Volume II Part 2 (2/2)
The report of her journey into Scotland had preceded Lady Nithisdale's return to London; and, if we may credit her assertions, which are stated with so much candour as to i was irritated beyond ence Orders were immediately issued for her arrest; and the Monarch protested that Lady Nithisdale did whatever she pleased in spite of hiiven hiain driven into obscurity, Lady Nithisdale took the opinion of a very celebrated lawyer, whose name she does not specify, and, upon his opinion, deteral adviser assigned for this counsel was, that although, in other circu her husband, yet in cases of high treason, according to the rigour of the law, the head of a wife is responsible for that of a husband Since the King was so incensed against Lady Nithisdale there could be no answering for the consequences, and he therefore earnestly besought her to leave the kingdom
Lady Nithisdale, conscious of the wisdom of this recommendation, and wearied, perhaps, of a life of apprehension, determined to adopt the plan recommended
It is evident that she joined Lord Nithisdale at Rome, whither he had retired; for the statement which she has left concludes in a manner which shows that the devoted and heroic wife had been enabled to rejoin the husband for whom she had encountered so much anxiety, contumely, and peril Her son, it appears, also acco the Master of Nithisdale; since, when she wrote, the Prince Charles Edward could not be endoith that appellation, his father being then alive Her narrative is thus concluded:[34]--
”This is the full narrative of what you desired, and of all the transactions which passed relative to this affair nobody besides yourself could have obtained it froations I owe you, throwthat is in ence will excuse all the faults whichrecital The truth you may, however, depend upon; attend to that and overlook all deficiencies My lord desires you to be assured of his sincere friendshi+p I aest attachment, my dear sister, yours most affectionately,
”WINIFRED NITHISDALE”
Little is known of the Earl of Nithisdale after his escape to Roh a period of coain on the eve of being eer, sullied by greater crimes, and more disastrous to his native country, than the short-lived struggle of 1715 An exile from his Scottish possessions, Lord Nithisdale possibly i to establish the rights of the Stuarts which appears not to have been eradicated from the hearts of the Scottish Jacobites until their beloved and royal race had become lineally extinct
The descendants of William, Earl of Nithisdale, have never been able to ascertain where his Lordshi+p is buried His noble and admirable wife died at Roht to this country, and they are deposited at Arundel Castle
John Maxwell, who assumed the title of Earl of Nithisdale, appears to have rean It was probably on the death of his father in 1744, that he returned to take possession of the family estates,--that this, the representative of the family of Maxwell, ventured to appear in Du correspondence which passed between the Earl of Nithisdale, popularly so called, and his friend, Mr Craik, of Arbigland[35] in Dumfriesshi+re, is a curious commentary upon the motives and reasons which actuated the minds of the Jacobites in the second attempt to re-establish the Stuart family The first letter from Mr
Craik is dated October the thirteenth, 1745, when Edinburgh Castle was blockaded by Charles Edward, as publishi+ng his manifestoes from the saloons of Holyrood House The answer from Lord Nithisdale is written in reply to one of remonstrance addressed to him by his friend There is no date, but it is obviously written at Edinburgh
The remonstrances from Mr Craik were instantly dispatched, to avert, if possible, any decided step on the part of Lord Nithisdale The arguments which it contains shew the friendly intention of the earnest writer
Lord Nithisdale had, in his forn his reasons for dissuading him from the enterprise
LETTER FROM MR CRAIK TO LORD NITHISDALE
”My waiting for a safe hand to convey this to you has prevented reat pleasure that you have not detere in the present enterprize, which from several apparent symptoms I had reason to apprehend; and if you stick by your pro rashly (fitt only for desperados indeed!) in a matter of such moment, I shall be sett at ease froave occasion to yours, I really had no intention to enter into the merits of the cause: all I meant was, to make experiment how far my interest with you could prevail to keep you undeterht pro upon the subject, than while you remained in tohere the spirit of the place, the people you converse with, the things you hear and see, all unite to infla But since it has, beyond e, and to call upon you to give uments contain all that can be said by those of the party ould be thought to judge coolly and act reasonably at this juncture, I shall, with the freedom and openness of a friend, consider them as they lye before me in yours; and if I am forced to exceed the limits of a letter, you may blame yourself, who drew ree in opinion with you, that as reatly to the interest of Scotland to wish success to the undertaking, and that nothing but the improbability of success should hinder every Scotsman to join in it This tho' a verriea single reason; but as I know it is one of their delusive arguine of the party to seduce well- men to concur in the ruin of the constitution and their country, I shall give you what I apprehend you ht it will bear; and then fro of the fact as it truely stands, leave yourself to judge how far an honest man, a wise one, and a lover of his country, can justify either to hi of your argument I take to be this: that by the unaccountable success of the enterprize and the taive all Scotland becouilt, and may expect the outland can afflict the be croith success, as Scotesmen have the merit of it, they must become the peculiar favourites of the faes they can proenerous prince I hope I have done justice to your argument, allow me allso to do justice to facts and truth
”The people of Great Britain having found, from repeated experiments, how precarious their libertys were in the hands of the princes who founded their title to govern theht,--that however absurd the pretence was in itself, no exao a claim which so much flattered their ambition, and upon which only, with any shew of reason, arbitrary power and tyranny can be built at last,--determined to secure (as far as hu to the the royal power in a family whose only title should be the free choice of the people, and who, should they atteoverned, and would not only actthe saainst them
”The maxims by which our hereditary princes conducted themselves, were sufficiently felt to the sad experience of our forefathers; thank God ere reserved for happier times! History will inform you of their repeated and unwearied attempts to subvert the constitution and inslave a free people Their sacrifizing the interest of the nation to France, their violating their oaths and promises, their persecutions and their scheion which in its nature is inconsistent with the toleration of any other, though reasons of state may make it wink at this on particular occasions,--but should I descend to particulars, it would lead me beyond the limites I have prescribed ned over us these thirty years, and though during so long a time they may have fallen into errors, or may have committed faults, (as what Governuin zealot to find in history a period equal to this in which Scotland possessed so uninterrupted a felicity, in which liberty, civil and religious, was so universally enjoyed by all people of whatever denomination--nay, by the open and avowed ennemys of the family and constitution, or a period in which all ranks of men have been so effectually secured in their property
Have not trade, riculture, and the spirit of industry in our country, extended the this period and under this faes before? Has any man suffered in his liberty, life, or fortune, contrary to law? Stand forth and naovernment, and his ministers, have been openly abused a thousand times in the most scurrilous and reproachful terms, could it ever provoke him to one arbitrary act or to violate those lahich he had ns of the James's and the Charles's, and tell uided by the saivness?
