Stirling peerage

134. TRIAL OF ALEXANDER IIUMPHRYS, OR ALEXANDER,
it merely on the outer cover, and on the margin of one or two
of the leaves, on a small spot, half the size of my nail, or
thereabouts.
Mr Innes. — You did not touch the v^riting of the deed ? I
did not apply the test in such a way as to affect the general
appearance. I merel}', as I have said, touched a few spots on
the outer cover, and on the margin of the paper.
The document was then withdrawn ? Yes.
Mr Robertson. — How withdrawn ? It was taken from me
by the crown agent.
Did any body assist you ? No.
Mr Innes. — Tell us the result ? I came to the conclusion
that there was a colouring matter of some vegetable or animal
nature, some organic matter, in the paper; the browning of
the paper was owing to some such vegetable or organic matter.
Did you come to any other conclusion ? Yes, that there is
in the paper some acid, sulphuric acid or oil of vitriol. That
is the result to which I came, so far as my experiments went.
You wish to make farther experiments ? Yes, I do.
Of what nature ? I wish to be allowed to operate on a
larger part of the paper.
Mr Robertson. — Do 3'ou propose to use any other agent ?
I cannot tell.
Lord Advocate. — Were you asked to examine the document
on the part of the prisoner ? Yes, about three weeks ago.
Mr Robertson. — Do weak acids give ink a brownish appear-
ance ? They do.
Lord MoncreifF. — Would the farther experiments you pro-
pose, make any appearance on the deed generally ? Can you
make your experiments on part of the paper where there is no
writing ? Yes.
Lord Advocate. — You could do it by getting a margin of
the document or half a margin ? Yes.
Court. — Would this experiment you propose be more satis-
factory to your own mind, and enable you to give a sounder
opinion ? Certainly.
Mr Robertson. — To what extent would you carry your
operations, or do you propose to have an unlimited power over
the deed ? Not an unlimited power, certainly. I would
merely operate on a part of the paper on which there is no
writing, — on this sheet, for instance, where there is no writing.
How much of the paper would you require ? I would take
this blank leaf.
Court. — Is there any experiment that you can perform on