Matheson Collection > Macleods of Dunvegan from the time of Leod to the end of the seventeenth century

SOME LATER EVENTS 179
Sahib, 1781-83, and its commander distinguished him-
self greatly, and became a General commanding the army
on the Malabar coast in 1783. The General undertook
a dangerous journey to Seringapatam to obtain the
release of General Matthews, who was in Tippoo's hands
as a prisoner. He received a letter from Warren Hastings
which is of great interest . From this I extract the portion
which refers to him personally :
Your offer to accompany Tippoo to Seringapatam for the
Purpose of ensuring his Discharge of the Prisoners merits the
highest Applause, both as it was an uncommon instance of
Public Zeal, and was equally marked by the Spirit of
Humanity. I most heartily wish that it may prove success-
ful, and be the means of shortening the Captivity in which
our unhappy Countrymen have lingered so long.
The praise of such a man as Warren Hastings is a
feather in any man's cap, and we may be proud that
it was bestowed on our Chief.
I mention this to show that the MacLeods were not
backward in responding to the Government's appeal,
and that they rendered magnificent service to their King
and country in a time of great need. As William Pitt
had foreseen, the splendid fighting qualities of the High-
landers, which had once been a source of peril to the
nation, became one of its greatest assets.
in. The Potato Famine
In 1846 came an appalling disaster: the potato disease
ruined the crops, and the people were face to face with
starvation. There are many letters and papers at Dun-
vegan about the potato famine, and from them I give
the following particulars of how it was dealt with on the
MacLeod estate. MacLeod himself was then resident
at Dunvegan. He addressed a circular to his people,