294 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
length, when an ominous vacuum began to render less distinct the hitherto
bright and vivid reminiscences of an Italian sky, under which they had been all
night, in imagination, enjoying themselves-Stabilini staggered towards the
window, through the shutters of which he fancied he beheld a stream of light,
and throwing them open, was confounded to witness the full blaze of an autumnal
morning. '' Corri ! Corri ! " exclaimed the astonished Stabilini to his drowsy
countryman-" Be-gar, it's to-morrow ! "
Stabilini was a joyous creature.' He was a great favourite of Skene of
Skene-a gentleman of ability and genius, and who loved of all things to spend
the night over his glass with his friends. Stabilini-or Stab, as he was
famiIiarly called-was his frequent companion, and used to spend weeks with
him in the country, where he was in the habit of acting as butler, or rather as
factotum of the establishment. While there it was no uncommon thing for
to-morrow to dawn before the Bacchanalian orgies of the night had been concluded.
Stabilini died at Edinburgh in July 1815, and was buried in the West
Churchyard, where a stone fixed in the wall of the south entrance bears the
following inscription- " Memoria: Hieronymi Stabilini, Amici Mcerentes
Posuerunt : Roma Natus, Edina obiit Mens. Jul. MDCCCXV&., tat. LIV."
The third figure in the Print represents a personage of "sterner stuff" than
either of the two foregoing, being an excellent likeness of the somewhat
notorious CAPTAIN M'KENZIE of Red Castle. The small estate bearing
this name is situated in the neighbourhood of Montrose. The old castle, now
in ruins, on the banks of the Lunan, is supposed to have been built by William
the Lion.
This gentleman was an officer in Seaforth's Regiment of Highlanders, at the
time of their revolt in 1778. The regiment had for some time been quartered
in the Castle of Edinburgh ; but, contrary to expectation, they were at length
ordered to embark for Guernsey. Previous to this, a difference existed between
the officers and men-the latter declaring that neither their bounty nor the
arrears of their pay had been fully paid up, and that they had otherwise been
ill used. On the day appointed for embarkation (Tuesday, the 22d September)
the regiment marched for Leith ; but farther than the Links the soldiers refused
to move a single step. A scene of great confusion ensued: the officers
endeavoured to soothe the men by promising to rectify every abuse. About
five hundred were prevailed on to embark, but as many more were deaf to all
entreaty ; and, being in possession of powder and ball, any attempt to force
them would have proved both ineffectual and dangerous. The mutineers then
moved back to Arthur Seat, where they took up a position, and in which they
continued encamped more than ten days. "hey were supplied plentifully with
The tricks he played off upon the natives with his favourite spaniel, at private parties, and in
particular at the public dinner in Mid-Calder, will yet be remembered by many.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 295
provisions ’ by the inhabitants of Edinburgh, and were daily visited by crowds
of people of all ranks. In the meantime, troops were brought into the city
with the view of compelling the mutineers to submission, but no intimidation
had any effect. General Skene (then second in command in Scotland), together
with the Earl of Dunmore, and other noblemen and gentlemen, visited the
mutineers ; and at last, after a great many messages had passed between the
parties, a compromise was effected. The terms were-a pardon for past offences ;
all bye money and arrears to be paid before embarkation, and a special understanding
that they should not be sent to the East Indies-a report having
prevailed among the soldiers that they had been sold to the East India Company,
So cautious were the mutineers, a bond had to be given confirming the
agreement, signed by the Duke of Buccleuch, the Earl of Dunmore, Sir
Adolphus Oughton, K.B., Commander-in-Chief, and General Skene, second in
command in Scotland. After this arrangement, the Highlanders cheerfully
proceeded to Leith and embarked.
Kay relates an anecdote of Captain M‘Kenzie, which occurred .during the
prevalence of the mutiny, highly characteristic of his fortitude and determined
disposition. One day while he was in command over the Canongate Jail, where
a few of the mutineers were confined, a party from Arthur Seat came to demand
their liberation. The Captain sternly refused-the soldiers threatened to take
his life, and pointed their bayonets at him ; but he bared his breast, and telling
them to strike, at the same time declared that not a. single man should be
liberated. The effect of this resolute conduct was instantaneous-the men
recovered arms, and retired to their encampment.
Captain M‘Kenzie afterwards incurred an unfortunate celebrity from a
circumstance which reflected lees credit upon him than the above act of heroism,
and for which abuse of power he was tried at the Old Bailey, London, on the
1 lth December 1784.
He had been sent out in 1782, as captain of an independent company,
to act against the Dutch on the coast of Africa ; and was there appointed to
the command of a small fortification, called Fort Morea. Among the prisoners
of the fort was a person of the dame of Murray Kenneth M’Kenzie
alias Jefferson, who had been confined for desertion.’ Jefferson, possessing
more than common address, prevailed on the sentry to let him escape; upon
learning which, Captain M‘Kenzie was in a violent passion. He cahsed the
sentinel to be punished with more than fifteen hundred lashes, and immediately
despatched a party of soldiers in search of the runaway. The men returned,
however, without success ; upon which he ordered the guns to be charged and
directed against a small village in the neighbourhood, named Black Town,
The Rev. Joseph Robertson Macgregor, of the Gaelic Chapel (formerly noticed), also visited
He had deserted twice previously. He had been heard to express his resolution of murdering
See a tract entitled an
the mutineers, and acted zw an interpreter between the parties.
M‘Kenzie, and had, moreover, endeavoured to induce the soldiers to niutiny.
“Address to the Officers of the British Army.” London, 1785. 8w.