to Africa and the Indies do continue after [ answered to Scotland for such other parts the union, or if the privileges of that com- of the English debts as that kingdom may pany be judged inconvenient for the trade hereafter become liable to pay by reason of of the united kingdom, that the private the union. The lords commissioners for rights of the said company in Scotland be England do propose, for the further and purchased from the said proprietors; the more effectual answering the several ends lords commissioners for England, in answer hereafter mentioned and proposed, that thereto, say they are of opinion, that the from and after the union the whole increase continuance of that company is inconsistent of the revenue of customs and excises upon with the good of trade in the united king- excisable liquors in Scotland, over and dom, and consequently against the interest above what the said revenues do now yield of Great Britain, and therefore they insist shall go and be applied, for the term of that it ought to be determined. But the seven years, to the uses hereafter mentioned. lords commissioners for England being sen- And upon the said agreements and proposal sible that the misfortunes of that company the lords commissioners for England do have been the occasion of misunderstandings further purpose, that her majesty be emand unkindnesses between the two king- powered to appoint commissioners, who shall doms; and thinking it to be above all be accountable to the parliament of Great things desirable, that upon the union of the Britain, for disposing the said sum of kingdoms, the subjects of both may be en- £398,085 10s. to be granted as aforesaid, tirely united in affection, do therefore wish and also of all other monies which shall that regard may be had to the expenses and arise upon the agreements and proposal aforelosses of the particular members of the said said, to the purposes following:-1. That company in the manner hereafter mentioned; out of the said sum of £398,085 10s. all the and they hope when the lords commissioners public debts of the kingdom of Scotland, for Scotland have considered how generally and also the capital stock or fund of the that undertaking was entered upon in Scot- African and Indian company of Scotland, land, and consequently how universal that together with the interest for the said loss was, they will readily agree to the pro- capital stock, after the rate of five per cent. posal. The lords commissioners for Eng- per annum, from the respective times of land do also think it of much consequence payment thereof, shall be paid, and that to England, that it should be agreed in this immediately upon such payment of the said treaty after what manner the equivalent capital stock and interest, the said com(which will amount to a great sum payable pany shall be dissolved and shall cease; upon and after the union) is to be paid and provided nevertheless, that from the time applied; and being extremely desirous to of passing the act for raising the said bring the treaty to a speedy conclusion, and sum of £398,085 10s. the said company in order to that, as soon as may be, to settle shall neither trade nor give license to trade. and fix the matter of the equivalent and the The lords commissioners for England do application thereof, do agree as follows, and further propose, that after payment of the do also make the following proposals to said public debts, and refunding the said the lords commissioners for Scotland :- capital stock in manner aforesaid, the The lords commissioners for England do overplus of the said sum of £398,085 10s. agree, that upon completing the union, and also the whole improvement of the the said sum of £398,085 10s. being revenue of customs and excises upon exagreed upon as the equivalent for Scot- cisable liquors (above the present value), land, shall be granted to her majesty which shall arise during the term of seven for that use. The lords commissioners years from the commencement of the union for England do also agree, that upon the as aforesaid, together with the equivaaccount to be kept as aforesaid, of the im- lent which shall become due upon account provement of the revenue of customs and excises upon excisable liquors in Scotland after the union, there shall be answered to Scotland an equivalent in proportion to such part of the said increase as shall be applicable to the payment of the debts of England. The lords commissioners for England do also agree, that an equivalent shall be

of the improvement of the customs and excises on liquors in Scotland after the said seven years, and all other sums, which according to the agreement aforesaid may become payable to Scotland by way of equivalent for what that kingdom shall hereafter become liable to answer for the debts of England, may be applied in the manner

following:-That out of the same, what consideration shall be found necessary to be had for any losses which private persons may sustain in reducing the coin of Scotland to the standard of England (mention whereof is made in another paper delivered by the lords commissioners for Scotland the 21st instant), may be made good, and afterwards the same shall be wholly employed towards encouraging and promoting the fisheries and such other manufactures and improvements in that part of Britain called Scotland, as may most conduce to the general good of the united kingdom."

