XI. .1705. into despotism, as in the preceding reigns; might BOOK introduce a purer administration of justice; and dissolve the rigours of the feudal system, which still prevailed. The immediate advantages, however, of the union, were the introduction of their cattle and linen into the English market, free from imposts, from which a capital might at length be accumulated for trade, and for the improvement of land. But a proportion of the stock and trade of England was vainly expected to migrate to the north, and to establish manufactures; to emancipate the peasant from his oppressive landlord; to encrease the produce and the value of estates; and to supplant the Dutch in the herring fishery, which a poor nation, whose inconsiderable capital requires an exuberant profit, is seldom able to prosecute with much success. Apprehensive, perhaps, of the same consequence, the removal of manufactures, the English cabinet was determined never to admit the Scots to a commercial intercourse, without an incorporating union in return; lest the nation should afterwards disunite, and separate from England, when enriched by its trade 36. But whatever national advantages were pro- Real moposed or expected, to resign the treasury, the ho- ministers. nours, the emoluments, and the entire administra 36 Carstairs's State Papers, 743. Essays at removing national prejudices, by De Foe. Letter on the reception of the Treaty of Union, by Sir J. Clerk. XI. 1705. BOOK tion of the kingdom for ever, was a sacrifice hardly to be expected from the most disinterested patriots, much less from the venal statesmen whom Scotland produced. It is not solely from the ostensible benefits proposed for their country that their motives are to be appretiated, but from the secret advantages procured for themselves. Their stability was doubly dependent, first on the duration of parties in the English cabinet; then on the management of the Scottish parliament, which was always precarious, and not unfrequently productive of a change of administration. Queensberry and his friends had been dismissed from office; the earl of Stair was proscribed by the public hatred. Wearied with the vicissitude of parties which each minister had alternately experienced, they expected greater stability from the English cabinet, when relieved, by an incorporating union, from their present dependence on the Scottish parliament. The whigs in England, with which Queensberry was united, appeared to be firmly established in power. If he were permitted to govern by means of the privy-council, without a parliament, whose control is odious to every administration, his authority might be equally prolonged with theirs. All opposition would be extinguished with parliament 37; and if the chief offices of state were preserved, whatsoever was lost by his friends in the disposal of honours, or 37 Carstairs, 738. BOOK XI. 1705. in the management of an exhausted treasury, was of little value when compared with the immense prospects that opened to their ambition in England. Instead of the paltry objects of domestic faction, they might expect a share of the great prizes dispensed from the state lottery of English politics, with a certainty proportioned to their means of success. A profuse distribution of titles, to create an interest in parliament, had sunk and degraded the ancient nobility; but an hereditary, or an elective seat in the English parliament, was a distinguished honour to which few could aspire. Whatever were the share of representation to be acquired by Scotland, its members would form a distinct party, attached to its minister; and from the interest thus introduced into the English parliament, they might perpetuate his credit with the English minister, and secure the most extensive preferment to himself and his friends. An incorporating union was therefore embraced, not only 1706. to render their authority permanent at home, but with the more ambitious design of acquiring, from the united interest of Scotland, a numerous party in the English parliament. sioners for Such were the secret motives of Argyle and Commis Queensberry, to whom, in conjunction with Go- the Union. dolphin, the choice of commissioners was referred by the queen. But the conditional acts, declaring the Scots aliens, and prohibiting their trade with England, were first repealed. The marquis of XI. 1706. BOOK Annandale proving refractory, was dismissed from office, and replaced by Mar as secretary of state; a nobleman zealous for the union and the protestant succession, but at a subsequent period hostile to both. Thirty-one commissioners for each kingdom were then appointed to meet in London; but the succeeding treaty evinced, in the most important articles, that in consequence of the queen's nomination of commissioners, the English cabinet was enabled to prescribe its own terms to the Scots. Their commissioners were chosen with an artful intermixture of each party, that their concurrence in the union, which was previously secured, might abate the opposition of their friends in parliament 38. Treaty begun. When the commissioners met at the cockpit, the first proposal was made by the English, that the two kingdoms should be united into one, by the name of Great Britain, under the same legislature and line of succession, according to an act passed in England for the limitation of the crowns. The Scots requested a short delay; and from the preference of an incorporating to a federal union, 38 Burnet. Sir J. Clerk's Hist. MS.; and Observations on Lockhart, MS. Lockhart, the only professed Jacobite, was named as lord Wharton's nephew, of whom there were some hopes. Cockburn of Ormiston, Dundas of Arniston, had belonged to the Squadroné; Seton of Pitmeddan, and others, to the country party: but the duke of Hamilton was indus triously excluded. XI. 1706. the noblest, and apparently the most disinterested BOOK and specious objects of public utility, coincided with the sordid schemes of a few ambitious statesmen 39. Sensible, however, that their nation was adverse to an incorporating union, and desirous only of a communication of trade, they determined to make one overture, in order to convince the people, that they did not acquiesce precipitately in whatsoever terms the English prescribed. They proposed that the same succession should be established in both kingdoms, and that the subjects of each should be admitted in the other to all the privileges and rights of natives, and to a free intercourse, and full communication, of navigation and trade. At the same time an intimation was given, that an incorporating union was not rejected; and the English declined the consideration of a proposal obviously not intended to succeed. Among the Scottish commissioners some proposed in their private consultations, to renew their demand at the next meeting; that if the English remained inflexible, they might recede, themselves, with the less disgrace. Whether to adopt a federal, or an incorporating union, was no part of the question, but how to yield; and in order not to interrupt the treaty, it was determined that their concurrence should no longer be deferred. Their assent to an entire, and incorpo 39 Sir J. Clerk's Hist. MS.; Letter on the reception of the Union. |