days beyond the time prescribed him, endeavouring to reason the
prince into a better temper; but finding him obstinately
persevere in his first answer, he took his leave with concern and
indignation, saying, as he passed out, "What has your family
done, sir, thus to draw down the vengeance of Heaven on every
branch of it, through so many ages?" It is worthy of remark,
that in all the conferences which M'Namara had with the prince on
this occasion, the latter declared that it was not a violent
passion, or indeed any particular regard, which attached him to
Mrs. Walkinshaw and that he could see her removed from him
without any concern; but he would not receive directions, in
respect to his private conduct, from any man alive. When
M'Namara returned to London, and reported the prince's answer to
the gentlemen who had employed him, they were astonished and
confounded. However, they soon resolved on the measures which
they were to pursue for the future, and determined no longer to
serve a man who could not be persuaded to serve himself, and
chose rather to endanger the lives of his best and most faithful
friends, than part with an harlot, whom, as he often declared, he
neither loved nor esteemed.'

From this anecdote, the general truth of which is indubitable,
the principal fault of Charles Edward's temper is sufficiently
obvious. It was a high sense of his own importance, and an
obstinate adherence to what he had once determined on--qualities
which, if he had succeeded in his bold attempt, gave the nation
little room to hope that he would have been found free from the
love of prerogative and desire of arbitrary power, which
characterized his unhappy grandfather. He gave a notable
instance how far this was the leading feature of his character,