PRELIMINARY DISCOURSE. 



clofer connexion. * King William having confirmed 

 the Prefbyterian eftablifhment in Scotland, and re- 

 flored peace to a bleeding, impoverifhed country, 

 the genius of the nation again broke forth, the peo- 

 ple began to contemplate the benefits of trade, and 

 to refume the commercial fpirit of their anceftors. 

 The parliament, now principally compofed of the 

 whigs, having, in the abundance of their gratitude, 

 voted liberal fupplies (their then reduced circum- 

 ftances confidered) of men and money, towards 

 enabling king William to profecute his foreign wars, 

 that prince, highly fenfible of the obligation, ordered 

 the lord commiflioner of Scotland to declare in 

 parliament, <c That if the members found it would 

 tend to the advancement of trade, that an act fhould 

 be paired for the encouragement of fuch as fhould 

 acquire and eftablifh a plantation in Africa, Ameri- 

 ca, or any other part of the world where planta- 

 tions might be lawfully acquired ; that his ma- 

 jefly was willing to declare, he would grant to the 

 fubjects of this kingdom, in favour of thefe planta- 

 tions, fuch rights and privileges as he granted, in 

 like cafes, to the fubjects of his other dominions." 

 Many other flattering promifes were added, and the 

 lord prefident confirmed and enforced all that had 

 been faid by the commiffioner. 



Relying on thefe promifes, the Scottifh nobility 

 and gentry advanced 400,000!. towards the eflab- 

 liihment of a company for carrying on an Eaft and 

 Weft India trade, and 1 200 veterans, who had fer* 

 ved in king W T illiam's wars, were fent to effect a fet- 

 tlement on the peninfula of Darien, which lies be- 

 tween the northern and the fouthern oceans, and 

 was equally adapted for trading with both the Indies. 



The new colony were well received by the na- 

 tives, and matters began to wear a promifing aipect, 



* It is neceflary, for the purpofe of connecting the thread of the 

 aarrative, to repeat fome pafiages inierted in the work, under 

 the head of Annals of Scotland. 



4 when 



