CHANGES IN THE PROPRIETARY. 495 



and Cromarty in the House of Commons, transformed the 

 face of the island in a variety of ways which are familiar 

 to Lewismen. He died, beloved by many and esteemed 

 by all, on the last day of the year 1878, without issue, and 

 his widow, who had the life-rent of the heritable estate, 

 survived him until iQth March, 1896. On her death, the 

 estate devolved, in virtue of the entail, upon Sir James's 

 nephew, Mr. Donald Matheson, who, in July, 1899, handed 

 over the property to his son, Major Duncan Matheson, the 

 present proprietor of the island. Mr. Donald Matheson 

 died on iQth February, 1901. 



In the other parts of the Long Island, changes of a similar 

 character were taking place during the first half of the 

 nineteenth century. Alexander Hume Macleod of Harris 

 died in 1811, and was succeeded as proprietor of the estate 

 by his eldest son, Alexander Norman. The value of the 

 property, estimated at twenty-five years' purchase was, in 

 1830, exceeded by the debts secured upon it ; and the credi- 

 tors were in possession of the bankrupt estate. Harris and 

 its pertinents were ultimately sold in 1834 for the sum of 

 60,2 10, being, in round figures, less by 26,729 than the 

 amount of preferable and heritable debts, exclusive of 

 interest, and exclusive of the value of Mrs. Macleod's con- 

 tingent annuity. The estate was bought by the Earl of 

 Dunmore, who, about 1868, sold North Harris to the 

 Scotts, the present proprietor of North Harris (including 

 Scalpa and Scarp Islands, and the village of Tarbert) being 

 Sir Samuel Scott. South Harris, including Tarransay, 

 Bernera, and other islands, is owned by Viscount Fin- 

 castle, V.C., the only son of the Earl of Dunmore, who 

 recently handed over the property to his heir. The 

 Islands of Ensay and Pabbay in the Sound of Harris are 

 owned by Captain William Stewart. 



Barra was the next estate to pass into the hands of 

 strangers. The last Macneill of Barra was obliged to sell 

 his estate in 1838 the purchaser being Lieut-Colonel John 

 Gordon of Cluny. General Macneill afterwards had a dis- 

 tinguished career as a soldier. He died in 1863, lamented 



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