Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1888-04-25

lowers were dispersed and he was for five
months fugitive, hunted from mountain
and glen, from crag to cave, among the
highlands of Scotland. He at length
found hiding place on the Isle of Uist,
one of the Hebrides, and friend in Laird
Macdonald.
To the house ofthis Laird came his young
kinswoman Flora, in June, 1746, a beauti-
full and romantic girl, fresh from school at
Edinburgh, to visit her relatives. The
island was swarming with soldiers in
search of the Prince, at the head of whom
was Flora's stepfather. The fugitive could
not much longer elude his pursuers. Lady
Macdonald had conceived plan for his es-
cane. but found no assistant willing to
brave the consequences. Flora heard the
plan and became deeply interested. She
had seen the Prince when he and his fol-
lowers rode into Edinburgh.
'sWill you undertake to assist the Prince,
Flora ?" asked Lady Macdonald.
81 will" was the prompt reply.
She was Joined in the perilous enterprise
by a young kinsman, Neill Macdonald
Flora obtained from her stepfather pass
port from the island, with Neill and three
others as boats crew, and Betsy Burke,
stout Irish woman, whom she pretended
to have engaged as a seamstress for her
mother in the Isle of Skye.
Betsy Burke was the Prince in disguise.
On bright afternoon the little party en-
barked from Uist. A terrific storm burst
upon them that night, but they reached
Skye in safety the next morning. Con-
fronted by soldiers on shore, they rowed
eastward and landed near the home OF Sir
Alexander Macdonald. Leaving the Prince
among the rocks, Flora told her secret to
Lady Macdonald, who entertained them all
for the night.
On the following morning Flora accom-
panied the Prince to Portree. She had
conducted him as her servant through
crowds of soldiers and people who were
eagerly seeking him, for reward OF $780,
| 600 had been offered for his arrest. A
small vessel was at Portree ready to con-
yey the fugitive out upon the free ocean
and bear him to the friendly coast of
France. She babe him adieu. The Prince
kissed her and said.
"Gentle. faithful maiden, entertain the
hope that we shall yet meet in the royal
palace"
They never met again. NELL Macdonald
accompanied the Prince to France, where
he married and settled at Sancerre, the
place of long residence of some of
the Clan Macdonald who accompanied
King James to the continent. His son,
born there four years before the birth
of Napoleon Bonaparte, became that great
military leader, the eminent Marshal
Macdonald.
Flora's completely in the escape of the
Prince became known, and she was taken
to London with Macdonald of Kingsburgh,
and others, and cast into the Tower as
prisoner of state, when George IL. asked
her sternly,
CHOW could you dare to succor the
enemy of my crown and kingdom p She
replied, with sweet simplicity,
sit was no more than would have done
for your Majesty had you been in his
place."
Her Romantic story touched the best
hearts of England with sympathy and ad-
miration. It was SO evident that Flora was
not partisan of the Young Pretender nor
of bis religious faith, and that she had act
ed from the generous and benevolent in
pulses of a woman's heart, that she and her
kindred were pardoned and released. The
house wherein she tarried few days after
ward was crowded with the nobility and
gentry of both sexes, who congratulated
her upon her freedom aud poured money
into her lap. Her extreme youth and ra-
diant beauty captivated all hearts. A chaise
and four horses were provided by Lady
Primrose to convey her back to her home;
and SO the fair young girl who went to Lon
don to be hanged as felon, returned 10
state. followed by the blessings of thou
! sands,
Four years after her release Flora mar.
ried Allan Macdonald, the son of the Laird
of Kingsburgh, and not long afterward she
became the mistress of the mansion where
in Prince Charles slept in the Isle of Skye
on the night before his escape to sea.
There 10 1775 she entertained DR.. johnson
and his shadow, Boswell, and allowed them
to occupy the bed in which the Prince slept.
Although she had then been wife more
than twenty years and the mother of sever
al children, DR.. johnson spoke of her as
beautiful woman, of pleasing person and
elegant behavior. Her husband was then
in embarrassed circumstances, and they
contemplated going to join their country
men, who had emigrated in large numbers
to North Carolina. Thither they went in
1774, but failed to find the coveted repose,
as we have observed, and they returned to
Scotland and their beloved Skye.
BENSON ]. LOSING, LID.