Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 35.djvu/265

 claim of Cluny to the chiefship of the Macphersons was also limited so as to extend only to 'those of his name of Macpherson descendit from his family,' without prejudice to Mackintosh. In consideration of a gift to him from Mackintosh of the Loch Laggan estates, Inverness-shire, Lachlan Macpherson, son of Duncan, who had distinguished himself in the rebellion of 1715, agreed to recognise Mackintosh as chief of the clan Chattan, on the ground of his marriage to a Macpherson, the 'heiress of Clan Chattan,' in 1291. This agreement did not, however, affect the preponderating influence which the Macphersons, through the energy of their chiefs, had already begun to acquire (cf. notice of the clan Chattan in Transactions of the Gaelic Society of Inverness, 1891, xvi. 157-70).

Ewen Macpherson was the son of Lachlan Macpherson, above mentioned, originally of Nuia and afterwards of Cluny, by his wife Jean, daughter of Sir Ewen Cameron of Lochiel. Before the rebellion in 1745 he seems to have added to his income by levying blackmail on the surrounding districts, on condition of protecting them from inroads of robber clans ('A Brief Account of the Rise and Progress of the Watch undertaken by Ewen Macpherson of Cluny, Esq., in the year 1744. For the Security of several countrys in the North of Scotland from Thifts and Depredations,' in Maitland Club Miscellany, ii. 85-9). At the time of the arrival of Prince Charles in 1745, Macpherson held command of a company in Lord Loudoun's regiment, and, although the clan had fought for the Pretender in 1715, he professed his determination to support the government. To Lord-president Forbes of Culloden he continued to act the part of confidential adviser. He informed him of the sentiment and disposition of the clans in his neighbourhood (18 Aug., Culloden Papers, p. 373), and he wrote to Sir John Cope that by the lord president's desire he had sent a gentleman on a message to the laird of Lochiel 'with his and my serious friendly advice for making him withdraw from the Pretender's party' (ib. p. 374). His own wavering inclinations may, however, be inferred from his warning to Forbes on 19 Aug., that unless the government did not forthwith protect those who remained loyal, 'they must either be burnt or join' (ib. p. 375). The stringent methods which the rebels were prepared to take to secure adherents was manifested in his own case. On 28 Aug. he was seized in his own house during the night by a large party from the Young Pretender's army, and brought a prisoner to their camp (Lady Macpherson to Forbes, 29 Aug., ib. p. 391; 'Account of the Young Pretender's Operations,' in Lockhart Papers, ii. 443). After being detained a prisoner for some time he finally agreed to muster his clan on behalf of the Pretender. 'An angel,' he wrote, 'could not resist the soothing close applications of the rebels' (Letter of Alexander Robertson, 23 Sept., Culloden Papers, p. 412). It is stated that both he and his brother-in-law Lovat, before agreeing to join, 'demanded, and obtained from him security for his estates, lest the expedition should prove a failure ' (, Memoirs, p. 22). He joined the prince with his clan after the battle of Prestonpans, and on 13 Oct. kissed the prince's hand in the abbey of Holyrood ('Caledonian Mercury,' quoted in List of Persons concerned in the Rebellion of 1745, Scottish History Society, p. 307).

Once he had joined the rebels, Macpherson, displayed the utmost enthusiasm in the Jacobite cause. During the retreat from Derby he especially distinguished himself at the bridge or Clifton, near Penrith, in an attack on the cavalry of the Duke of Cumberland ('Manuscript Memoirs,' quoted in Appendix to Waverley;, Narrative of Charles's Expedition, Maitland Club, 1841, p. 86). At the battle of Falkirk, the Macphersons fought in the first line, but they did not arrive north in time to take part in the battle of Culloden which proved fatal to the Jacobite cause. Shortly after the battle Cluny's house was plundered and burnt. He himself, with, Lochiel, took refuge in Badenoch, whither it was finally agreed to bring the prince until opportunity should be found for him to leave the country. Cluny set out to Auchnagarry to meet him, but missing him there returned to Badenoch and found him with Lochiel in a hut at Mellanuir on the side of Ben-Alder. Thence he conducted him to a cunningly constructed refuge in the thickets of Ben-Alder called the 'cage,' where he found safe shelter till a vessel was in readiness to convey him to France.

After the prince's departure Cluny for nine years remained concealed on his estates, notwithstanding a reward of 1,000l. offered for his capture, and the constant presence in his neighbourhood of a large body of troops, who used their utmost endeavours to track him out. His principal place of concealment was a cave dug out in 'front of a woody precipice, the trees and shelving rocks completely concealing the entrance' (, Sketches of the Highlanders, p. 68). Occasionally the monotony of his confinement was relieved by a visit to