The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-09-23
SIR JOHN MURRAY's EXPLANATION.


JAMES GORDON BENNETT, ESQ., !
sR-in your issue Of yesterday morning yd,scoyer
Win more surprise than express an article 10 which
am hed up as pretender 10 more than really ent
ued 70. Who your correspondent be. or what his
object do not know To my knowledge l have never
seen him. but that he erroneous in his premises and
uniformed as TO his facts is manifested most morty-
ngy 70 me, since 1t gives notorety painful beyond
expression
entered the Of the United States from tho
purest motives Of good will towards the government
under whose laws and principles have lived happily
some years, at time when deemed that every friend OF
the Union should buckle the sword in its defence
inns did and swore into the service the United States
ABOUT nve months ago. by the had borne all along
ana 70 winch was born Gas explain hereaiter) simply
occuse no necessity then pressed change it, and
hao heiuer opect time nor desire 60 through tho for
mula and trouble Of petition to his Exceency the Co
vernon of the State Of New York to alter the name in the
commission then had-vz: as Adjutant Of the Ninth
regment-being quite happy respectable as John
Coppinger as could possibly be John Murray but
when family death and other subsequently trans
PRED (whn the past four months) which rendered tho
change of name necessary my interests was about
taking steps to effect it, through the Governor of the State
and had asked advice the subject from General Sand
ford General Banks, Colonel Stiles and Others as to tho
best way Of proceeding, when a commission was
offered me in a new sphere, and thought it fit time
and opportunity TO make the change, which did dcscrb-
ing myself simply as John Murray. Any conse-
quental announcement belongs entirely friends who
are cogizant Of the circumstances surrounding and
70 your who first gave the matter publicity
cannot see however, OF what interest it can be to tho
public who really am. or whether call myself John
Smith or the King of the Cannba Islands.
There is private chapter in the history of every
family the unceremonious exposure of which TO public
gaze when neither public interest nor useful purpose in
served, infringement of private rights and prosti-
which in all my experience of the HERALD have not
known to commit, and hence confidently expect at ito
hands such redress can be made me-
The explanation needed may require space; but
you, Mr. Bennett, have called for it, and here it is.
Ny great uncle Sir John Murray, convicted of high
treason for his completely in the rebellion which sought
to place Prince Charles Edward upon the Scottish throne
FOR TINS he brought disgrace and almost ruin hmse9
ana family and died many years after in the exile which
his offence had doomed him to- Ills brother younger
son Il do not now remember which, and have neither
books nor papers at hand from which to refresh my
memory went TO Ireland, where he married Miss Cop
pnger, adopted that name and lived in secluson OF
that marriage my grandathe was born who married his
own cousin, Miss Murray, the aughter Of David
thnhe elder ron of john the REBEL above mentioned
o. this marriage my father was the first born and (when
about twenty entered the service by the of Cop
pnger, forty odd years ago. David Murray Just
mentioned was succeeded by John Murray who died 1--WE
or six years ago, leaving male ISSUE and the title
therefore, assembled the family came down tho
next brancDamey, that Of the brother Tor younger son)
OF John, the rebel who married Miss Coppinger Tho
Murray FAMILY remained under cloud for many years,
until some amnesty act other proceeding conferred
royal pardon upon the blood when they reassumed the
title. The reasons given by my father for his branch not
taking their proper wcre-frst that they had en-
tered the army by the of Coppinger, and change
nRht be troublesome and second that it not worth
while to take that trouble they likely 10
come to the succession Death, however and the faupo
Of male issue in the direct branch, gave right to my
father some five six years ago, to succeed his uncle
and assume his title which he did, in due shape aud
orm, and thencefoh ever known and treated Sir
John Murray This is the story, and believe it with all
my heart have always been taught it and heard
it questioned have not my father for many years.
and the above facts have reached through his letters
1t is not true that the subject before thu
House OF Lords or any other tribunal The baptismal
regstries settle that. Bat is true that the throne
TO old and long disused pension
10 the family, with all its arreaTages accumulated
amounting to about fifty thousand pounds and this sub
icct was sent before committee of the House of Com
mons (not "Lords and has not yet been definitely dis
posed of.
trust, sir, your of justice to will induce you
to give place i'll your paper to this explanation Of your
error. Yours, respectfully