按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
〃Now for a stroke at the Monsieurs； my boys！ King George for ever！ Huzza！〃
The machinery once set agoing； applications poured in upon Seaforth for commissions in the corps from among his more immediate relatives； and from others who were but slightly acquainted with him。
＇Besides Seaforth himself； and his Major mentioned in the text； the following； of the name of Mackenzie； appear among the first list of officers：Major。Alexander Mackenzie of Fairburn； General in 1809。 Captains。John Mackenzie of Gairloch； 〃Fighting Jack；〃 Major in 1794。 Lieutenant…Colonel the same year and Lieutenant…General in 1814； died the father of the British Army in 1860； and John Randoll Mackenzie of Suddie； Major…General in 1804； killed at Talavera in 1809。 Lieutenant。Colin Mackenzie； Lieutenant…Colonel 91st Regiment。 Ensigns。Charles Mackenzie； Kilcoy； and J。 Mackenzie Scott； Captain 57th Regiment； killed at Albuera。＇
The martial spirit of the people soon became thoroughly roused； and recruits came in so rapidly that on the 10th of July； 1793； only four months after the letter of service to Seaforth； the Regiment was marched to Fort…George； inspected and passed by Lieutenant…General Sir Hector Munro； when five companies were immediately embarked for Guernsey and the other five companies were landed in Jersey in September； 1793； and afterwards sent to Holland。
On the 13th of October； the same year； Mackenzie offered to raise a second battalion for the 78th； and on the 30th of the same month the King gave him permission to raise five hundred additional men on the original letters of service。 But this was not what he wanted； and on the 28th of December following he submitted to the Government three alternative proposals for raising a second battalion； On the 7th of February； 1794； one of these was agreed to。 The battalion was to be formed of eight battalion and two flank companies； each to consist of 100 men； with the usual number of officers and noncommissioned officers。
He was； however； disappointed by the Government； for while he intended to have raised a second battalion for his own regiment； an order was issued signed by Lord Amherst； that it was to be considered a separate corps； whereupon the Lieutenant…Colonel…Commandant addressed the following protest to Mr Dundas； one of the Secretaries of State：
St Alban Street； 8th February； 1794。
Sir；I had sincerely hoped I should not be obliged to trouble you again； but on my going to…day to the War Office about my letter of service （having yesterday； as I thought； finally agreed with Lord Amherst）； I was； to my amazement； told that Lord Amherst had ordered that the 1000 men I am to raise were not to be a second battalion of the 78th； but a separate corps。 It will； I am sure； occur to you that should I undertake such a thing； it would destroy my influence among the people of my country entirely and instead of appearing as a loyal honest chieftain calling out his friends to support their King and country； I should be gibbeted as a jobber of the attachment my neighbours bear to me。 Recollecting what passed between you and me； I barely state the circumstance； and I am； with great respect and attachment； sir； your most obliged and obedient servant；
F。 H。 MACKENZIE。
This had the desired effect the order for a separate corps was rescinded； and a letter of service was issued in his favour on the 10th of February； 1794； authorising him； as Lieutenant…Colonel…Commandant； to add the new battalion； the strength of which was to be one company of grenadiers； one of light infantry； and eight battalion companies； to his own regiment。 The regiment was soon raised； inspected and passed at Fort…George in June of the same year by Lieutenant…General Sir Hector Munro； and in July following the King gave permission to have it named； as a distinctive title； 〃The Ross…shire Buffs。〃 The two battalions were amalgamated in June； 1796。 Another battalion was raised in 1804letter of service； dated 17th April。 These were again amalgamated in July； 1817。
Although the regiment was not accompanied abroad by its Lieutenant…Colonel…Commandant； he continued most solicitous for its reputation and welfare； as we find from the various communications addressed to him regarding it and the conduct of the men by Lieutenant…Colonel Alexander Mackenzie of Fairburn； appointed its Lieutenant…Colonel from the first battalion； ＇John Randoll Mackenzie； also from the first battalion； was appointed senior Major。＇ and then in actual command； but as the history of the 78th Highlanders is not our present object； we must here part company with it and follow the future career of Francis Humberston Mackenzie。
As a reward for his eminent services to the Government he was appointed Lord…Lieutenant of the County of Ross； and； on the 26th of October； 1797； raised to the dignity of a peer of the United Kingdom； by the titles of Lord Seaforth and Baron Mackenzie of Kintail； the ancient dignities of his house； with limitation to the heirs male of his body。
His Lordship； having resigned the command of the 78th； was； in 1798； appointed Colonel of the Ross…shire Regiment of Militia。 In 1800 he was appointed Governor of Barbadoes； an office which he retained for six years； after which he held high office in Demerara and Berbice。 While Governor of Barbadoes he was for a time extremely popular； and was distinguished for his firmness and even…handed justice。 He succeeded in putting an end to slavery； and to the practice of slave…killing in the island； which at that time was of very common occurrence； and deemed by the planters a venal offence punishable only by a small fine of ？5。 In consequence of his humane proceedings in this matter he became obnoxious to many of the colonists； and； in 1806； he finally left the island。
In 1808 he was made a Lieutenant…General。
These were singular incidents in the life of a man who may be said to have been deaf and dumb from his youth but who； in spite of these physical defectssufficient to crush any ordinary manhad been able； by the force of his natural abilities and the favour of fortune； to overcome them sufficiently to raise himself to such a high and important position in the world。 He took a lively interest in all questions of art and science； especially in natural history； and displayed at once his liberality and his love of art by his munificence to Sir Thomas Lawrence； in the youth and struggles of that great artist and famous painter； and by his patronage of others。 On this point a recent writer says 〃The last baron of Kintail； Francis。 Lord Seaforth； was； as Sir Walter Scott has said； ‘a nobleman of extraordinary talents； who must have made for himself a lasting reputation had not his political exertions been checked by painful natural infirmities。'
Though deaf from his sixteenth year and though labouring under a partial impediment of speech； he held high and important appointments； and was distinguished for his intellectual activities and attainments。 His case seems to contradict the opinion held by Kitto and others； that in all that relates to the culture of the mind； and