The proposal to purchase entirely the private rights of the African company in Scotland out of the equivalent money, appears to have been more than most people expected, and led many to look with a favourable eye upon the union, who were before prejudiced against it. The stock was a great burthen upon many families, who would have been glad of the return of so much money: it had not only been long disbursed, but in the majority of cases the money was given over for lost; and people had so entirely given up all hopes of recovery, that even after this conclusion of the treaty, the stock might be bought at ten pounds for a hundred.

pose, that if her majesty, on or before the said 1st day of May, shall declare under the great seal of England, that it is expedient that the lords of parliament of England, and commons of the present parliament of England, should be the members of the respective houses of the first parliament of Great Britain, for and on the part of England; then the said lords of parliament of England, and commons of the present parliament of England, shall be the members of the respective houses of the first parliament of Great Britain; and her majesty may, by her royal proclamation, under the great seal of Great Britain, appoint the said first parliament of Great Britain to meet at such time and place as her majesty shall think fit, which time shall not be less than forty-two days after the date of such proclamation; and the time and place of the meeting of such parliament being so appointed, a writ shall be immediately issued under the great seal of Great Britain, directed to the privy council of Scotland, for the summoning the sixteen peers, and for electing forty-five members, by whom Scotland is to be represented in the parliament of Great Britain; and the lords of parliament of England, and the sixteen peers of Scotland, such sixteen peers being summoned and returned in the manner agreed in this treaty; and the On the day after the foregoing scheme members of the house of commons of the was given in (Wednesday, the 26th of June), said parliament of England, and the fortythe queen came again to the meeting, and five members for Scotland, such forty-five delivered the following brief address:- members being elected and returned in the "My lords, I am come hither once more manner agreed in this treaty, shall assemble to see what further progress you have made and meet respectively in the respective in this treaty, and to press a speedy conclu- houses of the parliament of Great Britain, sion of it, in regard my servants of Scotland at such time and place as shall be so apcannot without great inconveniency be pointed by her majesty, and shall be the much longer absent from that kingdom." two houses of the first parliament of Great This intimation no doubt tended to hasten Britain; and that parliament may continue the conclusion of the proceedings, and, as for such time only as the present parliament the Scottish commissioners seemed tolerably of England might have continued, if the satisfied with the equivalent, the discussion union of the two kingdoms had not been turned chiefly on the time and mode of made, unless sooner dissolved by her majesty. payment, and on some of its minor details. And the lords commissioners for England Nothing now remained but the adjustment do likewise propose, that every one of the of a few matters of small moment, such as said sixteen peers of Scotland, and every the making of one great seal, the quartering one of the said forty-five members for Scotof the arms of the two kingdoms, the uniting the crosses, and the arrangement of banners, ensigns, and trophies. On Thursday, the 11th of July, the English commissioners announced the near conclusion of the treaty by proposing "That the union of both kingdoms shall take place upon the 1st day of May, 1707, and their lordships do also pro

land shall, before they sit or vote in the respective houses of parliament of Great Britain, take the respective oaths, and subscribe the declaration in the same manner as the lords and members of both houses of parliament in England are obliged to take and subscribe, by virtue of any act or acts of parliament now in force in England, upon

