Tue Union or 1707 1n DUMFRIESSHIRE. 109 
to these addresses to assemble in Edinburgh for the purpose of 
“ waiting the effect of said addresses, and of knowing what return 
the Parliament would make.’’ Parliament replied on 27th 
December with a Proclamation “against all such meetings and 
gatherings of the subjects as are unwarrantable and contrair to 
law,’’ and the proposed assemblage was thereby prevented. 
Thus in one way or another outside opposition was met and 
checkmated. 
Votes oF LocaL MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT. 
There was, however, a strong minority in Parliament itself 
against the Union, and when Parliament met on 3rd October the 
Ministry could not count on a majority of more than twelve. It 
was to the statesmanship of the Duke of Queensberry and the 
Earl of Seafield, assisted by those princes of debate, the Earl of 
Stair, the Earl of Roxburgh, and the Duke of Argyll, that the 
accomplishment of the Union was largely due. The general 
debate upon the Treaty occupied the whole of October, and the 
national Whig party, or “ Squadrone ’”’ as they were called, ulti- 
mately declared in its favour, which practically placed the matter 
beyond doubt. On 2nd November the Ist Article was again 
read, and two days later it was approved by a majority of 116 to 
83, and the subsequent divisions on the other Articles show that 
these numbers represented practically the full strength of both 
parties. What of the votes of our local members? Of the 
county members, Sir John Johnstone and William Douglas were 
the most regular attenders, and they voted persistently in favour 
of the Articles of the Treaty of Union. John Sharp and Alex- 
ander Fergusson were not so regular in attendance, but when 
present they voted against the Treaty. It will therefore be 
seen that Sir John Johnstone and William Douglas disregarded 
the instructions of their constituents, while John Sharp and Alex- 
ander Fergusson acted in accordance therewith ; and I am led to 
understand that at a meeting held afterwards in Dumfries Mr 
Fergusson was publicly thanked for his opposition to the Union, 
in which vote of thanks Mr Sharp would also be included in all 
likelihood. In regard to the burgh members, Provost Johnstone, 
the member for Dumfries, has been represented as a fierce 
antagonist to the Union; there was, after the manner of the times 
of paying fulsome compliments to the deceased, inscribed upon 
