PROFESSOR BLACKIE'S OPINION. 135 



should not commit any act which would bring odium on those 

 who sympathised with them outside, and that they should 

 keep strictly within the law. John Morrison the eldest of 

 the three had been complaining, but he was fast recover- 

 ing, and the others were in excellent health and spirits. 

 Believing that the circumstance was not accidental, they 

 were much delighted at the enlivenment of their evenings 

 by frequently hearing the bagpipes, in the neighbourhood, 

 playing familiar airs, an arrangement by their Edinburgh 

 friends of a remarkably considerate and delicate nature. 

 The only thing they complained of was that John Mac- 

 pherson, the only one of the three who could write, had 

 been deprived of writing materials. Otherwise, they were 

 as happy and comfortable as people within a prison, de 

 prived of their liberty, could possibly be. But they were 

 much concerned about their families, and afraid that their 

 crofts might suffer from want of the necessary cultiva- 

 tion and attention to the other Spring work, during their 

 imprisonmennt. 



PROFESSOR BLACKIE'S OPINION. 



While the Crofters were in Edinburgh awaiting their trial, 

 Professor Blackie wrote a remarkable letter, about their 

 case, to the Scotsman, who published it, at the same time 

 making a characteristically violent and false attack on the 

 Professor and other friends of the Highland people, in- 

 cluding the present writer, an honour that of being 

 bracketed with Professor Blackie in any good cause 

 which he highly appreciates. The letter is as follows : 



9 DOUGLAS CRESCENT, EDINBURGH, Feb. 27, 1883. 



Sir, As your columns have always been open lo the statement of 

 adverse views, and as your tone lately seems to run somewhat sweep- 



