history of the mackenzies-第83章
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om Lochiel； the rest； being about sixty； are at home。 I advised them to stay at home and mind their own business。〃 On the 28th of the same month his Lordship writes to inform the President that the Earl of Cromarty and his son； Macculloch of Glastullich； and Ardloch's brother； came to Brahan Castle on the previous Friday； that it was the most unexpected visit he had received for some time； that he did not like to turn them out； that Cromarty was pensive and dull； but that if he had known what he knew at the date of writing he would have made them prisoners； for Lord Macleod went since to Lochbroom and Assynt to raise men。 He enclosed for the President's use the names of the officers appointed to the two Mackenzie companies； and intimated that he offered the commission to both Coul and Redcastle； but that both refused it。 It was from Coul's house； he says； that Lord Macleod started for the North； and that vexed him。 On the same day Forbes acknowledges receipt of this letter； and requests that the officers in the two companies should be appointed according to Mackenzie's recommedations； 〃without any further consideration than that you judge it right；〃 and he desires to see Sir Alexander of Fairburn for an hour next day to carry a proposal to his Lordship for future operations。 〃I think；〃 he adds； 〃it would be right to assemble still more men about Brahan than you now have； the expense shall be made good and it will tend to make Caberfey respectable； and to discourage folly among your neighbours。〃 In a letter of 6th November the President says； 〃I supposed that your Lordship was to have marched Hilton's company into town （Inverness） on Monday or Tuesday； but I dare say there is a good reason why it has not been done。〃
On the 8th of November Mackenzie informs the Lord President that the Earl of Cromarty had crossed the river at Contin； with about a hundred men on his way to Beauly； 〃owing to the neglect of my spies； as there's rogues of all professions。〃 Lord Macleod； Cromarty's son came from Assynt and Lochbroom the same day； and followed his father to the rendezvous； but after traversing the whole of that northern district he did not get a single volunteer。 〃Not a man started from Ross…shire； except William； Kilcoy's brother； with seven men； and a tenant of Redcastle with a few more and if Lentran and Torridon did go off last night； they did not carry between them a score of men。 I took a ride yesterday to the westward with two hundred men； but find the bounds so rugged that it's impossible to keep a single man from going by if he has a mind。 However； I threatened to burn their cornyards if anybody was from home this day； and I turned one house into the river for not finding its master at home。 It's hard the Government gives nobody in the North power to keep people in order。 I don't choose to send a company to Inverness until I hear what they are determined to do at Lord Lovat's。〃 The Earl of Loudon writes to Marshal Wade； then Commander…in…Chief in the North； under date of 16th November； saying that 150 or 160 Mackenzies； seduced by the Earl of Cromarty； marched in the beginning of that week up the north side of Loch…Ness； expecting to be followed by 500 or 600 Frasers； under command of the Master of Lovat； but the Mackenzies had not on that date passed the mountains。 On the 16th of December Fortrose writes asking for ？00 expended by him during two months on his men going to and coming from the Highlands； for which he would not trouble him only that he bad a very 〃melancholy appearance〃 of getting his Martinmas rent； as the people would be glad of any excuse for non…payment； and the last severe winter； and their having to leave home； would afford them a very good one。 He was told by the President in reply； that his letter had been submitted to Lord Loudon； that both of them agreed that his Lordship's expenses must have been far greater than what he claimed； 〃but as cash is very low with us at present； all we can possibly do is to let your Lordship have the pay of the two companies from the date of the letter signifying that they were ordered to remain at Brahan for the service of the Government。 The further expense； which we are both satisfied it must have cost your Lordship； shall be made good as soon as any money to be applied to contingencies； which we expect； shall come to hand； and if it should not come so soon as we wish； the account shall be made up and solicited； in the same manner with what we lay out of our own purses； which is no inconsiderable sums。〃 This correspondence will show the confidence which then existed between the Government and Lord Fortrose。
On the 9th of December the two Mackenzie companies were marched into Inverness。 Next day； accompanied by a detachment from Fort…Augustus； they proceeded to Castle Dounie for the purpose of bringing Lord Lovat to account。 The crafty old Simon agreed to come in to Inverness and to deliver up his arms on the 14th of the month； but instead of doing so he of course made good his escape。 After the battle of Prestonpans； the Government； on the recommendation of the Earl of Stair； forwarded twenty blank commissions to President Forbes； with orders to raise as many companies of 100 men each； among the Highlanders。 Eighteen of the twenty were sent to the Earls of Sutherland and Cromarty； Lords Fortrose and Reay； the Lairds of Grant and Macleod； and Sir Alexander Macdonald of Sleat； with instructions to raise the Highland companies in their respective districts。 The Earl of Cromarty； while pretending to comply with the instructions of the Lord President； offered the command of one of the companies to a neighbouring gentleman； whom he well knew to be a strong Jacobite； and at the same time made some plausible excuse for his son's refusal of another of the commissions。
When Lord John Drummond landed with a body of Irish and Scotch troops； in the service of the French； to aid Prince Charles； he wrote to Mackenzie announcing his arrival and earnestly requesting him to declare at once for the Stuart cause； as the only means by which he could 〃now expect to retrieve his character。〃 All the means at Drummond's disposal proved futile； and the Mackenzies were thus kept out of the Rising of 1745。
That Prince Charles fully appreciated the importance of having the Mackenzies led by their natural chief； for or against him； will be seen from Lord Macleod's Narrative of the Rebellion。 ＇Printed at length in Fraser's Earls of Cromartie。＇ 〃We set out；〃 his Lordship says； 〃from Dunblain on the 12th of January； and arrived the same evening at Glasgow。 I immediately went to pay my respects to the Prince； and found that he was already set down to supper。 Dr Cameron told Lord George Murray； who sat by the Prince； who I was； on which the Lord Murray introduced me to the Prince； whose hand I had the honour to kiss； after which the Prince ordered me to take my place at the table。 After supper I followed the Prince to his apartment to give him an account of his affairs in the North； and of what had passed in these parts during the time of his expedition to England。 I found that nothing surprised the Prince so much as to hear that the Earl of Seaforth had declared against him； for he heard without emotion the names of the other people who had joined the Earl of Loudon at Inverness； but when I told him that Seaforth had likewise sent two hundred men to Inverness for the service of the Government； and that he had likewise hindered many gentlemen of his clan from joining my father （the Earl of Cromarty） for the service of the Stuarts； he turned to the French Minister and said to him； with some warmth； Hc！ mon Dieu！ et Seaforth est aussi contre moi！〃
At this stage a hero named Mackenzie； who had done good service to the Prince in his wanderings through the Highlands after the battle of Culloden； may be mentioned。 Such a small tribute is due to the gallant Roderick Mackenzie； whose intrepidity and presence of mind in the last agonies of death； saved his Prince from pursuit at the time； and was consequently the means of his ultimate escape in safety to France。
Charles had been pursued
