history of the mackenzies-第87章
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an order was issued signed by Lord Amherst； that it was to be considered a separate corps； whereupon the Lieutenant…Colonel…Commandant addressed the following protest to Mr Dundas； one of the Secretaries of State：
St Alban Street； 8th February； 1794。
Sir；I had sincerely hoped I should not be obliged to trouble you again； but on my going to…day to the War Office about my letter of service （having yesterday； as I thought； finally agreed with Lord Amherst）； I was； to my amazement； told that Lord Amherst had ordered that the 1000 men I am to raise were not to be a second battalion of the 78th； but a separate corps。 It will； I am sure； occur to you that should I undertake such a thing； it would destroy my influence among the people of my country entirely and instead of appearing as a loyal honest chieftain calling out his friends to support their King and country； I should be gibbeted as a jobber of the attachment my neighbours bear to me。 Recollecting what passed between you and me； I barely state the circumstance； and I am； with great respect and attachment； sir； your most obliged and obedient servant；
F。 H。 MACKENZIE。
This had the desired effect the order for a separate corps was rescinded； and a letter of service was issued in his favour on the 10th of February； 1794； authorising him； as Lieutenant…Colonel…Commandant； to add the new battalion； the strength of which was to be one company of grenadiers； one of light infantry； and eight battalion companies； to his own regiment。 The regiment was soon raised； inspected and passed at Fort…George in June of the same year by Lieutenant…General Sir Hector Munro； and in July following the King gave permission to have it named； as a distinctive title； 〃The Ross…shire Buffs。〃 The two battalions were amalgamated in June； 1796。 Another battalion was raised in 1804letter of service； dated 17th April。 These were again amalgamated in July； 1817。
Although the regiment was not accompanied abroad by its Lieutenant…Colonel…Commandant； he continued most solicitous for its reputation and welfare； as we find from the various communications addressed to him regarding it and the conduct of the men by Lieutenant…Colonel Alexander Mackenzie of Fairburn； appointed its Lieutenant…Colonel from the first battalion； ＇John Randoll Mackenzie； also from the first battalion； was appointed senior Major。＇ and then in actual command； but as the history of the 78th Highlanders is not our present object； we must here part company with it and follow the future career of Francis Humberston Mackenzie。
As a reward for his eminent services to the Government he was appointed Lord…Lieutenant of the County of Ross； and； on the 26th of October； 1797； raised to the dignity of a peer of the United Kingdom； by the titles of Lord Seaforth and Baron Mackenzie of Kintail； the ancient dignities of his house； with limitation to the heirs male of his body。
His Lordship； having resigned the command of the 78th； was； in 1798； appointed Colonel of the Ross…shire Regiment of Militia。 In 1800 he was appointed Governor of Barbadoes； an office which he retained for six years； after which he held high office in Demerara and Berbice。 While Governor of Barbadoes he was for a time extremely popular； and was distinguished for his firmness and even…handed justice。 He succeeded in putting an end to slavery； and to the practice of slave…killing in the island； which at that time was of very common occurrence； and deemed by the planters a venal offence punishable only by a small fine of ？5。 In consequence of his humane proceedings in this matter he became obnoxious to many of the colonists； and； in 1806； he finally left the island。
In 1808 he was made a Lieutenant…General。
These were singular incidents in the life of a man who may be said to have been deaf and dumb from his youth but who； in spite of these physical defectssufficient to crush any ordinary manhad been able； by the force of his natural abilities and the favour of fortune； to overcome them sufficiently to raise himself to such a high and important position in the world。 He took a lively interest in all questions of art and science； especially in natural history； and displayed at once his liberality and his love of art by his munificence to Sir Thomas Lawrence； in the youth and struggles of that great artist and famous painter； and by his patronage of others。 On this point a recent writer says 〃The last baron of Kintail； Francis。 Lord Seaforth； was； as Sir Walter Scott has said； ‘a nobleman of extraordinary talents； who must have made for himself a lasting reputation had not his political exertions been checked by painful natural infirmities。'
Though deaf from his sixteenth year and though labouring under a partial impediment of speech； he held high and important appointments； and was distinguished for his intellectual activities and attainments。 His case seems to contradict the opinion held by Kitto and others； that in all that relates to the culture of the mind； and the cheerful exercise of the mental faculties； the blind have the advantage of the deaf。 The loss of the ear； that ‘vestibule of the soul；' was to him compensated by gifts and endowments rarely united in the same individual。 One instance of the chief's liberality and love of art may be mentioned。 In 1796 he advanced a sum of ？000 to Sir Thomas Lawrence to relieve him from pecuniary difficulties。 Lawrence was then a young man of twenty…seven。 His career from a boy upwards was one of brilliant success； but he was careless and generous as to money matters； and some speculations by his father embarassed and distressed the young artist。 In his trouble he applied to the Chief of Kintail。 ‘Will you；' he said in that theatrical style common to Lawrence； ‘will you be the Antonio to a Bassanio？' He promised to pay the ？000 in four years； but the money was given on terms the most agreeable to the feelings and complimentary to the talents of the artist。
He was to repay it with his pencil； and the chief sat to him for his portrait。
Lord Seaforth also commissioned from West one of those immense sheets of canvas on which the old Academician delighted to work in his latter years。 The subject of the picture was the traditionary story of the Royal hunt； in which Alexander the Third was saved from the assault of a fierce stag by Colin Fitzgerald； a wandering knight unknown to authentic history。
West considered it one of his best productions； charged ？00 for it； and was willing some years afterwards； with a view to the exhibition of his works； to purchase back the picture at its original cost。 In one instance Lord Seaforth did not evince artistic taste。 He dismantled Brahan Castle removing its castellated features and completely modernising its general appearance。 The house； with its large modern additions； is a tall； massive pile of building； the older portion covered to the roof with ivy。 It occupies a commanding site on a bank midway between the river Conon and a range of picturesque rocks。 This bank extends for miles； sloping in successive terraces； all richly wooded or cultivated； and commanding a magnificent view that terminates with the Moray Firth。〃 ＇The Seaforth Papers； in the North British Review； 1863； by Robert Carruthers； LL。D。＇
The remarkable prediction of the extinction of this highly distinguished and ancient family is so well known that it need not be recapitulated here； and its literal fulfilment is one of the most curious instances of the kind on record。 There is no doubt that the 〃prophecy〃 was widely known throughout the Highlands generations before it was fulfilled。 Lockhart； in his Life of Sir Walter Scott； says that 〃it connected the fall of the house of Seaforth not only with the appearance of a deaf ‘Cabarfeidh；' but with the contemporaneous appearance of various different physical misfortunes in several of the other Highland chiefs； all of which are said to have actually occurred within the memory of the generation that has not yet passed away。 Mr Morrit can testify thus far； that he heard the prophecy quoted in the Highlands at a time when Lord
