52 OF GENERAL NATURALIZATION. 



therefore in this point, which is conjectural, experi 

 ence is the best guide ; for the time past is a pattern 

 of the time to come. I think no man doubteth, 

 Mr. Speaker, but his majesty s first coming in was as 

 the greatest spring-tide for the confluence and en 

 trance of that nation. Now I would fain understand, 

 in these four years space, and in the fulness and 

 strength of the current and tide, how many families 

 of Scotchmen are planted in the cities, boroughs, and 

 towns of this kingdom ; for I do assure myself, that, 

 more than some persons of quality about his majesty s 

 person here at court, and in London, and some other 

 inferior persons, that have a dependence upon them, 

 the return and certificate, if such a survey should be 

 made, would be of a number extremely small : I re 

 port me to all your private knowledges of the places 

 where you inhabit. 



Now, Mr. Speaker, as I said, &quot; Si in ligno viridi 

 &quot; ita fit, quid fiet in arido ?&quot; I am sure there will be 

 no more such spring-tides. But you will tell me of 

 a multitude of families of the Scotish nation in 

 Polonia; and if they multiply in a country so far off, 

 how much more here at hand? For that, Mr. 

 Speaker, you must impute it of necessity to some 

 special accident of time and place that draws them 

 thither : for you see plainly before your eyes, that in 

 Germany, which is much nearer, and in France, 

 where they are invited with privileges, and with this 

 very privilege of naturalization, yet no such number 

 can be found : so as it cannot either be nearness of 

 place, or privilege of person, that is the cause. But 



