PRELIMINARY DISCOURSE. xxxi 



were then much greater than before the union ; and 

 therefore they were of opinion, that if the union 

 was diflblved, the two nations would be better 

 friends/' 



Addrefies were now prepared in different parts 

 of Scotland againft the union, and the people were 

 proceeding to extremities, when a fecond attempt of 

 the pretender on thefe kingdoms, in 1715, di- 

 vided the people fo effectually as to fave this ob- 

 noxious treaty once more from impending diflb- 

 lution ; and from this time, we hear of no further 

 commotions excited by the union, though it was 

 generally confidered as a national grievance. 



In 1718, The merchants of Glafgow, who had 

 hitherto carried on fome trade with Virginia and 

 Maryland, by means of chartered fhips from 

 Whitehaven, now fitted out the firft vefTel of Glaf- 

 gow property, that had crofTed the Atlantic. 



In 1720, the Scots attempted to eftablifh a 

 fifhery company, and fome fubicriptions were made 

 for that purpofe; but as fuch company muft have 

 clafhed with the intereft of the Dutch, who were 

 then in high favour at court, the project fell to the 

 ground. 



Some faint eflays were made for eftablifhing 

 woollen and linen manufactures, but they were fo 

 poorly fupported, that they mifcarried. 



In 1725, the people thought themfelves totally 

 abandoned, and none were more difcontented than 

 the prefbyterians in the weft. They had expected 

 great things from their fteady attachment to revo- 

 lution principles, but found themfelves involved in 

 the general poverty and difcredit into which the 

 nation had fallen. Their want of trade and manu- 

 factures difabled them from paying the taxes then 

 exifting; and their difcontents being heightened 

 by the report of an additional malt tax, the popu- 

 lace of Glafgow, armed with clubs and (laves, rifled 

 the houfe of Mr, Campbell, their reprefentative in 

 4 parlia- 



