THE SETON PEERAGE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20300, 6 July 1929, Page 15

THE SETON PEERAGE.

COMMITTEE REJECT CLAIM.

ONE DISSENTIENT OPINION. [from our own correspondent.] LONDON, May 3. The claim of Sir Bruce Gordon Seton, Bart-., of Abercorn, to tho title of Lord Gordon in the peerage of Scotland was rejected by tho Committee for Privileges of the House of Lords. The Earl of Donoughmore was in the chair. Tho members present were the Duko of Buccleuch, the Earl of Clarendon, Viscount Dunedin, Lord Askwith, Lord Darling, and Lord Hylton. Lord Dunedin dissented from the view of liis fellow-members, and in a statement which took him nearly 40 minutes to read expressed tho opinion that the claim should succeed. Sir Bruce's claim, which was based on a copy of a Papal Bull, stated to have been found in the Vatican Library, was opposed by . the Marquis of Iluntly. There was no claim to tho Huntly peerage. Lord Askwith said that Sir Bruce's claim must bo based on definite proof. No proof had been given. No precipe, charter, patent, record of a formality, or oven of a ceremonial, was produced. Tho committee, before whom arguments were heard and evidence submitted ior nine days, decided to report to the House of Lords: "That it has not been proved to the satisfaction of the committee that either Alexander Seton beforo 1429, or his son, afterwards created Earl of Huntlv, held any hereditary peerage of Gordon." The Earl of Donoughmore stated that Lord Phillimore, who had died sineo the committee last dealt with the case, had informed hirn that it was his intention to write a judgment against the claim. Tho result was, therefore, that of the eight members of the committee who had heard the case seven were of opinion that tho claim failed.