Before leaving Skye, it will be interesting to see the difference of
opinion which existed among the chiefs regarding the eviction of the
people at this period and a century earlier. We have just seen what
a Lord Macdonald has done in the present century, little more than
thirty years ago. Let us compare his proceedings and feelings to those
of his ancestor, in 1739, a century earlier. In that year a certain
Norman Macleod managed to get some islanders to emigrate, and it was
feared that Government would hold Sir Alexander Macdonald of Sleat
responsible, as he was reported to have encouraged Macleod.
The baronet being from home, his wife, Lady Margaret, wrote to Lord
Justice-Clerk Milton on the 1st of January, 1740, pleading with him
to use all his influence against a prosecution of her husband, which,
“tho’ it cannot be dangerouse to him, yett it cannot faill of being
both troublesome and expensive.” She begins her letter by stating
that she was informed “by different hands from Edinburgh that there
is a currant report of a ship’s haveing gone from thiss country with
a greate many people designed for America, and that Sir Alexander is
thought to have concurred in forceing these people away.” She then
declares the charge against her husband to be “a falsehood,” but she
“is quite acquainted with the danger of a report” of that nature.
Instead of Sir Alexander being a party to the proceedings of this
“Norman Macleod, with a number of fellows that he had picked up execute
his intentions,” he “was both angry and concern’d to hear that some of
his oune people were taken in thiss affair.”
What a contrast between the sentiments here expressed and those which
carried out the modern evictions! And yet it is well-known that, in
other respects no more humane man ever lived than he who was nominally
responsible for the cruelties in Skye and at Sollas. He allowed
himself to be imposed upon by others, and completely abdicated his
high functions as landlord and chief of his people. We have the most
conclusive testimony and assurance from one who knew his lordship
intimately, that, to his dying day, he never ceased to regret what had
been done in his name, and at the time, with his tacit approval, in
Skye and in North Uist.