The Sun.
London, England, 1823-07-09 00:00:00

viE- CORONATION.

The following is the decision of the questlbfti
as to the right to carry the Crown of Scotlan,d,,
part of the Scottish Regalia, before the KING, at.
Processions in Scotland :

Our readers will recollect tho-nature and circumstances of
this important and interesting question, tried before the Most
Honourable Privy Council, on the 14th and.2lst of June, fulfil,
Reports of which appeared in our columns, and we promised
to lay before our residers the. substances -of the decision, when
that should be pronounced. A. short reettpitulation once more
of the circumstances of the case will connect the decision more,
completely, and will not he, it is hoped, 'unavailing.-;-Archi.
bald, Lord Douglas of Douglas, having, in 1769, on a pre-
liminary point, and in 1776, ultimately succeeded in the main
question, by judgment of the House of Lords, through his.
mother, Lady Jane Douglas, sister of the Duke of Doulas,
who married the father of the present Lord Douglas, fair
John
Stewart, of Grandtully, Baronet, to the " estates which com-
prised the Earldom of Angus," the Duke of Hamilton and
Brandon, who then appeased his claim, as he now again does,
retaining the title of Earl of Angus," and the " honours",
and " dignities" attached to it, he, Lord Douglas, thought
proper to dispute, in a petition to the King, referred to
the Privy Council the Duke's right to retain them longer in
his family. Isis Lordship's argument was this :—The honours
and dignities enjoyed by Earls of Angus" were not confer-,
red by the original Royal grants as personal honours to go
with the Peerage or Title of" Earls of .Angus,'opart of that of
Hamilton and Brandon, but as being feudalized and descend,
ing with the onion ial property which comprised the " EAU-Horn
of Angus." Lord Douglas having succeeded to these lands,
though without the title. of " Earl of Angus," claimed the right
' tia,perfonn now, and in time toicotne, the Nomura and dig-
nities, 'for centuries inherited and performed by the Dielie of
Hamilton and Brandon's ancestors, of leading the ianguard
of the army in the day of battle; of having the first vote to the.
Parliament of Scotland; and of carrying the Crown of Scot-.
land before the King, at all Ridings of Parliament and Royal
Processions within the City of Edinburgh." The last is the
only right which can be exercised since the Union ; the others.
may be inherited, though not exercised, referring as they do to
the Scottish Parliament, and those commanons which i'iere of old
existed. Lord Douglas maintained that, since the period of his
succession to the territorial property, the Duke of Hamiltoa'a
family should be declared to, be divoited of those honours and
dignities in his favour. The Duke answered—" The !moors
and dignities were personal to those enjoying the title of
" Eati of Angus.",--Myancestors were " Earls of Angus."—
lam " Earl of Angus ;" my son is " Earl of Angus" You
only succeeded to the territorial property of the Earldom, with
winch that title of " Earl of Angus" descends not. The.
" honours," from their nature, were conferred on and destined
to heirs Male; females could not perform them; they were ex-
cluded. You succeeded through your mother, a female heir,
in whom they could not be and were not. But for a change of
the investiture, at one time illegally made, at I maintain, you
would not have even succeeded to the lands as heir of your
' mother, who would not; but I, as heir-male of the unaltered
investiture, would have done so. At any rate to the title of
" Earl of Angus" you have no claim; nor to the performance
of those Important honours and dignities, which were entailed
on my ancestors and their heirs.niale, as "Earls of Angus"
alone, by the Sovereign.
It will be recollected that the Privy Council, after having,
on two successive days, heard the case argued at great length
and with much ability by Mr. Warren and Mr. Bmughatu,
assisted by Mr. Riddell, of the Scots Bar, for the Claimant,
Lord Douglas, of Douglas; and by Mr. Abercromby and Mr.
Adam, for the Opposer, the Duke of Hamilton and llrandon,
their Lordships adjourned to, the 21st June, to deliberate before
pronouncing judgment.
Yesterday the distinguished Members who composed the
Council met for that purpoite ; and the following is the sub-
stance of their anal determination upon this interesting question.
Their Lordships remained a considerable time in delibera-
tion. The resolution they have formed cannot be publicly an-
nounced in formal terms until it has been reported by the
Privy Council to his Majesty; but we understand that their-
Lordships have agreed to report that Lord Douglas, of'Douglas,
the claimant of the honours and privileges above described, has
opt made out his claim.—( Morning Post.)