THE AUTUMN CAMPAIGN. 113 



the people of Skye with the resolution of the authorities to maintain the 

 law, a military or naval force should accompany the authorities in their 

 endeavour to enforce the law, to be employed as a protection and aid to 

 the civil officers, in the event of their being overpowered ; and the 

 Sheriff was requested to make requisition to that effect in the proper 

 quarter. 



It was agreed that the county police force should be placed at the 

 Sheriff's disposal, but they do not think it advisable again to apply for 

 police from Glasgow. Especially, seeing that a strong feeling of irrita- 

 tion was excited in Skye against them on the former occasion, the moral 

 effect would be less than were the military employed, and also because 

 difficulties may be anticipated with the Glasgow Town Council in pro- 

 curing the necessary force. 



After considerable discussion and some opposition, it was 

 resolved to increase the police force of the county from 44 

 to 94 men ; at an estimated cost of over ^3000 per annum. 

 It was also agreed 



To make a strenuous effort to execute the Court's warrants, and with 

 that view they resolve that the police authorities of Scotland be immedi- 

 ately communicated with, asking them to furnish the largest number of 

 constables they can possibly spare on a given date, and to place this 

 force at the disposal of the executive of the county. 



The police authorities of Scotland had been applied to, and 

 the response was of so discouraging a character that the 

 proposed police force has not yet been sent to Skye, and 

 it is most unlikely that it ever shall be. A few counties 

 agreed to send small detachments, which resolution some 

 of them afterwards rescinded. All the burghs point blank 

 refused to send any. This indicated an ominous state of 

 adverse feeling throughout the country regarding the proposed 

 action of the Inverness County Authorities, and they became 

 paralyzed in consequence. The Commissioners of Police 

 for the Burgh of Inverness, on the motion of the present 

 writer, refused the application of the County Authorities 

 (on the evening of the day on which the Commissioners of 

 Supply resolved to ask for it), by a majority of 14 to 5, the 



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