history of the mackenzies-第61章

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　of　the　two　companies　from　the　date　　of　the　letter　signifying　that　they　were　ordered　to　remain　at　Brahan　for　the　　service　of　the　Government。　The　further　expense；　which　we　are　both　　satisfied　it　must　have　cost　your　Lordship；　shall　be　made　good　as　soon　as　　any　money　to　be　applied　to　contingencies；　which　we　expect；　shall　come　to　　hand；　and　if　it　should　not　come　so　soon　as　we　wish；　the　account　shall　be　　made　up　and　solicited；　in　the　same　manner　with　what　we　lay　out　of　our　　own　purses；　which　is　no　inconsiderable　sums。〃　　This　correspondence　will　　show　the　confidence　which　then　existed　between　the　Government　and　　Lord　Fortrose。

On　the　9th　of　December　the　two　Mackenzie　companies　were　　marched　into　Inverness。　　　Next　day；　accompanied　by　a　detachment　from　Fort…Augustus；　they　proceeded　to　Castle　Dounie　for　the　purpose　of　bringing　Lord　Lovat　to　account。　　The　crafty　old　Simon　agreed　to　come　in　　to　Inverness　and　to　deliver　up　his　arms　on　the　14th　of　the　month；　but　　instead　of　doing　so　he　of　course　made　good　his　escape。　After　the　battle　of　Prestonpans；　the　Government；　on　the　　recommendation　of　the　Earl　of　Stair；　forwarded　twenty　blank　　commissions　to　President　Forbes；　with　orders　to　raise　as　many　companies　　of　100　men　each；　among　the　Highlanders。　　Eighteen　of　the　twenty　were　　sent　to　the　Earls　of　Sutherland　and　Cromarty；　Lords　Fortrose　and　Reay；　the　　Lairds　of　Grant　and　Macleod；　and　Sir　Alexander　Macdonald　of　Sleat；　with　　instructions　to　raise　the　Highland　companies　in　their　respective　districts。　　　The　Earl　of　Cromarty；　while　pretending　to　comply　with　the　instructions　of　the　Lord　President；　offered　the　command　of　one　of　the　companies　to　a　　neighbouring　gentleman；　whom　he　well　knew　to　be　a　strong　Jacobite；　and　　at　the　same　time　made　some　plausible　excuse　for　his　son's　refusal　of　　another　of　the　commissions。

When　Lord　John　Drummond　landed　with　a　body　of　Irish　and　　Scotch　troops；　in　the　service　of　the　French；　to　aid　Prince　Charles；　he　wrote　　to　Mackenzie　announcing　his　arrival　and　earnestly　requesting　him　to　　declare　at　once　for　the　Stuart　cause；　as　the　only　means　by　which　he　could　〃now　expect　to　retrieve　his　character。〃　　All　the　means　at　Drummond's　　disposal　proved　futile；　and　the　Mackenzies　were　thus　kept　out　of　the　　Rising　of　1745。

That　Prince　Charles　fully　appreciated　the　importance　of　having　the　Mackenzies　led　by　their　natural　chief；　for　or　against　him；　will　be　seen　　from　Lord　Macleod's　Narrative　of　the　Rebellion。　＇Printed　at　length　in　　Fraser's　Earls　of　Cromartie。＇　　〃We　set　out；〃　his　Lordship　says；　〃from　　Dunblain　on　the　12th　of　January；　and　arrived　the　same　evening　at　　Glasgow。　　I　immediately　went　to　pay　my　respects　to　the　Prince；　and　found　　that　he　was　already　set　down　to　supper。　　Dr　Cameron　told　Lord　George　　Murray；　who　sat　by　the　Prince；　who　I　was；　on　which　the　Lord　Murray　　introduced　me　to　the　Prince；　whose　hand　I　had　the　honour　to　kiss；　after　　which　the　Prince　ordered　me　to　take　my　place　at　the　table。　　After　supper　I　　followed　the　Prince　to　his　apartment　to　give　him　an　account　of　his　affairs　　in　the　North；　and　of　what　had　passed　in　these　parts　during　the　time　of　his　expedition　to　England。　　I　found　that　nothing　surprised　the　Prince　so　much　as　to　hear　that　the　Earl　of　Seaforth　had　declared　against　him；　for　he　heard　　without　emotion　the　names　of　the　other　people　who　had　joined　the　Earl　of　　Loudon　at　Inverness；　but　when　I　told　him　that　Seaforth　had　likewise　sent　　two　hundred　men　to　Inverness　for　the　service　of　the　Government；　and　that　　he　had　likewise　hindered　many　gentlemen　of　his　clan　from　joining　my　　father　（the　Earl　of　Cromarty）　for　the　service　of　the　Stuarts；　he　turned　to　the　　French　Minister　and　said　to　him；　with　some　warmth；　Hc！　mon　Dieu！　et　Seaforth　est　aussi　contre　moi！〃

