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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 that 〃He （Earl George） left ane natural son； who is called John； who is married with Logie's daughter。〃 That John of Gruinard was married to Christina； daughter of Donald Mackenzie； III。 of Loggie； is proved by a sasine dated 1655； in which that lady is described as his wife。 It may be objected to these MSS。 that； however probable it may be that they are correct； they are not necessarily authentic。 But there is ample evidence of an official and incontestible character on the point。 A sasine； dated 6th of February； 1658； is recorded in the Particular Register of Sasines of Inverness； vol。 7； fol。 316； from which the following is an extract〃Compearit personally John Mackenzie； naturall broyr to ane noble Erle Kenneth Erle of Seaforth Lord of Kintail； etc。； as bailzie in that part；〃 on behalf of 〃the noble Lady； Dame Isobell Mackenzie； Countess of Seaforth； sister german to Sir George Mackenzie of Tarbat； Knight； future ladie to the said noble Erle。〃 Another authentic document having a most important bearing on this question was recently discov