Blair Collection > Celtic magazine > Volume 2

310 THE CELTIC MAGAZINE.
himself in these words : — " Flora told me, she thought herself honoured
by my visit ; and I am sure, whatever regard slie bestowed upon me, was
liberally repaid. If thou likest her opinion, thou wilt praise her virtues."
In the morning on which Johnson left the mansion of Kingsburgh,
a slip of paper was found on his toilet table, with these Latin Avords
written in pencil : — Quantum cedat virfutibus aurum ; which Boswell
translated in these terms: — "With virtue \reighed, what worthless trash
is gold !" This was undoubted high praise from the pen of the learned,
but often prejudiced moralist !
Such as feel an interest in this subject will find no small pleasure in
perusing " l^oswell's Journal of a Tour to the Hebrides," in which many-
minute particulars are given relative to the Prince and his friends at Kings-
burgh, as well as to the visit of Johnson to that quarter. That "Journal"
is rendered doubly interesting, by a great variety of learned and valuable
notes which are appended to it, by the powerful, graphic pen of our wor-
thy and learned townsman, I)r Carruthers.
At the time of this visit of Johnson and his friend to the Hebrides,
it could no longer be concealed that Kingsburgh in the face of all his en-
deavours to the contrary, had become greatly embarrassed in his pecuni-
ary matters. This arose from no mismanagement or extravagance on his
part, or on the part of his prudent wife, but from heavy losses whicli Old
Kingsburgh sustained in means and property, owing to the part he took
in the Prince's cause, and to his removal from the personal management
of his affairs by a year's seclusion in Edinburgh. The aged gentleman's
losses and liabilities became great, and, in consequence, he was much dis-
heartened ; and to add to his misfortunes, he was deprived of the remun-
erative management, as factor of his Chieftain's extensive estates.
In these distressing matters, Allan became naturally entangled, as his
father's representative. At that particular period, many respect-
able families from bkye had emigrated to America, owing to a general de-
pression in the price of cattle, and other untoward causes. Allan became
determined to follow his countrymen across the Atlantic, with his wife
and family, in the hope of repairing his fortune, and of rendering himself
independent. The embarrassments of her husband only tended to show
the true nobleness of Flora's character. She who had risked her life with
her Prince was ready and willing to sacrifice everything for a husband's
comfort, and to accompany him to whatever quarter of the world it might
be expected that fortune might yet smile upon the ruined family. Con-
sequently, in the month of August 1774, Kingsburgh and family sailed
from Campbelton, Kintyre, to North Carolina, in the ship Ballol.
They had a favourable voyage to the Western World. As the time
of their departure from Scotland Avas known in Carolina, they were anxi-
ously expected and joyfitlly received on their arrival. Flora's fame pre-
ceded her for years ; and her countrymen, of whom there were hundreds
in the colony, felt proud of her presence among them. Various demon-
strations on a large scale, were made to welcome the far-famed lady to the
American territory. Soon after her landing, a large ball was given in her
honour at Wilmington, Avhere she was gratified by the great attention paid
to her daughter, Aune, then entering into womaiihood, and a young lady