In this state of things, a woman residing on the mains of Culloden, happened, in looking for some sheep, to go near the wood, when, to her great consternation, a tall Highlander, completely equipped in armour, suddenly presented himself before her, and in a whisper inquired whether she knew the President or not. Instantly suspecting mischief, she made no reply. But the warrior, assuring her that he was no enemy to his Lordship, charged her, if she valued his life, without the least delay, to deliver into his own hand a letter which he pulled out of his sporan, and which he stated contained intelligence of the last importance to the President. The woman, hastening with the letter as directed, arrived at the castle just after the company had taken their seats at the dinner table; she had accordingly great difficulty in obtaining access, but her urgency induced some of the servants in attendance to mention her earnest request to be admitted immediately to his Lordship. She was ordered in, and walking up to the head of the table, with a profound courtesy, delivered the letter, requesting at the same time that it should be forthwith read, as she had reason to believe it related to a matter of great moment to all present. The President was not the man to act the part of the Theban, to whom a letter, warning him of imminent danger, had been brought as he was sitting at a feast, and which, instead of reading, he put sealed under his pillow, saying “in crastinum defero res severas.” The sagacious patriot acted differently, and having instantly read the letter, became aware of the perilous situation in which he was placed, in time to escape with his life. For so seasonable and important information, he was indebted, as was said, to the gratitude of Coll Bain (Macdonald) of ___ who had some years before then, stood trial before the Court of Justiciary, on a capital charge, and had been, contrary to his own expectations, acquitted through the able services of the President, at that time practising as an advocate in the courts. Coll, aware of the danger that now threatened his benefactor, repaid him his important services; enabling him, by conveying this timely intelligence, to escape the clutches of his mortal foes. In this critical situation, the President’s usual prudence and promptitude did not forsake him. Orders were given to treat the men with ample cheer___ the bagpipes were blown, and dancing was commenced on the lawn. Every thing betokened the absence of alarm, till arrangements for a speedy flight were completed. Then the whole party darted away towards the Kessock, and reached the boats just in time to escape the rebels, who, having observed the movement from the castle, gave chase with the swiftness of the mountain stag. As the boats were crossing, some bullets whizzed past the ears of the loyalists, but happily no person received injury. The President and his friends having thus narrowly escaped, pursued their flight to the mountains between Ross and Sutherland, where they skulked for several weeks, in a state of most painful anxiety, enduring the inclemency of the weather, and reduced to the greatest extremity of hunger. The inhabitants of those districts, being generally in favour of Charlie, would afford the fugitives neither shelter nor supply of food; nay, on one occasion, they actually hunted them with dogs. And but for the seasonable kindness of some friend of the Government, who with great secrecy sent them a present of a few sheep, &c. they must have perished of famine. Intelligence of the battle of the 26th April, however, released them from these hardships, and was considered a rich reward for all their privations and sufferings. So reduced were the men, however, on their return to their homes, that their families could scarcely recognize them. A daughter of one of the Ferrintosh tenants, who formed part of the President’s escort on this occasion, still survives, and states that she remembers perfectly having often heard her mother declare, that the children of the family fled affrighted from their father when he first presented himself on his own floor after his return, so greatly was his aspect changed, like Nebuchadnezzar after his sojourn among the beasts of the field.