The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1885-06-07
ALEXANDER LOvAT.
A Romance or the Peerage.
TI.Ontlon Vanity Eairl

Thomas OF Beaufort, tenth Lord Loyat, was fine
old Scottish noble of the Seventeenth Century.
the fair estates which had belonged to his family
from the Ninth Century downwards. all OF them
lawless after the manner OF their times but living
openly and fearing none. There was wedding on
the Barony OF IOvat on the day on which our story
opens. and In the evening ball was given to cele-
with dancing and with wine, was moody and griey-
ously incensed, for he had heard a piper playing
tune which he knew had been written In derslon of
his clan. Suddenly he made up his mind. Strdng
up to the insolent piper. he drew his dirk aud
struck blow at the bagpipe, intending to slit 1t;
but the stroke was lnsty, and passing through the
Then Alexander fed for his life and took refuge
In Wales. There he found an old school-fellOw In
tive In a lead mine. Nothing being heard Of Alex
ander at home, report spread that he died young,
and by most people ne was soon forgotten.
In the meantime Lord Lovat died, and for time
the title and dignity OF lovat remained in allegiance,
for Simon mad developed into lawless robber, as
he was later to become celebrated In history as a
traitor, and was now an outlaw In France. But
Simon was a clever man of the world, and schemed
for his return with such success as to gain at length
free pardon for all his crimes. Then he returned
to his native heath Being unable to prove his elder
brothers death, he swOre that he was himself his
fathers eldest son, and was so allowed to enter upon
the title. Az Lord lOvat he continued his career of
yainy until he at last reaped his reward AZ an arch
traitor on Tower Hill. Thus the estate was forfeited
to the Crown. But Simon left son, who. as Gen.
Fraser, did ye0man service to King william ",
who In return therefor restored to him the Barony
Wnicn continues IN the possession OF his heirs.
But what was Alexander doing all this time? He
lived and died a Welsh miner. Before his death,
however, he married and left his sad story to son
John. This John made good endeavOr to prove his
title to his birthrght but he was poor and no one
believed him. He died as poor as he was born, but
his son and his sons son each cherished the hope of
coming one day into his own.
Romantic as this Is, this is true story, and Alex
ander's llnea descendant, one John Fraser of Car
narv0n now claims the Barony against the present
Lord LOvat, who Is said TO he entitled only upon
the supposlton that Simon, and not Alexander, was
Thomas OF Beauforts first born. John Fraser has
succeeded In raising sufficient fund to prosecute
his claim, and has duly petltioned Queen Victoria
for what he asserts to be his right. Her Majesty
has In the ordinary COURSE referred his claim to the
Committee OF Privileges OF the House of Lords
tried next week, when 1t will be the talk of
London. Mr.. Fraser alleges that he can prove all
that has been said above, and 1t seems that he
has q strong An Informal petition to the
Crown by his grandfather may now he seen in the
Record ONCE IN Fetter Lane, where 1t was duly
sheved after the manner of OfiicaldOm; and
SmOn's sworn declaration that he was Aexander's
elder brother may also be In the Record ONCE
at Edinburgh Mr.. Frasers difficulty Will he in the
matter OF evidence; for necessarily In such case
great deal must be taken on hearsay; and II is quite
certain that the title of the present Lord Lovat will
not be disturbed except upon the very clearest evil
denCe.
Amongst Mr.. Fraser's counsel are Sir Hardinge
Clifford aud Mr.. Charles Russell, and both of these
have expressed themselves favorably upon the
merits OF the claim. In any event the trial will be
the cause ceIPbre of the season,