296 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
where he supposed the prisoner had taken refuge, and he gave notice that, if
Jefferson was not instantly delivered up, he would blow the town to atoms. A
shot or two soon had the desired effect. About three thousand of the natives
were seen approaching towards the fort, with Jefferson in the centre. No sooner
had the prisoner been brought into the court than the Captain gave him to
understand that he had not a moment to live. Then ordering one of the
cannons to be prepared, had him instantly lashed to the muzzle of the piece.
The prisoner bade one of his comrades beg for one half hour to say his prayers‘;
but the answer the Captain returned was-“ No, you rascal ; if any man speaks
a word in his favour I will blow out his brains ;I’ at the same time brandishing
the pistol which he held in his hand. A portion of the burial-service being read
to the prisoner, the Captain ordered the prayer-book to be pulled out of his hands.
Jefferson than hastily took leave of his comrades ; and, after upbraiding the
tyrant, as he called the Captain, gave the signal. In a moment the match was
applied, and the next the prisoner was blown over the wall. His remains were
afterwards .picked up by the men and interred.
In defence of such an extraordinary and savage stretch of power, Captain
M‘Kenzie endeavoured to prove that his company were mutinous-that Jefferson
had been a ringleader, and had been repeatedly heard to threaten the life of
the Captain. The evidence was by no means conclusive as to this allegation ;
and the implicit obedience displayed by the men in the execution of an illegal
and shocking sentence does not strengthen his assertion. It appeared, however,
from unquestionable authority, that he had a very worthless set of characters
under his command ‘--the garrison being mostly composed of convicts ; and
besides, he had not the means of forming a court-martial for the trial of the
prisoner.
The jury found M‘Kenzie guilty of wilful murder ; but, in consideration of
the “ desperate crew he had to command,” they recommended him to mercy.
During the trial and passing of sentence, the Captain behaved with the utmost
composure. His execution was first delayed for a week-then he was respitedand
ultimately pardoned.
After obtaining his liberty, the Captain returned to his native country ; and,
during his stay in Edinburgh, afforded Kay an opportunity of taking his likeness
as one of “ The Bucks.’’ On observing the Print in the booksellers’ windows,
the Captain was offended at being classed, as he said, “with fiddlers and
madmen.” He called on the artist, and offered a guinea to have it altered ; but,
finding his entreaty vain, he insisted on leaving half-a-guinea, for which he soon
after got a miniature painting of himself.
Although M‘Kenzie had incapacitated himself for the British service, yet
being still “intent on war,” he resolved to try his hand against the Turks.
The unfortunate Murray M‘Kenzie alias Jefferson had been a drummer in the 3d Regiment of
Foot Guards ; but unluckily, about twelve years previous to his death, he fell in with a gang of shoplifters.
He had been ten times tried, and four times sentenced to be hanged ; but always found
friends to obtain a mitigation of his sentence.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 297
With this view he entered the ranks of the Russian army, and served in the war
against the Turks. He was at last killed in a duel with a fellow-officer, not far
from Constantinople.
THE fourth figure, or last of “ The Bucks,” our readers will recognise as an
old acquaintance-the LAIRD of MACNAB. The eccentricities of the
Laird have been already pretty amply detailed in No. 111. of the Portraits.
There is, however, one other anecdote which may be added.
Macnab was proceeding from the west, on one occasion, to Dunfermline, with
a company of the Breadalbane Fencibles, of which he had the command. In
those days the Highlanders were notorious for incurable smuggling propensities ;
and an excursion to the Lowlands, whatever might be its cause or import, was an
opportunity by no means to be neglected. The Breadalbane men had accordingly
contrived to stow a considerable quantity of the genuine “ peat reek ”
into the baggage carts. All went well with the party for some time.* On passing
Alloa, however, the excisemen there having got a hint as to what the carts
contained, hurried out by a shorter path to intercept them. In the meantime,
Macnab, accompanied by a gillie, in the true feudal style, was proceeding
slowly at the head of his men, not far in the rear of the baggage. Soon after
leaving Alloa, one of the party in charge of the carts came running back and
informed their chief that they had all been seized by a posse of excisemen.
This intelligence at once roused the blood of Macnab. “Did the lousy villains
dare to obstruct the march of the Breadalbane Highlanders ! ” he exclaimed,
inspired with the wrath of a thousand heroes ; and away he rushed to the scene
of contention. There, sure enough, he found a party of excisemen in possession
of the carts. “ Who the devil are you 1” demanded the angry chieftain.
“ Gentlemen of the excise,” was the answer. “ Robbers ! thieves ! you mean ;
how dare you lay hands on his Majesty’s stores P If you be gaugers, show me
your commissions.” Unfortunately for the excisemen, they had not deemed it
necessary in their haste to bring such documents with them. In vain they asserted
their authority, and declared they were well known in the neighbourhood.
“ Ay, just what I took ye for ; a parcel of highway robbers and scoundrels.”
“ Come, my good ’fellows ” (addressing the soldiers in charge of the baggage,
and extending his voice with the lungs of a stentor), “ Prime !-load !-” The
excisemen did not wait the completion of the sentence; away they fled at
top speed towards Alloa, no doubt glad they had not caused the waste of his
Majesty’s ammunition, “ Now, my lads,” said Macnab, “ proceed -your
whisky’s safe.”
