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During the remaining years of his life； Seaforth appears to have lived mainly in France。 Apart from his necessary absence from his own country during the long…continued period of political irritation； the exhausted state of his paternal revenues would have rendered his residence abroad highly expedient。 We accordingly find several discharges for feu…duties granted by others in his absence； such as the following：
〃I； Maister Alexander Mackenzie； lawful brother to the Marquis of Seaforth； grants me to have received from John Mathesone； all and hail the somme of seaven hundred and twentie merks Scots money and that in complete payment of his duties and or the lands of both the Fernacks and Achnakerich； payable Martimass ninety （1690）； dated 22d November； 1694。〃
There is another by 〃Isobel； Countess Dowager of Seaforth； in 1696； tested by ‘Rorie Mackenzie； servitor to the Marquis of Seaforth；'〃 and an original discharge by 〃me； Isobell； Countess Dowager of Seaforth； Lady Superior of the grounds； lands； and oyes under…written；〃 to Kenneth Mackenzie of Dundonnel； dated at Fortrose； 15th November； 1697； signed； 〃Isobell Seaforth。〃 ＇Allangrange Service； on which occasion thc originals were produced。＇ It may fairly be presumed that； during the whole of this period； Earl Kenneth was in retirement； and that be took no personal part in the management of his estates for the remainder of his life。
His clansmen； however； seem to have been determined to protect his interest as much as they could。 A certain Sir John Dempster of Pitliver had advanced Seaforth and his mother； the Countess Dowager； a large sum of money and obtained a decree of Parliament to have the amount refunded to him。 The cash was not forthcoming； and Sir John secured letters of horning and arrestment against them； and employed several officers to serve them； but they returned the letters unexecuted； not finding notum accessum in the Earl's country； and they refused altogether to undertake the duty again without the assistance of the King's forces in the district。 Sir John petitioned for this aid； and humbly craved the Privy Council to allow him 〃a competent assistance of his Majesty's forces at Fort…William； Inverness； or where they are lying adjacent to the places where the said dilligence is to be put in execution； to support and protect the messengers〃 in the due enforcement of the legal dilligence against the Earl and his mother； 〃by horning； poinding； arrestment； or otherways；〃 and to recommend to the Governor at Fort…William； or the commander of the forces at Inverness； to grant a suitable force for the purpose。
Their Lordships having considered the petition； recommended Sir Thomas Livingstone； commander…in…chief of his Majesty's forces； to order some of the officers already mentioned to furnish the petitioner 〃with competent parties of his Majesty's forces〃 to support and protect the messengers in the due execution of the 〃legal dilligence upon the said decreet of Parliament。〃 ＇For this document see Antiquarian Notes； pp 118…119。＇
The Earl married Lady Frances Herbert； second daughter of William； Marquis of Powis； an English nobleman； by Lady Elizabeth Somerset； daughter of Edward； Marquis of Worcester； with issue
I。 William； his heir and successor。
II。 Mary； who married John Careyl； with issue。
He died at Paris； in 1701； and was succeeded by his only son；
XVII。 WILLIAM； FIFTH EARL OF SEAFORTH；
Generally known among the Highlanders as 〃Uilleam Dubh。〃 He succeeded at a most critical period in the history of Scotland； 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； ultimately turned out so beneficial to both。 He would； no doubt； have imbibed strong Jacobite feelings during his residence with his exiled parents in France。 But little information of William's proceedings during the first few years of his rule is obtainable。 He seems to have continued abroad； for on the 23d of May； 1709； an order is found addressed to the forester at Letterewe signed by his mother the Dowager； 〃Frances Seaforth。〃 But 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。〃 ＇Original produced at Allangrange Service in 1829。＇
At this period the great majority of the southern nobles were ready to break out into open rebellion； while the Highland chiefs were almost to a man prepared to rise in favour of the Stuarts。 This soon became known 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 local 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。 Captain Campbell of Glendaruel； who had obtained a commission from the late Administration to raise an independent company of Highlanders； was apprehended at Inverlochy and sent prisoner to Edinburgh。 Sir Donald Macdonald； XI。 of Sleat； was also seized and committed to the same place； and a proclamation was issued offering a reward of ？00；000 sterling for the apprehension of the Chevalier； should he land or attempt to land in Great Britain。 King George； on his arrival； threw himself entirely into the arms of the Whigs； who alone shared his favours。 A spirit of the most violent discontent was excited throughout the whole kingdom； and the populace； led on by the Jacobite leaders； raised tumults in different parts of the King's dominions。 The Chevalier； taking advantage of this excitement； issued a manifesto to the chief nobility； especially to the Dukes of Shrewsbury； Marlborough； and Argyll； who at once handed them to the Secretaries of State。
The King dissolved Parliament in January； 1715； and issued an extraordinary proclamation calling together a new one。 The Whigs were successful both in England and Scotland； but particularly in the latter； where a majority of the peers； and forty out of the forty…five members then returned to the Commons； were in favour of his Majesty's Government。 The principal Parliamentary struggle was in the county of Inverness between Mackenzie of Prestonhall； strongly supported by Glengarry and the other Jacobite chiefs； and Forbes of Culloden； brother of the celebrated President； who carried the election through the influence of Brigadier…General Grant and the friends of Lord Lovat。
The Earl of Mar； who had rendered himself extremely unpopular among the Jacobite chiefs； afterwards rewarded some of his former favourites by