Two Autograph Letters, Signed. , 1 signed Canada' to Dear Sir John', (John PHILLIPART, 1784-1874, the military historian), saying "As we have had now for several days . your Letter and parcel for my Father . I think it better to let you know that his health had become so bad that we persuaded him . about a fortnight ago" to go to "a place in the country", his mother and he opened the letters "& finding papers which seem of importance we were afraid you might be uneasy about them . we were desired to leave him as quiet as possible for a little while . we hope that he will be better able soon to attend to business", 3 sides, 8vo., n.d., note by Sir John on 4th side July 1833', with 1 signed E.J. Alexander' to Sir John Philipart, saying "

fine. (cgc,bx) The writer's father, Alexander Humphrys, (1783-1859), added the surname Alexander in 1824 and set about claiming the Earldom of Stirling, extinct since 1739. He alleged that he was descended from the 1st Earl, the famous Sir William Alexander of Menstrie, favourite of James VI and I. The 1st Earl was given the right to create for sale 100 (later 150) baronetcies of Nova Scotia. Humphrys-Alexander succeeded in voting as a Scottish Representative Peer in 1825, 1830 and 1831, and on the 2nd July 1831, was served heir special to the 1st Earl in his possessions in Nova Scotia' of which he had sasine six days later at Edinburgh Castle. His motive now appeared four days later. As Hereditary Lieutenant and Lord Proprietor of the Province of Nova Scotia, and the Lordship of Canada', he offered for sale 1,000,000 acres of the most excellent land in New Brunswick'. However, all services as heir except that to his mother were reduced (rescinded) in 1836, and in 1839 he was indicted for forging the excerpt. It was unanimously pronounced a forgery by the commission of which, however, he was acquitted. (See The Complete Peerage', Vol. XII, Appendix G). - John Philippart, military historian and Knight of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem, helped to revive the Order in England after the Napoleonic wars, and was chancellor of the English Language for 43 years. He also helped found the West London Hospital at Hammersmith.