New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-02-07
THE JACOBITE ROMANCE.
SOME PASSAGES IN THE LIFE OF THE
YOUNG PRETENDER.


has no serious reason for existing. Mr. Lang
adds nothing Of moment TO the history of the
Stuarts But his has been a labor OF love IN
the fullest sense Of that term he has written
solely to please himself. and he IL therefore
bound to please his readers. To some OF the lat
ter /. may seem highly important 10 pos
sess at last some hitherto unpublished in1orma-
ton concerning the whereabouts of the young
Pre.ender at time when all the courts OF
Europe were specializing vainly on the SUBJECT
But our author is true to himself and admits that
n mild, somewhat esoteric or fanaticai curiosity
"a all that is to be satisfied by his disclosures.
His chief object has been to prepare sympa'
thetc sketch OF the unhappy Prince Charlie in
some OF the most picturesque years of his career
The young chief OF Glengarry. Alastair Ruadh
Mackdonnell alias Pickle. gives the title to the
volume before US hut this is merely because 1t
has been through his papers that some new
light has been thrown on the movements OF the
Prince when on the brink Of his final dsap-
pearance from the stage Of European politics
We know now that Charles fitting about
lorraine and Flanders. that he was hiding in
Paris itself when the d'plomatists and their
masters thought he was IN Silesa or Venice or
in any one Of dozen other unlikely places. But,
try as Mr.. Lang may to concentrate upon the
wretched spy through whom we learn some or
those things a more or less steady stream OF
historical discussion. 1t is the Prince who re-
mains the commanding theme, the Prince in
whom Mr.. Lang sees-despite the gravest faults
"a permanently fascinating and even lovable
figure
Is II not possible that an element of pity min
giles with the loyalty so often shown 10 the
young Prctender by modern writer's? Certainly
he became an object of commiseration immedi-
Of at Of 1I4I
From that time until the early sixties, when he
descended rapidly from the dignity of a royal
pretender and resourceful politician to the coll
orless and futile condition Of a mere adventurer.
his position was often specifically brilliant but
never without a discOuraging ambiguity. AT
home the HanOveran dynasty might seem 10 be
IN peril or If not in peril. then in state OF
sclicitude for its own safety. and Jacobte hopes
would revive. But there were no chiefs at work
with the cape bties the following to assure
the young Pretender footing if he reached the
British coast on the Continent he had to reckon
with governments that were in every case trim
ming sail so rs to drift easily into the alliance
most favorable to themselves according as af-
fairs in England went No ruler cared to come
to an open rupture with George III unless the
outlook for the latter was gloomy unless the
chances Of the Stuarts seemed actually rosy and
substantial. Hence such negotiations as CharleS
was able to open with any of the states OF Eu-
rope were Handicapped at their birth II IS Tor
this reason that as has been said above. GER
tain amount of pity is combined with the ad-
miration excited by Charles. He was maui
vas suiet" al the best. but no one can deny com
passion TO a prince hunted as he was like Wild
beast about Europe and granted when he was
granted anything az all by his royal sympa-
thizers. little more than vain words, little more
49, &C yrbich tho had de-
sire 70 follow up with deeds unless II exactly
suited their own convenience.
Charles was not sincerely wanted anywhere.
Frederick Of Prussia willing to coquet with
him. and IT is interesting to follow in Mr.. Langs
.fPases the crafty old soldiers cautious moves
He seemed now and then positively ardent in the
Stuart cause Did he not go far as TO appoint
the Earl MerisChal one of the young Pretend
er's nearest followers. Ambassador from Berlin
20 Versailles. and thus to irrtate the English
court? But when he did this ne did not have
the Princes interests at heart. on the contrary,
he had his own schemes to further and it was
Of these solely that he thinking when he
dabblcd in Jacobite conspiracies. Carlyle long
ago contemptuously dismissed this view Of the
case ApropOs of Archy Cameron's melancholy
fate in 1888 when he came with Lochgarry
mission 10 Cluny Macpherson and the clans Car
lyle opines that he never would have harmed
anybody in the rebel way"-that nothing could
be more foolish than to believe that Cameron
was properly emisSary Of the King Of Prus-
STA sent 10 England to rally the Jacobite en-
beers into q flame" "All this" observed Car
lyle was about as likely as that the Cham Of
Tartary had interfered in the Bangsrian Con-
troversy." Nevertheless Frederick was inter
ferng" with the Jacobtes with vengeance.
1T will he for my interest" he says. under date
of May % 1853 "to encourage them in their de-
sign underhand and without being observed"
Could he have helped Charles to enthrone him.
self in Ireland he would have done 60 with the
object OF thus disntegrating the British power
and revenging himself for British offences on the
high seas But this was far from suiting the
Pretender's plans. and ii is doubtful If he would
have intrigued with Frederick at all had he been
a little better Informed concerning that mon
archs policy.
AS matter of fact. he did not guess that he
was nothing more than a card in the game which
was being played by half the Powers in Europe
Worst Of all, he did not know that whatever
plans might be set on foot through his collabo-
ration with Frederick or others were sure 70 be
quietly counterchecked by Pickle The latter
certified 10 his Prince the loyalty Of some 1900
Mackdonnells whom he could bring into the field
when rising had been arranged At the same
time he was in the pay Of Henry Pelham. and
the latter could be sure of Butcher" Cumber- |
lands cooperation in the suppression Of any rev.
Olutionary attempt. Pickles character is less !
wildly portrayed by Mr.. Lang than wish had !
been the case. His personality is almost lost |
sight Of in the maze Of data cited from State |
papers. through which the reader is slowly !
guided. But we are able TO see the spy dimly !
yet convlncingly lie young. handsome !
and adventurous man a the time he entered into /
relations with the English Government. Until |
that date probably 1928 he was tolerably !
earnest supporter Of the Stuarts. and was in |
correspondence with old Edgar, the Secretary |
Of jamie in Rome. well as in nearer commu- ,
nicatiOn with the Young Pretender LIZ he Mas |