734 A. D. 1705. 



many, (though refumed during the lafl and preient expenfive wars) : 

 yet contemporary writers were not of that opinion, and they alfo una- 

 nimoufly obferve very truely, that the national or pubUc credit of Eng- 

 land was never before at fo high a pitch, nor more facredly maintained. 

 Nothing indeed feemed amifs, either with regard to our foreign com- 

 merce, or colonies, both which were in a profperoufly-increafing ftate, 

 as well as our home manufadures. 



1-706 The parliament enaded, that, after midfummer 1 706, any 



bankrupt who fhould not, within thirty days after public notice, fur- 

 render himfelf, and difcover his effects, fhould fufFer as a felon, unlefs 

 the lord-chancellor fhould enlarge the time. Five per cent was allowed 

 to the bankrupt, unlefs his eflate fhould not produce 8/ per pound to 

 his creditors. Bankrupts who have, within one year preceding their 

 bankruptcy, lofl L5 at once at any kind of game, or Lioo in all, re- 

 ceive no benefit by this aft. And thofe not difcovering all their eftates 

 were to fuffer as felons, without the benefit of clergy. [4 Ann. c 17.] 



The moft important tranfadion that ever happened in Great Britain 

 was finally and legally completed at the clofe of the year 1706, viz. a 

 confoiidating union of the two kingdoms of England and Scotland, 104 

 years after their crowns had been united in the perfon of King James I. 

 This great and happy union had been feveral times before attempt- 

 ed in different reigns, but had been as often obflruded by various ob- 

 jedions flarted, and not ferioufly and fteadily combated. Nothing cer- 

 tainly could be more obvious, than that it was the true interefl; of two 

 nations lolely inhabiting and poffefling the fame ifland, perfedly to 

 unite for their common defence agamft all attacks from the continent ; 

 for, by fuch a clofe union of hearts, as well as conflitution, a people fo 

 fituated, and fo warlike, and fo numerous, as to amount to about nine 

 millions of fouls, couM be always able to defend themfelves againft any 

 foreign attacks ; but, remaining disjointed, they had their different, and 

 often contrary, interefls to purfue, not only in matters of trade and 

 commerce, produc"t, and manufa(ftures,but even in friendfhip and affec- 

 tion, with regard to different nations on the continent. Religion, or 

 rather the mere external mode of it, alfo contributed its fhare in keep- 

 ing up the difference ; and what had, perhaps, the greatefl mfluence of 

 all, antienc, ill-judged, national prejudices on both fides ilill rem.ained 

 too ff rong to be ealily conquered. Finally, the great hereditary officers 

 of the fmaller kingdom, and the poffeffors of many other lucrative Hate 

 officcb there, which mufl neceffarily be funk upon fuch an incorporat- 

 ing union with England, had no fmall influence in obftruding it. But 

 an able minltry n both nations, more elpecially in England, joined to 

 a more moderate way of thinking than formerly, of many wife men in 

 both parliaments, among the commiilioners for this folemn treaty, at 

 length got the better of all obflrudions. And, as preparatory laws 

 were made in both kingdoms, the parUamenc of Scotland having firfl 



