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r inherit any real or personal estate that may or shall hereafter descend to him。Wood's Douglas' Peerage。' felt free once more to return to his native land; where; according to Captain Matheson; he spent the remainder of his life in retirement; and 〃with few objects to occupy him or to interest us beyond the due regard of his personal friends and the uninterrupted loyalty。 of his old vassals。〃
He must; however; have been in tightened circumstances; for; on the 27th of June; 1728; he writes a letter to the Lord Advocate; in which he refers to a request he had made to Sir Robert Walpole; who advised him to put his claim in writing that it might be submitted to the King。 This was done; but 〃the King would neither allow anything of the kind or give orders to be granted what his Royal father had granted before。 On hearing this; I could not forbear making appear how ill I was used。 The Government in possession of the estate; and I in the interim allowed to starve; though they were conscious of my complying with whatever I promised to see put in execution。〃 He makes a strong appeal to his friend to contribute to an arrangement that would tend to the mutual satisfaction of all concerned; 〃for the way I am now in is most disagreeable; consequently; if not rectified; will choose rather to seek my bread elsewhere than continue longer in so unworthy a situation。〃 'Culloden Papers; pp。 103…4' Notwithstanding the personal remission granted in his favour for the part he had taken in the Rising of 1715; the title of Earl of Seaforth; under which alone he was proscribed; passed under attainder; while the older and original dignity of Kintail; which only became subordinate by a future elevation; remained unnoticed; and; consequently unvitiated in the male descent of Kenneth; first Lord Mackenzie of Kintail; granted by patent on the 19th of November; 1609; and it has accordingly been claimed。 'This Act (of Attainder) omits all mention of the subordinate though older title of 〃Lord Kintail;〃 which he and all the collateral branches descended of George; the second Earl; had taken up and assumed in all their deeds and transactions; though there was no occasion to use it in Parliament; as they appeared there as Earls of Seaforth。 It is questionable therefore; if the Act of Attainder of William; Earl of Seaforth; by that designation only could affect the barony of Kintail; and as the designation to the patentee of it; 〃Suisque heredibus maxulis;〃 seems to render he grant an entailed fee agreeable to the 7th of Queen Anne; c。 21; and the protecting clause of 26th Henry VIII。 c。 13; the claimant George Falconer Mackenzie; is entitled to the benefit of such remainder; and in fact such remainder was given effect to by the succession of Earl George to his brother Colin's titles as his heir male collateral。Allangrange Service。'
Earl William married in early life; Mary; the only daughter and co…heir of Nicholas Kenet of Coxhow; Northumberland; with issue; three sons
I。 Kenneth; who succeeded his father。
II。 Ronald; who died unmarried。
III。 Nicholas; who was drowned at Douay; without issue。
IV。 Frances; who married the Hon。 John Gordon of Kenmure; whose father was beheaded in 1715。
He died in 1740 in the Island of Lewis; was buried there in the Chapel of Ui; and was succeeded by his eldest son;
XVIII。 KENNETH; LORD FORTROSE;
Which courtesy title he continued to bear as the subordinate title of his father; and under this designation he is named as a freeholder of Ross in 1741。 In the same year be was elected as member of Parliament for the Burgh of Inverness; for his own County of Ross in 1747; and again in 1754。 In 1741; the year after Earl William's death; the Crown sold the Seaforth estates; including the lands of Kintail; the barony of Ellandonnan; and others; for ?5;109 8s 31/2d; under burden of an annuity of ?000 to Frances; Countess Dowager of Seaforth。 The purchase was for the benefit of Kenneth; Lord Fortrose。 'Fraser's Earls of Cromartie。' He does not appear to have passed much of his time in the Highlands; but about a year after his succession; he seems; from a warrant issued by his authority to have been in the North。 It is signed by Colin Mackenzie; Baillie;〃 and addressed to Roderick Mackenzie; officer of Locks; commanding him to summon and warn Donald Mackenzie; tacksman of Lainbest; and others; to compear before 〃Kenneth; Lord Fortrose; heritable proprietor of the Estate of Seaforth; at Braan Castle; or before his Lordship's Baron Baillies; or other judges appointed by him there; upon the 10th day of October next; to come to answer several unwarrantable and illegal things to be laid to their charge:〃 Dated at 〃Stornoway; 29th September; 1741。〃 There is no doubt that in early life Lord Fortrose; during the exile of his father; held communications with the representative of the Stuarts。 It is a common tradition in Kintail to this day that he and Sir Alexander Macdonald of Sleat were school companions of the Prince in France; and were among those who first imbued his mind with the idea of attempting to regain possession of his ancient Kingdom of Scotland; promising him that they would use their influence with the other northern chiefs to rise in his favour; although when the time for action came neither of them joined him。
The unfortunate position in which Kenneth found himself by the Jacobite proclivities of his ancestors; and especially those of his father; appears to have made a deep impression upon his mind; and to have induced him to be more cautious in supporting a cause which seemed certain to land him in final and utter ruin。 But though he personally held aloof; several of the clan joined the Prince; mostly under George; third Earl of Cromarty; and a few under John Mackenzie; III。 of Torridon。
Several young and powerful Macraes; who strongly sympathised with the Prince; though unaccompanied by any of their natural leaders; left Kintail never again to return and; it is said; that several others had to be bound with ropes by their friends; to keep them at home。 The influence of Lord President Forbes weighed strongly with Mackenzie in deciding him to support the Government; and; in return for his loyalty; the honours of the house of Seaforth were; in part; afterwards restored to his son。
In 1744 an exciting incident occurred in Inverness in which his Lordship played a conspicuous part; and which exemplifies the impetuous character of the Highland chiefs of the day。 A court of the Freeholders of the county was being held there at Michaelmas to elect a collector of the land tax; at which were present; among others; Lord President Forbes; Norman Macleod of Macleod; Lord Fortrose; Lord Lovat; and many leading members of the Clan Fraser。 A warm debate upon some burning business arose between Lords Lovat and Fortrose; when the former gave the latter the lie direct。 To this Mackenzie replied by giving Lovat a smart blow in the face。 Mutual friends at one intervened between the fiery antagonists。 But the Fraser blood was up; and Fraser of Foyers; who was present; interfered in the interest of the chief of his clan;