history of the mackenzies-第86章
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！
me to be ashore； but such was his ardour to share in the action that he swam to one of the ships engaged with the enemy。 Immediately on his arrival in India he obtained a separate command on the Malabar Coast； but in its exercise he met with every possible discouragement from the Council of Bombay。
This； however； only gave a man of his spirit greater opportunity of distinguishing himself； for； under all the disadvantages of having funds； stores； and reinforcements withheld from him； he undertook； with 1000 Europeans and 2500 Sepoys to wage an offensive war against Calicut。 He was conscious of great personal resources； and harmony； confidence； and attachment on the part of his officers and men。 He finally drove the enemy out of the country； defeated them in three different engagements； took the city of Calicut； and every other place of strength in the kingdom。
He concluded a treaty with the King of Travancore； who was reinforced by a body of 1200 men。 Tippoo then proceeded against him with an army of 30；000； more than one…third of them cavalry； Colonel Mackenzie…Humberston repelled their attack； and by a rapid march regained the Fort of Panami； which the enemy attempted to carry； but he defeated them with great loss。 He served under General Matthews against Hyder Ali in 1782； but during the operations of that campaign； Matthews gave such proofs of incapacity and injustice； that Colonels Macleod and Humberston carried their complaints to the Council of Bombay； where they arrived on the 26th of February； 1783。 The Council ordered General Matthews to be superseded； appointed Colonel Macleod to succeed him in command of the army； and desired Colonel Humberston to join him。 They both sailed from Bombay on the 5th of April； 1783； in the Ranger sloop of war； but； notwithstanding that peace had been concluded with the Mahrattas； their ship was attacked on the 8th of that month by the Mahratta fleet； and after a desperate resistance of four hours； captured。 All the officers on board were either killed or wounded； among them the young and gallant Colonel Mackenzie…Humberston； who was shot through the body with a four pound ball； and he died of the wound at Geriah； on the 30th April； 1783； in the 28th year of his age。 A fine monument is erected to his memory in Fortrose Cathedral。 He had only been Chief of the Clan for two years； and； dying unmarried； he was succeeded as head of the house and in the family estates by his next and only lawful brother； ＇Douglas' Peerage。
He had a natural son； Captain Humberston Mackenzie； of the 78th； killed at the storming of Ahmadnugger； on the 8th of August； 1803。＇
XXI。 FRANCIS HUMBERSTON MACKENZIE；
Raised to the peerage of the United Kingdom as Lord Seaforth and Baron Mackenzie of Kintail； in 1797。 This nobleman was in many respects an able and remarkable man； was born in 1754； in full possession of all his faculties but a severe attack of scarlet fever； from which he suffered when about twelve years of age； deprived him of hearing and almost of speech。
As he advanced in years he again nearly recovered the use of his tongue； but during the last two years of his life； grieving over the loss of his four promising sons； all of whom predeceased him； he became unable； or rather never made the attempt to articulate。 In his youth he was intended to follow the naval profession； but his physical misfortunes made such a career impossible。 Little or nothing is known of the history of his early life。 In 1784； and again in 1790； he was elected M。P。 for the County of Ross。 In 1787； in the thirty…third year of his age； he offered to raise a regiment on his own estates for the King's service； to be commanded by himself。 In the same year the 74th； 75th； 76th； and 77th Regiments were raised； and the Government declined his patriotic offer； but agreed to accept his services in procuring recruits for the 74th and 75th。 This did not satisify him； and he did not then come prominently to the front。 On the 19th of May 1790； he renewed his offer； but the Government informed him that the strength of the army had been finally fixed at 77 Regiments； and his services were again declined。 He was still anxious to be of service to his country； and when the war broke out in 1793； he for the third time renewed his offer； and placed his great influence at the service of the Crown。 On this occasion a letter of service is granted in his favour； dated the 7th of March； 1793； empowering him； as Lieutenant…Colonel…Commandant； to raise a Highland battalion； which； being the first embodied during the war； was to be numbered the 78th； the original Mackenzie regiment having had its number previously reduced to the 72d。 The battalion was to consist of one company of grenadiers； one of light infantry； and eight battalion companies。 The Mackenzie chief at once appointed as his Major his own brother…in…law； Alexander Mackenzie； at that time of Belmaduthy but afterwards of Inverallochy and Castle Fraser； fourth and younger son of Colin Mackenzie； VI。 of Kilcoy； then a captain in the 73d Regiment； and a man who proved himself on all future occasions well fitted for the post。 The following notice； headed by the Royal arms； was immediately posted throughout the counties of Ross and Cromarty； on the mainland； and in the Island of Lewis：
〃SEAFORTH'S HIGHLANDERS to be forthwith raised for the defence of his Glorious Majesty； King George the Third； and the preservation of our happy constitution in Church and State。 〃All lads of true Highland blood willing to show their loyalty and spirit； may repair to Seaforth； or the Major； Alexander Mackenzie of Belmaduthy or the other commanding officers at headquarters at ？？？； where they will receive high bounties and soldier…like entertainment。
〃The lads of this regiment will live and die together； as they cannot be draughted into other regiments； and must be reduced in a body； in their own country。
〃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； whereu
