Read Bonnie Prince Charlie: Charles Edward Stuart (Pimlico) Online
Authors: Frank McLynn
1
Mann refers archly on the infamous night of 30 November to the prince’s having ‘committed the most nauseous and filthy indecencies from above and below upon her’ (
Walpole Correspondence
, 25, pp.100–2).
2
R A Stuart 500/154.
3
R A Stuart 502/96.
4
Dutens,
Mémoires
, op. cit., ii, pp.253–5.
5
See her vitriolic letter to the prince (R A Stuart 500/78).
6
Dutens, ii, p.252.
7
Add. MSS 35,520 f.68.
8
Ibid
., f.169.
9
S P 105/287 f.210. For confirmation cf. also Mlle Maltzam’s account given to Father Cowley (Archives of Douai, IL/D Stuart, Nos 5 and 8).
10
Alfieri,
Vita
, op. cit., p.206.
11
Dutens, ii, p.255.
12
Egerton MSS 2641 f.115; Add MSS 35,520 ff.169–70.
13
Dutens, ii, p.255.
14
Add. MSS 35,520 f.170.
15
R A Stuart 500/14.
16
S P 105/287 f.211; Marchesa Nobili Vitelleschi,
A Court in Exile
, 2 vols (1902), ii, pp.438–9.
17
For Henry’s reply (15 December 1780) see
Revue des Deux Mondes
, 15 January 1861 (2nd Series, 31, pp.227–9). Cf. Reumont,
Die Grafin von Albany
, i, pp.219–22.
18
Reumont,
Die Grafin
, op. cit., i, pp.222–3.
19
Walpole Correspondence
, 25, p.115.
20
S P 105/287 f.226.
21
R A Stuart 500/56. This did not, however, prevent Mann from the categorical but false statement that the prince refused to send on her clothes (Mahon,
Last Stuarts
, p.59).
22
R A Stuart 500/154.
23
Walpole Correspondence
, 25, p.115.
24
Mahon,
Last Stuarts
, p.61.
25
Add MSS 34,634 f.35.
26
Ibid
., ff.23–5,33.
27
Ibid
., f.29.
28
Ibid
., f.23. For Charles Edward’s hatred of Bernis see Charles Edward to Gordon, 5 August 1772, Bower MSS.
29
R A Stuart Box 1/593; Mahon,
Last Stuarts
, p.60.
30
S P 105/288 f.61.
31
D Silvagni,
La corte e la società romana nei secoli XVIII e XIX
(Florence, 1885). i, p.366.
32
R A Stuart Box 1/592.
33
Archives of Douai, IL/D Stuart No.7. The prince claimed that his wife was a spendthrift and during her years in Florence had spent 600,000 francs without his knowledge (Sirven,
Alfieri
, iii, p.394).
34
R A Stuart 501/31; 502/96; Add MSS 34,634 ff.1,5.
35
Mahon,
Last Stuarts
, p.60.
36
A Reumont, ‘Gli ultimi Stuardi, la Contessa d’Albany e V. Alfieri’,
Archivio Storico Italiano
, IV, vol.8 (1881), p.71.
37
R A Stuart 502/106.
38
Reumont, ‘Gli ultimi Stuardi’, loc. cit., pp.71–2.
39
R A Stuart 502/149.
40
R A Stuart 503/111.
41
R A Stuart 503/163; 504/23.
42
R A Stuart 502/149.
43
R A Stuart 504/118.
44
R A Stuart 504/6,151.
45
R A Stuart 505/19.
46
R A Stuart 504/6,104.
47
R A Stuart 505/19.
48
R A Stuart Box 1/597.
49
R A Stuart 505/20,46.
50
A. D. Perrero, ‘Gli ultimi Stuardi e V. Alfieri sul fondamento di documenti inediti 1782–83’,
Rivista Europea
, 24 (1881), p.697.
51
Mahon,
Last Stuarts
, pp.62–3.
52
Ibid
., pp.63–4.
53
R A Stuart Box 1/598.
54
F O 79/3 f.285.
55
Walpole Correspondence
, 25, pp.394–5.
56
Mahon,
Last Stuarts
, pp.65–6.
57
F O 79/3 f.289.
58
F O 79/3 ff.297–8.
