PRELIMINARY DISCOURSE. xxi 



Campbells ? Where are the peers, and the batons, 

 once the bulwark of the nation ? Shall we yield up 

 the fovereignty and independence of our country, 

 when we are commanded, by thofe we rcprefent, 

 to preferve the fame, and allured of tneir afliftance 

 to fupport us?" 



The Lord Belhaven enumerated the miferies 

 which would attend the union, in a pathetic fpeech 

 that drew tears from the audience, and is at this 

 day looked upon as a prophecy by many of the Scot- 

 tilh nation. 



Addrefles againft the treaty were prefented to 

 parliament by the convention of the royal boroughs, 

 the commifiioners of the general aflembly, the 

 company trading to Africa and the Indies, as well 

 as from fhires, ilewartries, boroughs, towns, and 

 parifhes, without diftinction of whig or tory, epif- 

 copalian or prefbyterian. 



While the oppofition raged within doors, the 

 refentments of the people rofe to tranfports of fury, 

 and revenge. The more rigid prefbyterians recon- 

 ciled themfelves to the epifcopalians and the ca- 

 valiers; they chofe officers, formed themfelves into 

 regiments, provided horfes, arms, and ammunition, 

 burnt the articles of union, juftified their conduct 

 in a public declaration, and reiblved to take the 

 route to Edinburgh, and diflblve the parliament. 



During this combuftion, the privy council ifTued 

 a proclamation againil riots, commanding all per- 

 ions to retire from the ftreets whenever the drum 

 fhould beat ; ordering the guards to fire on thofe 

 who fhould difobey this command, and indemni- 

 fying them from all profecution for maiming or 

 flaying the lieges. Notwithstanding thefe precau- 

 tions of government, the duke of Quenfberry, 

 though guarded by double lines of horfe and foot, 

 was obliged to pafs through the ftreets at full gallop, 

 amidft the curies and imprecations of the people, 

 b 3 who 



