176 THE SUTHERLAND CLEARANCES. 



I have, in confidence, stated verbally to Mr. Young my fears upon 

 this distressing subject, and I now take the liberty of stating my senti- 

 ments also to your Lordship, in confidence. 



The crimes of which Mr. Sellar stands accused, are : 



1. Wilful fire-raising ; by having set on fire, and reduced to ashes a 

 poor man's whole premises, including dwelling-house, barn, kiln, and 

 sheep cot, attended with most aggravated circumstances of cruelty, if 

 not murder ! ! ! 



2. Throwing down and demolishing a mill, also a capital crime. 



3. Setting fire to and burning the tenant's heath pasture, before the 

 legal term of removal. 



4. Throwing down and demolishing houses, whereby the lives of 

 sundry aged and bed-ridden persons were endangered, if not actually 

 lost! 



5. Throwing down and demolishing barns, kilns, sheep cots, &c., to 

 the great hurt and prejudice of the owners. 



6. Innumerable other charges of lesser importance swell the list. 



I subjoin a copy of Mr. Cranstoun's last letter to me upon this subject, 

 for your lordship's information, and have the honour to be, &c. 



(Signed) ROBx. M'KID. 



(LETTER SUBJOINED.) 



"EDINBURGH, \$th May, 1815. 



" I am extremely sorry that you have so disagreeable a duty to per- 

 form, and would willingly have relieved you of it, if the commencement 

 of the Session had not rendered my presence in Edinburgh indispens- 

 able. I feel the embarrassing nature of your situation, but am confident 

 that you will extricate yourself with your usual ability and good sense. 



" Proceed with the precognition, then take Sellar's declaration, and 

 if there is ground for a criminal proceeding, commit afterwards," 

 &c., &c. 



The following witnesses were then called in further 

 evidence of the objections. 



1st, Mr. Hugh Ross, was Procurator-Fiscal for Sutherland in 1815; 

 knows Mr. M'Kid ; conversed with him in July, 1813, about Mr. Sellar ; 

 M 'Kid repeatedly said, or the witness inferred, that he should be happy 

 to have it in his power to injure Mr. Sellar if he could ; witness warned 

 Mr. Sellar of this. Cross examined. Cannot swear to the specific 



