PRELIMINARY DISCOURSE. be 



the impotent meafures recommended and propofed to 

 be brought forward, as the moft effedtual means 

 of extending and edabliihing thefe fifheries, as 

 well as the relief of the Highlands, that little is to 

 be expedted on the principle of Utility to England, I 

 fhalFtherefore take up the fubject on another ground, 

 which, for obvious reafons, I had hitherto evaded, 

 viz. National Juftice> towards the lefTer country, whofe 

 cafe hath at no time been fairly dated, and whofe 

 murrnurings, though unknown to theEnglifh nation, 

 are become truly ferious. 



It is necefTary on this head, to take a retrofpeclive 

 view of the Britifh hiftory, from the aera which gave 

 rife to the famous flruggle for conqueft on one fide, 

 and for freedom on the other, towards the clofe of 

 the i jth century. 



Alexander III. king of Scotland, who, as Mr. 

 Hume obferves, probably inherited, after a period of 

 800 years, and through a fucceffion of males, the 

 fceptre of all the Scottilh princes who had governed 

 the nation fmce the departure of the Romans, loft 

 his life in 1285, while hunting, without leaving any 

 male iflue, and without any defendants except 

 Margaret his grandaughter, who, though an infant 

 and a female, had, through her grandfather's care, 

 been recognized fucceflbr, by the dates of Scotland. 

 Edward I. of England, one of the mod ambitious, 

 politic, and accomplifhed monarchs of the age, and 

 whofe whole reign was fpent in fchemes of conqued, 

 feeing Scotland without a head, immediately laid 

 hold of the favourable opportunity, of annexing that 

 kingdom to his already extenfive dominions, by 

 marriage, or more rough means, as circumftances 

 might require. He began this great deiign with a 

 propofal of marriage betweenr his fon Edward, and 

 the young heirefs of the Scottilh throne, which, not- 

 withdanding any fufpicions from this alliance on the 

 part of Scotland, received the fan&ion of the re- 

 gency, but on fuch terms, and with fuch precaution, 



reflecting 



