INTRODUCTION. XXXIX 



i os. with the alternative of five days' imprisonment. The 

 expenses of the interdict were S. Then there was a year's 

 rent due, and in addition to that he was charged with 

 ' violent profits,' which means the doubling of the rent for 

 remaining in possession after the term. The whole came 

 to ^35 odds, which the man paid." 



Lord Napier "But do you mean to say that that money 

 was really exacted, and passed into the factor's hands ? " 



Mr. Maclachlan " Yes. I arranged with the factor for 

 him, and advanced the money out of the bank. When the 

 markets came round he realised his stock, and paid me 

 every penny of it." 



In conclusion, Nicolson said that his family was all 

 scattered now, but if he got a piece of land, although he 

 was now 78 years of age, he would gather them again about 

 him. 



When Mr. Alex. Macdonald afterwards gave his account 

 of Skye affairs, to the Royal Commissioners, at Portree, the 

 case of the "Brave Old Crofter" was referred to. The 

 burden of Mr. Macdonald's explanation was 



" That Nicolson was a litigious and disagreeable neighbour, 

 who kept more stock than he was entitled to, and allowed 

 his stock to stray on neighbouring lands. Many com- 

 plaints were made of him. There was a decree got against 

 him for about ^55 35. 2d., and off that he (Mr. Macdonald) 

 struck voluntarily ^25 ; that left .^30, and against that he 

 was credited with the value of his house and effects to the 

 extent of ;i6. He had only the remainder, 14, to pay. 

 The law expenses, so far as he personally was concerned, 

 were 9 to 10. 6 was paid to sheriff-officers, and the 

 remainder was put to the credit of the incoming tenant, who 

 had been kept out of the croft for a considerable time." 



This explanation did not agree with the statement made 