59
Mahon,
Last Stuarts
, p.67.
60
Add. MSS 34,634 f.51.
61
Emilio Bertana,
Alfieri
, op. cit., pp.195–7.
62
Alfieri,
Vita
, p.218.
63
Doran,
Mann and Manners
, ii, p.400.
64
Mahon,
Last Stuarts
, p.68.
65
A E M D, Angleterre, 81 f.145.
66
For Gustav III in general see
Collection des écrits politiques, littéraires et dramatiques de Gustav III
(Stockholm, 1805). For his Italian journey see Baron de Nenno,
Gustav III, Roi de Suède et Anckarstroem 1746–92
(Paris, 1876), p.168. The best modern study of Gustav III’s reign is in Claude Nordmann,
Grandeur et liberté de la Suède 1660–1792
(Paris, 1971).
67
F O 79/3 ff.369–71.
68
F O 79/3 f.374.
69
Mahon,
Last Stuarts
, p.73.
70
R A Stuart 506/151,164,172.
71
F O 79/3 f.374.
72
Seregni,
Carteggio
, op. cit., v, pp.48–9; Reumont,
Die Grafin
, op. cit., i, p.241.
73
R A Stuart 502/189;
Walpole Correspondence
, 25, ff.441–2.
74
Doran, ii, p.402.
75
For Chevalier de Tours and Mann’s stranglehold on him see F O 79/3 f.352.
76
S P 105/299 f.73.
77
F O 79/3 f.360.
78
Ibid
., f.361.
79
Mahon,
Last Stuarts
, p.75.
80
F O 79/3 f.392.
81
The prince referred to Gustav as ‘his very dear brother’ (R A Stuart 507/49).
82
For freemasonry in eighteenth-century France see P. Chevallier,
Les ducs sous l’Acacia
(Paris, 1964);
La première profanation du temple maçonnique
(Paris, 1968). For the Jacobite role in Spain see J. A. F. Benimeli,
La masonerià española en el siglo 18
(Madrid, 1974), esp. pp.48–65. For Italy see Carlo Francovich,
Storia Massoneria in Italia
(Florence, 1974).
83
S P Tuscany 42 ff.131,137–8; cf. also R. G. Gould,
History of Freemasonry
(1887), iii, p.300; Giuseppe Leti,
Carboneria e masoneria nel risorgimento italiano
(Genoa, 1925), pp.37–40; Eugen Lennhoff,
Freemasons
(New York, 1934), pp.139–40.
84
Alec Mellor,
La charte inconnue de la franc-maçonnerie chretienne
(Tours, 1965), pp.119–20. This is also the principal thesis in Mellor’s
Nos frères séparés les Francs-Maçons
(Paris, 1961).
85
S P Tuscany 46 ff.182–3.
86
R A Stuart 198/130.
87
Gustave Bord,
La franc-maçonnerie en France
(Paris, 1908).
88
R A Stuart 203/163.
89
D. Ligon, ed.,
Dictionnaire universal de la Franc-maçonnerie
(Paris, 1974), i, p.74.
90
Frankovich, op. cit., p.220.
91
Ibid
., pp.228–9,258.
92
R A Stuart 491/123.
93
P Maruzzi, ‘Notizie e documenti sul liberi muratori a Torino ne secolo XVIII’,
Bollettino storico-bibliografico subalpino
30 (1928), pp.207–10.
94
R A Stuart 493/19.
95
R A Stuart 493/95,152,
96
R A Stuart 493/179.
97
R A Stuart 494/43; 498/189.
98
R A Stuart 498/188.
99
R A Stuart 498/188,248.
100
This is confirmed by the best recent study of Gustav’s reign (Nordmann,
Grandeur et liberté de la Suède
, op. cit., p.424,
101
A. Geffroy,
Gustav III et la Cour de France
, 2 vols (Paris, 1867), ii, p.16.
102
R A Stuart 506/130.
103
Walpole Correspondence
, 25, pp.467–8; Doran, ii, pp.403–4.
104
F O 79/4 f.35.
105
Baron Sparre handled the detailed negotiations. Since he was very fond of Louise, it was easier for the Swedes to convince her. For a full survey of Louise’s relations with Gustav III and Sparre see Bruno Bassi, ‘Vittorio Alfieri y la Suezia’,
Annali Alferiani
, 2 (1943), pp.1–16.
