Untitled

THE
CELTIC MAGAZINE.
No. XXXVIII. DECEMBER 1878. VOL. IV.
HISTORY OF THE CLAN MACKENZIE,
WITH GENEALOGIES OF THE PKINC1PAL FAMILIES.
BY THE EDITOR.
[CONTINUED.]
XVII. WILLIAM, Fifth EARL OF SEAFORTH and Sixth LORD MAC-
KENZIE OF KINTAIL, known among the Highlanders as " William
Dubh." He does not appear at any time to have assumed the title of
Marquis. He succeeded at a most important era in the history of Scot-
land, just when the country was divided on the great question of
union with England, which, in spite of the fears of most of the
Highland chiefs and nobles of Scotland, turned out in the end so
beneficial to both. He would, no doubt, during his residence with his
exiled parents in France, have imbibed strong Jacobite feelings. We have
been able to obtain but little information of William's proceedings during
the first few years of his rule. He appears to have continued abroad, for
on the 23d of May 1709 an order appears addressed to the forester at
Letterewe signed by the Earl's mother, the
"
Dowager Frances Seaforth."
On the 22d of June 1713 she addresses a letter to Colin Mackenzie of Kincraig,
in which she "
says I find my son William is fully inclined to do
justice to all. Within fifteen days he will be at Brahan."* It also is
signed "Frances Seaforth."
At this time a great majority of the southern nobles were ready to
break out into open rebellion, while the Highland chiefs were almost to
a man prepared for a rising. This soon became apparent to the Government.
Bodies of armed Highlanders were seen moving about in several districts in
the North. A party appeared in the neighbourhood of Inverness which
was, however, soon dispersed by the garrison. The Government became
alarmed, and the lords justices sent a large number of half-pay officers,
chiefly from the Scottish regiments, to officer the militia, under command
of Major-General Whitham, commander-in-chief at the time in Scotland.
These proceedings alarmed the Jacobites, most of whom returned to their
homes. The Duke of Gordon was confined in Edinburgh Castle, and the
Marquis of Huntly and Lord Drummond in their respective residences.
The latter fled to the Highlands and offered bail for his good behaviour.
* Original produced at Allangrange Service in 1829.