[1][2] The second stage began in 1795, when John Murray, 4th Duke of Atholl, received authority from the Secretary for War to raise "by beat of drum or otherwise" a body to be called the 2nd Royal Manx Fencibles.
The principal persons were on a green mound where the laws of the Island were read in Manx as is the usual custom, and to a great multitude assembled to witness the ceremony.
Menzies entered into the proceedings of the day with spirit, and before all was over I had no reason to be ashamed of my companion.M'Kerlie received orders to report at Scarborough and left for Liverpool by the packet Duke of Athole.
[1] The upkeep of uniform was highly important, with M'Kerlie observing: The useless and absurd custom of dressing the hair with powder and the large clubs of the period were by no means calculated to give comfort to either officers or men, and upon march was particularly objectionable during stormy weather and rain.
When at Whitby a private by the name of Jack Ratcliffe was eminent for the puff, causing clouds of hair powder in the officers' apartments.A list of the men's "necessaries" compiled by Captain Moore includes reference to a "queue" or "platt", and there is also quoted the following entry: As a sufficient number of false tails cannot be got in the Island, the captains of the companies will immediately inspect the tails of the men in their commands, and send a return to headquarters mentioning the numbers wanted.The shirts too were frilled at the breast; the ruffles, M'Kerlie says, were changed twice in the week.
Ireland at that time was smouldering with disaffection, and not long after came the unsuccessful landing by a French army, the Expédition d'Irlande, under the command of General Hoche to assist the United Irishmen.
[1][3] The regiment erected defensive lines in Coleraine, the streets leading to the Town House being cut off by entrenchments to prevent the building being taken by surprise.
[1] On Sunday, July 8, 1798, following the Battle of Antrim the regiment marched out of Coleraine into the surrounding countryside, where they burnt houses and farmland in a dreadful scene.
A permanent Court Martial was set up at Coleraine at which M'Kerlie, a deeply religious man, was a member and recording his thoughts as: I believe all implicated in the rebellion as officers, in the first burst of indignation suffered death.
I for one was a mere boy, and I had no proper notion of the awful responsibility devolving upon the court, who were not overnice in feelings of mercy, and very likely passed sentence on an unfortunate fellow creature without any deep convictions or much reflection as to the consequences to follow.
What effect the executions had upon the spectators, I cannot tell; but the received opinion, I believe, is that such public spectacles do more to harden than to soften the heart.Following the rebellion M'Kerlie transferred to the Dumfriesshire Regiment.
[1] According to some records the Manx Fencibles were disbanded in 1802, shortly after the signing of the Peace of Amiens; however a manuscript book shows that an establishment of them existed in the years 1810 and 1811.
The Lieutenant Colonel at the beginning of this period was Robert Steuart, the Receiver General of the Isle of Man, who built the Villa Marina; he was succeeded by James Murray, 1st Baron Glenlyon.