HISTORY OF THE PARTITION OF THE LENNOX. HERE is a
goodly octavo. in fancy binding, the purpose of which is to settle the question Who is representative of Duncan,eighth and last of the ancient Earls of the Lemmas 7"-a question now under (lobate in Scotland, it seems, in consequence of the preten- sions of several families to the right of the dignity of that earldom. We cannot see why this book has been published ; or what it matters to the world whether LENNOX of Woodhead, HALDANE of Gleneagles, or NAPIER of Merchiston, have the best claim to that dignity. Cases, we observe, have been drawn up by eminent lawyers for two of these families ; and this is a case for the third, full of family descents, title-deeds, and all the profundities of the Scottish feudal investiture. None but a party interested, or a ge- nealogical antiquary (the lowest grade of that fraternit) could think of groping through such a labyrinth. The occupation would have been unworthy of the Antiquary par excellence, the Laird of Monkbaros, whose pursuits were ennobled by their association with the days of AGRICOLA. and CARACTACUS ; but, to those nut actually cone rued iu the result, such questions as that agitated in this volume are matters of the idlest curiosity. The author talks something of its connexion with the history of Scotland. The root of the genealogical tree, no doubt, DUNCAN Earl of Lennox, was one of the relatives of the Regent ALBANY, who were judi- cially murdered by JAMES the First at Stirling ; but we do not find another historical character perched on any of its branches. Were the dispute among the modern Scotch families pending be- fore a court of law, this case for one of the parties, distributed among the Judges, might do good service ; but we have no " voice potential-- ill the matter; and there was no use, therefore, in sending it to us.
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