Page 344 - A Jacobite Exile

In the spring Charlie again joined the army, and commanded a brigade in
the desperate struggle on the hill of Malplaquet, one of the hardest fought

battles in the history of war. Peace was made shortly afterwards, and, at the
reduction of the army that followed, he went on half pay, and settled down

for life at Lynnwood, where Tony Peters and his wife had, at the death of
the former occupant of the lodge, been established.

When Harry Jervoise returned to the Swedish headquarters, with the news
that his father was cleared, he was the bearer of a very handsome present

from Charlie to his faithful servant Stanislas, who had, on their return from
Poland, been at once employed by Count Piper on other service.

When, years afterwards, the young Pretender marched south with the
Highland clans, neither Charlie nor Harry were among the gentlemen who

joined him. He had their good wishes, but, having served in the British
army, they felt that they could not join the movement in arms against the
British crown; and indeed, the strong Jacobite feelings of their youth had

been greatly softened down by their contact with the world, and they had
learned to doubt much whether the restoration of the Stuarts would tend, in

any way, to the benefit or prosperity of Britain.

They felt all the more obliged to stand aloof from the struggle, inasmuch as

both had sons, in the army, that had fought valiantly against the French at
Dettingen and Fontenoy. The families always remained united in the closest

friendship, and more than one marriage took place between the children of
Charlie Carstairs and Harry Jervoise.