Transactions. 57 



Parliaments were taking measures for arming against each other. 

 The bond through the Crown was proving on trial to be no bond 

 at all. The King, surrounded by English Ministers, and swayed 

 by the feelings of the English capital, had responded cordially to 

 the most outrageous expressions of hostility against the Scots 

 on the part of the English House of Commons ; nay, more, he 

 had used his prerogative in the same sense, dismissing his Scottish 

 Ministers, who had the confidence of the nation, because they pro- 

 moted the trade and commerce of their own country. The nearer, 

 the wealthier, and the more powerful of the two carried the day. 

 William saw that the only way to put an end to the discord be- 

 tween the two nations was their legislative union, but all attempts 

 to bring it about during his reign were thwarted by English 

 jealousy, and the first Commission appointed when Anne came to 

 the throne did nothing, because the English Commissioners Avould 

 not grant the essential point of free trade with Scotland. Tilings 

 went, on fi'om bad to worse. At last a message was sent from 

 the Queen to the Scottish Parliament, pointing out the dangt-rs 

 to the Protestant succession and from foreign enemies that must 

 arise from the increasing estrangement between the two king- 

 doms, and promised to agree to conditions by which such injuries 

 as the attack on the Darien undertaking should cease. An 

 equitable arrangement was ultimately arrived at, and the union 

 of the Legislatures took place. The efiect of this settlement, the 

 Duke goes on to say, was immediate and enormous. Scotsmen 

 not only gained a full share in the expanding commerce of the 

 world, hut shot ahead of all rivals and competitors in the race of 

 industry and of maritime activity. Agriculture was at this time 

 in the same backward state in which it had been for centuries ; 

 but when the necessary capital had been acquired the improve- 

 ment of the soil went forward at a constantly accelerated pace. 

 ''No such transformation," justly observes his Grace, "has taken 

 place within so short a space, unless in the case of savage lands 

 suddenly brought under the dominion of civilization." The 

 progress at first indeed was slow and gradual. The Revolution 

 cliecked misgovernment, but the capital had to be gathered, and 

 it was not till more than half a century had elapsed that the 

 torrent of improvement which had been slowly accumulating 

 burst over the land. It was as — 



" When spring has been delayed by winds and rains, 

 And, coining with a burst, comes with a show, 

 Bhie all above, and basking green below." S 



