xxvi PRELIMINARY DISCOURSE. 



Operating upon the minds of the whigs in both 

 kingdoms, united them in fentiments, and contri- 

 buted effentially to that great, defirable, and ne- 

 ceflary event, of a political union between two nations 

 formed by nature, and various concurrent circum- 

 fiances, to be one people. 



The majority of both kingdoms were, however, 

 of opinion, that the treaty would produce violent 

 convulfions, or at beft prove ineffectual ; but the 

 experience of feventy-feven years hath fhewn the 

 contrary : in many refpects the union hath been pro- 

 ductive of the mod happy confequences, and a 

 common blefTmg to the whole ifland. 



It fecured the conftitution, religion, and laws, 

 on the moft permanent foundation , and it gave a 

 vigour to the Britilh arms by fea and land, which 

 attracts the admiration of mankind in every quarter 

 of the world. 



The infnrmountable obftacles to an effectual 

 permanent union, which in the opinion of fome 

 members, would arife from the different ecclefi- 

 aftical eftablifhments and forms of law, confirmed 

 to both countries by the treaty, have vanifhed in 

 the experiment. No inconveniency hath been felt, 

 or injury fuftained therefrom. On the contrary, 

 the conftitution and laws of Scotland feem to be 

 approximating gradually to thofe of England. 



Vaffallage, that difgrace to hurrianity, hath been 

 partly abolilhed at the defire of the beft patriots of 

 Scotland ; and many beneficial amendments have 

 been made in the mercantile and bankrupt laws> at 

 the joint reqneft of the traders in both kingdoms. 



Though no conformity is likely to take place be- 

 tween the ecclefiaftical eftablilliments of England 

 and Scotland, the religious controverfies, which for- 

 merly agitated both nations, have quietly fubfided. 

 When the revolution put an end to compulfory 

 meafures, and pretended fuperiority, all acrimony 

 ceafed 5 the phrenzy of religious intolerancy gra- 

 dually 



