THE STORNOWAY CHARTER. 301 



turers, he suggested the institution of a revised system of 

 government in those islands ; the erection of a principal 

 town in each of them ; and the instruction of every child 

 of the islanders in the English or Scottish (Lowland) 

 language, with other forms of education according to the 

 ability of the natives. He also deprecated any communica- 

 tion between the islanders and the people on the mainland, 

 stating that it was impolitic to allow the former to be too 

 friendly with the Highlanders, "who are naturally the 

 most dangerous and worst people living." Monson further 

 submitted a statement of the advantages derivable by the 

 Dutch from the possession of Lewis, and enumerated the 

 benefits which the country would receive from the encour- 

 agement of the fishing by subjects of the King.* The 

 representations of Mason and Monson soon bore fruit. 



In January, 1630, a letter from the King was read at 

 a meeting of the Privy Council of Scotland, in which 

 Charles announced that he had taken another course of 

 action in reference to Lewis, " whiche, as we doe conceave, 

 may verie muche import the good of that our kingdome " ; 

 that, in the meantime, Seaforth's charter was to be stopped 

 in Exchequer ; and that no more foreigners were to be 

 allowed to settle in the island. In the same month, Hay 

 reported to the Convention of burghs that the passing of 

 the charter had been delayed, but that the matter was to 

 be further considered in the following March. The Con- 

 vention instructed Hay to press for the absolute cancelment 

 of the patent, and to obtain an injunction, restraining 

 Seaforth from settling any more foreigners in Lewis, thus 

 retaining in the hands of natives (of Scotland) the fishings 

 "which God and Nature hes vouchsafed upon them." 

 He was also empowered to continue the negotiations for 

 securing to the burghs, the exclusive right to develop the 

 industry. 



At the Privy Council meeting on 26th January, the 

 matter again came up for discussion. Incidentally, we 



* Calendar oj State Papers (1629-31), Vol. CLII., No. 67. 



V 



