THE AUTUMN CAMPAIGN. Ill 



mittee were strongly of opinion that a gun-boat and naval force would 

 be preferable, and that the boat should remain for some time in the 

 district. 



Sheriff Ivory here relates, in paragraphs 14, 15, and 16, the resolution 

 of the Police Committee to apply to counties and burghs in Scotland 

 for a special police force, and to permanently increase the force of the 

 county by 50 men (see excerpt from their minute already given). He 

 proceeds 



17. These resolutions on the part of the Police Committee are in my 

 opinion highly creditable to them, and I sincerely trust that they will be 

 unanimously approved of and adopted by the Commissioners of Supply. 

 For, while the latter have no doubt great reason to complain of the 

 great delay that has already occurred in consequence of the manner in 

 which the Government has acted, and of the delay that in all probability 

 must still take place, if the Government adhere to their resolution to 

 refuse military aid, and while I think the Commissioners ought to pro- 

 test against the present attempt of the Government to throw on the 

 county authorities tTie whole responsibility of serving writs, apprehend- 

 ing offenders, executing the law, and preserving the peace of the 

 county, without naval or military aid, in the present disturbed state of 

 Skye, and to disclaim all responsibility for the consequences, should 

 serious bloodshed or loss of life ensue I am of opinion that the con- 

 duct of the Government in the matter renders it all the more necessary 

 for the county authorities to do their utmost in the meantime to preserve 

 the peace, and vindicate the authority of the law in Skye. 



1 8. For my own part I regret exceedingly the delay that has already 

 occurred, and that will in all probability still occur, before the law is 

 duly vindicated in Skye. Such delay will be most prejudicial, in my 

 opinion, to the best interests of the island. Had I foreseen the course 

 which matters have unfortunately taken, I should at once have recom- 

 mended the county authorities when application was made to them for 

 a sufficient force to serve the writs to do then what they propose to do 

 now viz., to apply to Glasgow and other police authorities for a larger 

 force of police to ensure the due service of the writs. But this course 

 appeared to me objectionable in many respects. In particular, nothing 

 gave such great offence to the crofters and their friends as the sending 

 on the last occasion a large force of strange police to Skye, and I am 

 credibly informed, and believe that if such a force was sent again, a 

 serious riot, and probably bloodshed would ensue. Further, it ap- 

 peared to me far from a judicious course to apply to Glasgow and othe r 

 burgh and county authorities for police, thereby necessitating innumer- 



