on so barren a subject; for his Lordship never made any figure in the world, and was scarce known till he fell into the hands of government. When but a child, there appeared in him many early symptoms of a stubborn and froward disposition, which grew upon him with his years. An early impression being deeply stamped in his mind in favour of the Chevalier's pretensions to the throne, he became so immoderately zealous, that many people whose politics differed from his thought it unsafe to be in his company; and, indeed, not without reason, as will appear from the following instance of his imprudent zeal. He was once riding out in company with some gentlemen, among whom was one Clerk, a writer to the signet, a man well affected to the Hanoverian succession, and a strict, though not immoderate, Presbyterian. They had all taken a glass very sociably together, and no party altercations had been started among them. But at last some one acquainted Mr. Elphinstone (for he was no Lord till a little before the battle of Culloden) with Mr. Clerk's principles; whereupon, as they were riding between Leith and Musselbourgh, Elphinstone said to one of his intimates, "What a

damned scoundrel is that Clerk!" This was over"'Tis true,

heard by Clerk himself, who replied, Sir, I am not a nobleman, but then I am no more a damned scoundrel than you are." On this some high words arose between them, and a duel had probably ensued, had they not been parted. On which Mr. Clerk quitted the company.

In the year 1715 we find Mr. Elphinstone in the quality of captain of a regiment of dragoons, but he deserted the service of George I. and went over to the Chevalier, who made much worse of his undertaking than his son has done thirty years after, with nothing like the favourable opportunities which the father had. After the ruin of his master's affairs in that same year, Mr. Elphinstone went over to France, where he tarried till the year 1734, when his brother obtained a pardon for him, that he might return to his native country; which however Mr. Arthur would not accept till he had first asked the old Chevalier's leave. This having obtained, with 120 guineas paid him by his order, he set out for Scotland, and lived sometimes in one place, sometimes in another, till at last he settled at Leith, and had 807. per annum allowed him by his brother. But, while here, he

was so far from endeavouring to live like a gentleman, (which he might have done, as his brother, whose heir-apparent he was, would have enabled him to do so, by making him his companion, and entertaining him daily at his table,) that he sunk below the level of a creditable tradesman. The most trifling people about the Parliament House, such as pettyfoggers, and hackney writers, with some of the meanest inhabitants of Leith, though doubtless all men of his own principles, were his dearest companions; and hence he greatly lessened the regard his brother and his sister-in-law might have had for him. In 1745 he joined the Chevalier at Perth, and acted as a volunteer at the battle of Preston Pans; after which he was made a captain of the Life Guards. In the beginning of January following he became Lord Balmerino, by the death of his brother, who is said to have broke his heart on account of his brother Arthur having again appeared in arms against the government. I have already mentioned his surrender to Bandallach, and being sent to London, where his fate is well known, as indeed it is in every part of Great Britain. Therefore, I shall only observe, that from the whole of his conduct while in the

Tower, especially after sentence of death, he seems to have feared nothing so much as not to dye. He knew very well that the small estate which, by his brother's death, fell to him, was forfeited to the crown, and consequently the only source whence he could draw his subsistence would be drained, so that he must inevitably fall into poverty and contempt: wherefore he, as it were, courted death, and embraced it with pleasure: and perhaps with the more pleasure, from the reflection that by this means he should at his death make a greater figure than ever he had done in his life that thus he should attain the glory of martyrdom in the eyes of his own party at least, and, by his behaviour in his last moments, adorn a life which had passed in the greatest obscurity.

No. III.

EXTRACTS FROM A PLAIN, AUTHENTIC, AND FAITHFUL NARRATIVE OF THE SEVERAL PASSAGES OF THE YOUNG CHEVALIER, FROM THE BATTLE OF CULLODEN TO HIS EMBARKATION FOR FRANCE.

GENERAL CAMPBELL, being dispatched thither,* inquired what was become of the Young Pretender. The inhabitants, who have little other commerce with the world than by paying their rent once a-year in Solan geese feathers, answered they had never heard of such a person. There was a rumour, they said, that their laird (MacLeod) had been at war with some great king, and had got the better, which was all they knew of the world's transactions.

And now the P... receiving intelligence that Capt. Caroline Scot was landed at Kilbride

St. Kilda.