THE REPORT OF THE CROFTERS' COMMISSION.
ITO THE ED/TOR OF THZ "SPECTATOR."]
Sra,—In a recent issue of the Spectator, in an article on the Highland Crofter question, the following paragraph occurs :—
" It makes one's blood boil to read that in South Uist, some time since, when a proprietor wished to convert certain of the moorlands into large farms, some of the evicted people were chased among the hills, caught, tried, and shipped like felons to Canada.'"
The allegation in which the above warmly-expressed quotation is based was contradicted by the Sheriff-Substitute of the dis- trict, who had his permanent residence on the adjoining parish of North that. I quote the following from his evidence before the Crofter Commissioners at Inverness on October 11th last:—
" I have no intention of adverting to much of what was stated to the Commissioners by the delegates, though a great deal of it, as reported in the Scotsman, is open to remark. There are some statements, however, so very incorrect, that it would not be right to pass them over entirely. Some delegates who gave evidence at Lochboisdale, stated that at the time of the emigration which took place in 1851, more than one person was tied, forcibly carried on board the transports, and sent to America. I can only tell what came to my own knowledge in the course of an inquiry, and which perhaps may account partly, if not entirely, for what was told by the delegates. Some time after the ship with the emigrants sailed—how long I cannot now remember—I received a letter from an M.P. in London, with whom I occasionally corresponded, in which he stated that he had heard that one emigrant had been tied and carried on board the transport at Loch. boisdale. I had not heard of anything of the kind having taken place. After consultation with the Procurator-Fiscal and Inspector of Police, I sent the Inspector to Lochboisdale, and directed him to make a thorough inquiry, and to report. On his return, he reported that a man and hi wife had embarked, that the husband afterwards skulked ashore with the intention of getting rid of his wife in this way, and hid himself ; that he was missed, looked for, found in hiding, then tied and carried back on board ship, and so was sent to America. My Parliamentary friend thought the man was rightly served under the circumstances. I heard no more of the matter till I read the statements of the delegates in the Scotsman."
I may state that Sheriff Shaw has been intimately acquainted with the Long Islanl district for fifty years, and he acted as Sheriff-Substitute from November, 1841, till 1881; and his evidence is therefore to be thoroughly relied upon.
I hope you will be good enough to give this letter a place in your next issue. I feel sure it is not your wish that your newspaper should be the medium of circulating exaggerated misrepresentations.—I am, Sir, &c., Cluny Castle, Aberdeen, May 29th. RAN.Liai MACDONALD.
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