94 THE HIGHLAND CLEARANCES. 



made consistent with military discipline were sent to the 

 superior authorities. The reasons for this are obvious. The 

 country is now divided into regimental districts, and Skye 

 is one of the recruiting districts for the Highland regiments 

 which have their depots at Fort-George. The belief among 

 Highland officers is that if a company of Highland soldiers 

 were sent to Skye on such an errand there would be no 

 more recruits from that island for at least half a century. 

 That this opinion is a sound one will be readily admitted by 

 any one acquainted with the Highland character. 



It was ultimately resolved to make another attempt, with 

 a larger force of police, to serve the writs on the tenants of 

 Balmeanach and Peinachorrain, on Tuesday the 24th of Oc- 

 tober. The special correspondent of the Inverness Courier, 

 who accompanied the expedition, describes the proceedings 

 thus : 



At half-past eight this morning, in weather as pleasant as 

 one could desire, there drove from Portree for the Braes two 

 waggonettes containing Mr. A. Macdonald, messenger-at- 

 arms, Inverness (who was to serve the writs); his concurrent; 

 his guide, the ground-officer on Lord Macdonald's estates ; 

 Mr. Aitchison, superintendent of the County Police; Mr. 

 Macdonald, inspector, Portree ; and a body of nine police 

 constables. Some newspaper correspondents followed in a 

 third conveyance. All along the route there was manifested 

 the most intense interest I may say excitement. Soon 

 after leaving Portree we met two pleasant old men crofters 

 at Balmeanach who had not heard that the officers were 

 coming, but who, when asked as to what kind of reception 

 they might expect, shook their heads, and indicated that their 

 reception would be somewhat warm, but decidedly un- 

 pleasant. One of them told us that the officers had spoken 

 to him as he came along, he having been pointed out as one 



