ever so learned with respect to past experience in such matters, can possess." Without presuming therefore to express, or even to suggest or insinuate, anything like dissatisfaction with the conclusions arrived at by the jury with reference to the class of facts now before us, but more fully laid before them, we request the reader to imagine himself a juryman, under a sacred obligation to resist prejudice and guard against first impressions. [33] _Ante_, p. 483. [34] Starkie On Evidence, vol. i. p. 8, note G. 3d ed. It is proper to remind the reader that the very essence of the prisoner's pedigree, as he endeavoured to establish it before Lord Cockburn, consisted of proof that the Reverend John Alexander (John No. 3)[35] was the son of John of Antrim, (John No. 2;) and that this John No. 2 was the son of John of Gartmore (John No. 1.) "The whole of the case," said Lord Cockburn on the 3d December 1836, "depends upon _the genuineness of these two descents_."[36] And his judgment, as has been seen, demolished the case which had been set up before him, for he pronounced "that the evidence, whether considered in its separate parts or as a whole, was utterly insufficient."[37] Now, if the writings on the back of the map were genuine and authentic, they exactly established, beyond all possibility of cavilling, the case which it was the prisoner's object to establish; going, moreover, far beyond the exigencies springing out of the adverse judgment of Lord Cockburn. For, _first_, those writings were designed to demonstrate not only that John No. 3 was son of John No. 2, and the son of John No. 1; but also, _secondly_, that the ORIGINAL CHARTER OF NOVODAMUS, of the 9th December 1639, was bodily in existence in the archives of Canada in the year 1702--as indubitably attested by those who had seen and examined it, and made copies and extracts from it!--as testified by right reverend, noble, and royal personages, two very eminent bishops, a marchioness, and a king of France--all under their own hands. These singular writings, eight in number, were given _in extenso_ and _verbatim_, but translated into English in our last Number;[38] and we hope that the reader will take the trouble of referring to, and carefully reading them, before he proceeds further with the present paper. We promise him that his trouble shall be amply repaid, by disclosures which he will then, and then only, fully appreciate. [35] See the Pedigree, _ante_, p. 473. [36] Swinton, Append., p. xxiii. [37] _Id._, p. xxix. [38] _Ante_, p. 484-7.