Stirling peerage

224 TKIAI. OF ALKXAXDER IIUMPJIRYS, OR ALEXANDER,
added to the interest, for he wished to obtain information in
England as to the then situation of the descendants of the
Earl who obtained the grants ; and all the information which
he might have received respecting them, he would have trans-
ferred to this very map." Why was this gentleman so much
interested in the descendants of the Alexanders ? Why should
means be taken to make all persons in France acquainted with
the existence of this charter ? What could it concern any body
but the descendants of the Earl's iamily ? It is utterly out of
the conception of man to suppose, that any thing could inte-
rest these parties in regard to this family, when they knew
nothing about them. How could they come to take so much
trouble about this matter? This is in 1707. Mallet is
hardly cold in his grave — we are taken from Lyons to
Nisnies, and we have here Esprit Flechier, Bishop of Nismes,
made to say, that he bore testimony to the copy of the charter
with the greatest pleasure. We are here back to the copy,
and how he came by it is not explained. This is not two
months after the date of the letter of Estienne, whilst the copy
of the charter has been travelling as fast as the note, but not
in the same direction, for the charter is read at the house of
Monsieiu" Sartre at Caveirac. But why should the Bishop of
Nismes be evoked to give this testimony to the faithl'ulness of
this translation ? It is incredible, but it is one of the train of
circumstances. Two months afterwards, there is a letter of
23th August, from John of Antrim to the Marchioness de
Lambert. " I cannot express to you, madam, how sensible I
am of the honour of your remembrance. My sincere thanks
are also due to Monsieur de Cambray, since he, by facilitating
the journey of my friend Mr Hovenden," (we heard that name
in the affidavit at which the hand-writing of Conyers was at-
tempted to be proved in evidence,) " was the means of my
being so quickly put in possession of your letter, and the copy
which you have been good enough to forward to me, of the
note respecting my grandfather's charter." (The learned
gentleman I'ead and commented on the letter.
Now, this is almost as much to the purpose of the party as
if it had been made for them. How does he account for the
original charter ? His grandmother gave it " to her son-in-
law. Lord Montgomery, in order that he might preserve it
carefully in Castle Comber, where he resided." There has
been a succession of Earls of Stirling from the First to the
Fifth, and here we are told that the grandmother, who has
nothing to do with the charter, carries it with her to Ireland and