Author: MACKENZIE, Hector Rose
Title: Yachting and electioneering in the Hebrides
Published: Inverness, A. & W. Mackenzie, 1887.
Location: 914.17 FM 3257-3257D
What is this book about?
The author was private secretary to Fraser-Mackintosh. His father, Alexander Mackenzie, founded both the Celtic Magazine and the Scottish Highlander. After graduating as a solicitor, he worked in a clerical role at the Crofters Commission before entering practice in Inverness in 1890. The book appears to have been published by his father’s publishing firm; the contents first appeared in the Celtic Magazine in the previous year.
He emigrated to South Africa in 1896 and had a varied journalistic career, as well as serving in the Cape Town Highlanders during the second Boer War. (W. H. Wills, The Anglo-African Who’s Who and Biographical Sketchbook, 1907, p. 238).
The catalogue card informs that the book “contains account of Fraser-Mackintosh’s1885 election campaign.”
It must have been an interesting voyage, it commenced from Strome Ferry. The steam yacht, Carlotta, was 37 tons, had a crew of eight and apparently was “very slow”. The cook was also a piper.
Mackenzie provides an historical context of the places visited, as well as describing the campaign, which included enthusiastic audiences who attended his election meetings. The book includes descriptions of the living conditions of people, their occupations and relationships with their landlords.
Why does this book matter?
Fraser Mackintosh was campaigning on the Crofters Party ‘slate’ to become the M.P for Inverness-shire, apparently the first campaign he had had to contest since 1874, and he had changed from the Inverness Burghs seat where he had been the sitting Liberal M.P..
The campaign came following the publication of the “Napier Report” on the condition of Crofters and Cottars in 1884, the Royal Commission of which he was a member, who had written a qualifying commentary on its recommendations.
Mhairi Mhor, the Skye poetess was on board from Portree, supporting his campaign at “The Braes”, the focus of which was dominated by the Land Issue. Many more men were able to vote and Fraser Mackintosh had “an emphatic victory” (E. A. Cameron, The Life and Times of Fraser Mackintosh, Crofter MP, 2000, p. 157).
Mackenzie reports that, “the meetings, from the beginning to the end of the trip, were, without exception, of the most hearty and enthusiastic character. In the Western Islands, especially, the people welcomed Mr. Fraser-Mackintosh with processions, flags, music, and bonfires.”
