326 HISTORY OF THE OUTER HEBRIDES. 



satisfaction were denied, letters of marque or some other 

 remedy would be granted to the Association.* 



We find, from a letter dated 3ist August, 1638, written 

 by Simon Smith, Agent for the Royal Fisheries, to Sir 

 John Pennington, that while the general affairs of the 

 Corporation were represented as being in a flourishing 

 condition, their station in Lewis was apparently in an 

 unsatisfactory state, for it was proposed to abandon it. 

 And in July, 1639, there is a reference in a petition of the 

 Corporation's creditors, to " sundry provisions and houses 

 at the Isle of Lewis valued at 1,659 8s. id.," which, it 

 may be observed, was regarded as a doubtful asset. But 

 the representatives of the Earl of Pembroke's Association 

 were, in 1640, still in Lewis, and were preparing fresh plans 

 for making the station pay. If, therefore, any Lewis 

 station was given up before 1640, it must have been that 

 of the Lord Treasurer. There are no further records of 

 the Englishmen's venture in Lewis, and it may well be 

 supposed that in the turmoil of the Civil War, the fisheries, 

 in common with the other industries of the country, 

 became completely disorganised. There are no traces left 

 of the English settlement in Lewis ; but half a century 

 later, Martin discovered in Hermetra, Sound of Harris, the 

 remains of a store-house used by the strangers ; and they 

 are believed to have built one, also, on a small island in 

 Lochmaddy.t 



In 1 66 1, Charles II. attempted to revive the project of 

 his father, by inaugurating a Society on the same lines as 

 its predecessor. The King invested 5,000 in the under- 

 taking, and received the support of a number of merchants 

 and noblemen ; while, to assist the funds, lotteries were 

 established in England, and voluntary collections were 

 made in the parish churches. When the old Corporation 

 was formed, the Dutchmen who were in Lewis were forced 

 to leave the island. When the Association of Charles II. 

 came into being, Dutchmen were invited to settle in 



* Cat. of State Papers (1639-40), pp. 440-1. 



t The charter of the parent Corporation was not annulled until 1690. 



