Tuesday night was given up to the Crofter grievance, or
rather to a discussion on the administration of justice in Scotland. Dr. Cameron and a few other Members main- tain that the Crown used its great powers oppressively
in Skye, and that the crofters there were practically com- pelled to submit by military force. That was partly true ; but the- Lord Advocate, in a most exhaustive speech, showed that they had only been compelled to submit to the law. Nothing had happened, except that the decisions of the Courts had been carried out. It is a curious illustration of the dislike of law which is spreading so fast among the new Radicals, that Dr. Cameron strengthened his case by an eulogium on English procedure as opposed to Scotch. He is probably the only Scotchman alive who does not believe his own law the perfection of reason, and the English law comparatively barbarous ; and when the Lord Advocate hinted that to him, he, with an eye to his electors, rather shrank from maintaining his ground. The crofters have, or rather had, a real grievance as to their tenure; but their advocates want to raise them above the law because they are poor and suffering. It was shown, we may remark, incidentally, that in trying them in Edinburgh instead of Skye, the Crown acted on their side rather than its own. The House, after a night and a half'a debate, rejected the motion for inquiry by 253 to 136.
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