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art。 In 1712 they were all sent to school at Chanonry； under Urquhart's charge； where Sir Alexander remained for six years； after which； having arrived at 18 years of age； he went to complete his education in Edinburgh。 He afterwards made a tour of travel； and returning home in 1730 married his cousin； Janet Mackenzie of Scatwell； on which occasion a fine Gaelic poem was composed in her praise by John Mackay； the famous blind piper and poet of Gairloch； whose daughter became the mother of William Ross； a Gaelic bard even more celebrated than the blind piper himself。 If we believe her eulogist the lady possessed all the virtues of mind and body but in spite of all these graces the marriage did not turn out a happy one； for； in 1758； she separated from her husband on the grounds of incompatibility of temper； after which she lived alone at Kinkell。
When； in 1721； Sir Alexander came of age； he was obliged to find means to pay the provision payable to his brother George and to his sisters； amounting altogether to 16；000 merks； while about the same amount of his father's debts was still unpaid。 In 1729 he purchased Cruive House and the Ferry of Skudale。 In 1735 he bought Bishop…Kinkell； in 1742 Loggie…Riach and； in 1743； Kenlochewe； which latter property was considered equal in value to Glasletter of Kintail； sold about the same time。 About 1730 he redeemed Davochcairn and Ardnagrask from the widow of his uncle William； and Davochpollo from the widow and son James of his grand…uncle； Colin； I。 of Mountgerald。 In 1752 he executed an entail of all his estates； but leaving debts at his death； amounting to ？679 13s 10d more than his personal estate could meet； Davochcairn； Davochpollo； and Ardnagrask； had eventually to be sold to make up the deficiency。
In 1738 he pulled down the old family residence of Stankhouse； or 〃Tigh Dige；〃 at Gairloch； which stood in a low； marshy； damp situation； surrounded by the moat from which it derived its name； and built the present house on an elevated plateau； surrounded by magnificent woods and towering hills； with a southern front elevationaltogether one of the most beautiful and best sheltered situations in the Highlands； and he very appropriately called it Flowerdale。 He greatly improved his property； and was in all respects a careful and good man of business。
He kept out of the Rising of 1745； and afterwards when John Mackenzie of Meddat applied to him for aid in favour of Lord Macleod； son of the Earl of Cromarty； who took so prominent a part in it； and was afterwards in very tightened circumstances； Sir Alexander replied in a letter dated at Gairloch； 17th May； 1749； in the following somewhat unsympathetic terms：
Sir；I am favoured with your letter； and am extreamly sory Lord Cromartie's circumstances should obliege him to sollicit the aide of small gentlemen。 I much raither he hade dyed sword in hand even where he was ingag'd then be necessitate to act such a pairt I have the honour to be nearly related to him； and to have been his companion； but will not supply him at this time； for which I believe I can give you the best reason in the world； and the only one possible for me to give； and that is that I cannot。 ＇Fraser's Earls of Cromartie； vol。 ii。； p。 230。＇
The reason stated in this letter may possibly be the true one； but it is more likely that Sir Alexander had no sympathy whatever with the cause which brought his kinsman into such an unfortunate position； and that he would not； on that account； lend him any assistance。
Some of his leases； preserved in the Gairloch charter chest； contain some very curious clauses； many of which would now be described as tyrannical and cruel； but the Laird and his tenants understood each other； and they got on remarkably well。 The tenants were bound to sell him all their marketable cattle 〃at reasonable rates；〃 and to deliver to him at current prices all the cod and ling caught by them； and； in some cases； were bound to keep one or more boats； with a sufficient number of men as sub…tenants； for the prosecution of the cod and ling fishings。 He kept his own curer； cured the fish； and sold it at 12s 6d per cwt。 delivered in June at Gairloch； with credit until the following Martinmas； to Mr Dunbar； merchant； with whom he made a contract binding himself； for several years； to deliver； at the price named； all the cod caught in Gairloch。 ＇See copy of lease granted by him； in 1760； of the half of North Erradale； to one of the author's ancestors； printed at length under the family of 〃Alastair Cam。〃＇
Sir Alexander married； in 1730； Janet； daughter of Sir Roderick Mackenzie； second Baronet and V。 of Scatwell； with issue
1。 Alexander； his heir and successor。
2。 Kenneth； who died in infancy。
3。 Roderick； a captain in the army； who was killed at Quebec before he attained majority。
4。 William； a writer； who died unmarried。
5。 James； who died in infancy。
6。 Kenneth of Millbank； factor and Tutor to Sir Hector； the fourth Baronet of Gairloch； during the last few years of his minority。 He married Anne； daughter of Alexander Mackenzie of Tolly； with issue（1） Alex…ander； County Clerk of Ross…shire； who married； and had issueAlexander； in New Zealand； Kenneth； who married twice； in India； and died in 1877； and Catherine； who married Murdo Cameron； Leanaig； with surviving issueone son； Alexander； （2） Janet； who married the Rev。 Dr John Macdonald； of Ferintosh； the famous 〃Apostle of the North；〃 with issue； （3） Catherine； who married Alexander Mackenzie； a merchant in London； and grandson of Alexander Mackenzie of Tolly； with issuean only daughter； Catherine； who married Major Roderick Mackenzie； VII。 of Kincraig； with issue； （4） Jane； who； in 1808； married the Rev。 Hector Bethune； minister of Dingwall； with issueColonel Bethune； who died without issue； the Rev。 Angus Bethune； Rector of Seaham； Alexander Mackenzie Bethune； Secretary of the Peninsular and Oriental Navigation Company； married； without issue； and a daughter； Jane； who married the late Francis Harper； Torgorm。 Mrs Bethune died in 1878； aged 91 years。
7 and 8。 Margaret and Janet； both of whom died young。
9。 Janet； who married Colin； eldest son of David； brother of Murdo Mackenzie； VII。 of Achilty。 Murdo leaving no issue； Colin ultimately succeeded to Achilty； but he seems afterwards to have parted with it； for in 1784； he has a tack of Kinkell； and dies there； in 1813； with his affairs seriously involved； leaving a son John； who died without issue。
Sir Alexander had also a natural son； Charles Mackenzie； ancestor of the later Mackenzies of Sand； and two natural daughters； one of whom； Annabella； by a daughter of Maolmuire； or Miles Macrae； of the family of Inverinate； married John Ban Mackenzie； by whom she had a daughter； Marsali or Marjory； who married John Mor Og Mackenzie （Ian Mor Aireach）； son of John Mor Mackenzie； grandson of Alexander Cam Mac…kenzie； fourth son of Alexander； V。 of Gairloch； in whose favour Sir Alexander granted the lease of North Erradale； already referred to。 The other daughter； known as 〃Kate Gairloch；〃 who lived to a very