APPENDICES. 603 



under the Penalty of two pounds Scots and the Cattle to be returned. If 

 he acts in this manner now, what may not the poor People expect when we 

 leave the Island, and consequently no Body left, for to check such Arbitrary 

 proceedings. But these I look upon as trifles, when I am informed, that even 

 Murder has been connived at. He does not yet know that I have inspected 

 into his conduct, and am acquainted with the abuse of his Power. I am not 

 in the least surprised he is so uneasy about our going (which he daily shews). 

 He is Conscious of his Guilt and dreads its being known, and tho' the People 

 there are so greatly awed by him that they are affraid to speak the truth, yet I 

 have got it from the Minister who had the courage and Honesty to declare it, 

 but I am afraid he will find a very powerfull Enemy in the Chamberlain if he 

 ever knows how this Intelligence comes. 



The Priest McLeod's business was as I am informed to see his Friends 

 and to settle some affairs probably with the Chamberlain, otherwise he would 

 not have conceal'd him and denied his being there. However he was detected 

 in a lye by it for he afterwards own'd that he was there, but said he knew 

 nothing of his being a Priest which I am almost certain is a notorious fasehood. 

 He is so absolutely Master in that Island and at the same time so great a 

 tyrant in it that there is no getting any Intelligence but by his means. I am 

 therefore not at all surprized that they harbour enemies to the Goverment. 

 There is nobody in the Island woud think it safe to give any Intelligence of 

 them, for tho' they have nothing to fear whilst we are amongst them yet they 

 woud most severely suffer for it when we are gone. For such and many other 

 reasons which I mentioned in my last letter I think it woud be but prudent in 

 the Goverment to errect Barracks and to have the Troops constantly residing 

 amongst them. 



I have been stop'd in my proceedings of prosecuting Mr. McLeod of 

 Bernera for having arms contrary to Law by a letter which I received from 

 the Laird of that name acquainting me that Mr. McLeod only had these Arms 

 as his Forrester which were of the Thirty stand he is intitled to by Act of 

 Parliament. As I know nothing of the Law in this case I shall wait your 

 farther directions how I am to proceed. Indeed I did apply to Mr. 

 McKenzie in the Lewis, but it seems that part of the Country belongs 

 to the shire of Ross, but suppose it had not, I do not think it woud have 

 av atF d anything, for I am informed Mr. McKenzie never held a Court 

 since he has been appointed Sheriff substitute. 



Having had Intelligence that Forrester the Priest had got to a small Island 

 near to Binbecula, in order to be transported to the Main land, I sent a Corp 1 

 and Five men from Cannish in a boat after him. They had about Seven miles 

 to Row, but scarcely had they got half way when there came on so dreadfull 

 a storm as had very near been the Distruction of them all. With some 

 difficulty however, they got to a Barron Rock when they continued in the wet 

 Cloaths all night. The fury of the storm abating in the morning they pro- 

 ceeded to the Island, in which were three poor miserable huts. These they 

 carefully searched but could find no Priest, so they returned unsuccessfull. 

 This attempt has mightily inflaiirfd the Papists of Binbecula, against 

 Mr. McLean of Grienesne, for lending his Boat to the Party. They 

 have even used Threats. Being under some apprehension, he complained 

 to me of their behaviour, upon which I immediately sent for an Officer and 

 six soldiers from Stornoway. These with the Parties of Benbecula and 

 Carinish, will make up a Body of Eighteen men, a force sufficient to check 

 any Insolence their presumption may lead them to. I have order'd him to 

 Ouarter his People in that Island in the most convenient Manner, and to 

 make all such Prisoners who act in opposition or Defiance of the Laws. 



Being inform'd likewise that Clanronald has two or three Firelocks in his 

 Custody, I have ordered him to search his house. Should any Arms be found, 

 what must I do with him ? He is a poor Drunken Animal. 



We have almost had continual storms in this part of the Country for Nine 

 weeks together. Should they continue, which often happens about this time 

 of the Year, I know not what will become of us. The poor men have already 



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