The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-09-30
WHO OWNS BRITISH NORTH AMERICA 2

Such is the title of remarkable article
August The writer, by a reference to author-
ties which appear to be indisputable, shows
that the ownership of Nova Scotia and Canada
was vested in William Alexander, a commoner
of Great Britain, who was born in 1880, and
was First Master of Requests to James vi of
Scotland and of England. He was knighted
in 1925, and ennobled in 1880 receiving the
title of Lord Alexander of Tullibodie and Wis
count Stirling At different times by several
charters granted by James and Charles l.
confirming each other, he was invested with
the proprletorship and lordship of what is now
British North America The French as we
know, contested the claim of Britain, and for
century held possession of the country them
selves; but they were finally dspossessed, and
the title of Great Britain was fully confirmed
to Nova Scotia in 1857, to Canada in 1860.
Meantime the heirs of the Earl of Stirling
had not been able to assert their rights but
the establishment of the title of Britain neces-
sarily involved the revival of the charters
granted to that family, as they could not be
annulled by the French usurpation At the
peace of Paris in 1863, the right of inherit
ance was in John, the great great-grandson of
the first Earl of Stirling but he died three
years thereafter, and his successor the eighth
earl, and last male heir, died three years after
him, so that neither had time to establish
his rights and, says the writer in the Reuew
" most extraordinary fact took place. to wit
that tor almost fifty years the right of exerc-
sing all the great powers of the charters was
dormant, because it fell upon the female heirs
OF the said last heir male of whom Mary died
in 1894, and Hannah the mother of the pres
ent Earl, in 1914" Alexander, Viscount Can
ada and now ninth Earl of Stirling, her SON.
was at that time in captivity in France but
escaping in 1919 with such means as were lett
him from the spoation to which he had been
subjected assumed in 1925 his peerage rights
as Earl of Stirling. As a peer he repeatedly
voted, unquestioned, and his title was recog
missed by the Lord Chancellor of England Inc
highest law authority of Scotland, all the thlr-
teen judges having been consulted, Recognised
his rights unanimously, and four juries, at Dill
ferent times, did the same thing in cases where
they were brought into controversy
But the charters under which he held his
titles associated with it the proprietorshlP oil
the noblest colonies of England, and it was not
to be expected that the Government would sur
render this without a struggle. He-Tas SUD
jected to the necessity Of constant litigation
and in 1889 to trial for forgery. The Jury
triumphantly acquitted him; but his coun'e'
proved false, and the Court gave such lnstruc-
tons that it was subsequently compelled nO'
to reverse this verdict Of acquittal but 10 a''
company it with such an expression OF oPn-
ion concerning the charters, as Obliged n'n
again to enter into contest with the WV
power of the Government This he couiu "
do-his means were exhausted--he ie'' -"
shores of England At last he came 70 VIZ
country and with large family, this Ns'
representative of the Stirling rights and es'a"'
now seventy years of age, is residing at preSe''
in Washington. n.
Socb il the substance of the article 10 'n'
Revier II will attract attention, ana W.,
sympathy for the family, which, as It wou''
seem for political reasons is denied its r'gne.
Il ia understood that it is determined "
prosecute the matter, until justice be done
"THE WHITE SLAvE.n--Two editions OIL W.
work, the author Of which is Rich'd hi'a'''''