Legal Cases.- Richardson (Robert) A State of the Evidence in the Cause between His Grace the Duke of Hamilton...and Archibald Douglas..., first edition, presentation copy from the author inscribed at head of title, a few contemporary ink annotations, title repaired at upper outer corner not affecting text, last few leaves stained, contemporary mottled calf, rubbed, rebacked, corners repaired, C.Bathurst, 1769 § [Plowden (Francis)] The Case of the Earl of Newburgh, and Lord Viscount Kinnaird, 1783; Reasons for the late Earl of Newburgh's Application to Parliament, with an Appendix comprising the Case of the Present Earl, [1786], together 2 works in 1 vol., first editions, the first a little spotted and soiled, modern cloth § [Ker (John, fan-painter)] The Breach of Promise; or, Mis-led Nobleman, by Artful Teachers; or, Honor Sold for the Sake of a Trifle, first edition, title soiled, old cloth-backed boards, stained at edges, 1814; and 2 others on cases of bigamy and legitimacy, v.s. (5)*** The first is a particularly influential analysis of the enormous quantity of evidence produced in the famous society legal case of Hamilton v Douglas - the so-called Douglas cause which turned on the legitimacy and true parentage of Archibald Douglas (1748-1827) and his claim, launched in 1761, to the extensive Douglas estates. The case itself lasted some seven years, being finally resolved in Douglas's favour by the House of Lords in early 1769.The two Plowden pamphlets were a result of the 1715 Jacobite rebellion and the execution in 1716 of James Radcliffe, the 3rd Earl of Derwentwater, and the confiscation of Jacobite estates. Charles Radcliffe (1693-1740), beheaded after the 1745 rebellion, left a son and heir, James Bartholomew Radcliffe (1725-1786), who became third Earl of Newburgh and was granted £30,000 from the Derwentwater estates. The author, Francis Peter Plowden (1749-1829), was a Roman Catholic historian and lawyer. The second item in the volume is scarce with ESTC recording only 4 UK copies (BL, Bodleian, & 2 copies in Senate House Library).The final item is an interesting but rather sad case of a "Mr John Ker, of Linton, one of the Roxburgh family, grandson of Andrew Ker, who was Lieutenant in the Coldstream Regiment of Guards in George the First's reign....Andrew Ker unfortunately lost his estates at cards, which left his children unprovided for....". As a result of this disaster John Ker had come to an understanding that he would be helped by the Duke and Duchess of Roxburgh having "very kindly received me, as a branch of that family". In fact things went disastrously wrong. The present rare pamphlet sets out the situation from Ker's point of view together with transcripts of correspondence. It had all the signs of a friendly, even intimate, relationship with a mutual exchange of social contacts. Library Hub lists only 2 copies (BL & National Library of Scotland).