late earl, at a service-dinner in Kilbirnie, and Lady Mary's acknowledgment of her father and uncle James' letters, go to shew that the existence of the Honourable James Crawfurd's descendants was well known to them, and had been to their progenitors. At present we will only add, that relying on the validity of Mr Crawfurd's pretensions, we look forward with confidence to the favourable decision of the first and most honourable tribunal in the world, "the Peers of Great Britain in parliament assembled," whose decision, Mr Crawfurd doubts not, will be founded on the basis of truth and justice. Having disposed of this strange and extraordinary trial, we will proceed to a detail of its results,-scenes still more romantic and unaccountable; so much so, that after generations may reasonably dispute their authenticity, were they not authenticated by such innumerable and irrefragable testimonies; and even then, very reasonably they may have their suspicions, whether such unreasonable and unparalleled circumstances could possibly happen in any Christian country, much less in Great Britain, so far-famed for its laws, humanity, and religion, and which are considered superior in those particulars to any other part of the habitable globe. But before we proceed farther on this part of our task, we will in the first place present to our readers the traditional, parole, and written evidence which Mr Crawfurd has adduced, to establish his title to the earldom of Crawfurd and Lindsay, and is still prepared to bring forward; a part of which are in the register-office of Edinburgh, and some more in the hands of the celebrated James Buckton, solicitor, in Doctors' Commons, London, who will appear conspicuous throughout the greater part of the rest of our narrative. CHAPTER III. CONTAINING A STATEMENT OF TRADITIONAL, PAROLE, AND DOCUMENTARY EVIDENCE-MR CRAWFURD'S APPLICATION TO THE THRONE THE PRINCE REGENT'S PECULIAR NOTICE, AND ROYAL INSTRUCTIONS-THOSE ROYAL ORDERS COUNTERACTED-MR CRAWFURD IS SENT PRIVATELY OFF TO NEW SOUTH WALES-HIS RETURN. HAVING detailed nothing more than a mere introductory part of the result of Mr Crawfurd's trial, composed of scenes of heart-rending distress, calamity, and the most wanton afflictions which were heaped upon him, —even such as stand unequalled in the page of history; we will now turn our attention to the parole and documentary proofs, found both in Scotland and Ireland from 1811 until 1822, and subjoin the same in due order, according to both the time and places of their examinations; and we once again earnestly beg a continuance of our indulgent readers' kind attention to the perusal of this great mass of unqualified testimonies, with the full and open spirit of truth and liberality in which they were given; and at the latter part of the first division, taken in 1811, we will likewise exhibit those different points by which the Bucktonites,* Lady Mary, and their adherents, endeavour to found their objections (as they pretend) to Mr Crawfurd's claims: these subterfuges will be satisfactorily explained to every man of unprejudiced mind, and common understanding, who may favour us with giving this extraordinary narrative a perusal; without which, a fair judgment cannot be passed upon * "Buckton" is the name of Mr Crawfurd's agent, who turned over and sold his cause to his enemies. it. The originals of these still remain in the hands of Mr Buckton, the committee, &c. excepting those important documents which still remain in the register-office, Edinburgh, of which hereafter, when we come to discuss that head more generally. 1st, "MARY CRAWFURD of Castle-Dawson, aged about 75 years, deponed, before John Sheil, Esq. one of his majesty's justices of the peace in Castle-Dawson, county of Londonderry, Ireland, That she well remembered her grandfather, James Crawfurd, whom she always understood came from a place named Kilbirnie, in the shire of Ayr, Scotland; (observe, she told this to Mr Crawfurd the first time he enquired of her respecting that particular, and a considerable period before he determined visiting Scotland at all.) Deponent farther stated, that she often heard her grandfather relate, that he had to leave his country when very young for certain reasons which he was always unwilling to explain; that his brother Patrick, who was a Lord Viscount Garnock of Kilbirnie, was to give him some patrimonial support, which was continued for some years, &c. &c.; that her father, Hugh Crawfurd, was his second son, and remembers his going to Scotland at one time, when on his return he had with him some rich presents; that Robert Crawfurd was the third son of her father, Hugh, and that Mr John Lindsay Crawfurd is eldest son lawful of the aforesaid Robert Crawfurd. MARY CRAWFURD. Sworn before me this 20th day of April "JOHN SHEIL, J. P." 2d, "CHARLES M'CRACKIN of Castle-Dawson, 82 years of age and upwards. Depones, that he was very well acquainted with James Crawfurd; that said James Crawfurd informed deponent that he was born and brought up in a place called Kilbirnie, Scotland; that he came from Dublin to Castle-Dawson with Colonel Dawson; and that he was over seer or land-steward for the colonel of the estates in this neighbourhood. Depones that said James Crawfurd told the deponent that Lord John Crawfurd was his father, &c. Sworn before David Moneypenny, Esq. advocate, commissioner for taking proofs in the town of Castle-Dawson, 8th May 1811. "CHARLES M'CRACKIN." 