THE ISLE OF SKYE IN 1882. 9 



force. The time for argument has already gone. The 

 powers that be has hitherto refused to listen to the voice of 

 reason, and the consequence is that scarcely any one can 

 now be found on either side who will wait to argue whether 

 or not a change is necessary. It is admitted on all hands 

 that a change, and a very material change, must take place 

 at no distant date, and the only question at present being 

 considered in the West at least, is, What is to be the nature 

 of the change? This is what we have now been brought 

 face to face to, and, however difficult the problem may be 

 and it is surrounded with endless difficulties on all sides 

 the change must come ; and it is admitted all round that 

 the day when it shall take place has been brought much 

 nearer by the inconsiderate action and unbending spirit of 

 those at present in power in the Isle of Skye. This is now 

 seen and admitted by themselves. In short, a great blunder 

 has been committed. This opinion is almost universal in 

 the Island, and it will be a crime against owners of land, 

 against the interests of society, and against common sense, 

 if the blunder is not at once rectified by the good sense of 

 those who have it in their power to do so. The error will 

 soon be forgotten if rectified with as little delay as possible ; 

 and the class of men who are willing to sacrifice their own 

 ideas of self-importance to confer a great boon upon society 

 is so limited, that we appeal with no slight confidence to 

 Lord Macdonald's factor to retrace his steps, and arrange a 

 settlement with his people in the Braes ; and thus assuredly 

 raise himself to a higher position in public estimation than 

 he has ever yet occupied, with all his power; and at the 

 same time become an example for good to others. He can 

 do all this with the less difficulty, seeing that not a single 

 one of the grievances of the Braes tenants were originated 

 since he became factor on the Macdonald estates, and that 



