Series 2 > Origins of the 'Forty-five

WITH PRINCE CHARLES
203
us. And here it was that I happened to be bedfellow to
ray Colonel, Lord Balmerino in the same bed where
Cumberland afterwards lay, it being in one of the Chief
Provosts’ houses.
When we marched out of Aberdeen, it blew, snowed,
hailed, and froze to such a degree, that few Pictures ever
represented Winter, with all its icicles about it, better
than many of us did that day ; for here men were covered
with icicles hanging at their eyebrows and beards ; and
an entire coldness seizing all their limbs, it may be
wondered at how so many could bear up against the storm,
a severe contrary wind driving snow and little cutting hail
bitterly down upon our faces, in such a manner that it
was impossible to see ten yards before us. And very easy
it now was to lose our companions; the road being bad
and leading over large commons, and the paths being
immediately filled up with drifted snow. However, we
continued marching on till about three in the afternoon,
when my horse overcome by the inclemency of the weather,
fairly gave it up and would carry me no farther : and now
by a little halt I quickly lost my Company, and was obliged
to alight and lead my horse leg-deep in snow ; being upon
a wide common, as it appeared to me, not having seen
all that day’s march scarce a house, tree or bam. I now
expected every moment to perish, as I was quite be¬
numbed and all covered over with snow, and my horse
refused to follow me. At last, unable to proceed any
farther, I sunk down, quite exhausted, upon the snow.
In this dreadful situation, I luckily recollected a little
bottle of spirits, which had been given me by the Provost’s
Lady ; and accordingly tried to put my frozen hand into
my riding-coat pocket to take it out. On taking a draught
of the liquor, I soon found that never repose to the wearied
traveller, never meat to a most ravenous hunger, never
drink to a most burning thirst, could be more refreshing
or agreeable than this was to me; and I should have
finished my bottle, if a reflection had not come into my
head about my poor horse, which seemed to be in as bad
a situation as myself, being one of a delicate and tender