1706. ever, the cavaliers, to whom he delivered his letters and meffages, told him in general terms, "That they were willing to do every thing, that could in reafon be ex"pected from them; and would, as they were defired, in a fhort time, fend over one to confer with king James "(for fo they ftiled the pretender) and the king of France." With this anfwer Hookes returned to France; and the cavaliers, having refolved to fend one over, to fee what affiftance they could depend upon from thence, unanimously made choice of captain Henry Stratton, who embarked for France, the very next day after Lockhart returned to Edinburgh, having waited for him, to get a full account of what paffed at London, in relation to the intended union. Befides what concerned that treaty, Lockhart was employed to fift the tories in England, and endeavour to know what they would do, in cafe the pretender came over, and the Scots declared for him; and, having accordingly found means to understand the fentiments of the duke of Leeds, the lord Granville, and feveral others, he informed captain Stratton, that the English tories were much more cautious than the Scots cavaliers; the former being all of opinion, That no attempt ought to be made during the queen's life. Captain Stratton was kindly received in France, but could bring nothing to a conclufion; the battles of Ramillies and Turin having fo difconcerted the French king's measures, that he was not in a condition to spare either men or money for the fervice of the pretender. However, the pretender told Stratton, "That he longed extremely to be amongst his Scots friends;" and obliged him to give him in writing a character of every member of the Scots parliament, as they flood affected to him. After this Stratton was dif miffed, with fair promises from the French king, of doing all in his power in a more favourable conjuncture, and with letters from the pretender to the duke of Hamilton, the' earls of Errol and Marifchal, and the vifcount Stormont. The viscount had two letters inclofed in his, one to the duke of Athol, the other to the marquis of Montrofe; the firit of which was delivered, and kindly received; but, the marquis having left the cavaliers, it was thought to no purpofe to make any attempt upon him, and dangerous to truft him with fecrets, which he might difcover to the ministers of ftate; for which reafon the pretender's letter was not delivered to him. Upon this encouragement from France, the cavaliers refolved to stand firm, and to exert their utmost efforts in the enfuing enfuing feffion of parliament, against the ratification of the treaty of union; though, about this time, they fuftained a great lofs in the death of the earl of Hume, who was more relied on than any other of his party. Before the parliament met in Scotland, the miniftry there gave fuch a fair reprefentation of the union, that it was generally relifhed by the people; but no fooner did the articles appear in print, but they were as univerfally difliked. It was vifible, that the nobility of that kingdom fuffered a great diminution by it; for, though it was agreed that they Thould enjoy all the other privileges of the peers of England, yet the greatest of them all, which was voting in the house of lords, was reftrained to fixteen to be elected by the reft every new parliament; yet there was a greater majority of the nobility that concurred in voting for the union, than in the other ftates of that kingdom. 1706. On the 3d of October, the parliament being met, the The parduke of Queensberry, the high-commiffioner, went thither, liament of attended by most of the nobility, barons, and other mem- Scotland bers, and the queen's letter was read as follows: ' ANNE R. My lords and gentlemen, meets. SINCE your last meeting, we did nominate commif- The fioners to treat of an union between our two king- queen's "doms of Scotland and England, and by their great care letter. and diligence, a treaty is happily concluded and laid be *fore us. "We have called you together as foon as our affairs "could permit, that the treaty may be under your confide"ration, in pursuance of the act made in the last session of "our parliament there; and we hope the terms will be acceptable to you. "The union has been long defired by both nations, and "we fhall efteem it as the greateft glory of our reign to "have it now perfected, being fully perfuaded, that it must prove the greatest happiness of our people. ་་ An intire and perfect union will be the folid foundation "of a lasting peace: it will fecure your religion, liberty, "and property; remove the animofities among yourselves, and the jealoufies and differences betwixt our two king"doms. It muft increase your ftrength, riches, and trade: "and by this union, the whole island being joined in affec ❝tion, and free from all apprehenfion of different interests, will be enabled to refift all its enemies, fupport the pro"teltant X 2 1706. "teftant interest every where, and maintain the liberties of "Europe. "We do, upon this occafion, renew the affurances we have formerly given you, of our refolution to maintain "the government of the church as by law eftablished in Scotland; and the acts of both parliaments, upon which "this treaty proceeded, having referved their respective governments of the church in each kingdom, the commiffioners have left that matter intire; and you have now "an opportunity for doing what may be neceflary for the fecurity of your prefent church-government, after the "union, within the limits of Scotland. The support of "our government and your own fafety does require, that you do make neceflary provifion for maintaining the forces, fhips, and garrifons, until the parliament of "Great-Britain fhall provide for thefe ends in the united "kingdom. 