At　this　stage　a　hero　named　Mackenzie；　who　had　done　good　service　to　the　Prince　in　his　wanderings　through　the　Highlands　after　the　battle　of　Culloden；　may　be　mentioned。　Such　a　small　tribute　is　due　to　the　gallant　　Roderick　Mackenzie；　whose　intrepidity　and　presence　of　mind　in　the　last　　agonies　of　death；　saved　his　Prince　from　pursuit　at　the　time；　and　was　　consequently　the　means　of　his　ultimate　escape　in　safety　to　France。

Charles　had　been　pursued　with　the　most　persevering　assiduity；　but　Roderick's　ruse　proved　so　successful　on　this　occasion　that　further　search　was　for　a　time　considered　unnecessary。　　Mackenzie　was　a　young　man；　of　　respectable　family；　who　joined　the　Prince　at　Edinburgh；　and　served　as　one　of　his　life…guards。　　Being　about　the　same　age　as　his　Royal　Highness；　and；　like　him；　tall；　somewhat　slender；　and　with　features　in　some　degree　　resembling　his；　he　might；　by　ordinary　observers　not　accustomed　to　see　the　two　together；　have　passed　for　the　Prince　himself。　　As　Roderick　could　not　　venture　with　safety　to　return　to　Edinburgh；　where　still　lived　his　two　　maiden　sisters；　he　after　the　battle　of　Culloden　fled　to　the　Highlands　and　lurked　among　the　hills　of　Glenmoriston；　where；　about　the　middle　of　July；　he　was　surprised　by　a　party　of　Government　soldiers。　　Mackenzie　endeavoured　to　escape；　but；　being　overtaken；　he　turned　on　his　pursuers；　　and；　drawing　his　sword；　bravely　defended　himself。　　He　was　ultimately　shot　by　one　of　the　red…coats；　but　as　he　fell；　mortally　wounded；　he　exclaimed；　　〃You　have　killed　your　Prince！　　You　have　killed　your　Prince！〃　whereupon　　he　immediately　expired。　　The　soldiers；　overjoyed　at　their　supposed　good　　fortune；　cut　off　his　head；　and　hurried　off　to　Fort…Augustus　with　their　prize。

The　Duke　of　Cumberland；　quite　convinced　that　he　had　now　obtained　the　　head　of　his　Royal　relative；　packed　it　up　carefully；　ordered　a　post…chaise；　　and　at　once　went　off　to　London；　taking　the　head　along　with　him。　　After　his　　arrival　the　deception　was　discovered；　but　meanwhile　it　proved　of　great　　assistance　to　Prince　Charles　in　his　ultimately　successful　efforts　to　escape。

Shortly　after　the　battle　of　Culloden　a　fleet　of　ships　appeared　off　the　　coast　of　Lochbroom；　under　the　command　of　Captain　Fergusson。　They　　dropped　anchor　at　Loch…Ceannard；　when　a　large　party　went　ashore　and　　proceeded　up　the　Strath　to　the　residence　of　Mr　Mackenzie　of　Langwell；　　connected　by　marriage　with　the　Earl　of　Cromarty。　　Langwell　having　　supported　the　Prince；　fled　out　of　the　hated　Fergusson's　way；　but　his　lady　was　obliged　to　remain　at　home　to　attend　to　a　large　family　of　young　　children；　who　were　at　the　time　laid　up　with　smallpox。　　The　house　was　　ransacked。　　A　large　chest　containing　the　family　and　other　valuable　papers；　　including　a　wadset　of　Langwell　and　Inchvannie　from　her　relative；　George；　　Earl　of　Cromarty；　was　burnt　before　her　eyes；　and　about　fifty　head　of　fine　Highland　cattle　were　mangled　by　the　swords　and　driven　to　the　ships　of　the　spoilers。　Nor　did　this　satisfy　them。　　They　committed　similar　depredations；　without　any　discrimination　between　friend　or　foe；　for　eight　days　during　　which　they　remained　in　the　neighbourhood。　＇New　Statistical　Account　of　　Lochbroom。＇

