Stirling peerage

34 INTKODUCTION.
and he attempts to extinguish the descendants from
the three elder brothers of John, by extracts from the
baptismal and burial registers of the parishes of Bin-
field, Berks, and St Anne's, Westminster, which ex-
tracts have never yet been nor can be made evidence
in the case.
But, supposing he had extinguished these descendants,
and laid the honours and estates open to John, the
fourth son, his procedure would have been equally
erroneous.. For mark how he enlightens the Canon-
gate Magistrates. He states, that this John married
Agnes, daughter of Sir Robert Graham of Gartmore,.
by whom he had a son, John, settled at Antrim, in
Ireland, who had a son, the Rev. John Alexander,,
father of Hannah Humphrys, the claimant's mother.
And this he seeks to establish by such proofs as the-
following.
First, He exhibits the deposition of his sister, Mrs-
Pountney, (calling herself Lady Eliza,) taken on com-
mission from the Bailies of Canongate ; secondly, copy
of an alleged deposition by one William Trumbull, sou
of Sir William Trumbull ;* thirdly, an alleged voluntary
afl&davit by one Sara Lyner of Ballyrydor, in the-
parish of Stradbally, Queen's County, Ireland ; and,.
lastly, a similar voluntary affidavit by Henry Hovenden
of Ballynakni, gentleman.
By reference to these documents, {vide Appendix,
No. II.) it will be clearly perceived that the deposition
of Mrs Pountney says nothing about John of Gartmore,
one gentleman in Scotland capable of the nndertaking-^andhe.itisgreatly-
to be feared, will never put bis shoulder to the protitless and unrepaying
task. Need I mention my friend Mr Riddell ?
* Secretary of State, and the friend of Pope, who wrote his epitaph,
and has preserved some of his letters. See notice of hira in Burnet,
Hist. Otvn Timtf, and Biographic UniverseVe.