Leith, Friday, June 15th, 1750. Mr Hugh
MacDonald Bro-
ther to the LairdLord of Moror of Clanra-
nald’s Family, favoured me ^R:RobertF:Forbes with a Visit,
&and told me, that, when the Prince came
first upon the Coast of [] Scotland,
he himself was in EdrEdinburgh, &and that ^in return-
ing to the Highlands he happened to
meet with MacDonald of Kinloch-
moydart crossing the Water of Lochy,
who asked him, “What News?”–”No
“News at all, have I,” Said Mr Hugh.
–” Then (Said Kenlochmoydart) I’ll
“give you News. You’ll see the Prince
“this Night at my House.”–”What
“Prince do you mean?” said Mr Hugh.
– “Prince Charles,” said Kenlochmoy-
dart.–”You are certainly joking (said
“Mr Hugh) I cannot believe you.”–
Upon this Kenlochmoydart assured him
of the Truth of it.– “Then (said Mr
“Hugh) what Number of Men has he
brought along with him?”–”Only Se-
“ven,” Said Kenlochmoydart.– “What Stock
“of Money &and Arms has he brought with him 1568 (1568)
“him then?” said Mr Hugh.–”A very
“Small Stock of wither,” said Kenlockmoy-
dart.– “What Generals, or Officers fit
“for commanding, are with him?” said Mr
Hugh.– “None at all,” replied Ken-
lochmoydart. –Mr Hugh said, he did
not like the Expedition at all, &and was a-
fraid of the Consequences.– “I can-
“not help it. (Said Kenlochmoydart) If
“the Matter go wrong, then I’ll certainly
“be hanged; for I am engaged already.
“I have no time to spare just now, as
“I am going with a Message from
“the prince to the Duke of Perth.”–
Then they took Leave &and parted.

When Mr Hugh MacDonald came to Ken-
lochmoydart, he met there with Angus
MacDonald, Banker (Brother to Ken-
lockmoydart) who told him, that the
prince was still on Board in Loch-
row, if he pleased; but that he behovedbehooved to
take no notice of him at all in Quality
of a Prince, as he was known to none
of the Crew, with whom he passed for
a Monsieur L’Abbee being in the Ha-
bit of One.

Next Day Angus &and Mr Hugh MacDo-
nalds went on Board the Vessel in
Lochnannuagh, when the Prince hap-
pened to be above Deck, to whom Mr Hugh 1569 (1569)
Hugh made up, saluttingsaluting him as an
AbbeeAbbey, welcoming him to Scotland, ask-
ing how he liked the Country, &andc.–
The Prince soon learning what Mr
Hugh was, went to the Cabin, desir-
ed Mr Hugh to be brought to him, informing
him upon what Design he had come.
Upon this Mr Hugh paid his Respects
to him as to a Prince, &and begged, he
would be exceedingly cautious, &and keep
himself very private, as the Garrison
at Inverlochie was not far off, &and the
Campbells in the Neighbourhood there-
of, who (all of them) would be too
ready to take him, &and give him up
to his Enemies, &andc. “I have no Fear
“about that at all,” said the Prince.

In talking about the Expedition
Mr Hugh suggested his own Fears as
to the Event, &and hinted, that he was a-
fraid, the prince would find it the
most eligible Course to return again
to France, &and wait a more favoura-
ble Opportunity, as he had brought
no Forces along with him, &andc.

The Prince said, He did not chusechoose to
owe the Restoration of his Father to Fo-
reigners, but to his own Friends, to whom
he was now come to put it in their
power to have the Glory of that Event. And, 1570 (1570)

And as to returning again to France
Foreigners should never have it to say,
that he had thrown himself upon his
Friends, that they turned their Backs
upon him, &and that he had been forced
to return from them to foreign parts. In
a Word, if he could get but six stout
trusty Fellows to join him, he would
chusechoose far rather to sculkskulk with them
among the Mountains in Scotland than
to return to France.

Young Clanranald &and Allan MacDonald,
Senior, (Brother to Kenlochmoydart) had
been dispatched by the Prince to Sir A-
lexander MacDonald &and the LairdLord of
MacLeod; &and when they returned with
their absolute Refusal, &and with Instruc-
tions from them to importune the Prince
to return, then Friends became more
pressing than ever in persuading a
Return to France; insomuch, that the
Few that had come along with the
Prince(SrSir Thomas Sheridan not ex-
cepted) joined him in urging him to
return. __ The Prince was single in
the Resolution of landing. __ Mr Hugh
MacDonald observed to the Prince, that SrSir
Alexander MacDonald’s &and the LairdLord of
Macleod’s Refusal would make many
others backward, that liked the Cause
well enough, &and would throw a great Damp 1571 (1571) Damp upon the Design. In this he was
Supported by all present. But the
Prince still insisted in his Resolution,
&and gave a;ways the same Answer as
above.

Dr Archibald Cameron came from
his Brother, Lochiel, to urge the
Prince to return, &and was very positive,
that Lochiel would not join. To him
the Prince gave likewise the Same
Answer, &and desired to know of MacDo-
nald younger of Scotus^house (of Glengary’s
Family) who had come of himself to
pay his Respects to the Prince, if he
would go a Message from him to Loch-
iel, &and endeavour to persuade Lochi-
el to do his Duty. Young Scotus^house com-
plied, &and succeeded so well, that he
brought Lochiel along with him to Bo-
radale, the Prince being ( by that Time)
landed.

When Mr Hugh MacDonald saw the
Prince positive (before leaving the
ship) to make a Trial of what could
be done, he importuned his young
ChiftainChieftain to go ashore immediately,
&and raise as many Men as might be
Sufficient to guard the Prince’s per-
son, ^&and to preserve him from being Sur
prizedsurprised by any small Party of Red
Coats or Campbells, that would attempt to 1572 (1572)
to make Him Prisoner; for it must
be remarked, that Sir Alexander Mac-
Donald &and the LairdLord of MacLeod en-
deavoured to procure a promise from
young Clanranald not to join, and
indeed they prevailed so far, as to
make him backward enough in
joining; but Mr Hugh MacDonald
&and other Friends joined in persuading
him to consider the Urgency of the the
Case, &and to consult the Safety of the
Prince’s Person; to which he listened,
&and immediately raised his Following
upon the Continent.]

As Mr Hugh MacDonald had
gone off for France, in 1746, at the
same Time (though not in the same
Ship) with the Prince, I asked him
about the particular Time of their
setting Sail. He said, they weighed
Anchor about✝, 2 at Night of Septr.September
19th, or about X, in the Morning of
the 20th.

June 20th, 1750, at 10 o’ Clock in the Morning,
I was with Mr Hugh MacDonald in his won
Room in EdrEdinburgh, &and read my Prima Cura (which
is to be found among my papers) of the preced-
ing Narrative in his Hearing, &and he approved
of it as true &and exact.