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Before leaving Skye, it
will be interesting to see the difference of opinion which existed among
the chiefs regarding the eviction of the people at this period and a
century earlier. We have just seen what a Lord Macdonald has done in the
present century, little more than thirty years ago. Let us compare his
proceedings and feelings to those of his ancestor, in 1739, a century
earlier. In that year a certain Norman Macleod managed to get some
islanders to emigrate, and it was feared that Government would hold Sir
Alexander Macdonald of Sleat responsible, as he was reported to have
encouraged Macleod.
The baronet being from
home, his wife, Lady Margaret, wrote to Lord Justice-Clerk Milton on the
1st of January, 1740, pleading with him to use all his influence against
a prosecution of her husband, which, "tho' it cannot be dangerouse to
him, yett it cannot faill of being both troublesome and expensive." She
begins her letter by stating that she was informed "by different hands
from Edinburgh that there is a currant report of a ship's haveing gone
from thiss country with a greate many people designed for America, and
that Sir Alexander is thought to have concurred in forceing these people
away." She then declares the charge against her husband to be "a
falsehood," but she "is quite acquainted with the danger of a report" of
that nature. Instead of Sir Alexander being a party to the proceedings
of this "Norman Macleod, with a number of fellows that he had picked up
execute his intentions," he "was both angry and concern'd to hear that
some of his oune people were taken in thiss affair."
What a contrast between
the sentiments here expressed and those which carried out the modern
evictions! And yet it is well-known that, in other respects no more
humane man ever lived than he who was nominally responsible for the
cruelties in Skye and at Sollas. He allowed himself to be imposed upon
by others, and completely abdicated his high functions as landlord and
chief of his people. We have the most conclusive testimony and assurance
from one who knew his lordship intimately, that, to his dying day, he
never ceased to regret what had been done in his name, and at the time,
with his tacit approval, in Skye and in North Uist. |
