history of the mackenzies-第72部分

快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！




THE　　CHIEFSHIP。

It　has　been　shown　at　p。　343　that　the　male　line　of　Colonel　Alexander　　Mackenzie　of　Assynt；　fourth　son　of　Kenneth　Mor；　third　Earl　of　Seaforth；　　became　extinct　on　the　death；　in　1815；　of　Francis　Humberston　Mackenzie；　　who　survived　all　his　male　issue。　　It　has　also　been　proved　that　the　male　line　　of　George；　second　Earl　of　Seaforth；　who　died　in　1651；　terminated　in　　Kenneth；　XIX。　of　Kintail　and　sixth　Earl　of　Seaforth；　whose　only　child；　　Lady　Caroline　Mackenzie；　formed　an　irregular　union　with　Lewis　　Drummond；　Count　Melfort；　a　French　nobleman。　It　was　shown　earlier；　at　p。　　246；　that　the　lineal　representation　of　the　original　line　of　Kintail　was　　diverted　from　heirs　male　in　the　person　of　Anna；　Countess　of　Balcarres；　　eldest　daughter　of　Colin；　first　Earl　of　Seaforth；　who　had　no　surviving　male　　issue；　and　the　male　line　of　Colonel　Mackenzie　of　Assynt　having　　terminated　in　〃The　Last　of　the　Seaforths；〃　who　died　in　1815；　we　must　go　　back　beyond　all　these　to　an　earlier　collateral　branch　to　pick　up　the　　legitimate　male　succession；　and　for　ever　dispose　of　the　various　unfounded　claims　hitherto　made　to　the　Chiefship　of　the　clan。

Before　the　appearance　of　the　former　edition　of　this　work　there　had　been　several　claimants　to　this　highly　honourable　position；　and　this　is　not　　to　be　wondered　at；　for　whoever　proves　his　right　to　the　Chiefship　of　the　　Mackenzies　establishes　at　the　same　time　his　right　to　the　ancient　honours　of　　the　house　and　Barons　of　Kintail。　In　an　earlier　part　of　the　work；　at　p。　　316；　　it　is　shown　that　the　original　title　of　Lord　Mackenzie　of　Kintail　did　not　　come　under　the　attainder　of　William；　the　fifth　Earl；　for　the　part　which　he　　took　in　the　Rising　of　1715；　and　therefore　the　Chief　of　the　Mackenzies；　as　heir　male　of　the　first　　Lord　　Mackenzie　of　Kintail；　is；　in　virtue　of　that　position；　we　believe；　entitled　to　assume　that　ancient　title。

The　first　formal　claim　to　the　Chiefship　is　one　by　a　Captain　Murdoch　Mackenzie；　〃of　London；〃　who　claimed　〃the　titles；　honours；　and　　dignities　of　Earl　of　Seaforth　and　Baron　Mackenzie　of　Kintail；〃　in　virtue　of　　a　pretended　descent　and　pedigree　from　the　Hon。　John　Mackenzie　of　　Assynt；　second　son　of　Kenneth　Mor；　third　Earl　of　Seaforth。　　This　pedigree　and　claim　is　before　us。　　According　to　that　document　the　Hon。　John　　Mackenzie　of　Assynt　had　a　son　〃Murdoch　Mackenzie　of　Lochbroom；　who；　　having　shown　a　disposition　of　enterprise　like　his　kinsman　Earl　William；　　left　his　native　parish　in　1729　or　1730；　first　for　Aberdeen　and　afterwards　for　Northumberland；　where；　in　consequence　of　the　unsettled　state　of　　Scotland；　he　resided　with　his　family。〃　　This　Murdoch　had　a　son；　John　　Mackenzie；　〃born　in　Beadnall；　parish　of　Bamborough；　county　of　　Northumberland；　in　1738；　who　married　Miss　Isabella　Davidson　in　1762；　　and　died　in　1780；　in　his　forty…second　year。〃　　John　had　a　son；　〃Captain　　Murdoch　Mackenzie；　the　claimant；　who　was　born　at　Beadnall；　county　of　Northumberland；　in　1763；　and　married　in　1781；　Miss　Eleanor　Brown　of　　the　same　place；　and　has　issue。　　He　commanded　the　ship　Essex；　transport　　81；　of　London；　during　the　late　war。　　Being　desirous　to　see　his　clan　in　the　　North；　in　1790　he　visited　the　late　Francis　Lord　Seaforth；　who　in　the　true　spirit　of　Scotch　sincerity；　hospitality；　and　nobility　received　him　with　　demonstrations　of　pleasure。　　After　talking　over　family　matters　his　Lordship　candidly　said　that　Captain　Murdoch　ought　to　have　been　the　peer　in　　point　of　primogeniture。〃　A　short　account　of　the　family　accompanies　the　　pedigree　and　claim；　which　concludes　in　these　terms〃In　consequence　of　　the　death　of　the　last　peer　it　has　been　discovered　in　Scotland　that　the　titles　and　family　estates　have　devolved　upon　Captain　Murdoch　Mackenzie　of　　London。　　This　gentleman　is　naturally　anxious　to　establish　his　rights；　but　being　unable　to　prosecute　so　important　a　claim　without　the　aid　of　　sufficient　funds　he　has　been　advised　to　solicit　the　aid　of　some　individuals　　whose　public　spirit　and　liberal　feelings　may　prompt　them　to　assist　him　on　the　principle　that　such　timely　assistance　and　support　will　be　gratefully　and　　liberally　rewarded。　Captain　Mackenzie　hereby　offers　to　give　his　bond　for　？00　（or　more　if　required）　for　every　？00　that　may　be　lent　him　to　prosecute　his　claimthe　same　to　become　due　and　payable　within　three　　months　after　he　shall　have　recovered　　his　titles　and　estates。〃　　The　result　of　this　appeal　has　not　been　ascertained；　but　it　is　certain　that　Captain　Murdoch　　Mackenzie　did　not　succeed　in　establishing　any　claim　either　to　the　titles　or　　estates　of　the　House　of　Kintail　and　Seaforth。

