LIFE IN EXILE IN FRANCE

      With the responsibility of reporting to the Prince discharged, Cluny felt free to resume his "own privat concerns"-- finding a way to earn a living in exile. One such position was that of Lieutenant-Colonel of Locheil's RÈgiment d'Albanie to which he believed he had been gazetted in absentia since 1747 when it was founded. With the Seven Years war looming in Europe and already underway in North America, such service was an attractive option and might also have been a way of returning to Scotland. However, that regiment had been disestablished in 1748 and the officers absorbed into the Régiment Royal écossais. Based on reports written by Frenchmen whom Cluny had befriended, he apparently believed that he would continue as a lieutenant-colonel in that regiment. He petitioned the authorities for his back pay but after a delay of several months the bureaucracy found a way not to honour the promises the French Government had made. Cluny, of course, was greatly surprised and disappointed by this refusal and continued to seek redress through other channels. Finally, a small amount was granted which helped defray a portion of the debt that had been accumulating while he waited.

      Cluny joined the Régiment de Royal Écossais at Dunkirk on the Strait of Dover where it served as a part of the garrison for that fortified town. Many Jacobite refugees had settled there and with the start of the Seven Years War in August 1756, their hopes of better times must have been raised. But most of the battles between the French and the British in that war took place in the German states and in North America. The outcome was disastrous for the French and that dream was unfulfilled.

      Cluny continued to receive news from Badenoch regarding the cruelty that was being inflicted on his clansmen and, particularly Lady Cluny. Even though it was well known that he was no longer in Scotland, large numbers of troops were still quartered on the populace of Badenoch. At last she was forced to apply to friends for assistance in escaping from this oppression and arrived at Dunkirk in May 1757 with her daughter, Margaret aged fourteen and her son's nurse, Mrs. Annie Nicholson. Young Duncan (of the Kiln), aged ten was left at school in Inverness under the eye of his Fraser relatives. He was never to see his father again.

      As much as he was pleased with the arrival of his lady and daughter, Cluny soon found that his army pay was inadequate to support them properly. He travelled to Paris to petition King Louis XV for augmentation similar to that awarded Lady Locheil and her family. Cluny's presence in Paris had an unforeseen and most unpleasant consequence:-- the Prince (now living in Liége) had written to Abbé John Gordon, Principal of the Scotch College in Paris continuing to cast same aspersions on Cluny's honour that he had made two years earlier. The Principal and Cluny met to discuss the matter and the letters written to the Prince about the meeting indicate that the Principal was unreasonably critical of Cluny while the latter was highly offended that his word was not accepted. Added to this indignity was the failure of the King to act favourably on his petition. The little family of exiles continued to live at Dunkirk in poverty.

      A letter from Lady Cluny to their son written in 1761 has survived. It advised him on his education and mentions their daughter but not Cluny. The letter was written from a place in Holland which might indicate that Cluny was stationed there or elsewhere at the time. However, nothing certain is known about Cluny's service with the Régiment Royal Écossais with regard to where he served and for how long. One Scot of our acquaintance who did serve in North America was the Chevalier de Johnstone who was an aide to General Montcalm at Quebec where Britain gained control of Canada. Several Macphersons served there in the 78th Fraser Highlanders including Cluny's brother, Major John Macpherson, formerly a Captain-Lieutenant in the service of the States-General of Holland.".

      After Great Britain and France signed preliminary peace accords in December 1762, that regiment was merged with another which resulted in redundancies among its officers. In peacetime such officers were placed on half-pay and that may have been Cluny's fate. There is some evidence that he and his family were living in Dunkirk in 1763 and that they were visited by his old comrades, Donald Macpherson of Breakachy and Andrew Macpherson of Benchar who did visit London that year.