the penalties therein contained." To this | To these alterations the English comthe Scots replied, on the 13th, that they missioners made no objection; and on the agreed to it with the alteration, in the first 22nd of July the articles of the union, duly part, that the time for meeting of the said engrossed, were signed and sealed by the parliament should not be less than fifty days commissioners. Next day they waited upon after the date of the proclamation; and that the queen at St. James's, where the lord they would agree to the second part of the keeper made the following speech, in preproposal, in the terms following:-"That senting to her one of the signed and sealed every one of the lords of parliament of instruments or writings containing the Great Britain, and every member of the articles of union on the part of England :house of commons of the parliament of "May it please your majesty,-We the Great Britain, in the first and all succeeding commissioners appointed by your majesty, parliaments of Great Britain, until the par- in pursuance of the act of parliament passed liament of Great Britain shall otherwise in your kingdom of England, to treat condirect, shall, before they sit or vote in the cerning a union of the two kingdoms, with respective houses of the parliament of Great the commissioners for Scotland, do (accordBritain, take the respective oaths appointed ing to our duty) humbly beg leave to preto be taken instead of the oaths of alle- sent to your majesty these the effects of our giance and supremacy, by an act of parlia- continued and faithful endeavours towards ment made in England, in the first year of that end. They are the articles agreed upon the reign of the late king William and between your commissioners of both kingqueen Mary, intituled, 'An act for the doms, as the terms or conditions upon abrogating of the oaths of allegiance and which the intended union is to take place, if supremacy, and appointing other oaths,' and your majesty and the parliaments of both make, subscribe, and audibly repeat the kingdoms shall think fit to approve and declaration mentioned in an act of parlia- confirm the same. In these we have come ment made in England in the thirtieth year to an agreement on every point we judged of the reign of king Charles II., intituled, necessary to effect a complete and lasting 'An act for the more effectual preserving union, and we have endeavoured not to stir the king's person and government, by dis- into any matter we had reason to think was abling papists from sitting in either house not so. And although we have unaniof parliament;' and shall take and subscribe mously carried this treaty thus far, purely the oath mentioned in an act of parliament from a conviction that we have done therein made in England, in the first year of her to God, your majesty, and our country's majesty's reign, intituled, 'An act to declare good service; yet we are far from thinking the alterations in the oath appointed to be that what we have done will, or ought to be taken by the act,' intituled, An act for the of any weight or authority elsewhere; but further security of his majesty's person, and do most entirely submit these our labours to the succession of the crown in the protestant the high wisdom of your majesty and both line, and for extinguishing the hopes of the your parliaments, to stand or fall by the pretended prince of Wales, and all other reason, justice, and public utility on which pretenders, and their open and secret abet- they are founded. Your majesty's royal tors, and for declaring the association to be presence and seasonable admonitions to us determined,' upon the penalty and disabili- at the fittest junctures, were (we most thankties in the said respective acts contained; fully acknowledge) a very great encourageand the lords commissioners for Scotland do ment and assistance to us, in the difficulties further propose, that these words, the we met with. Your majesty's glory is crown of this realm,' and the 'queen of this already perfect, and the finishing this work realm,' mentioned in the oaths and declara- is all that is wanting to complete as well as tion contained in the aforesaid acts, which secure the happiness of so great a people, as were intended to signify the crown and your subjects may now, without any arrorealm of England, may be understood of gance, pretend to be. May your majesty the crown and realm of Great Britain, united by the acts of the respective parliaments ratifying this treaty, and that the oaths and declaration be taken and subscribed by the members of both houses of the parliament of Great Britain in that sense."

live not only to give a sanction of this universal blessing to all your people, but also to see, in a long and prosperous reign over us, the many immediate (or near) good effects of it; but as for that great and main consequence of it, for which your majesty is

:—

brought it to so good a conclusion. The particulars of it seem so reasonable, that I hope they will meet with approbation in the parliaments of both kingdoms. I wish, therefore, that my servants of Scotland may lose no time in going down to propose it to my subjects of that kingdom; and I shall always look upon it as a particular happi

making, by a most gracious and charitable | has been long wished for, it being so necesforesight, this only effectual provision-Isary for establishing the lasting peace, hapmean the continuance of peace and tran-piness, and prosperity of both nations; and quillity in this island, upon a descent of the though it has been frequently endeavoured crown, instead of that bloodshed and dis- by your majesty's royal predecessors, withtraction which would probably follow upon out the desired success, yet the glorious the fatal division of it-may we be so happy successes with which God has blessed your as never, in our days, to experience the fit-majesty's endeavours for the happiness of ness of these measures your majesty is now your people, make us hope that this great taking for that end! But may late, very work is reserved to be accomplished in your late posterity, only in that respect, reap the majesty's reign." After which, her majesty advantage of them." Then the lord chan- addressed the commissioners as follows:cellor of Scotland, in the name of the lords" My lords,-I give you many thanks for commissioners for Scotland, presented to the great pains you have taken in this her majesty one of the signed and sealed treaty, and am very well pleased to find instruments or writings, containing the your endeavours and applications have articles of union on the part of Scotland, and addressed her in the following words :"May it please your majesty,-The commissioners appointed by your majesty for the kingdom of Scotland, to treat of a union of your two kingdoms of Scotland and England, have commanded me to return your majesty their most humble and dutiful acknowledgments, for the honour your ma-ness, if this union (which will be so great a jesty has conferred on them, in employing them to negotiate this most important affair, which is of the greatest consequence to all your majesty's subjects. We have endeavoured to discharge this trust with all fidelity, and are now come humbly to lay before your majesty the articles and conditions of union which we have treated of, and agreed upon, and do submit them to your majesty's royal consideration. It is a great satisfaction to us, that what we have concluded in this matter has been done with unanimity; and we must own, that the knowledge we had of your majesty's great concern for uniting your two kingdoms, and the earnestness with which your majesty has been most graciously pleased to recommend it, hath enabled us to bring this treaty to a happy and speedy conclusion, to the mutual satisfaction of the commissioners on both sides; and we shall esteem it our greatest happiness, if what we have prepared be acceptable to your majesty, and ratified by the parliaments of both kingdoms, with out which what we have done can be of no authority. A union of the two kingdoms

security and advantage to both kingdoms) can be accomplished in my reign.”