It　was；　on　the　contrary；　placed　absolutely　beyond　dispute　by　the　evidence　produced　at　the　Allangrange　Service　in　1829　that　the　eldest　and　　only　surviving　son　of　the　Hon。　John　Mackenzie　of　Assynt　was　not　　Murdoch　but　Kenneth；　and　there　is　no　trace　whatever　of　his　having　had　　any　son　but　Kenneth。　　In　an　original　Precept　issued　by　the　Provost　and　　Magistrates　of　Fortrose　on　　the　30th　of　October；　1716；　the　son　of　the　then　　late　John　Mackenzie　of　Assynt　is　designated　〃Kenneth　Mackenzie；　now　of　　Assynt；　grandchild　and　apparent　heir　to　the　deceased　Isobel；　Countess　　Dowager　of　Seaforth；　his　grandmother　on　the　father's　side。〃　　In　the　same　　document　Kenneth　is　described　as　her　Ladyship's　〃nearest　and　lawful　　heir；〃　conclusively　showing　that　he　was　her　son　John's　eldest　son。　　It　is　thus　fully　established　that　Captain　Murdoch　Mackenzie's　genealogical　　chain　fails　at　the　very　outsetis　broken　in　its　initial　link。　　The　Hon。　　John　　Mackenzie　of　Assynt　had　only　one　son。　　His　name　was　Kenneth；　not　　Murdoch；　and　he　died　without　issue。　　If　any　additional　proof　be　required　to　show　that　the　male　line　of　the　Hon。　John　Mackenzie　of　Assynt　has　long　　been　extinct；　it　will　be　found　in　the　fact　that　on　the　death　of　Earl　Kenneth；　　known　as　〃the　Little　Lord；〃　in　1781；　the　succession　to　the　representation　and　ancient　honours　of　the　family　of　Kintail　and　Seaforth；　devolved　upon　　the　heir　male　of　Colonel　Alexander　Mackenzie　of　Assynt；　who　was　the　　fourth　son　of　Kenneth　Mor；　third　earl；　and　a　younger　brother　of　the　Hon。　　John　Mackenzie　of　Assynt；　apart　altogether　from　the　conclusive　parole　　evidence　given　by　very　old　people　at　the　Allangrange　Service　in　　1829。

This　effectually　disposes　of　Captain　Murdo　Mackenzie。

Now　as　to　the　more　plausible　but　equally　baseless　claim　of　Captain　William　Mackenzie　of　Gruinard；　and　his　cousin；　the　late　Major…General　Alexander　Mackay　Mackenzie　of　the　Indian　Army。　　Captain　Murdoch　Mackenzie's　claim　having　failed；　we　must　go　back　another　step　in　the　　chain　to　pick　up　the　legitimate　succession　to　the　honours　of　Kintail　and　　Seaforth。　　Here　we　are　met　on　the　way　by　another　claim；　put　forward　by　　the　late　Captain　William　Mackenzie　of　Gruinard；　in　the　following　letter　　addressed　to　George　F。　Mackenzie；　then　of　Allangrange：

