X. 1700. BOOK cess Anne, the settlement of the crown determined, the Jacobites proposed to declare the throne vacant, and even the presbyterians seem to have deliberated whether or no they should separate from England, if no successor were provided on the king's demise 53. As the scarcity of money, even for the common purposes of circulation, was universally felt, an association was formed against the use of foreign manufactures, or the importation of French wines, in order to deprive the government of the most productive articles of customs and excise. The Jacobites endeavoured to seduce, or prepared to disband the army when the parliament should meet. Every indication threatened a separation of the crowns; but their applications to the court of St. Germains were unexpectedly rejected. Louis, who was not as yet assured of his grandson's succession to the Spanish monarchy, was unwilling to renounce the partition treaty; and he persuaded James, that amidst the dissensions of the two kingdoms, the encouragement given to the Scots might incense the English, from whom alone his restoration could proceed. That bigoted monarch, engrossed with acts of monastic devotion, tamely expected the death of William as a signal to return and re-ascend the throne 54. 53 Carstairs, 561. 70. Interest of Scotland, in three Essays, by Seton of Pitmedden, 1700. Scotland's Grievances relat ing to Darien. Coles's Mem. 174. 54 Coles's Mem. 55. 209-70. Macpherson's Orig. Pap. i. 257. X. 1700. As the supplies for the army expired with the BOOK year, a session of parliament became indispensible; but the situation of the country never appeared Parliament more alarming or formidable to government, and mollised. nothing less than the king's presence was expected to appease the public discontent. His declining health, however, had encreased his habitual aversion to factions, and his natural reserve. Reposing a just confidence in the address and influence of his commissioner, the duke of Queensberry, he endeavoured by a conciliatory declaration, to soothe the people; and he availed himself dexterously of the loss of Darien, to represent the dangerous impolicy of involving his ancient kingdom, alone and unsupported, in a heavy war which she was unable to sustain, for a precarious settlement which it was impossible to preserve in opposition to Spain. Every security was proposed for the preservation of religion, of personal liberty, and the freedom of trade. The prisoners wrecked at Carthagena, and condemned as pirates, were released at his request; and as the recovery of Darien, the sole bond of union, was no longer expected, the presbyterians were gradually detached from a party whose violence aimed at the destruction of the state. The members of parliament were the most untractable, as they were mutually pledged by their late addresses. But the boroughs were recently admitted to farm the customs; bribes and pensions were freely dispens BOOK ed; and each of the officers of state undertook a X. 1700. separate progress through the country, not to corrupt the leaders of opposition, but to seduce their October 29. adherents. When the parliament was opened, the duke of Hamilton, the chief leader of opposition, was deserted by his former majority 55: the affairs of Darien were postponed for acts tending to conciliate the public esteem: the people were gratified by the incapacitation of papists from the purchase, sale, or inheritance of lands, in preference, or in prejudice to the next protestant heir; but our gratitude is more justly due for the security which personal liberty obtained. An act frequently demanded, was introduced against wrongful imprisonment, and the undue delay of trial, which, notwithstanding the claim of rights, had never been properly restrained. The informer was required to subscribe his information; the magistrate, to sign a warrant expressive of the particular cause of commitment; and, upon application to a com. petent judge, the prisoner was ordered to be released upon bail, within twenty-four hours, unless the offence were capital, in which case his trial was to be brought on within sixty days. When released on the failure to prosecute, he might be imprisoned again, on a second indictment; but if twice discharged, he was exempt from all further prose 55 Carstairs, 650-73. Fletcher's first Discourse on Scotland. Boyer's Annals of Queen Anne. Minutes of Parlia ment. X. 1700. cution for the same offence. Arbitrary transpor- BOOK tation, so frequent during the former reigns, was prohibited without a legal sentence, or judicial consent; and in addition to the severe penalties annexed to wrongful imprisonment or wrongful transportation, the judges who rejected the pri soner's application, or refused to give full effect to the act, were declared incapable of public trust. If inferior, in some particulars, to the habeas corpus in England, the act inflicts a more adequate penalty on the iniquity of the judge. of parlia But the affairs of Darien were too important to Resolutions be treated with silence or contempt. The honour ment. and independence of the nation remained to be vindicated; and a series of popular, and high spirited resolutions were adopted, from which the ministers durst not express their dissent. The addresses, votes, and the whole procedure of the English parliament, against a company instituted by an act of the Scottish legislature, were declared an officious and undue encroachment on the authority of an independent state. The memorial of the English resident to the senate of Hamburgh, was pronounced injurious, false, and contradictory to the laws of nations. The proclamations of the governors in the English plantations, were stigmatized as pernicious to the company, and as barbarous, and repugnant to the common rights of humanity. The colony of New Caledonia was finally vindicated, as a just and legal settlement, 1701. BOOK perfectly warranted by the statute and letters pa X. 1701. Death of tent which the company had obtained 56. On these unanimous resolutions, the ministry proposed to address the king. The opposition demanded an act, not only to assert the right, but to support the prosecution of the claim to Darien, without which they asserted that the company was still insecure, and its adventurers liable to be treated as pirates. But their design was obvious; to involve the king in hostilities with Spain. After a fierce and tumultuous debate, an address was carried by twenty-four votes, that his majesty would be pleased to vindicate the honour of the kingdom, and to assure the company of his royal protection 57. The immunities of the Darien company were prolonged. The exportation of wool, and the importation of foreign manufactures, or of French wines, were prohibited till the fish and manufactures of Scotland should be admitted into France. The army was reduced to three thousand men; and by the prudent concessions of William, aided by the intrigues of his ministers, a parliament which had endangered the harmony of the two kingdoms, was quietly adjourned. The remainder of the reign passed in sullen discontent at the loss of Darien, the remembrance of which was long preserved with resentment and 56 Minutes of Parl. 57 Id. January 13, 14. Carstairs, 684. |