66 "We have made choice of our right trufty and right "intirely beloved coufin and counfellor, James duke of "Queenfberry, to be our commiffioner, and represent our royal perfon; being well fatisfied with his fitness for that truft, from the experience we have of his capacity, zeal, and fidelity to our fervice, and the good of his country; "which, as it has determined us in the choice, we doubt "not but will make him acceptable to you. "We have fully inftructed him in all things we think "may fall under your confideration, and feem to be neceffary at prefent; therefore we defire that you may give truft and credit to him. My lords and gentlemen, "It cannot but be an encouragement to you to finish the union at this time, that God almighty has bleffed our arms, and thofe of our allies, with fo great fuccefs; which gives us the nearer profpect of a happy peace, and "with it you will have the full poffeffion of all the advantages of this union. And you have no reason to doubt, but the parliament of England will do what is necessary on their part, after the readiness they have fhewn to remove what might obftruct the entering on the treaty. We most carneftly recommend to you calmness and unanimity in this great and weighty affair, that the union "may be brought to a happy conclufion, being the only effectual way to fecure your prefent and future happiness, and to difappoint the defigns of our and your enemies, "who L. "who will, doubtless, on this occafion, ufe their utmost Given at our court at Windford-caftle, the 31ft day of By her majesty's command, MAR. This letter was inforced by the speeches of the duke of Queensberry, and the lord-chancellor Seafield, after which the treaty of union was read, and ordered to be printed, together with the proceedings of the lords-commiffioners of both kingdoms in relation to that matter; and then the parliament was adjourned to that day se'ennight. 1706. Her majefty's minifters were not infenfible of the difficul- A powerties which they had to encounter in the affair of the union, ful party againft which, the dukes of Hamilton and Athol, the mar- against the quis of Annandale, the earls of Errol, Marefchal, and union. Buchan, the lord Belhaven, Mr. Fletcher of Salton, and some others, had formed a powerful party. The commif. fioners from the fhires and boroughs were almost equally divided, though, it was evident, they were to be the chief gainers by it. Among these the union was agreed to by a very small majority. It was the nobility, that in every vote turned the fcale for the union: they were feverely reflected upon by thofe who oppofed it; and it was faid, many of them were bought off, to fell their country and their birthright. All thofe who adhered inflexibly to the jacobite intereft, oppofed every ftep that was made with great vehemence, for they faw that the union ftruck at the root of all their defigns for a new revolution. Yet all these could not have raised or maintained fo great an oppofition as was made, if they had not prepoffeffed with fears and jealoufies the minds of many among the prefbyterian clergy who had the greatest afcendent over the generality of the laity in Scotland. Among other indications of this temper of the Scots minifters at this critical juncture, it was taken notice, that, fome days before the meeting of the parliament, one of duke Hamilton's chaplains propofed in the general aflembly of the clergy, "That, before an affair of fo great importance, as "the union was, came to be debated before the estates of "the kingdom, they ought to enter into an affociation for "the prefervation of the prefbyterian difcipline, if the treaty concluded by the commiffioners of both kingdoms X 3 66 was 1706. was ratified by the refpective parliaments." Another minifter moved, "That a day of fafting and humiliation "fhould be appointed to feek the Lord for counfel in this ❝arduous affair and time of danger." But thefe two motions were rejected by the majority of voices. Thefe jealoufies of the prefbyterians, left their church fhould fuffer a change, and be fwallowed up by the church of England, were infused into them chiefly by the old duchess of Hamilton, who had great credit with them: and it was fuggefted, that fhe and her fon had particular views, as hoping, that, if Scotland fhould continue a feparated kingdom, the crown might come into their family, they being the next in blood after king James's pofterity. The infufion of fuch apprehenfions had a great effect on the main body of that party, who could fcarce be brought to hearken to, but never to accept of, the offers that were made for fecuring their prefbyterian government. On the other hand, a great part of the gentry of Scotland, who had been often in EngJand, and had obferved the protection, which all men had from a houfe of commons, and the fecurity which it procured against partial judges and a violent miniftry, entered into the union with great zeal. The opening a free trade, not only with England, but with the plantations, and the protection of the fleet of England, drew in thofe, who understood thefe matters, and faw there was no other way in view, to make the nation rich and confiderable. Thofe who had engaged far into the defign of Darien, and were great lofers by it, faw now an honourable way to be reimburfed; which made them wish well to the union, and promote it. But that, which advanced it moft effectually, and without which it could not have fucceeded, was, that a confiderable number of noblemen and gentlemen, who were in no engagements with the court (on the contrary, had been difobliged and turned out of great pofts, and fome very lately) declared for it. Thefe kept themselves very clofe and united, and feemed to have no other intereft but that of their country, and were for that reafon called the Squadrone. The chief of thefe were the marquis of Tweedale, the earls of Rothes, Roxburgh, Hadington, and Marchmont. They were in great credit, because they had no vifible biafs on their minds. Il ufage had provoked them rather to oppofe the miniftry, than to concur in any thing, where the chief honour would be carried away by others. When they were spoke to by the miniftry, they antwered coldly, and with great referve; fo that it was ex |