, as she
must constantly be, with her great rival, Frederick. Errors and faults
we can overlook when they are those of our common nature;
intractability, impetuosity, lofty pride, superstition, even bigotry, an
impatience of wrongs, furious and implacable--all these, the faults of
Maria Theresa, may be forgiven, may at least be understood. But
Frederick had no merits save courage and ability; these, great as they
are, cannot reconcile us to a character with which we can have no
sympathy--of which the beginning, the middle, and the end, the
foundation and the essence, were entire, unceasing, inextinguishable,
concentrated selfishness.

I do not detain my hearers with any further reference to Maria Theresa.
She long occupies the pages of history--the interesting and captivating
princess--the able and still attractive Queen--the respected and
venerable matron, grown prudent by long familiarity with the uncertainty
of fortune, and sinking into decline amid the praises and blessings of
her subjects.

DEFEAT OF THE YOUNG PRETENDER AT CULLODEN

LAST OF THE STUARTS

A.D. 1746

JUSTIN McCARTHY

Obstinate tenacity of purpose--a leading characteristic of the
Stuart sovereigns--showed a remarkable survival in the vain attempt
of the grandson of James II to recover the throne of England. The
chief historical significance of that attempt lies in the fact that
its failure marks the end of the Stuart endeavor for renewed power.

Charles Edward Louis Philip Casimir, known as the "Young Pretender,"
also as the "Young Chevalier" and "Bonnie Prince Charlie," was born
in Rome in 1720. From his earliest years he was the hope of the
Jacobites, as the political descendants of the partisans of James II
were called. In 1743 Charles headed an abortive expedition for the
invasion of England from France. In August, 1745, he landed with
seven followers in the Hebrides, and on the 19th raised the standard
of his father in Glenfinnan, Scotland. There at once the Highland
clans rallied to his support and began what is known as the "Rising
of '45" or the "Forty-five," the beginning and ending of which are
told here in McCarthy's most brilliant manner.

From the first young Charles Stuart might well have come to regard
himself as the favorite of fortune. The history of the "Forty-five"
divides itself into two distinct parts: the first a triumphant record of
brilliant victo