BRITAIN. 



even expostulated with their sovereign in a personal 

 interview. The immediate consequence was, that the 

 queen dismissed Harley, dreading to be abandoned 

 by her other ministers ; but the boldness of the Whig 

 leaders secretly offended her, and promoted their own 

 downfall. 



The most important event of this reign, was the 

 union that took, place in 1706 between the two king- 

 doms of England nnd Scotland. This measure had 

 been strongly recommended by King William, almost 

 with his dying breath ; and, as early as 1702, com- 

 missioners from both kingdoms had met at Westmin- 

 ster, but such difficulties occurred, that the treaty 

 was then adjourned. It was resumed, however, 

 within a few years ; for, although the mutual jea- 

 lousies of the two nations interposed many obstacles, 

 it was of vital importance to both. To the present 

 Whig ministers of England, it was desirable, as a 

 matter of party, for the easier management of Scot- 

 land. It was recommended, however, by nobler 

 prospects of advantage, in securing the Protestant 

 succession ; which, although settled by the English 

 parliament, was still endangered in Scotland by va- 

 rious causes. The Jacobites of Scotland were nu- 

 merous : they spoke in Parliament in open opposi- 

 tion to government ; and they derived strength by 

 their pretences to patriotism, as well as by acting in 

 connection with a really patriotic body in Scotland, 

 those Whigs who had promoted the revolution, but 

 who saw with indignation the interests of their coun- 

 try made subservient to those of England. Among 

 these, the most extinguished was Fletcher of Sal- 

 ton, a man of high, untainted principles, the sworn 

 enemy of arbitrary power, attached to the Protes- 

 tant succession, but disdaining to call even that suc- 

 cession a blessing ; while the trade of Scotland was 

 shackled, her statesmen the venal tools of an English 

 cabinet, and her whole existence made dependent 

 on England. By the Country Party in the Scottish 

 parliament, an act was passed, which menaced the 

 English with a separate succession, by declaring that 

 the same king should not succeed to the throne of 

 Scotland after her present majesty, unless such con- 

 ditions of government were previously framed as 

 should secure from English influence the honour and 

 independence, the religion, liberty, and trade of 

 Scotland. Godolphin and the Whigs are said to have 

 advised the queen to confirm this high- spirited act 

 of the Scottish parliament, in order to alarm the 

 English with the boldness of their designs, and there- 

 by prepare them for an union which should give 

 England an equivalent for their concession. When 

 the threat of admitting a separate crown was once 

 uttered by Scotland, an union was evidently neces- 

 sary to quiet the mutual alarms of the two nations. 

 The first important advantage which England gain- 

 ed in the prjvious treaty, was by the concession of 

 the Scottish parliament, that the queen, or, in other 

 words, the English ministry, should nominate the 

 commissioners. These were chosen with an artful 

 admixture of each party, that their concurrence in 

 the union which was previously secured might abate 

 the opposition of their friends in parliament. On the 

 16th of April 1706, the commissioners for both king- 

 doms met in the Cockpit, near Whitehall. The 



ANNE. 

 1707. 



Scotch nation were not averse from a federal union, Britain. 

 and their commissioners proposed it in place of an 

 incorporating union, rather to gain credit with tlicir 

 countrymen than from any hopes that the proposal 

 would succeed. On the 22d of July, however, the 

 terms of an entire union were mutually signed, and 

 next day presented to her majesty at St James's. By 

 these it was agreed that the two kingdoms should 

 for ever be subject to one crown and parliament ; 

 should enjoy the same privileges, and bu subject t'. 

 the same regulations in trade ; and (with a few ex- 

 ceptions in favour of Scotland) to the same taxes, 

 customs, and excise. An equivalent of 398,000 

 was to be paid to Scotland, by England, for her cus- 

 toms and excise, so far as these were -appropriated to 

 the discharge of her national debt ; but the loan was 

 to be restored, with interest, in 15 years. Forty-five 

 commoners and sixteen peers were to form the repre- 

 sentation of Scotland in parliament. The same 

 weights and measures were appointed, and the same 

 seal for public transactions ; the laws of Scotland, 

 respecting public and private rights, were preserved, 

 with this difference, that the former might be reduced 

 to an uniformity through the united kingdom ; but 

 the latter were to receive no alteration, unless for the 

 evident benefit of the subject. These terms were di- 

 gested in 29 articles, for the consideration of each 

 parliament ; and the first of May 1707 was fixed for 

 the commencement of the union. 



The Scotch, though not averse from a federal union, Outrages 

 were, throughout all ranks, averse from an incorpora- in Scotland 

 tion. When, on the opening of their parliament by '" conse- 

 the queen's commissioner the Duke of Queensberry, 9" enc< : 

 the terms of the treaty were revealed, the nation pass- 

 ed from a deep and anxious suspense to an universal 

 burst of indignation at the surrender of the indepen- 

 dence and sovereignty of the ancient kingdom. Mul- 

 titudes resorted from the country to the capital ; the 

 rage and numbers of the tumultuous people increased 

 as they ranged the streets in quest of the commission- 

 ers, whom they accused of betraying their country ; 

 and nothing but concert and a leader were wanting 

 to overturn the parliament, together with the union. 

 In vain the privy council of Edinburgh issued a pro- 

 clamation against riots, commanding all persons ta 

 retire at beat of drum. The Duke of Queensberry, 

 through double lines of horse and foot, was obliged 

 to pass along the streets at full gallop, amidst the 

 curses and reproaches of the people, who pelted his 

 guards, even wounded some of his friends who at- 

 tended him in his coach. Insurrections, in arms, 

 were even projected in many parts of Scotland, which 

 were only disappointed by the treachery of the lead- 

 ers. So outrageous was the capital, so numerous 

 the petitions from all parts, and so alarming tiie ap- 

 pearance of Scotland, that the commissioner and the 

 chancellor wished to adjourn the parliament, till the 

 ferment should subside; but Stair, Godolphin, and the 

 other Whigs, who saw that delay would ruin the bu- 

 siness, urged them to perseverance, and were deter- 

 mined to maintain it by force of arms, promising sup- 

 plies of troops from England, Ireland, or even Flan- 

 ders, if they should be required. The secret history 

 of the intrigues and corruption that produced the 

 union, has been lost, or industriously suppressed ; 



3 



