98 Tse Union oF 1707 In DUMFRIESSHIRE. 
the Treaty, with the Duke of Queensberry occupying the throne 
as Lord High Commissioner for Queen Anne, and the Earl of 
Seafield as Lord Chancellor, or Premier as we now should call 
him. The Scots Parliament sat as one House, and consisted of 
the greater barons or nobility, the Commissioners for the Shires, 
who were elected by the smaller barons and freeholders, and the 
Commissioners for the Burghs. Dumfriesshire returned four 
members—Sir John Johnstone of Westerhall; William Douglas 
of Dornock ; John Sharp of Hoddom; and Alexander Fergusson 
of Isle. The royal burghs of Dumfries, Annan, Lochmaben, 
and Sanquhar each returned one member, who were Provost 
Robert Johnstone for Dumfries; William Johnstone for Annan; 
John Carruthers for Lochmaben; and William Alves for San- 
quhar. It is well to explain here that the title “ Provost,’’ as 
applied to Robert Johnstone, is a little misleading; he had 
occupied the civic chair, and in courtesy was still accorded the 
title on the principle of “ Ance a Provost ay my ‘ Lord,’ ’’ and so 
Provost Johnstone we will continue to call him. On the opening 
day a letter was read from the Queen, dealing mainly with the 
Union, and speeches by the Queen’s Commission and the Lord 
Chancellor followed thereon. Her Majesty’s letter and these 
speeches were ordered to be printed. The Articles of Union 
were also “ordered to be printed, and copies to be delivered to 
Members of Parliament.’’ 
FEELING IN DUMFRIESSHIRE AT THE TIME. 
A few days later Provost Johnstone writes to the then 
Provost of Dumfries, William Copland of Colliston, enclosing a 
copy of each of these prints, and requests the views of the Town 
Council thereon. These were passed round the members for 
perusal, and were considered at a meeting of Council held on 
14th October, when the following resolution was arrived at:— 
“The Magistrates and Council of this burgh did unanimously 
consider that the said Articles are not fully and clearly under- 
stood by them, and therefore that they cannot give their said 
representative any positive instructions thereanent. In regard 
they have not seen the minutes of the said Commissioners of the 
Union nor the debates, reasonings, and motives that induced the 
said Commissioners to agree unto the said Articles. But withall 
the Council recommends to their said representative to be well 