106
F O 79/4 ff.67–8.
107
Reumont,
Die Grafin
, op. cit., i, pp.242–3.
108
Bassi, loc. cit., pp.16,19; Pellegrini, op. cit., p.55.
109
F O 79/4 f.35.
110
R A Stuart 507/49.
111
Mahon,
Last Stuarts
, pp.82–4.
112
Henry’s reflections on Alfieri as ‘
origo mali
’ both in the breakdown of his brother’s marriage and his own relationship with Louise are at Add. MSS 30,478 ff.207–10.
113
Add. MSS 34,634 ff.63,67.
114
Ibid
., f.65.
115
Reumont, ‘Gli ultimi Stuardi’, loc. cit., pp.70–1; cf. also A. Ademollo, ‘Il Diario del Cardinale Duca di York’,
Nuova Antologia
, 1 July 1880, pp.27–8; Pellegrini, op. cit., pp.74–5.
116
Here is Louise’s version of her life with Charles Edward as told to one English traveller: ‘He was constantly and madly drunk and seldom had a moment of reason. He was ever talking about his restoration or abusing the French and the Pope. He was equally covetous and
extravagant
. His own table was always sumptuously provided, but he would grudge the countess a little mutton broth in the morning. She acknowledged he had one good quality – he never betrayed a secret, and never disclosed who belonged to his party until after their death; nor would he listen to any ill-natured things said of people’ (
Autobiography of Miss Cornelia Knight
(1861), pp.79–80). Louise’s acknowledgment of his ‘one good quality’ is particularly illuminating in the light of Earl Marischal’s accusations (see pp.430–1 above).
1
F O 79/4 f.100.
2
F O 79/5 f.5.
3
Ibid
., f.6.
4
F. A. Skeet,
H.R.H. Charlotte Duchess of Albany
(1932), p.150.
5
Mahon,
Last Stuarts
, pp.82–3.
6
F O 79/4 f.100.
7
F O 79/4 f.103.
8
For Charlotte, apart from the above-cited work of hagiography by Skeet see Susan Buchan,
The Funeral March of a Marionette
(1933) and (best of all) H. Tayler,
Prince Charlie’s Daughter
(1950).
9
R A Stuart 473/55.
10
Archives Nationales, Series K,1303 f.105; A E M D Angleterre 81 f.109.
11
A E M D Angleterre 81 ff.121–7; R A Stuart 473/152,162.
12
A E M D Angleterre 81 ff.115,120.
13
R A Stuart 474/154; 475/66.
14
R A Stuart 475/178.
15
R A Stuart 475/181.
16
This is the ‘justification’ offered by the arch-hagiographer of Charles Edward, Sir Compton Mackenzie in
Prince Charlie’s Ladies
, op. cit.
17
R A Stuart 480/48.
18
R A Stuart 481/23,131; 482/20.
19
R A Stuart 485/64,171; 496/83.
20
H M C, 10, vi, p.235.
21
R A Stuart 507/55.
22
F O 79/4 ff.85–6.
23
A E M D Angleterre 81 ff.152–92.
24
F O 79/4 ff.100,110,112–13.
25
Add. MSS 34,634 ff.77–8.
26
Pelissier,
Portefeuille de la Comtesse d’Albany
, op. cit., pp.61,83.
27
Add. MSS 34,634 ff.79–80.
28
F O 79/4 ff.108–9.
29
Walpole Correspondence
, 25, p.535.
30
Mahon,
Last Stuarts
, p.87.
31
Ibid
.
32
By now the prince was having his doubts about Gustav. ‘He has doubts that the king of Sweden has complied with the promise he made to speak to His Majesty in his favour’ (F O 79/4 ff.85–6).
33
H M C, 10, vi, pp.235–6.
34
H M C, 10, vi, p.236; Reumont,
Die Grafin von Albany
, op. cit., ii, p.317.
35
H M C, 10, vi, p.235.
36
Add. MSS 34,638 f.341.
37
Add. MSS 34,634, f.9. Charles Edward was very bitter about his brother’s attitude. Cf. Mann in December 1784: ‘The faculties of his mind are as weak as his body. They are always employed when awake in abusing the cardinal, his brother, for refusing to adopt his niece’ (
Walpole Correspondence
, 25, pp.549–50).
