The Anniversary of Culloden.

Bruce Herald, Volume XXXXIV, Issue 56, 18 June 1908, Page 3

The Anniversary of Culloden.

The 16th of April was the 162 nd anniversary of the fatal battle of Culloden. Mr Theodore Napier again visited the historic scene, and placed a number of floral wreaths on the memorial cairn. Accompanied by a piper and others, Mr Napier drove in a large brake to the battlefield, his departure from the Inverness railway station being watched by a large gathering of the public. Five florai wreaths, bearing tributes to the fallen brave, were placed on the cairn, the piper meanwhile playing laments. For the first time in the history of the commemoration a wreath was sent by Jacobites in New Zealand. It consisted of a Highland claymore with broken end, formed of red everlastings, bearing these words on its blade: " True till death," and having a card attached with this inscription i—- " la the cause of Right engaged, Wrongs injurious to redress, Honour's war wo strongly waged, But the Heavens denied Buccess. From New Zealand admirers of the Heroea of Culloden." After the wreaths had been securely fixed on the cairn, Mr Napier addressed the large assemblage, and said it gave him great pleasure—melancholy pleasure —to come once more to that battlefield of most mournful association and heroic memories." He came there that day with mingled feelings; feelings ot happiness and feelings of sorrow, especially when they remem bered the brave men who had gathered on that field in the cause of their Prince, and in the cause of King James, the rightful king of these realms. They could not fail to admire such an heroic personality as " Bonnie Prince Charlie." The rebels opposing the Prince were under the command of the Hanoverian Duke of Cumberland. It was suggested in a Glasgow newspaper some years ago that a wreath should be placed on that field in honor of the Duke's victory. He had not seen that wreath yet, and he did not suppose he would ever live to see a wreath' placed there in honor of the victory of Culloden, especially in remembrance of the wonderful Duke ot Cumberland, who stood on the large stone and witnessed the fight at a safe distance, because he was afraid to come within reach of the claymores of the Highland laddies, It was Cumberland's troops who were the rebels, and the real loyalists were those who fought under Prince Charlie. They all knew the result of the battle. It brought more glory tc the conquered than to the victor. The whole course of the succession to the throne had been altered. They had now the Hanoverian rule, but the principle of right remained the same. There were more than 800 persons living who had a better title or hereditary right to the throne than the gentleman who at present occupied it. Lawyers told them that possession was nine points of the law, but there was one point'missing. They could not get a good title without hereditary right. The rightful heir or heiress to the throne (Princess Mary of Bavaria) was a lady whom he had never had the pleasure of seeing, but he honored and respected her. She lived across the water, and he did not know if she would be able to regain her rights. He was pleased to notice that on this occasion there was a wreath from Jacobites in New Zealand. They had had a wreath from a lady in the United States, and he hoped that by next year they would have one from Canada.