Blair Collection > Celtic magazine > Volume 2

242 THE CELTIC MAGAZINE.
Tlie various hardships Avhich fell to the lot of this gallant lady, in
rescuing the unfortunate Prince, are already Avell known. Her subse-
quent trials, on account of the j)art which she took in the interest of the
Koyal fugitive, were no doubt such as have seldom fallen to the lot of an
unprotected female to endure. She was brought to London (as Avill be
afterwards described), where she was kept as a State prisoner for nearly
twelve months. An Act of Indemnity was eventually passed, by means of
which the brave heroine was set at liberty, and permitted to return to her
native Highland hills. Greater attention could not be paid to any dis-
tinguished lady than was paid to her by aU classes of the nobility, in the
Metropolis and elsewhere ; yet her gentle heart longed for the homely
welcome which she knew awaited her from her friends in Skye, and in
the Long Island. She was, as expressed by the bard of Ledaig, —
'G iai'iaklh dli' ionnsuidh sneaclid nan ard-blieann,
'S creagan corracli tir a' cairdeis,
Ged tlia cluaintean Sliasuinn aillidh,
'S nior gu'm b'fhearr 'bhi measg nan Gaidheal.
'S iomadli buaidh tha, 'Inaidh, riut sinte,—
Buaidhean nach gabli dhomlisa innseadli }
Buaidhean pearsa, buaidheau inntinn,
Baaidbean nach gabh luaidb no sgriobhadh.
Nadur fiachail, fialaidh, finealt',
Ann am pearsa cbuimir, dhiricb ;
Ciidhe blath, le gradh air 'lionadh,
'S caoimhneas tlath do dh'ai'd 's do dh'iosal !
Of these beautiful lines the following free version may be given: —
'Mid the pomp ot huge London her heart still was yearning
For her home in the corrie, the crag, and the g'en;
Though fair be the daughters of England, the fairest
And stateliest walks in the land of the Ben.
What poet may praise her ! her virtues to number,
Would baffle the cunning of pencil and pen
Though fair be the casket, the jewel is faiier,—
The best of true hearts, for the best of good men.
She is comely and kind, and of gracef ulest greeting,
Erect and well-girt, as a Lady should show,
And a heart with warm blood, and a pulse ever beating,
With loving rejjly to the high and the low 1
Before Flora was taken from Skye to the great Metropolis, she had many
difficidties to encounter. In a brief space of time the various movements
of the Prince through Skye, Raasay, and other adjacent localities soon be-
came public ; and the fact of his having been harboured by friendly par-
ties in those quarters soon aroused the energy and zeal of the Government