Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1830-04-21

A striking instance of female COM
passion and heroism, pursued with a per-
severance and dexterity which woman's'
feeling heart so often employs for man in.
distress, is related by Sir WALTER
SCOTT in his interesting account of the
escape of Prince Charles Edward. 1t.
is necessary to premise, that this unfor-
tunatc advcnturer, after his defeat at
Cullodcn, and after being driven from
place to place, had taken refuge in the
island Of South Uist, one Of the Hebri-
des where he was received by Clanran-
aid, who was faithful to him in this ex-.
tremity of his misfortune. Charles was
secreted in a forrester's hut of the most
wretched appearance, called Carrodale in
the centre of wildmountain A reward of
C $4,000, upwards of S22O,O0O, was Of
fered for his head, and thousands were
seeking to obtain it. In this state of
things, says SCOTT General Campbell,
returning from Kilda, landed upon South
Uist, with the purpose of searching the
Long Island from South to North, and
he found the MacDonalds of Skye, and
Macleod of Macleod, as also a strong
detachment of regular troops, engaged
in the same service. While these forces,
in number two thousand men, searched
with eagerness the interior of the island
its shores were surrounded with small
vessels of war, cutters, armed boats and
the like. 1t seemed as if the Prince s
escape from search so vigorously pros
scuted was altogether impossible but
the high spirit of a noble minded female
rescued him, when probably every other
means must have failed.
This person was the celebrated Flora
Macdonald she was related to the
Clanranald family, and was on visit to
that chiefs house at Ormaclade, lin South
Uist, during the emergency we speak Of
Her step father was one of Sir Alex
ander MacDonald's clan, an enemy to
the Prince of course, and in the mme-
diate command of the militia of the name
of Macdonald, who were then in South
Uist.
| Notwithstanding her step-father's hos
tility, Flora Mac Donald readily engaged
in plan for rescuing the unfortunate
Wanderer. With this purpose she pro-
cured from her step-father passport
for herself, man servant, and female
servant, who was termed Betty Burke
the part ofBetty Burke being to be act
ed by the Chevclicr in woman's attire
In this disguise, after being repeatedly
in danger of being taken, Charles at
length reached Kilbride, in the Isle of
Skye /; but they were still in the country
of Sir Alexander Macdonald, and, de-
voted as that chief was to the service of
the Government, the Prince was in as
much danger as ever. Here the spirit
and presence ofmind Of Miss FloraNIac
Donald were again displayed in the be-
half of the object, so strangely thrown
under the protection of one of her sex and
age. She resolved to confide the secret
to Lady Margaret Mac Donald, the wife
of Sir Alexander, and trust to female
compassion, and the secret reserve of
Jacobitism which lurked in the heart of
most Highland women.
/ The resolution to con6dc in Lady Mar
garet was particularly hardy, for Sir
Alexander Mac Donald, the husband of
the lady to be trusted with the impor-
tant secret, was, as you will recollect,
originally believed to be engaged to join
the Prince on his arrival, but had de-
clined doing so, under the plea, that the
stipulated support from France was not
forthcoming, he was afterwards induced
to levy his clan on the side of Govern
ment. His men had been at first ad-
ded to Lord Landon's army lin Inverness
shire, and now formed part of those