Tracts, legal and historical

131
rial question. It is singular, that according to the
traditional account among theMerchistons — although
too fabulous upon the whole to be relied upon — their
supposed ancestor Donald, the *' Nce-peir" obtained,
as a recompense for his gallant exploits, a grant of
the lands of Gosford. 1 The latter, as is well known,
are possessed by the above nobleman, and singu-
larly enough happen to be in the vicinity of Garle-
toun.
" Although the Napiers be a very ancient family,"
says Crawford, " yet, I have not found any of them
upon record before the time of the competition be-
tween the Bruce and Baliol for the crown." 2 Our
genealogists are rather odd logicians ; this is akin
to a remark, that prefaces elsewhere the Campbell
pedigree. " Of the antiquity of this noble house —
the best proof is the difficulty that occurs in ascer-
taining its origin." 3 Hence, because a house is only
traced, for the first time, at a comparatively recent
period, it is to be regarded as " very ancient," and
the greater difficulty and obscurity that attends its
origin, the more ancient and illustrious it must be. Ac-
cording to ordinary impressions, we are not tempted
to think highly of a family in these respects, because
it is of obscure origin. But whatever may be the
1 Memoirs, p. 8. 2 Peerage, p. 362.
5 Wood, vol. i. p. 84. This remark, it is believed, is not Mr.
Wood's, but comes from another quarter.