Abbildungen der Seite
PDF
EPUB

APPENDIX I.

ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE POPULAR VERSIONS OF THE PROGRESS OF THE DOUGLAS CAUSE, FROM THE St. James's Chronicle AND THE Gazetteer and New Daily Advertiser.1

August 6, 1761.-Monday morning the corpse of the most noble Prince Archibald Duke of Douglas was carried with great funeral pomp from Queensbury House, in the Canongate, Edinburgh, to be interred at Douglas, the seat of the family. The procession, which was most magnificent and grand, passed through the city about ten o'clock, the bells tolling all the time of its passing.

His Grace dying without issue, the Peerage of the illustrious House of Douglas is now extinct, or sinks into that of the Family of Hamilton.

Thursday, August 13.-We hear from Scotland that several pretensions are already formed with regard to the estates of the late Duke of Douglas, among the principal claimants to which is the Rt. Hon. the Earl of Selkirk, as being not only a collateral branch of the family, but also considerably allied to the noble line of Hamilton.

September 15.-Edinburgh, September 12.-On Tuesday morning last came on here, before the Macers of the Court of Session, the Service of Archibald Stewart, now Douglas of Douglas, Esq., as Heir of Tailzie to his uncle Archibald, late Duke of Douglas, when the most full, clear, and convincing evidence was laid before the Inquest that the Claimant was the only son now in life of his Grace's sister, the deceased Lady Jane Douglas, by Sir John Stewart of Garntully, Bart., her husband; and the Inquest on Wednesday afternoon unanimously served the claimant heir of that noble family accordingly.

It had been reported that Mr. Douglas was not the son of Lady Jane Douglas, but a supposititious child.

Saturday, August 20, 1763.-Edinburgh, August 15.-The Court of Session having allowed a full and general proof to be taken in France, and in order to let every possible light into the present interesting dispute relating to the succession of the late Duke of Douglas, we hear that the examination of the witnesses will take place as soon as the forms of law in these countries will allow, in order, if possible, to have it finished by next Sessions. Her Grace the Duchess of Douglas sets out early to-morrow morning for London on her return to Paris, in order to attend that important affair.

Saturday, August 27, 1763.-Yesterday her Grace the Duchess of Douglas set out from her house in Pall Mall for Paris.

1 Communicated through the kindness of Mr. Horace Bleackley.

February 9, 1764.-A part of the great cause about the estate of the late Duke of Douglas is now appealed from the Court of Session in Scotland to be determined by the House of Peers.

April 14, 1764.-The great cause which has been some time depending went yesterday in favour of her Grace the Duchess of Hamilton.

April 16, 1764.-Friday.-The cause, so long pending in the Courts of France, relating to the claim of young Mr. Archibald Douglas to the estate and honours of the late Duke Douglas of Scotland, and which for some days past has been under the consideration of an august assembly, is ordered to be referred to the decision of the Lords of Session in Scotland, so that it is not yet known how that important affair will be determined.

Thursday, August 7, 1766.-Edinburgh, August 2.-The Pleadings in the Douglas Cause, which has engrossed the attention of the Court of Session these four weeks past, ended yesterday. Their Lordships have ordered Memorials on the Proof to be given in betwixt this time and September 27, and any other observation either party may have to make on the other's Memorial, to be given in before the 15th October, and on the 25th November the Cause is to be advised.

January 6, 1767.-It is said some thousand pounds are laid in betts upon the issue of the Douglas great Cause, to be determined upon the 27th inst.

May 8-They write from Edinburgh that bets to the amount of £100,000 are depending on the Douglas Cause.

May 18, 1767.-Saturday.-Arrived in from Edinburgh the Hon. Mr. Douglas. The great cause between him and the Hamilton family as to the succession to the late Duke of Douglas' estate is to be determined by the Court of Session in the month of June next.

May 20, 1767.-A letter from Edinburgh says-We hear that at the determination of the great Cause of Douglas, the Lord Judges of the Court of Session are to sit on that day in one of the large rooms of the royal palace of Holyrood, and that scaffoldings are to be erected as at Westminster Hall at the trial of Earl Ferrers. To defray the expense of which, as well as to raise a contribution for the Royal Infirmary, all who are admitted, except the members of the Court, are to give half a guinea each.

June 26, 1767.-By a gentleman just arrived from Scotland we are informed that at Edinburgh and other places they are at present greatly agitated by the near approach of the determination of the Douglas great Cause, and that bets are near on an equality; that several shorthand gentlemen are arrived from London to take down the debates, for which they are to be paid from 300 to 500 guineas each person; and that most of the nobility and persons of distinction in that Kingdom were come to Edinburgh to be present at the debates.

