PRELIMINARY DISCOURSE. xvii 



The articles fubject to duties on importation, 

 were chiefly French and Spanilh wines, which paid 

 i\. IQS. per ton; French brandy, tobacco, raifins, 

 currants, figs, fugar, foap, filks, embroidery, fringes, 

 laces and points ; ftockings, woollen cloth, (luffs, 

 flannels, fingrums, linen cloth, thread, &;c. 



Under thefe very favourable circumftances, the 

 Scots had all Europe for a market, and their exports 

 had generally exceeded their imports. The nation 

 was, upon the whole, fo well adapted both for in- 

 land and foreign trade, that, with moderate induf- 

 try, a fufficient competency might have reached 

 the inhabitants of every denomination of the peo- 

 ple, whether on the main land, or amongft the 

 iilands. 



Such were the profpec~b flill in referve for that 

 exliaufted nation, when king William endeavoured 

 to foften their refentment by refuming, with afli- 

 duity, the defirable projed of uniting the two king- 

 doms in one common intereft, a work which had 

 often been attempted by the Englifh monarchs, and 

 as often fruftrated, through the jealouiy of the 

 Scots, and their unfhaken attachment to their an- 

 tient royal line. 



In all the former propofals offered on that head, 

 by England, both nations were to remain free and 

 independent of one another ; each kingdom having 

 its own parliament, and fubjecl only to fuch taxes, 

 duties, and commercial regulations, as thofe parlia- 

 ments fhould judge expedient for the benefit of their 

 refpedtive ftates. Thefe were the terms held out 

 by Edward I. and III. and mod of their fucceflbrs ; 

 and it was under this idea, of a fcederal union, that 

 the Scots, though now reduced to the loweft abyfs 

 of national depreffion, were prevailed upon to fend 

 twenty commifiioners to London, who, with twenty- 

 three on the part of England, met at Whitehall, 

 on this great defign, in Oftober, 1702. 



b Queen 