”I ans have been imputed to the prince upon the throne and hisar parliaments, and Hanoverian interest pursued in opposition to that of Britain; but I am allso sensible there is not a true friend to liberty, a dispassionate and sober man, but who (now the mask is laid aside) perceives they were, at botto to force the the destruction of our happy constitution
”Men endued with popular talents, of figure and fortune in the world, and without the advantages of apparent disinterestedness on their side, will allways have address enough, with a see plausibility, to pervert every act of Government at home, and to defame and run down every publick transaction abroad; and disciples will never be wanting of capacity and passions fitted to become the dupes of such false apostles The corruption complained of is but too universal, and it's to be feared too deep-rooted to be cured; it is the constant attendant of peace and wealth; and such is the depravity of our natures, that these blessings cannot be enjoyed without having this plague, thetheovernours, it is also in the people, and change your kings and ministers as often as you please, whoever is in possession, or whoever is in quest of poill allways lay hold of the vices, the follys, or the prejudices of mankind to exclude others from it or to acquire it to themselves
”It's to be hoped ht to exclai body of native and freeborn troops; but it is to be lareatest of all publick cala letter of Mr Craik, that Lord Nithisdale was really implicated in the insurrection:--
”My Lord,
”I am sincerely and deeply touched with your Lordshi+p's situation, and can honestly assure you it would give me a real satisfaction could I any how contribute to save you on this unhappy occasion As you have done me the honour to ask my opinion how you are to conduct yourself, and as the Doctor has informed me of the circumstances of your journey, I should but ill deserve the character of huive me, if I did not, with freedo fully considered it, appears to me most for your honour, and the safty and preservation of your life and family
”It is certain the Habeas Corpus Act is suspended, and I doubt not but as soon as the lenth you have gone and your being returned is known above, warrants will be issued to carrie you up to London; if you retire out of the kingdo attainted; and I am afraid the unfortunate step you have made will putt your estate but too much within the reach of the law, and your family is undone If you stay till you are apprehended, not only your estate, but your person is in the mercy of the Government, and how far severitys on this occasion may be carried, is not for ion, quality, and estate, will make you but too obnoxious to the Government, and when the affair is over, infor to furnish thenorant what arts and industry have been employed to draw you out of the retirement and quiet you ell disposed to remain in We are sensible you were imposed upon by those already embarked; and it will acquit you before God and every sober er keep measures with those who have deceived you in a matter of such moment, when your life and fortune were at stake My lord, I have impartially laid before you the present circue, that you may have it under your Lordshi+p's consideration; I shall next take the freedoest what to me appears the safest and most prudent part now left to you to act, and which I likeways sub upon me to decide What I mean is this, that your Lordshi+p should, without loss of time, surrender your person to the Governor of Carlisle, and acquaint him you came to throw yourself upon the clemency of the Government; at the same time, your Lordshi+p would, by express, have some proper friend at London advised of your intention, and one of soht and interest, and as fitt to put your conduct in the ht You will easily perceive that this confidence in the Government, and voluntary surrender of your person, and your preventing all others in an early repentance uish you, in the eyes of the Government, from every other person who has embarked, and entitle you to its favour and protection: whereas, if you wait till you are apprehended, or leave the kingdom, your case, tho' quite different, will be ranked with those who have gone the greatest lengths If your Lordshi+p approve of this, if you think proper to lett me know by a line to-morrow, I shall not faill to be in town on Tuesday; and as I have a friend at London who I know is very capable and well disposed to serve you, if it be agreeable to you, shall, with the Doctor, concert the letter proper to be sent”
The answer of Lord Nithisdale contains a curious summary of some of the motives which actuated the Jacobites of 1745