It　is　well　known　that　Mackenzie　had　strong　Jacobite　feelings　although　his　own　prudence　and　the　influence　of　Lord　President　Forbes　secured　his　support　for　the　Government。　　〃Though　many　respectable　individuals　of　the　Clan　Mackenzie　had　warmly　espoused　the　cause　of　Charles；　Lord　Fortrose　seems　at　no　time　to　have　proclaimed　openly　for　　him；　whatever　hopes　he　might　have　countenanced　when　in　personal　communication　with　the　expatriated　Sovereign；　as　indeed　there　is　cause　to　infer　something　of　the　kind　from　a　letter　which；　towards　the　end　of　　November；　1745；　was　addressed　by　Lord　John　Drummond　to　Kenneth；　　pressing　him　instantly　to　join　the　Prince；　then　successfully　penetrating　the　　West　of　England；　and　qualifying　the　invitation　by　observing　that　it　was　the　　only　mode　for　his　Lordship　to　retrieve　his　character。　　Yet　so　little　did　　Fortrose　or　his　immediate　followers　affect　the　cause；　that　when　Lord　Lovat　　blockaded　Fort…Augustus；　two　companies　of　Mackenzies；　which　bad　been　　stationed　at　Brahan；　were　withdrawn；　and　posted　by　Lord　Loudon；　the　　commander…in…chief　of　the　Government　forces；　at　Castle　Dounie；　the　　stronghold　of　Fraser　and；　with　the　exception　of　these；　the　Royal　party　　received　no　other　support　from　the　family　of　Seaforth；　though　many　　gentlemen　of　the　clan　served　in　the　King's　army。　　Yet　it　appears　that　a　still　greater　number；　with　others　whose　ancestors　identified　themselves　with　　the　fortunes　of　the　House　of　Kintail；　were　inclined　to　espouse　the　more　　venturous　steps　of　the　last　of　the　Stuarts。　　George；　the　last　Earl　of　　Cromarty；　being　then　paramount　in　power；　and；　probably　so；　in　influence；　　even　to　the　chief　himself；　having　been；　for　certain　reasons；　liable　to　　suspicions　as　to　their　disinterested　nature；　declared　for　Charles；　and　under　　his　standard　his　own　levy；　with　all　the　Jacobite　adherents　of　the　clan；　　ranged　themselves；　and　were　mainly　instrumental　in　neutralizing　Lord　　Loudon's　and　the　Laird　of　Macleod's　forces　in　the　subsequent　operations　　of　1746；　driving　them　with　the　Lord　President　Forbes；　to　take　shelter　in　the　　Isle　of　Skye。〃　＇Bennetsfield　MS。＇

Kenneth　married　on　the　11th　of　September；　1741；　Lady　Mary；　　eldest　daughter　of　Alexander　Stewart；　sixth　Earl　of　Galloway；　with　issue

I。　　Kenneth；　his　heir　and　successor。

II。　　Margaret；　who　on　the　4th　of　June；　married　William　Webb。

III。　　Mary；　who　married　Henry　Howard；　of　Effingham；　with　issue。

IV。　　Agnes；　who　married　J。　Douglas。

V。　　Catherine；　who　on　the　1st　of　March；　1773；　married　Thomas　　Griffin　Tarpley；　student　of　medicine。

VI。　　Frances；　who　married　General　Joseph　Wald。

VII。　　Euphemia；　who；　on　the　2nd　of　April；　1771；　married　William　Stewart　of　Castle　Stewart；　M。P。　for　the　County　of　Wigton。

His　wife　died　in　London　on　the　18th　of　April；　1751；　and　was　buried　at　Kensington；　where　a　monument　was　raised　to　her　memory。　　Kenneth　died；　also　in　London；　on　the　19th　of　October；　1761；　and　was　buried　in　　Westminster　Abbey；　when　he　was　succeeded　by　his　only　son；

XIX。　　KENNETH；　　SIXTH　　EARL　　OF　　SEAFORTH；

Viscount　Fortrose；　and　Baron　Ardelve；　in　the　Peerage　of　Ireland。　From　his　　small　stature；　he　was　generally　known　among　the　Highlanders　as　the　　〃Little　Lord。〃　　He　was　born　in　Edinburgh　on　the　15th　of　January；　1744；　　and　at　an　early　age　entered　the　army。　　As　a　return　for　his　father's　loyalty　to　　the　House　of　Hanovar　in　1745；　and　his　own　steady　support　of　the　reigning　　family；　George　III。；　in　1764；　raised　him　to　the　peerage　by　the　title　of　Baron　　Ardelve。　　He　was　created　Viscount　Fortrose　in　1766；　and　in　1771；　Earl　of　　Seaforth；　all　in　the　peerage　of　Ireland。　　To　evince　his　gratitude　for　this　magnanimous　act；　he；　in　1778；　offered　to　raise　a　regiment　for　general　service。　　The　offer　was　accepted　by　his　Majesty；　and　a　fine　body　of　1130　　men　were　in　a　very　short　time　raised　by　his　Lordship；　principally　on　his　　own　estates　in　the　north　and　by　gentlemen　of　his　own　name。　　Of　these；　five　　hundred　were　enlisted　among　his　immediate　vassals；　and　about　four　　hundred　from　the　estates　of　the　Mackenzies　of　Scatwell；　Kilcoy；　　Redcastle；　and　Applecross。　　The　officers　from　the　south　to　whom　he　gave　　commissions　in　the　regiment　brought　about　two　hundred　men；　of　whom　　forty…three　were　English　and　Irish。　　The　Macraes　of　Kintail；　always　such　　faithful　followers　and　able　supporters　of　the　House　of　Seaforth；　were　so　　numerous　in　the　new　regiment　that　it　was　known　more　by　their　name　than