Stirling peerage

STYLING HIMSELF EARL OF STIRLING. I33
annihilation of the documents ; I do not mean that. Sup-
posing I were accused of forging a Bill of Exchange: That
bill is produced, and there are witnesses to prove that they
think the ink not genuine, and I have witnesses to prove that
it is genuine.
Lord Advocate. — Let my learned friend bring any one of
his witnesses, and I shall engage that no part or particle of a
line or word that these witnesses point out shall be touched in
the course of this examination.
Mr Robertson. — I will not disclose my case. I shall shew
it to no one, whether to the Court or tlie public prosecutor,
until it is regularly brought out in the Court.
Court. — Let us hear what the scientific witnesses intend to
do.
Dr Fyff. was then brought in, and examined by Mr Innes. —
You are a lecturer on chemistry, and a practical chemist of
great experience ? I have had a good deal of experience in
practical chemistry.
Can you, as a chemist, give us an insight into the colouring
of this excerpt which I now put into your hands ? I have
seen the deed before. From experiments that I have per-
formed upon it, I think the colouring proceeds from some
veffetable or animal substance — organic matter.
Mr Robertson. — Have you already performed experiments
upon it ? I must know what these experiments have been.
Mr Innes. — It is some weeks ago since you performed these
experiments ? About six weeks ago.
It was sent to you by the crown agent? It was.
For the purpose of obtaining your opinion on the colouring
matter ? Yes.
You examined it ? I did.
Have you a wish to make farther experiments on it ? I
have. It was not permitted me to make experiments upon it ;
it was withdrawn from me.
How long was it in your hands ? About two days.
What experiment did you make upon it ? I tested diffe-
rent parts of the paper, first with bleaching powder.
Let us see where you tested it ? You will see here (point-
ing to the outer cover of the document) two or three whiter
spots than the general colour. I applied on these spots che-
mical tests, bleaching powder. I applied it also on the margin
of one or two of the other leaves, not on the writing.
Did you apply your test to any large part ? No ; I applied