The Highland Crofter's Commission

GLASGOW HERALD 9 MAY 1883

THE HIGHLAND CROFTERS' COMMISSION
MEETING AT THE BRAES
(FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT)
Portree, Tuesday

The Royal Commission appointed to inquire into the condition of the crofters and cottars of the Highlands and islands began its sittings today at the Braes. The Commissioners drove from Portree, and reached the school-house, in which the meeting was held, shortly before eleven o'clock. A large number of crofters from the neighbourhood assembled on the road and witnessed with evident interest the arrival of the Commissioners. Before the public were admitted to the school-house, the Commissioners held a consultation in private, and arranged a few preliminary points as to the order of procedure to be adopted. As the doors were opened, at a quarter past eleven, the room, which holds about 200 persons, was immediately filled. Lord Napier of Ettrick, the Chairman of the Commission, presided, and there were present all the other Commissioners - viz,, Sir Kenneth M'Kenzie, Bart.; Mr Donald Cameron of Lochiel, MP; Mr Fraser Mackintosh, MP; Sheriff Nicholson and Professor Mackinnon. Mr Malcolm M'Neil, of the Board of Supervision, secretary to the Commission was also present. Mr Alexander Macdonald, factor to Lord Macdonald, occupied a prominent place among the crofters in the body of the room.

Mr M'Neil (the secretary) having read Her Majesty's commission under which the inquiry is held,
Lord Napier said Her Majesty's commission has now been read, and I declare that this first session of the inquiry is open. I invite the first delegate chosen by the people of the Braes to come forward and make his statement.

The formal minutes of the meeting at Braes are available for reading here