Stuarts

THE YOUNG CHEVALIER 227
and upwards and under 17 . . . their horse I make 624, but scarce such
as are fit to be called horse : they are so out of order and slender shaped.
The common soldiers are a most despicable crew, being in general low in
stature, and of a wan and meagre countenance, stepping along under their
arms with difficulty, and what they are about seems more of force than
inclination . . . there are several very old fellows who were at the battle
of Sheriffmuir in the last rebellion, and have brought their sons and grandsons
along with them. . . . They tell their friends in Scotland that their army
now consists of 24,000 men, and that neither dike, ditch, nor devil can
turn them."
His portrait of Prince Charles is interesting, and differs in some respects
from others. He says "their Chief is about 5 foot 11 inches high, pretty
strong and well built, has a brown complexion, full cheeks and thickish lips
that stand out a little. He looks more of the Polish man than of the Scottish
breed, for he is nothing like the king they call his grandfather. He looks
very much dejected, not a smile being seen in all his looks, for I walked
a quarter of a mile with him on the road, and afterwards saw him in his
lodgings amongst company."
But if the mien of the Young Chevalier was dejected in the advance
upon Derby, what must have been his looks, and the bitterness of his heart,
when the fatal retreat was urged upon him ? It is only fair to Charles to
remember that this disastrous step was utterly repugnant to him. The night
before it was determined upon he had discussed whether he should enter
London "upon foot or on horseback: in Highland or English dress." After
some hours of stormy debate the next morning, Lord George Murray, backed
by the other officers, advocated a speedy retreat to Scotland.
To these counsels Charles replied, " Rather than go back I would wish
to be twenty feet under ground." Nevertheless, though within one hundred
and twenty-six miles of the capital, with no force between it and them,
" with consternation at St. James's, with the King meditating flight and the
Royal family in tears and swooning," the invaders returned by the way
they came.
Probably both the Prince and his advisers were to blame, if we are to
believe Lord Elcho, who says (after a quarrel, it is true), " His Royal Highness
could not bear to hear anybody differ in sentiment from him, and took a
dislike to everybody that did."
But whilst it was obvious to the Jacobite leaders that there was no