72 THE HIGHLAND CLEARANCES. 



Did you hear that Crown Counsel had ordered no further proceedings 

 to be taken on that charge ? Yes. 



Was it after that you caused the summonses of removing to be pre- 

 pared? Yes, but the one thing has no connection with the other. 

 There may have been a coincidence of time, but there was no relation 

 between the two cases. The summonses were for ejectment for non- 

 payment of rent. 



Was it not the fact that Martin arranged to be deforced before he left 

 Portree? Certainly not ; he did not expect it. (Laughter.) 



The Sheriff Is Martin a native of the Braes? No ; he is a native 

 of Portree. His people belong to Kilmuir. 



Mr. K. Macdonald Is it your practice to fesue summonses of re- 

 moving that you have no intention to enforce ? No, of course I do not 

 enforce them if the cause for which they were issued has been removed. 



Question repeated ? No, but they may not be followed out, because 

 if the rent be paid there is nothing more about it. 



Then you intend to evict these people ? Certainly, if they do not 

 pay their rent, or show good reason why they should not. 



Had you Lord Macdonald's authority for evicting these people ? I 

 did not want to evict them, nor do I intend to evict them if they pay 

 their rent. 



Mr. Macdonald Kindly answer my question. Had you Lord Mac- 

 donald's authority for what you did ? I cannot give you a more direct 

 answer. 1 believe I said something to Lord Macdonald that it would 

 be necessary to do something to the ringleaders. I did not ask for any 

 instructions to evict, but said it would be necessary to warn them out 

 for not paying their rents. 



Had you Lord Macdonald's authority for evicting these people ? I 

 did not require his authority for that. 



The Sheriff Were your instructions special or general ? I had no 

 special instructions, as I did not ask for them. 



Mr, Anderson When you got the petition, Mr. Macdonald, did you 

 write to say that they would get the hill according to the value of the 

 present day, and expressed your wish to have it valued by an experienced 

 person, and sent to Lord Macdonald for his consideration ? 



Witness Yes, but I got no answer from them. 



Did you also offer them Benlee ? I offered them Benlee if they would 

 pay for it, and would give a lease of it to any tacksman who would 

 come forward. 



The Sheriff -That will do. 



Witness (sharply) Are you done, Mr. Macdonald ? (Laughter. ) 



