'Thank God' said
she, the instant she recovered, 'that the accident happened to me, whose
principles are known. Had it befallen a Whig, they would have said it
was done on purpose.'
NOTE 31.--PRINCE CHARLES EDWARD
The Author of Waverley has been charged with painting the young
Adventurer in colours more amiable than his character deserved. But
having known many individuals who were near his person, he has been
described according to the light in which those eye-witnesses saw his
temper and qualifications. Something must be allowed, no doubt, to
the natural exaggerations of those who remembered him as the bold and
adventurous Prince, in whose cause they had braved death and ruin; but
is their evidence to give place entirely to that of a single malcontent?
I have already noticed the imputations thrown by the Chevalier Johnstone
on the Prince's courage. But some part at least of that gentleman's tale
is purely romantic. It would not, for instance, be supposed, that at
the time he is favouring us with the highly-wrought account of his amour
with the adorable Peggie, the Chevalier Johnstone was a married man,
whose grandchild is now alive, or that the whole circumstantial story
concerning the outrageous vengeance taken by Gordon of Abbachie on a
Presbyterian clergyman, is entirely apocryphal.
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