PRELIMINARY DISCOURSE. xxv 



had been fo loud as to fill the whole kingdom ; and 

 fo bold as to reach to even the doors of the parlia- 

 ment : That the parliament itfelf had fufpended 

 their beloved claufe in the aft of fecurity for arming 

 the people : That the government had ifiued a 

 proclamation, pardoning all (laughter, blpodfhed, 

 and maiming committed upon thofe who fhould 

 be found in tumults. From thefe circumftances he 

 concluded, that the Scottifh nation was averfe to 

 an incorporating union, which he looked upon as 

 one of the moft dangerous experiments to both 

 kingdoms. 



Thefe, and fimilar arguments and objections, were 

 ably anfwered by a great majority in both houfes, 

 among whom were, the lords Godolphin, Sun- 

 derland, Wharton, Townfhend, Hallifax, and 

 Somers -, the bifhops of Oxford, Norwich, and 

 Sarum : and the two independent nations of England 

 and Scotland, were, on the ift day of May, 1707, 

 unalterably united, under the name of The United 

 Kingdom of Great Britain. 



The whigs promoted the treaty with fuch zeal, 

 that it made its way through both houfes with the 

 greatefl difpatch : and when it received the royal 

 afTent, the queen exprefled the higheft fatisfaction. 

 She faid, cc fhe did not doubt but it would be re- 

 membered and fpoke of hereafter, to the honour of 

 thofe who had been inftrumental in bringing it to 

 fuch a happy conclufion. She defired that her 

 fubjedts of both kingdoms fhould, from hencefor- 

 ward, behave with all poflible refpect and kindnefs 

 towards one another, that fo it might appear to all 

 the world they had hearts difpofed to become one 

 people." 



The id of May was appointed as a day of pub- 

 lic thankfgiving ; and congratulatory addrefTes were 

 lent up from all parts of England, excepting the 

 univerfity of Oxford. The Scots were wholly filent 

 on the occafion. 



Thus, the apprehenfions of a popifh fuccefiion, 



operating 



