ST. KILDA.
[To THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR:1
Sia,—In thanking you for the notice of my recent work on "St. Kilda," in last week's Spectator, I hope you will excuse me for calling your attention to a strange error of the reviewer in credit-
ing me, instead of Mr. Sands (page 270), with the application of "domineering fanatic" to the simple-minded minister, who happens to be an official connected with this Department, and with whom I have for several years carried on a friendly cor- respondence.
I am not a little disappointed by what I venture to think is an entirely false conclusion on the part of my critic as to the animus and raison d'être of my book, viz., "an attack upon all who have endeavoured to benefit the islanders," and "a defence of the merciless system" pursued by the landlord and his factor. In striking contrast to that unpleasant accusation, one of my numer- ous reviewers speaks of the "genuine kindliness and humour" with which I describe the ways and customs of the St. Kildans,. and the "intelligent sympathy with their position" which my pages display. The true raison d'être of the book is stated in my preface, and I am quite prepared to abide by the verdict of the "unprejudiced reader," to which your reviewer refers. He pro- fesses to know nothing of Mr. Sands. I imagined that my quota- tions from his own pagcs had thrown a little light upon his character, and I should have experienced very little difficulty, if so disposed, to have still further intensified its shade. I am one of those old-fashioned people who think that the laird, as well as the tenant, is entitled to fair-play ; hence my endeavour to vindi- cate M'Leod from the unjust charges that have been unscrupulously hurled against him, charges which I am glad to know, on the most trustworthy authority, the islanders themselves indignantly [We regret the misapprehension corrected in the first sentences of this letter, and are very glad to find Mr. Seton disowning the animus which we nevertheless think any unprejudiced critic would discover in his book. The prejudice which is completely unconscious of its own existence is a nobler kind of prejudice, though often deeper, than the prejudice which suspects its own true character.—En. Spectator.]
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