PRELIMINARY DISCOURSE. xxiiir 



treaty, without attaching themfelves to either fide, 

 till the critical moment, which was to unite both 

 kingdoms in a bond of mutual friendfhip, or to 

 involve them in all the calamities of a civil and re^ 

 ligious war *. 



The Squadrone Volante^ by an almoft unexpected 

 movement, gave the Scottiih minifters a decided 

 victory, and all oppofition was now in vain. 



The articles of the treaty being ratified in par- 

 liament, with fome trifling variations, the duke of 

 Queenfberry, on the 25th of March, 1707, finally 

 dirlblved that antient affembly, and Scotland 

 ceafed to be a feparate independent kingdom. Its 

 monarchy was now blended with that of England, 

 and its parliament agreed to a reprefentation of 

 fixty-one members, forming a thirteenth part of 

 the grand legiflative body, and which then compre- 

 hended 772 members. The duke of Queenfberry, 

 having thus accomplifhed the great purpofe of the 

 court, fet out for England, where he was met, near 

 London, by above forty noblemen in their coaches, 

 and four hundred gentlemen on horfeback. 



The parliament being met, the queen in perfon 

 told both houfes, that the treaty of union, with 

 fome additions and alterations, was ratified by an 

 act of the Scottifh parliament : That me had or- 

 dered it to be laid before them, and hoped it would 

 meet with their concurrence and approbation. She 

 obferved, that now they had an opportunity of put- 

 ting the lail hand to a happy union of the two 



Of the whole equivalent, therefore, only . 40,000 was left for 

 national purpofes ; and ib loft to public fpirit, and to all fenfe of 

 honour, were the reprefentatives of Scotland, three or four no- 

 blemen excepted, that this balance was fuffered to'lie uielefs in the 

 Englifli treatury, till the year 1727, when the royal boroughs be- 

 gan to :;wake out of,their tfupor, and to apply the intereit of the 

 . 40,000 towards railing a little fund for improving the manu* 

 iactures and iiflierics of their country. 



* The Englifli troops abroad, and in Ireland, were ordered to 

 be in readincls to march when called upon. 



