Life of Flora Macdonald and her adventures with Prince Charles

13
part of his attendants should part with the Prince at the
bridge of Faillie, which was done. The gentlemen present,
no doubt, with the concurrence of several other absent ad-
herents, resolved, contrary to the inclination of his Royal
Highness, to meet as soon as possible at Ruthven in Baden-
och, in order, if practicable, to prosecute the cause anew.
After bidding farewell to his faithful friends, he set off for
Stratherrick, accompanied by Sheridan, O'Sullivan, O'Neal,
and ©ne or two others, guided forward by Burke, who was
well acquainted with the route. The country was deplor-
ably desolated. Dwelling-houses and cottages were deserted
by their inmates, who had fled to the rocks and mountains
for shelter from the reputed cruelty of the enemy. The
whole scene seemed to have been visited by the gloom of
death ! Meanwhile the party, crushed with fatigue and
hunger, arrived at the steading of Tordarroch, but found
the dwelling shut up, and no living soul near it. They
then wandered on to Aberarder, and there found matters to
be the same. From Aberarder they moved along to Farra-
line House, where they fared no better. At length with
much ado, they reached Gorthlig House, the residence of
Mr. Thomas Fraser, then acting as manager and factor for
Lord Lovat. It happened at this time that Simon, Lord
Lovat, resided at his factor's house, and very likely made
a point of being present on that memorable day, as by his
instructions, a great feast was in the way of being prepared
to celebrate the expected victory of the Prince that after-
noon on the moor of Culloden. How crest-fallen Lovat
must have been when the Prince had hastily revealed to
him the sad tidings of the day, and the irretrievable ruin of
his person, his prospects, and his family, may be easily im-
agined ! Various accounts are given of the effects the in-
telligence produced on the aged chief. It is said that he