38
Add. MSS 34,634 f.70. Cf. an earlier letter in the same month (December 1784) from Louise to Henry: ‘As to your brother, nothing surprises me in his behaviour. I know him so well that I consider him capable of going to any lengths of absurdity’ (
ibid
., f.68).
39
Walpole Correspondence
, 25, pp.552–3.
40
F O 79/4 f.153.
41
C. M. J. D. Dupaty,
Lettres sur Italie en 1785
(Paris, 1788), i, pp.151–3.
42
F O 79/4 f.155.
43
See Add. MSS 34,634 ff.79–81 for the correspondence.
44
H M C, 10, vi, p.237.
45
Add. MSS 34,634 f.15; Mann,
Last Stuarts
, p.90.
46
Add. MSS 34,634 f.15.
47
Charles Edward to Cowley, 7 October 1785, Archives of Douai, IL/D Stuart No.11.
48
Add. MSS 34,638 f.345.
49
Add. MSS 34,634 f.12.
50
A E M D Angleterre 81 ff.192–3.
51
Add. MSS 34,638 f.347.
52
A E M D Angleterre 81 ff.198–200; 222–30.
53
Archives of Douai, IL/D Stuart No.10; A E M D Angleterre 81 ff.211–12.
54
H M C, 10, vi, p.238.
55
Ibid
., ff.237–8.
56
Henry was not alone in making this foolish assumption. See Compton Mackenzie,
Prince Charlie’s Ladies
, p.279.
57
Walpole Correspondence
, 33, p.450.
58
Tayler,
Prince Charlie’s Daughter
, p.79.
59
Mahon,
Last Stuarts
, pp.91–2.
60
F O 79/5 ff.5–6.
61
A E M D Angleterre 81 ff.218–21; Add. MSS 34,638 ff.86–98.
62
R A Stuart 507/10.
63
Add. MSS 34,638 ff.173–4.
64
F O 79/5 f.36.
65
Tayler,
Prince Charlie’s Daughter
, pp.72,73,75,76,81,87,88,92,100
66
N. W. Wraxall,
Historical Memoirs of my own Times
, 5 vols (1884), i, p.211.
67
F. Munter,
Aus den Tagebuchern Friedrich Munters wanderund lajahre eines Danisken gelehrten
, 3 vols (Copenhagen and Leipzig, 1937), ii, p.232.
68
A. Hayward, ed.,
Autobiography of Mrs. Piozzi
, 2 vols (1861), i, p.331.
69
Lang,
Prince Charles Edward Stuart
, p.449.
70
Mahon,
Last Stuarts
, p.93.
71
Annette M. Smith,
The Jacobite Estates of the Forty-Five
(Edinburgh, 1982). Walpole wrote at the time of the restitution: ‘If the Count [sc. Charles Edward] himself has any feelings left, he must rejoice to hear that the descendants of many of his martyrs are to be restored to their forfeited estates in Scotland by an act just now passed’ (
Walpole Correspondence
, 25, p.521).
72
Mahon,
Last Stuarts
, p.94.
73
There were still some Jacobites left who sincerely mourned his passing. Cf. this lament from Isabella Strange: ‘I do assure you grief has much affected me. None can feel the loss of a beloved friend more than I do that of the first man who drew my attention into actual life. My head and heart has now no more to do with vain wishes. I hope my friend is much happier now than this world could make him. He now views with a smile the littleness of all the pursuits of this world’ (
Memoirs of Strange and Lumisden
, ii, p.216).
74
R A Stuart 515/70. Cf. also Henry to Walker, 9 March 1788, Archives du Nord (Lille), 18 H.67.
75
For full details of Charles Edward’s legacies to Charlotte see Archivio di Stato (Roma),
Miscellanea Famiglie
, Busta 170, Nos 18–19; Busta 171 No.3. For the French monies see A E M D Angleterre 81 ff.234–6 for details.
76
For details see A E M D Angleterre 81 ff.238–48.
77
Archives du Nord, 18H 67.
78
Manning Clark,
Short History of Australia
(Sydney, 1963), p.25.