112 THE HIGHLAND CLEARANCES. 



able discussions regarding the rights of crofters before the Police Com- 

 mittees of Scotland, while at the same time it was very doubtful 

 whether these authorities could or would supply the necessary force. 

 On the other hand, I was assured by many persons who were much 

 interested in Skye, and who knew the people well, that if a force was 

 sent by Government whether naval or marine the people would see 

 that the Government were determined to vindicate the law in Skye 

 that in that case in all probability no resistance would be offered, and 

 the writs would not only be served in peace and quietness, but in all 

 likelihood the people would in future refrain from trespassing on ground 

 to which they had no right or committing breaches of interdict, or 

 otherwise setting the law at defiance. On these grounds when I failed 

 to get the use of a Government steamer and marines, I willingly ac- 

 cepted the other alternative of making a requisition for military aid. 

 It must be kept in view, however, that the suggestion for military aid 

 came neither from the county authorities nor from myself. It was 

 originally insisted on by the Procurator-Fiscal of Skye (acting as the 

 hand of the Lord Advocate in the matter) as necessary to enable him 

 to fulfil the order of the Crown Counsel to serve the writs at Braes ; it 

 was afterwards adopted by the Lord Advocate, after long and anxious 

 consultation with the parties on whose judgment his lordship thought 

 proper to rely as the best course to be followed in all the circumstances; 

 and while the formal requisition was made as it could only formally 

 be made by me as Sheriff of the county in point of fact the requisi- 

 tion for military aid, which has now after two months' delay been 

 refused by her Majesty's Government, was truly made at the request, 

 and for the purpose of carrying out the views of the Lord Advocate, 

 who at the time represented her Majesty's Government in Scotland. 



(Signed) W. IVORY. 



The following excerpt from the Minutes of the Police 

 Committee Meeting, held on the i8th of September was 

 also read : 



The Committee, having reference to the Procurator-Fiscal's letter, as 

 to the nature and extent of the force necessary to be employed, and to 

 the reports made to them at the time of the previous disturbances at the 

 Braes, were of opinion that no force of police at their disposal will be 

 adequate to the duty the county authorities are now called upon to per- 

 form, and that with the view not only of securing the service of the 

 writs, and the apprehension of the accused parties, but of duly impressing 



