The catastrophe which appeared to be approaching in Skye has,
it would seem, been averted. The poor crofters there, more especially upon the Glendale estate, and at trig, have lost their grazing-lands, which have been let to large farmers, and declare themselves unable to live on their little holdings. Recently they rescued some of their body accused of violence, and made an agreement to drive out the police, if sent to restore order. It was necessary, therefore, to order Marines to the island ; and as the crofters declared they should not land, a collision was expected, which might end in bloodshed. Owing, however, to the exer- tions of a Free-Church minister, the Rev. A. C. Macdonald, the idea of resistance was abandoned, the Marines have landed in peace, and the crofters will await the action of Government upon the Report of the Commission of Inquiry. The whole affair is most unfortunate. It was, of course, indispensable that the law should be carried out, if necessary, by force ; but, at the same time, the crofters' grievances are real, at least if hunger is a grievance, and Parliamentary action on their behalf is exceedingly slow. They will now have to wait another year before anything can be done, which to starving men seems an intolerable period. It is doubtful, too, if the Lords will pass auy remedial Bill, as the crofters' sufferings arise rather from an extreme use of the landlords' rights than from any illegality of procedure. Their claim is hardly as good as that of the Irish tenants,—certainly not better,—and the Lords resisted that.
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