PRELIMINARY DISCOURSE. xix 



and mutually figned, on the 22d of July, and next 

 day prefented to her majefty, by the lord keeper, in 

 the name of the Englifh commiffioners ; while at 

 the fame time, a fealed copy of the inftrument was 

 likewife delivered by the lord chancellor of Scot- 

 land; and each made a ihort oration on the fubjecl:, 

 to which the queen returned a moft gracious reply. 

 That fame day me dictated an order of council, 

 that whofoever mould be concerned in any difcourfe 

 or libel, or in laying wagers relating to the union, 

 fhould be profecuted with the utmoil rigour of the 

 law. 



Still, however, the moft difficult part of the bufi- 

 nefs remained, namely, to obtain a ratification of 

 thofe article? by the parliament of Scotland. The 

 promoters of the union had concealed, with the 

 greateft care, the terms agreed on by the commif- 

 fioners; and nothing had tranfpired till the whole 

 treaty was at once laid before the parliament. No 

 fooner were the articles generally known, than the 

 whole kingdom was in the utmoft fermentation. 

 All ranks of people, however divided in civil or 

 religious fentiments, now united in one general 

 murmur. The nobility found themfelves degraded 

 in point of dignity and influence. The barons, or 

 gentlemen, were exafperated at a coalition, by which 

 their parliament was annihilated, and their credit 

 deftroyed. The people in general exclaimed, that 

 the independency of their nation had fallen a facri- 

 fice to treachery and corruption : They affirmed 

 that the obligation laid on the Scottifh members to 

 refide fo long at London, in their attendance on the 

 the Britim parliament, would drain Scotland of all 

 its money, impoverifh the members, and fubjecl: them 

 to the temptation of being corrupted. The trad- 

 ing part of the nation lamented the diflblution of 

 their India company ; and beheld with deep con- 

 cern, the taxes which this treaty laid upon the necef- 

 faries of life; the infinity of duties, cuftoms, and 



b 2 reftridions 



