§ MR. MORGAN LLOYDasked the Lord Advocate, If he has received a letter from the Reverend Ewen M'Kenzie, giving an account of the removal of the coffin plates from the Lovat Vault at Kirkhill; and, if he will communicate that account to the House?
THE LORD ADVOCATE (Mr. J. B. BALFOUR)I have received a letter from the minister, and also further information from other sources, in regard to this matter. It appears that there were not two keys for the vault, but for a chapel through which access was obtained to it; as also that the only key for the vault was kept at the estate office, and sent to the minister that it might be available when Sir William Eraser came to make his 484 visit. The minister states that he did not meet Sir William Fraser by appointment at the churchyard; but that Sir William called at the manse to obtain the key, as also that he did not accompany Sir William into the vault, and had no hand in taking the coffin plates to the manse, but only gave them house room there, as also that he had nothing to do with the replacing of the plates. The minister further states that in the whole matter he only extended to Sir William the common courtesy due to a man in his position and to a recognized friend of Lord Lovat.