Series 2 > Origins of the 'Forty-five

PRINCE CHARLES’S WANDERINGS
battle of Colloden—gentlemen of both Glengarry’s and
Clanranald’s families. During the eight days he stayed
in that country, he had daily conferences with young
Clanranald, Colonel MacDonald of Barisdale, and several
others of both families, treating which was the safest
place, and surest method for his concealment. After
they had satisfied him as to that, they protested, and
assured him he should have nothing to fear, that they
would stand by him if he only would stay among them
to the last man. With this he seemed to be very much
satisfied, till Mr. O’Neil1 and O’Sulivan,2 by the advice
of Mr. Allan MacDonald, and one Donald MacLeod, of
Galtrigil,3 perswaded him in a private council, to quite
that country for good, and all; and as there was no
appearance of succeeding further, and that they lost all
hopes of gaining the point they once undertook, it was
better to run for the Lewis, where Donald promised to
procure a ship for them as far as the Orkneys, and there,
he assured them to find a ship to transport them to France.
1 Captain Felix O’Neille, born at Rome, son of a brigadier in the Spanish
service. He served in the Spanish army until 1744, when he joined Rally’s
French-Irish regiment as captain. Was sent to Scotland with despatches from
the Due de Richelieu in March 1746. After Culloden he accompanied Prince
Charles during the first two months of his wanderings and shared his dis¬
comforts. He was captured in Benbecula by Captain John Ferguson of the
Furness. He was confined in Edinburgh Castle until February 1747, when
he was released on parole and subsequently exchanged (Scots Mag., ix. 92) He
wrote a journal of his wanderings, which is printed in The Lyon, i. 102, 365.
2 John William O’Sullivan; b. in Co. Kerry, 1700; educated in France and
Rome for the priesthood, and, it is said (Fielding’s True Patriot), took orders.
Entered the family of Marechal de Maillebois as tutor, afterwards secretary.
Joined the French army and served under Maillebois in Corsica; afterwards
in Italy and on the Rhine. Recommended to D’Argenson as an officer ‘ who-
understood the irregular art of war better than any other man in Europe, nor
was his knowledge in the regular much inferior to that of the best general
living.’ Entered the household of Prince Charles about 1744; accompanied him
to Scotland and acted as adjutant-general, as well as private adviser, during the
campaign. Was with the Prince in his wanderings until 20th June. Escaped
to France in a French cutter. Knighted by the Chevalier about Christmas 1746,
and created by him a baronet of Ireland 1753. Date of death not ascertained.
8 Donald Macleod of Gualtergil, on Dunvegan Loch, Skye, the faithful
‘ Palinurus’ of Prince Charles from 21st April to 20th June. He was captured
in Benbecnla in July, and taken to London in Ferguson’s ship ; released June
’47 ; died at Gualtergil in May ’49, aged 72. His wife was a sister of Mac¬
donald of Borradale and a first cousin of Flora Macdonald.