APPENDIX. 47 



could entirely exempt from cenfure. The Lord Advocate toTp^efiL,. 

 Ihared with the reft of his party in the cenfure of thofe who i>^^>^^^. 

 followed an oppofite plan of politics ; but of him it may cer- 

 tainly with truth be affirmed, that in no inftance was he ever 

 known to fwerve from his principles, or to ad a part m which 

 he had not the countenance of many of the firmeft tnends to 

 the intereft of their country. 



The oppofitlon which the Lord Advocate gave to the efta- 

 blilhment of a Militia in Scotland, afforded a topic of blame to 

 a great party in this country who warmly fupported that mea- 

 fure. But when the queftion is difpaffionately viewed, it wiU 

 appear to be one of thofe doubtful points, on which the wifeft 

 men and the beft patriots may entertain oppofite opinions. 



The apprehenfion of an invafion from France, which, from 

 the commencement of the war in 1756, had been repeatedly 

 threatened upon the fouthern coafts of the ifland, '^^'f^'^'^ 

 the paffing of various afts of the LegiHature, for the eftabliOi- 

 ment and regulation of the militia forces through the feveral 

 counties of England. In the beginning of the year 1760, the 

 fame apprehenfion had extended to Scotland. The fmall arma- ■ 

 ment under Thurot committing a(5ls of depredation on the 

 weftern coafts with perfed impunity, began to excite a very 

 alarming fenfe of the defencelefs fituation of the country. Meet- 

 ings were held in many of the counties, and refolutions pafTed 

 for applying to Parhament to procure the eftablilhment of a 

 militia in Scotland, upon a fimilar plan with that which now 

 fubfifted in England. The political emergency appeared the 

 fame through the whole kingdom. The Scots were alike fenfi- 

 ble to the danger of their lives and properties as their neigh- 

 bours of the fouth. They juftly confidered themfelves as 

 ftanding, hy t\i& Treaty of Union, on an equal footing with the 

 Englifti, with regard to all the privileges of Britifh fubjeds ; and 

 while the inhabitants of one part of the ifland were furniflied 



with 