11　Margaret　Street；　Cavendish　Square；　London；　24th　October　1829。

My　Dear　Allangrange；Having　observed　in　the　Courier　of　the　21st　inst。；　at　a　meeting　at　Tain；　that　you　were　proceeding　with　the　Seaforth　　Claims；　I　take　the　earliest　opportunity　of　communicating　to　you　a　　circumstance　which　I　am　sure　my　agent；　Mr　Roy；　would　have　informed　　you　of　sooner；　did　he　know　that　you　were　proceeding　in　this　affair；　and　　which；　I　think　probable；　he　has　done　ere　this；　but　lest　it　might　have　　escaped　his　notice；　I　deem　it　proper　to　acquaint　you　that　on　Mr　Roy　having　　discovered；　by　authenticated　documents；　that　I　was　the　lineal　descendant　　of　George；　Earl　of　Seaforth；　he　authorised　an　English　counsellor　to　make　　application　to　the　Secretary　of　State　to　that　effect；　who　made　a　reference　　to　the　Court　of　Exchequer　in　Scotland　to　examine　the　evidenceMr　Roy　having　satisfied　them　with　having　all　which　he　required　to　establish　my　　claim。　　I　therefore　am　inclined　to　address　you　in　order　that　you　may　be　　saved　the　trouble　and　expense　attending　this　affair。　Indeed；　had　I　known　you　were　taking　any　steps　in　this　business；　be　assured　I　would　have　written　　to　you　sooner。

I　had　not　the　pleasure　of　communicating　with　you　since　your　　marriage；　upon　which　event　I　beg　leave　to　congratulate　you；　and　hope　I　　shall　soon　have　the　pleasure　of　learning　of　your　adding　a　member　to　the　Clan　Kenneth。　　Believe　me；　my　dear　Mac；　yours　most　sincerely；

WM。　MACKENZIE。

This　claim　is　founded　on　a　Genealogical　Tree　in　possession　of　the　present　representatives　of　the　Gruinard　family；　by　which　John　Mackenzie；　　their　progenitor　is　incorrectly　described　as　the　son　of　George　Mackenzie　　of　Kildun；　second　son　of　George；　second　Earl　of　Seaforth。　　It　is　believed　that　the　descendants　of　this　George；　who　was　the　second　George　　designated　of　Kildun；　are　long　ago　extinct；　but　whether　they　are　or　not；　it　　will　be　conclusively　shown；　by　reference　to　dates；　that　John；　I。　of　　Gruinard；　could　not　possibly　have　been　a　son　of　his。　　And　to　the　　indisputable　evidence　of　dates　may　be　added　the　testimony　of　all　the　　Mackenzie　MSS。　in　existence　which　make　any　reference　to　John　of　　Gruinard。　　In　every　instance　where　his　name　appears　in　these　he　is　　described　as　a　natural　son　of　George；　second　Earl　of　Seaforth。

Before　this　Earl　succeeded　he　also　was　known　as　George　　Mackenzie　of　Kildun；　hence　the　error　in　the　Gruinard　Genealogical　Tree。

The　author　of　the　Ancient　MS。；　so　often　quoted　in　the　course　of　this　work；　　was　a　contemporary　of　John；　I。　of　Gruinard；　and　he　states　that　Earl　George　　〃had　also　ane　naturall　son；　called　John　Mackenzy；　who　married　Loggie's　　daughter。〃　　The　author　of　the　Ardintoul　MS。；　who　was　the　grandson；　as　　mentioned　by　himself；　of　the　Rev。　Farquhar　Macrae；　Constable　of　　Ellandonnan　Castle　in　Earl　Colin's　time；　and　who　died　advanced　in　years　　as　far　back　as　1704consequently　a　contemporary　of　John　of　Gruinarddescribing　the　effects　of　the　disastrous　battle　of　Worcester；　says　that　　Earl　　George；　who　was　then　in　Holland；　was　informed　of　the　result　of　the　battle　〃by　John　of　Gruinard；　his　natural　son；　and　Captain　Hector　Mackenzie；　　who　made　their　escape　from　the　battle；〃　that　the　tidings　〃unraised　his　melancholy；　and　so　died　in　the　latter　end　of　September；　1651。〃　　The　Letterfearn　MS。　is　also　contemporary；　for　the　author　of　it　speaks　of　Earl　Kenneth　as　〃now　Earl　of　Seaforth；〃　and　of　George　of　Kildun　in　the　present　tense；　while　he　speaks　of　his　father　in　the　past　tense；　and　he　say's　tha