Thus, as far as the commissioners were concerned, was this important treaty brought to a conclusion. Whatever motives actuated them, whether patriotic or selfish, they seem to have carried on the conference with great fairness, and to have shown a willingness to yield to each other, which only ensured its final success. The agitation on the subject out of doors was very great; and it may be regarded as a significant circumstance, that the same day on which the treaty was presented to the queen, she dictated an order of council, that whoever should be concerned in any discourse or libel, or in laying wagers, relating to the union, should be prosecuted with the utmost rigour of the law. A feeling, however, had been gradually rising in favour of the measure, and it required, even in Scotland, great exertions on the part of the political factions opposed to it, and great and unscrupulous skill in misrepresentation, to raise that violent dislike to the union which soon afterwards showed itself in that kingdom.

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CHAPTER XIV.

THE ARTICLES OF THE UNION BEFORE THE SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT; PIOTOUS SPIRIT AND PROCEEDINGS OF THE POPULACE; THE UNION VOTED.

months which had passed since Hooke's mission, the arms of the French king had expe rienced such heavy reverses, that he was obliged to tell the Scots plainly that he could no longer spare either money or men. It was therefore in vain to think of an insurrection, and the jacobite party in Scotland, thrown upon its own resources, had recourse to intrigue. They sought to league themselves with any party who would join with them, and so many parties were fearful that the union would turn to their disadvantage, that it was not difficult to find allies. The episcopalians were all opposed

THE act of union promised to be the heaviest blow that had yet been given to the prospects of the jacobites in Scotland, and they were consequently unwearied in their exertions to defeat it. But they still exaggerated their own strength; and meditating an insurrection as the last resource, they continued to solicit the court of France for assistance. Louis XIV. had ceased to place much trust in their representations, but as he knew that the English troops in Scotland were few in number, he was willing at this time, when he was suffering under such great reverses on the continent, to seize upon any offer which promised to give the English to the union, because it assured the permagovernment even but temporary occupation nent establishment of the presbyterian form for its troops at home. He had therefore of government; while the extreme presbyin the preceding year sent as his agent to terians were equally hostile to it, under the the Scottish jacobites one colonel Hooke, influence of vague fears that their church who had formerly held the office of chap- would be at last left to the discretion of an lain to the duke of Monmouth, but had episcopalian parliament. This latter party since entered the army in the service of objected further, that by their solemn league France. Hooke arrived in Edinburgh in and covenant they were bound to labour the August of 1705, bringing with him let- for the overthrow of the episcopalian church ters from the French king and from the in England, whereas by the proposed union pretender, addressed to the duke of Hamil- they not only agreed to the establishment ton, the earl of Errol, the earl Marshall, of episcopalianism in England, but actually and the earl of Hume, urging them to de- bound themselves to send representatives to clare openly for the exiled dynasty, and a parliament in which bishops sat as peers. promising to assist in its restoration. This There was another party, and perhaps the agent, however, soon showed himself unfitted most powerful of them all, consisting of for the mission he had undertaken, for he persons who, by the union, would be deleagued himself with the worst and most prived of the field on which they had found desperate men of the party, and urged im- room for gratifying their ambition, or their prudent measures which must have been avarice, or their personal feuds, or the piques fatal to them all. Hamilton and the other of party. These were the most active agitajacobite leaders were soon disgusted with tors. They formed coalitions of the most his conduct, and held aloof from him, and unnatural description, and succeeded in he returned to France without effecting his uniting for a moment the Cameronian with purpose. No further communication of his persecutor, the presbyterian with the any importance had taken place between papist, and the protestant succession with the jacobites in Scotland and the French jacobitism. They terrified the poorer classes king, until it became certain that the act of with apprehensions of insupportable taxes, union would be agreed to by the commissioners in London. The jacobites then sent over as their accredited agent captain Henry Straton, to ascertain the real intentions of Louis, and gain information as to the amount of assistance on which they could count in case they judged it necessary to have recourse to arms. But in the few

of loss of employment and dearness of provisions, and of various other grievous burthens. People were told that they were sold to the English, that their parliament and the regalia of their crown would be carried away from them, and that their very name as a nation would be lost. The mercantile classes were threatened with the