THE CULLODEN ANNIVERSARY.

Otago Witness, Issue 3396, 16 April 1919, Page 59

THE CULLODEN ANNIVERSARY.

TO TEi: KDITOB. Sin Tho 16th day of April is the 173rd anniversary of the battle of Culloden. and for tho past 23 years the memorial cairn on the battlefield has been annually, wreathed by admirers, of those who fell on the losing side on that day. This custom of decorating statues, etc., it may be mentioned, has reached us from France. Pre-sent-day members of nearly all the old Highland clans have sent wreaths to Culloden, the descendants in many cases of those who actually fought on that far-off It is now 11 years since wreaths were firs* sent from. New Zealand,-and people all over the Dominion have contributed.. This year three wreaths were sent from the following ;—(1) The Jacobite League, (2) Mr Neil Mackenzie Forbes (ex-president of the Wanganui Caledonian Society, and (3) Misa P. M'Quarrie, of Auckland. A largo number of people have written expressing interest and* sympathy in New Zealand'a share in tho -Culloden commemoration, amongst whom I may mention Professor C. S Terry of the Aberdeen University, historical writer; Mr J. M. Bulloch, editor of the Snhere; Mr G. Bruce, secretary of the Highland Land League; Professor Magnus Maclean, of the Glasgow Technical 6olle"-e, etc. Tho Rovalist Club, London, of recent years has taken a prominent part in the Culloden observance—the president of this club, I may mention, is a French Prince, H.S.H. the Duke do ChateauThierry, a representative of one of the most illustrious of the feudal families of Frauce. Nothino- serves so well to show how admirablo was the spirit of Jacobite loyalty as tho immediate sequel to tho ' 45. For five months after Culloden Charles Edward was a fugitive in the Highlands, and, though the Government had offered £30,000 to his cantor, no one could be found to betray him. Necessity frequently drove hirai to employ people he knew nothing about, but all gave him convincing proofs of tho most zealous attachment and fidelity. There is only one instance of a Highlander attempting to betray Prince Charlie.. This would-be Judas was John Macauley, of South Uist, grandfather of Macauley, the Whip; historian. This John Macauley informed his father (who lived in the Isld of Harris) of Prince Charlie's whereabouts, and gave the news to tho Government. Nothing came of this base piece of treachery, but, judging by Lord/Macauley a venomous attacks on the Stuarts, the loss of tho huge reward of £30,0C0 rankled in the mind of their descendant. By all tha laws 'which rule success the story of the "45" should unfold a comedy. Did not tho abilitv of Prince Charlie and tho devotion of his followers lift it to the realms of romance? A younj> prince, without either munitions or money, neither knowing nor known by those he came to lead, his followers unprepared, even unwilling, with but seven followers Charles threw himself into tho wilds of Moidant, shook the throne of the Georges until it tottered, won two pitched battles besides over-running one kingdom and the half of another, and _ last, but by no means least, left behind him a fragrant and undying memory.—l am, eto., C. C. Bagnall. Palmerston North.