SIE WILLIAM ALEXANDEE. 81 



Master of Requests. In 1631 lie was made an Extraordinary Judge in the Court of Session. 

 In 1633 he was advanced a step in the peerage, being appointed Earl of Stirling and 

 Viscount Canada, to which titles was added in 1639 that of Earl of Dovan. He died in 

 London in 1640. 



The chief point of interest for us in his life, however, is the grant which he obtained 

 of land in America, and his attempt at colonization there. To ai^preciate properly this 

 movement we must keep in view the fact, which our colonial historians have largely 

 overlooked, that the movement was entirely a Scottish one. Though the crowns of 

 England and Scotland were upon one head, the kingdoms and peoples were still separate, 

 their governments distinct, and their interests different and sometimes regarded as 

 antagonistic. In this case the whole proceedings were conducted by Scottish men, under 

 the authority of their King as ruler of Scotland. In this connection we must also notice 

 the circumstances of the country at the time. For a length of time Scotsmen had found 

 their country too narrow for them ; and, repelled by its stubborn soil, its severe climate 

 and the hard conditions of life there, had already become a by-word for seeking fame and 

 fortune in more genial regions to the south.' 



Several pursuits presented openings for their ambition. Prominent among them 

 was the profession of Arms. To daring souls military employment on the continent 

 presented powerful attractions. Strong hands and stout hearts were wanted there, and 

 vast nvimbers of brave and adventurous men, sometimes singly or in small groups, at 

 other times in whole regiments or brigades, levied by their chieftains, left Scotland in 

 pursuit of honour or gain, and took service under the banners of the princes, who were 

 warring for supremacy on the continent. Another field was letters, and the choice of the 

 Scottish youth thronged the continental universities, in which sometimes their countrymen 

 held distinguished positions as teachers. 



At this time, however, with the progress of civilization, the Scot found largely 

 increased attractions in commerce, for which he was eA'^en then regarded as having a 

 natural aptitude. From a very early period Scotland had had considerable traffic with 

 foreign countries. At the time of the union of the English and Scottish crowns it had a 

 profitable trade with France, Holland, G-ermany and Scandinavia. Even countries so 

 distant as Poland, Russia and other territories to the west, whose inhabitants were yet 

 unskilled in art, had become the field of Scottish enterprise.' All this was stimulated by 



' In a work called " The Golden Fleece," by Dr. Yaugban, tbe author gives the following of what in our day 

 would be called an interview with Sir William : 



'' The native and genuine salt of tbe earth, which fructified our Cornfields with so many infinite ploughings 

 of our Ance^tors and ours, is spent; nor will Lime or IMarle ever recover them to their pristine and antient vigour 

 and fertility. English Cloth, which heretofore was dignified with the title of the Golden Fleece, grows out of 

 request — yea (and with inward grief I speak it), in contempt also among the owners and Inhabitants themselves. 

 Our Tin, Lead and Coal Mines begin to fail. Our Woods, which Nature proiluced, and our Fathers left us for 

 firing, for reparations of decayed Houses, Ploughs and Shipping, are lately wasted by the Covetousness of a few 

 Ironmasters. What then remains in the famous Isle ? except we relieve our wants by Navigation, and these 

 must be by Fishing by hook or by crook, by Letters of Mart, by way of reprisals or revenge, or else by Traffick 

 and Commerce with other Nations besides Spaniards " 



-Sir William, in his memorial to the King applying for a grant of land in America, says that " a great 

 number of Scotch families had latelj' emigrated to Poland, Sweden and Russia, and that it would be equally 

 beneficial to the interests of the kingdom, and to the individuals themselves, if they were permitted to settle this 

 valuable and fertile portion of His Majesty's dominions." 



Sec. n., 1892. 11. 



