Examination of the claim of John Lindsay Crawfurd

JOHN LINDSAY CRAWFURD. 13
should add Lindsay to his name ; but to this the claimant at first Assumes
objected, though he afterwards yielded, and so became John Lindr of Lin™
say Crawfurd. For this invaluable suggestion, the claimant soon say '
became ungrateful ; for it was not long until he wrote to a friend
in Ireland, " Wood is a great scoundrel, but he is all in the dark."
This, however, will be more fully explained, and better understood,
afterwards. The claimant found his way to Kilbirnie, and having hu pro-
seen in the parish registers the entry of the birth and baptism of cee mgs-
James Crawfurd, the third son of John, first Viscount Garnock, and
finding some dubiety about his fate in the enquiries he made in
the neighbourhood, he fixed upon him as his ancestor, who had
gone to Ireland and settled there. He then introduced himself
to John Montgomery of Ladeside, who had a small property in
Kilbirnie, which his grandfather had feued from Patrick, second
Viscount Garnock, to whom he had been gardener. The claimant
found Montgomery a credulous person, and one much disposed to
listen to his story. The story itself began to circulate. The vil-
lagers stared at a person coming to claim dominion over them, and
many were pleased at the idea of a poor man's arriving at an Earl-
dom, rebuilding the ancient house of Kilbirnie, and restoring gran-
deur to a place which had been so long in ruins.
Besides these refined feelings, there was the more palpable one of
profit. The claimant stood in need of cash to prosecute his claims,
and recover his rights. Those, therefore, who came forward to assist
him in this most laudable undertaking, were not only to receive
thanks, but a more tangible return. Farms were to be given on
long leases at moderate rents ; one was to be factor, another cham-
berlain, and many were to be converted from being hewers of wood
and drawers of water, to what they esteemed the less laborious, and
therefore more honourable, posts of butlers and bakers, and body
servants of all descriptions. These cheering prospects were speedi-
ly to be realized if money was forthcoming, and the money was
forthcoming accordingly. Poor peasants and farmers, cottagers and
their masters, threw their stakes into the claimant's lucky-bag, from
which they were afterwards to draw " all prizes and no blanks."
Several persons were induced to make advances to the claimant ™ s t s °^