3d. "JOSHUA DALE of Anaghmore, aged about 60 years, being solemnly sworn, Depones, that he knew James Crawfurd in Broagh, who was the deponent's grandfather, and died in the deponent's house. Depones, that the said James Crawfurd, fifty times at least, and on his death-bed, and at other times, told the deponent, that he came from the family of Kilbirnie in Scotland, and that there were no righteous heir to that family other than his progeny; (meaning some hints he used to give, respecting his brother, Lord Patrick's Lady, and one Boyd of Pitcon or, perhaps meaning, on failure of the then present possessor.) Sworn before David Moneypenny, Esq. advocate, commissioner in Castle-Dawson for taking proof, 11th May 1810. JOSHUA DALE. The following evidence comes in on the part of Lady Mary, and is only inserted here as a specimen of her witnesses. MICHEAL BUNTON, residenter in Castle-Dawson, was eagerly called on by the objectors, with a view to contradict and rebut the validity of the three former witnesses. Being solemnly sworn, depones, that he was born and bred in the town of Castle-Dawson, and has resided there all his lifetime; that he knew James Crawfurd in Broagh, now deceased, who was married to Mary Jamieson, and that the said James Crawfurd lived in Broagh during the whole of the deponent's acquaintance with him. Depones, that James Crawfurd was tenant of the Lint Park and Black Park, which were parts of the Broaghfarm, held under the family of Dawson of Castle-Dawson. Depones, that JamesCrawfurd was employed to watch over the fishings belonging to the family, and the deponent never knew him to have any other employment, under the family of Castle-Dawson. Depones, that he knew the father of James Crawfurd, whose name also was James, and that he lived in a house in the way leading to Broagh. Depones, that he is acquainted with John Crawfurd, the present claimant, and that he is a descendant of James Crawfurd in Broagh, above deponed to. Being interrogated on the part of the claimant, depones, that he is well acquainted with James Crawfurd above mentioned, and that he had a son whose name was James, as already deponed to, and that it was the father of James Crawford with whom the deponent was acquainted, and whose son was married to Margaret Jamieson; but the deponent was also acquainted with James Crawfurd the son, although he has been acquainted with the father. Interrogated, which of the James Crawfurds above mentioned it was, that was married to Margaret Jamieson. Depones, that he cannot say which of them it was, but has heard that there was a marriage among them. Depones, that he was a boy of seven or eight years old when he was first acquainted with James Crawfurd, and that James Crawfurd was settled at Castle-Dawson before deponent was born, and was much older than deponent. All which is truth, as he shall answer to God. And being further interrogated, whether that he is perfectly certain that James is the name of both the Crawfurds above mentioned; depones, that he cannot be certain of this. Whoever found out this tool, and introduced him into Lady Mary's service for an opposing evidence for that lady, has certainly paid her ladyship a very poor compliment; he has without preface or preamble, finished three plump perjuries, in the space of a few minutes. He first swears to the knowledge of a man thirty years at least before he (himself, deponent) was born. Second, that he was acquainted with Mr Crawfurd, whom he never spoke to in his lifetime. Third, that James Crawfurd, whom he swears is Mr Crawfurd's ancestor, had a son whose name was James. Fourth, that he was also acquainted with him. Fifth, he solemnly swears, that the son, James, was married to Mary Jamieson, that is, married to his own mother!!! Sixth, this prince of perjurers again reverses the question, and swears, on being again interrogated, that he cannot say which of them it was; but that there was a marriage amongst them. The reader is left to form what opinion he pleases on this evidence. Had Mr Bunton been examined before any superior court, he certainly must have been shewn up stairs after emitting such barefaced and egregious falsehoods; and we presume, he may be joined to the same squad of Fanning, Bradley, Brown, Smith, and the Irvine clerk, whom we have already |