The Birthplace and Parentage of William Paterson, founder of the
Bank of England and projector of the Darien Scheme. By W. Pagan, F.S.A. (W. P. Nimmo.)—There was a tradition but no evidence that Paterson, the founder of the Bank of England, was born at Skipmire in the parish of Traitflatt or Tinwald, Dumfriesshire, but no proof of it. In his will, however, dated 1st July, 1718, he gives a legacy to his sister Elizabeth, married to John Paterson, jun., of Kinharvey. Mr. Pagan has found in the Particular Register of Sasine.s, at Dumfries, two docu- ments dated 31st May, 1702, which prove that John Paterson, jun., of Kinharvey, married Bethia Paterson, daughter of John Paterson of Skip- mire and Bethia his wife. Assuming that Bethia is the same name as Elizabeth, it of course follows that William Patterson was the son of John Paterson of Skipmire and %this his wife. Mr. Pagan has also found some tombstones which show that there were many Patersons in Skipmire in the sixteenth century. These facts, important as far as they go, are by the addition of an immense amount of irrelevant matter of no interest whatever, such as an essay on the origin of the writer's own name, swollen out into a volume of 146 pages. The art of book- making can no farther go.
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