July 14, 1767.-By advices from Edinburgh we are informed that the great Cause of Douglas, which has been so long depending, was determined on Tuesday, 7th inst., before the Lords of Session, and, as it is, ended in favour of the Hamilton family.

Wednesday, July 15, 1767.-Extract of a letter from Edinburgh, July 7. The grand decision of the Douglas Cause began this day. The President, in a speech of near two hours, declared his opinion in favour of Hamilton, and was clear for a reduction. Lord Strichen spoke next, and was as clear in favour of Douglas. After which the President asked Lord Kames' opinion, who excused himself, as he was then too much heated by the throng in Court to speak. It was adjourned till to-morrow, when it is expected that he and Lord Auchinleck will deliver their opinions and the affair be determined on Thursday. The 30th ult. the publishers of all the newspapers in this city were called to the bar of the Court of Session for having inserted in their papers certain extracts from "Doranda, a Spanish Tale," which it seems is now become an object of very serious attention. Each of the publishers gave bail to appear before the Lords of the Council and Session.

Friday, July 17, 1767.—Extract from a letter from Edinburgh, July 11.-On Tuesday came on before the Court the decision of the Douglas Cause. The opinion of the Judges upon which stand as follows:

[merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors]

There remains only Justice Clerk and Monboddo to speak on Tuesday next, one of whom it is certain will be for Hamilton and the other Douglas, thereby here is an equality, and reserving upon the President's casting vote the Hamilton family carries it here. It is needless to mention what a consternation this affair makes in Edinburgh.

If this decision be final, His Grace the Duke of Hamilton will be possessed of one of the greatest real estates in Britain.

It is remarkable in the determination of the above Cause, four of the Judges who gave their opinion in favour of Douglas are all of the county of Aberdeen, viz.; Strichen, Pitfour, Gardenston, and Monboddo.

Saturday, July 18, 1767.-We hear a nobleman at the Court end of the town has lost a bet of two thousand guineas on the late decision of the Douglas Cause.

Tuesday, 21 July, 1767.-By a letter from Edinburgh we learn that in the determination of the Douglas Cause the Lords seemed to express

themselves in such a way that it is imagined they will not sequestrate the estate, and consequently deprive Douglas of possession until the final determination by the Peers of Great Britain.

Monday, July 27, 1767.-The following letters were sent to the Rt. Hon. Robert Dundas, Esq., Lord President of the Court of Session at Edinburgh :

Dear Bumbo,-I am surprised at your Behaviour in Douglas Cause you the only person who injected him into the estate and caused the Plea to be carried on and then you to turn your back and give the whole Swe (?) to hamilton which I dar say you ar consciouss that you are in the Wrong but I hope first that you will Loses your seat in the Parlement House and then as ther is about 350 of in and about Edinburgh joined under an head and we shall Burn yur Lodgin in Town and then Arnston Lodgin's shall go into flames and then your self, we shall make a Captain Portus of You in the Gras Market as an exampel to all false Judges passing wrong sentences, but I shall think it proper to acquaint your Bumbo to alter your mind a time and not cause any Toumolous Noise or Mischief. Perhaps you will think me an imprompter Person for oping to send such a Epistel but you may excuse me and if you want to know the writher they call him Timoth Love Justice.

P.S.-You you Great Bubo to speak against the truth and the Clearest Light in false imaginations and false proof that was taken in france from Persons that would sewar thar Souls to hell for a peny, but I hope you will be sent [to] uter Darkness.

[blocks in formation]

I am not a little surprised you should have Broht on yourself such a Damt Scundruly Law Suite and Sir give me Leav to inform you that in a day or two you Brains will be put at bolfine of a gun may Lord have a care and think on me.

I am Sir yours,

I mean well,

otherways you go for. P.S.-iff you Dont Vout in Mr. Douglas's cass may be Well assured you will be put to Death on first miting.

A reward of five hundred pounds sterling is offered by the King, and a pardon, to any one of them (except the person or persons who actually wrote the said letters or either of them) who shall discover their accomplices in the said facts. The Guardians of His Grace the Duke of Hamilton promise a reward of three hundred pounds, and Archibald Douglas, Esq., also promises the like reward of three hundred pounds for the discovery of the writer (See London Gazette.)

August 20, 1767.-From Scotland we are assured that the pleadings

« ZurückWeiter »