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MACKENZIE, GEORGE, first earl
of Cromarty, a distinguished political and literary character, was born in
the year 1630, being the eldest son of Sir John Mackenzie of Tarbat, by
Margaret, daughter of Sir George Erskine of Innerteil, one of the senators
of the college of justice. He succeeded his father in 1654, and acted a
conspicuous part in the irregular warfare carried on at that period by
general Middleton, received an earldom, and was appointed to the direction
of Scottish affairs, Sir George Mackenzie became his principal confidant,
and had a prominent share in the transactions connected with the celebrated
billeting act, which ended in the common disgrace of the earl
and Sir George. The latter, consequently, remained unemployed throughout the
whole administration of the duke of Lauderdale. He afterwards obtained that
promotion to which his extraordinary talents entitled him. In 1678, he was
appointed justice general for Scotland, and, in 1681, a lord of session, and
lord register. In 1685, James II. created him viscount of Tarbat, by which
name he is best known. Though an active and unscrupulous agent of the two
last Stuarts, he had no objection to continue in employment under the system
of things established at the Revolution. But king William, to whom he lost
no time in paying his respects, did not think proper to employ him till
1692, when his lordship was restored to his office of lord register.
Here the evil habits he had
contracted under the late government appear to have still clung to him. The
spirit which induced Charles II. to say, that, though Lauderdale was
complained of by the people, he did not seem to have done any thing
contrary to the interests of the sovereign, was what animated this
veteran instrument of arbitrary authority. Having been accused of falsifying
the minutes of parliament for private objects, he does not appear to have
paid the least regard to the truth or falsity of the charge: in his defence,
addressed to Mr Carstairs, he dwells only on the malice which animated his
accusers, and on the constancy of his own attachment to the king. He found
it necessary, however, to retire upon a pension of £400 a-year. In a
subsequent letter, he is found petitioning for a remission, and in such
terms as gives a curious idea of the state of moral feeling among
politicians in that age:—"I wish," says he, "to have a very general
remission sent me, because I see faults fish’t for in others upon as great
grounds. If it comes, let it contain treason, perduellion, and a general
of all crimes; though, on all that’s sacred, I know not myself guilty,
nor do I fear any thing on this side Irish witnesses or evidence." At the
accession of queen Anne, this able statesman was made secretary of state for
Scotland; an office which he resigned in 1704, for that of justice general.
In 1703, he was elevated to the dignity of earl of Cromarty. Having resigned
the justice generalship in 1710, he retired some years after, to his seat of
New Tarbat, in Ross-shire, intending, without any apparent regard to his
advanced age, to live there in an economical manner for six years, in order
that he might be subsequently enabled to reside in London. The design was
almost at the very outset interrupted by death; his lordship expiring,
August 17, 1714. He has an elegant obelisk erected to his memory in the
neighbourhood of Dingwall.
The earl of Cromarty,
notwithstanding the faults already alluded to, is acknowledged to have been
a good-natured man, "possessed of a great measure of polite learning, and
good parts, and master of an extraordinary gift of pleasing and diverting
conversation, which rendered him one of the most entertaining companions in
the world. He was one of the original fellows of the Royal Society, and
reckoned among the ablest members of that learned body; in the Philosophical
Transactions, many papers of his lordship may be seen. His other
publications, arranged in chronological order are, 1. A Vindication of king
Robert III. from the imputation of Bastardy, Edin. 1695, 4to.—2. The
mistaken Advantage of Raising of Money, Edin. 1695, 4to.—3. Letter to the
Earl of Wemyss, concerning the Union with England, 1706, 4to.—4. Friendly
Response to a Letter concerning Sir George Mackenzie’s and Sir John Nisbet’s
Observations and Response on the matter of the Union, 1706, 4to.—5. Synopsis
Apocalyptica, or, a Short and Plain Explication of Daniel’s Prophecy, and of
St John’s Revelation in concert with it, 1707, 4to. —6. Historical Account
of the Conspiracy of the Earl of Gowrie and of Robert Logan of Restalrig,
against king James VI, 1713, 8vo.—7. A Vindication of the same from the
Mistakes of Mr John Anderson, Preacher of Dumbarton, in his Defence of
Presbytery, 1714, 8vo. |
