies acquired an unconditional right to the docu- ments lodged by you with them; and that this right may be now exercised by making them up in a new publication, with any other papers of interest connected with Scotland. Mr B. in- tends to consult an eminent literary character of this place and to request him to make a fit selection for publication under the title of "Scotch Papers." Being informed as to the nature of the contract between you and Messrs Cadell and Davies, we did not offer any observa- tions on the scheme developed by Mr Blackwood which has for a separate object to give the public several documents received from you, but which Messrs G. and Davies did not insert in the Culloden Papers. If the designs entertained by Mr Blackwood meet with the approbation of yourself and Culloden, some valuable "additions might be made to the collection, and letters from Lord Lovat, of a very characteristic tenor, might be received from a friend of ours here, addressed to neighbouring lairds. You probably know that Lord Hardwicke has several of the President's letters, and other original documents of value. He will, however, take no interest in Mr B.'s scheme till we ascertain Culloden's and your sentiments. We are etc. viii. PREFACE. Mr Duff to Macqueen and Mclntosh dated Muirtown, 3rd May 1819. In answer to your letter just received the following are the pre- cise facts in question. In February 1812 I happened to dine at Culloden, and seeing before dinner a large parcel of letters, was told that they had been brought down by the gamekeeper for coifing [wadding for guns]. I at once said that it was downright murder to use such valuable papers so; and Culloden said I was welcome to all in the house, and next day sent a cart full of boxes and sacks. I had at least thirty years before heard Dochfour speak of such papers as being once at Culloden; and I had no doubt the papers sent were those alluded to. Tn August 1812 I went to London and agreed for the publication of 1000 copies; but it was part of the agreement, in writing still here, that all the originals should be returned by 1st April 1813, when the work was to be out. The work did not come out till April 1815. Messrs Cadell and Davies had right to a second edition on paying me 75 sterling; but certainly not to use the papers otherwise. When I gave over the papers and some bound books, they were in 14 portfolios arranged, and I had put one apart with the most curi- ous letters, that facsimiles might be taken; but I find that no use in the publication was made of Lord Dnndas's, Lord Peterboro's or the Marquis of Argyle's, tho' certainly very curious and I must judge they have been made subservient to some other pur- pose. I may add that I have even found the gentlemen I had to do with in London very unlike what I expected very uncivil and haughty etc. As I believe I am not known to be the Editor of this work, tho' I wrote the introduction, preface and notes, I have had no correspondence, and it is quite new to me the fact that Lord Hardwicke had any of the President's letters, tho' many must exist that were not at Culloden in copy; as except on particular public business I do not think the President kept copies of his letters. It is somewhat strange that Messrs Cadell and Davies find the papers now of value. It was their constant theme that they were not, and in fact they spoiled the publica- tion by curtailing at first and then making an addenda they altered my preface in that part to excuse this; tho' they had all the papers in due time and made the first print from an idea PREFACE. ix. (I could not get out of their heads) that the publication could hardly be short enough to answer its value. I am etc (signed) H. R. Duff. [P.S.] Whether more than 1000 copies were published I know not. Mr Blackwood's suggestion may come from London by way of having the benefit of further use of the papers without paying me 75. I assure you I made no profit by what they first paid me 525. Of this 130 went in purchases for Gulloden in- cluding a tea-urn of silver the rest did not more than pay my journey to London and two months detention there or more. The papers were fully gifted to me without any reserve. Messrs MacQueen and Macintosh to Mr Duff dated 5 May 1819. By this afternoon's delivery we had the honour of receiving your letter of the 3rd current and beg to express our acknowledgments for the trouble you have been pleased to take, in detailing the cir- cumstances under which you came to be possessed of the Cul- loden papers. We had not the slightest intention of questioning your right to these documents, but having ascertained Mr Black- wood's views, it seemed a duty incumbent on us to render you aware of them, in order that the papers might not be employed in any purpose adverse to your inclinations, and having a tend- ency to compromise the value of the documents and perhaps the dignity of the family in some degree, by mixing up its memoirs with very opposite materials. Mr Blackwood's plan is not so far advanced that we can talk of it with certainty, but seeing it in progress we could not remain indifferent to the interests to which we have referred. It appears clearly to us that under your contract with Cadell and Davies, Blackwood is not entitled to execute his present design. He may publish a second edition of the previous collec- tion, but it must be much in the same style and of the same materials. Their unhandsome conduct to you does not merit in- dulgence, and there would be no propriety in allowing them enlarge their gains (after doing you so much injustice) by a misapplication of the documents. As Gadell and Davies were bound to restore the papers to you in April 1813, we conceive that their right to a second *. PREFACE. edition cannot extend beyond the documents formerly published. In short we think that if considerable profit is to arise from a second publication, it ought to belong to you as a small recom- pense for the interesting and admirable introduction and other information, under the auspices of which you introduced the documents to the world. We are etc. It is perhaps only fair to Messrs Gadell and Davies to remark that Major Duff is said to have been of a somewhat irascible temperament, and the present editor possesses some volumes which once belonged to l him bearing the suggestive title 'Miseriae Legales." If there was indeed any discourtesy on the part of his publishers, the article from the pen of Sir Walter Scott, which appeared in the "Quarterly Review" for January 1816, must in so critical an age have made some amends. It is hoped that the index now given to the original volume may help further to en- hance its value. For the present volume it has been necessary to draw additional material from the State Papers preserved in the Public Record Office, without which some of the letters would have been too obscure. The Editor's thanks are due once more to the Proprietors and Staff of the "Inverness Courier," and to all others who have in any way assisted him in the production of the volumes. "Everything belonging to the Highlands of Scotland." wrote Sir T W alter Scott, "has of late become peculiarly interesting." The lapse of more than a hundred years has served only to quicken that interest; and there is gradually arising a far greater understanding of the history of our country from the reading of original letters and documents rather than from the study of obsolete histories. CONTENTS. Page Preface ........................ vii. Introduction ........................ xiii. VIM. The '45 From February to April 1746. (1) The Retreat to Sutherland ............ 1 (2) In Sutherland .................. 13 (3) The Taking of Dornoch ............ 39 (4) The Retreat to Skye ............... 47 (5) A Note on the Chisholm (Part i.) ......... 52 (6) In Skye ..................... 55 (7) A Note cm the Chisholm (Part ii.) ...... 62 (8) The President Returns ............ 64 IX. From April 1746 to December 1747.