Salt-foot controversy

SIR H. STEUART, BART. 73
genealogists, they are descended from the sixth son
of Sir John Steuart of Bonkle ; and, according to
others, from a younger branch of the house of
Darnly ; either of which origins is sufficiently illus-
trious. I have distinctly proved, and by charters too,
that they have held lands in Lanarkshire for more
than 400 years back — that no fewer than four
baronetages have been conferred on them, and three
of the number above a century ago — that since the
above period, they have intermarried with some of
the first families in this kingdom, producing men
who, according to the acknowledgement of Mr J. R.
himself, " have opened up and enlarged various
spheres of useful knowledge, and proved, in many
great and public situations, eminently serviceable to
their king and their country." See Mag. No
XVI. p. 445.
Having said thus much on the subject in general,
I shall now proceed, shortly, to notice a few in-
stances, in which this gentleman has either miscon-
ceived or misrepresented my account. Thus, in the
continuation of the History of Renfrewshire, p. 477.
— not the appendix, as Mr J. R. calls it, — I have
the following note : " The account of the early ages
of this most extensive branch of the House of
Steuart is not so fully or correctly given, as the
editor would have been enabled to do, had some
very important documents from a respectable quarter
arrived in time to be introduced into this account.'*
— On this passage Mr J. R. makes the following
remark (see Mag. No XVI. pp. 438, 439) : " It is
with no small surprise," says he, " that I this mo-