ANNALS OF SCOTLAND. 75 



at the revolution, in 1688, when the prefbyterian 

 eftablifhment received a permanent fanction, and 

 peace being then finally reftored to a bleeding, 

 impoveri fhed nation, the people began to contem- 

 plate the benefits of trade, and to refume the com* 

 merclal fpirit of their anceftors. 



The parliament having, in the abundance of 

 their gratitude, voted liberal fupplies of men and 

 money, towards enabling king William to prole- 

 cute his military enterprizes ; that prince, highly 

 fenfible of the obligation, ordered the lord com- 

 mifiioner of Scotland to declare in parliament, 

 cc That if the members found it would tend to the 

 advancement of trade, that an aft Ihould be pafied 

 for the encouragement of fuch as fhould acquire 

 and eftablilh a plantation in Africa, America, or 

 any other part of. the world, where plantations, 

 might be lawfully acquired; and that his majefty 

 was willing to declare, he would grant to the iiib- 

 jects of this kingdom, in favour of thefe plantations, 

 fuch rights and privileges as he granted, in like 

 cafes, to the fubjects of his other dominions. " 

 Many other flattering promifes were added, and 

 the lord prefident confirmed and enforced all that 

 had been faid by the commiflioners. A dutiful 

 anfwer was voted to the king's letter. Two com- 

 mittees were appointed, a loyal one for the king- 

 dom, and a patriotic one for the encouragement of 

 trade. 



The latter, in confequence of powers that had 

 been granted to the commiflioner by the king, 

 prepared an act for eflablifhing a company trading 

 to Africa and the Indies ; with the very extenfive 

 privileges of planting colonies, building cities, 

 towns, and forts, in places uninhabited, or in 

 others, with the confent of the natives, exempting 

 the merchants, for twenty-one years, from all 

 Duties and impofitions, and rendering the trade ex- 

 cluiive. Letters patent were directed jt>y the parlia- 

 ment 



